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“I’m sorry, Crystal. I truly am. I hope you find the comfort you deserve.”

I dove deep into my power, channelling down until my body zinged with a steady flow of power.

Sweat dripped down my temple as I set my gaze on the foundation of a nearby building.

I chose my target and pulled. The wall tore away from the structure, floating in a mass of brick and mortar towards us.

Crystal’s eyes bulged as she realised what I’d done.

But the fear was quickly replaced by acceptance.

“Thank you,” she said softly. “Make them pay.”

I nodded, trying to be brave as the faces of so many other innocents flashed through my mind.

I let them come, then burned Crystal’s face to memory alongside them.

Tears welled in my eyes, but I couldn’t have saved her and she’d suffered enough.

With a grunt of exertion, I thrust the wall at her, forcing myself to watch every second as the weight and force of it crushed against her, driving her body back and into the wall of another building.

I held the second wall with my power as well, forcing the two to encase her body.

The least I could do was make sure her body wasn’t ogled at by those sitting safely at home.

She was more than a body to be looked at. I regretted learning that too late.

I let go of my power and breathed in ragged gasps of air, trying not to hyperventilate as the drone zoomed closer.

“Wanted to get a good look at your fallen hero? Disappointed you can’t leer at her one final time?

” I spat, staring straight into the lens.

“She was worth more than all the money you could offer. She didn’t deserve this. None of us fucking deserve this.”

I used the last dregs of my power and sent the drone crashing into the debris. It let out a few sparks before it shut down with a mechanical sigh.

For several long moments, I just stood there, looking at the blanket of stars above.

The pain was barely noticeable anymore. I’d spent enough time learning to block it out—to push my body to its absolute limits.

I wondered how Ace, Kayden, Noah, and Zane were faring.

They would win. They had to. Even if Zane had betrayed me, even if what I’d thought we had was a lie, I still cared for him.

I still wanted him to live and live well.

Movement caught my eye, and I turned, preparing myself for Celeste’s overbearing energy.

But it wasn’t the Overseer who approached, nor any of the Masters.

A squad of soldiers quickly surrounded me, their pulse guns powered up and humming with energy.

I knew those weapons… knew all too well what a weapon powered by the crystals mined by enslaved citizens looked like.

I adjusted my position to a defensive stance, eyeing off all the soldiers as I turned in a slow circle. They were dressed in full black, their usual House uniforms discarded in favour of this new attire. It would seem this was a mission Father didn’t want to announce to the world.

“Daddy Dearest couldn’t make it, so he sent out his dogs? How predictable.”

“Victrus requests an audience,” said a soldier with a full visor covering his face. “You will come with us amicably or we will take you by force.”

I grinned. There was no escaping this, but I was too proud not to put up a fight.

“Let’s go with the latter.” There wasn’t much strength left in me, but I had enough to send bricks soaring out from the debris.

They smashed into soldiers’ heads, undoubtedly killing the ones without helmets on impact.

I reared out, high kicking my leg into the throat of the soldier nearest, then spun and took out another with my other leg.

I landed on my knee as they fell on the ground.

From what I could see at least three weren’t getting back up.

Fresh blood dripped from my stomach, and I wobbled as my vision flashed.

The moment of disorientation was all they needed to grip my arms behind my back and heft me to my feet.

I roared, kicking and biting anyone that got close.

“She’s fucking feral,” one of the soldiers cried.

I grinned, spitting blood onto his visor.

Before I could make another move, the head soldier grabbed the rod in my stomach and used it to direct me towards him. A scream ripped from my lips as he twisted it slightly.

“You’re lucky the boss wants you alive, you little bitch. They were good men.”

“Any man working for House Jupiter is anything but good.”

He sneered as he pulled me close. “You know, the boss didn’t say to be quick. I have some time to spare.” He trailed a finger between my breasts, then took his visor off. He was attractive, with short brown hair and light brown eyes. In his late thirties, by my guess.

“I might take my time with you.”

I shrieked, wrestling against the soldiers holding my arms back, but it was no good. They laughed, and a deep rage fired under my ass at the sound.

“I’m going to kill you,” I said to the man before me. I poured every inch of hate and rage into my eyes, knowing my stare was as cold and dead as the girl I’d just killed. “Mark my words. I will destroy you, and when I do, I’m going to take my time with you.”

His mirth flickered to uneasiness as he looked death in the face. Then he glanced at the soldiers watching him and scoffed. “Take her away. I don’t like the mouthy ones anyway.”

I fought with all my strength as the guards dragged me along the dirt kicking and screaming. Just when I thought the pain of my stomach wound might make me pass out, something hit the back of my head. Everything faded away.

The last thing I remembered was Crystal’s face.