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“They’ll be better prepared if they know,” Zane said. “Can’t be a super pod without a little faith.”

“I suppose. So, what are our next steps then?” I conceded.

“Do a little digging,” Noah suggested. “Case out the academy and see if we can find out anything further about the hooded attacker. It’s someone in the vicinity and given there aren’t many Potentials left; our suspect pool just got a whole lot smaller.”

“Aside from the Potentials, there’s not a whole lot of people it could be either,” Fallon mused. “The Masters, the Overseer, staff who manage housing, food or cleaning, plus various security personnel. That’s it.”

“Imagine if it was Celeste,” Zane said with a chuckle. We all looked at each other, then shook our heads in unison. “You’re right,” Zane continued, “that batty Betty doesn’t have it in her. She just plots our demise from the safety of her office.”

“Whoever it is, they aren’t long for this world,” Ace said, his lips curling menacingly.

I punched Ace playfully in the shoulder. “Ease up, Twiggy, you’ll get your shot.”

He glared at me. “Touch me again and I’ll tear that shit-eating grin right off your dumb-fuck face.”

“Babe, chill,” Fallon said. “Anyway, if anyone is gonna get the last blow on that piece of shit it’ll be me.”

“That’s my girl,” Zane chimed in.

“Our girl,” I corrected. “Until then, we need to do something about these chips. We know they block our power, but it could also be a tracking device for all we know. That damned hooded guy has a habit of rocking up at the worst times.”

“I hate to say it, but muscle head is right,” Ace agreed. “Noah’s is gone, and he helped get rid of mine, so it’s just you three left.” He flicked out a knife from his bionic arm. “Who’s first?”

I looked at Zane, each of us sharing a grimace.

“Aw, scared of a little knife play?” Ace teased. “Here, baby, I’ll do you first.”

Fallon laid her arm out nonchalantly as if this was just an everyday activity. At our open stares, she shrugged. “Yeaahh, I’ve both had and done worse.”

“Your dad is a real asshole,” I muttered.

“Yup.”

Ace nodded at Fallon. “You ready? Need something to bite on?”

“Just do it,” she demanded.

He sank the blade in efficiently, knowing exactly where to find the chip, and dug it out as quickly as possible.

She hissed through gritted teeth, but my angel took it like a pro.

I hated to admit it, but I let out a less-than-manly yelp when it was my turn.

Zane, on the other hand, sang a stupid little song to distract himself.

It tended to pitch higher in volume when the pain increased.

When he was done and Noah had healed our arms, three little chips sat in Ace’s hand, blinking with white lights. He strolled to the bathroom and flushed them down the toilet, then grabbed a face cloth to wipe the blood from our arms.

“Chips are gone. Debrief is done. Now for a bit of R&R,” I said with a stretch.

“Actually, there’s one more thing. If we’re airing all our motives and whatever…

I guess it’s time to be honest too,” Ace said slowly.

“I never told you, but I didn’t come here to be king.

Cormac, my old boss of the Drakes, sent me here to retrieve a weapon.

I don’t know what it is, but it’s locked away in a vault and must be pretty damn powerful if he’s after it.

I don’t give a shit what Cormac wants anymore, but I’d still like to grab it before we leave this shithole.

Something tells me we might need it. Especially if this shit with the hooded guy blows up. He can’t be working alone.”

“You want us to break into a vault of what’s probably one of the most well-guarded places in Terrulia?” Noah asked incredulously.

“Sounds like a voyage over treacherous seas,” Zane said seriously. “I will be your captain.”

“More like deckhand,” Ace muttered. “But the more the merrier.”

Fallon was silent for a moment, the cogs ticking away in her mind, but after a minute she said, “I’m in.”

“What?” Noah looked at her like she had four eyes. “This will only end badly.”

“Look, there’s every possibility none of us will win the crown.

I can’t speak for you all, but regardless of what happens, I’ve made a promise to take down my father and House Jupiter.

I need to get my siblings away from them, and I need to help the people my parents have enslaved.

It’s the right thing to do and I believe it’s what Victoria would have wanted. ”

Noah sighed, then took her hand. “If this weapon helps you achieve that, or if it gets us one step closer to finding the twins and freeing anyone captured, then I’m in.”

Fallon and Ace looked at me, and I shrugged. “House Jupiter has made a mockery of all the other cities. I want to help my people. And I want to help you, gorgeous.”

“So, it’s decided,” Ace said. “We’re breaking into a vault and stealing ourselves a weapon.”

“Just one thing, Twiggy. Why do you want it?” I asked.

“Because I can,” he said with a grin. “Because I’ve had enough of lowlifes like Cormac and maybe I want to turn the tables a little.”

“Good enough for me. So, we’ve got a plan to make, but first, can we just take a damn breather?” I said, enjoying the comfort of the bed and Fallon’s body beside me.

“What do you have in mind, big guy?” Fallon said, looking up at me with the cutest little smile.

“For now? I’m going to kiss my girl.” I pulled her close, kissed her deeply, and relished the feeling of her melting in my arms. When I moved back, she nestled into my side with a contented sigh.

“The rest can wait another gods-damned day. We’ve survived three trials and countless murder attempts.

I just want to be here, with you, watching some dumb-ass movie that Zane picked out for us. ”

“It’s the best movie,” Zane argued as he ripped open a packet of chips, “and I’ll snip off your sea snake if you dare to say otherwise. Besides, we have snacks, the tastiest one being Starfish here. Who even cares what the film is.”

Damn, Merman had a point.