The Verance skyline was bathed in the pale light of dawn.
Slade stood on the rooftop of the headquarters, his eyes fixed on the horizon. The city was waking up—cars on the streets, people in the cafes, the slow pulse of normal life. Normal life. He'd almost forgotten what that felt like.
The decision to rebuild had been made. The shield was taking shape. But the war was still raging, and the enemy was still out there. Marcus Webb was alive. The factions were rising. The chaos was spreading.
Ember joined him on the rooftop, a cup of coffee in her hand. "You've been up all night."
"I couldn't sleep. Too much to think about."
"About Webb?"
"About everything. The shield. The factions. The future." He took the coffee, its warmth grounding him. "I keep thinking about what my father said. A
