Chapter 32 · The City Hears the Blood

The wings stop.

Ivy's on her knees in the dark. The clinic floor's cold under her palms. She can't see Rena. Can't see the seven enforcers who just bent the knee. Can't see Cole.

But she can hear breathing. Too much of it. Too close.

"Rena." Her voice cracks. "Get it back up."

"I'm trying." Rena's somewhere to her left. A laptop clicks open. Blue screen-glow cuts through the black. "They didn't just cut power. Someone torched the relay."

"Someone or something." That's Cole. His voice comes from the doorway. Low. Steady. Like the blackout didn't shake him at all.

Ivy twists toward him. The laptop light catches his profile. Blood's dried on his neck from the enforcer he put down earlier. His hands are empty but his shoulders are tight. Combat ready.

"What was that?" Ivy pushes to her feet. Her legs are shaking. She hates that they're shaking. "Those wings."

"Old blood." Cole's eyes flick to the window. The city outside is dead dark. No streetlights. No apartment glow. Just black. "Derek's calling in debts."

Rena swears under her breath. Her fingers fly over the keys. "The broadcast got out for ninety seconds. That's it.