A single figure stood on the steps of the shrine, blocking anyone from entering.

Siege was leaning beside her skysailer, half using it for cover, her once-bright hair a simmer as she kept a hand on a bloody wound in her side, and Talle was on the ground beside her, wrapping up her own foot. Robb was already out of the skysailer before Jax could land it properly, rushing over to Siege, and once Jax parked he followed, helping Di out.

“Ana’s in there,” Siege said before any of them could ask how she was. The light underneath Jax’s skin whispered the truth anyway, and it made him clench his fists. “We dropped her off and stood guard. I—I didn’t see them coming. Mellifare tore through the square. Viera surprised us—stabbed me good. Everyone scattered.”

“It’s okay,” Talle soothed.

“No, it’s not. I have to get in there, starlight. I have to.” Jax had never heard such pure desperation in his captain’s voice before. It frightened him.

Across the square, the sentry on the steps did not move. Viera didn’t waver as she stared at them, a lightsword unsheathed in her hand. Her hair was no longer smoothed back but hung in her face, and beneath it her eyes burned a terrible, gut-wrenching red. Now that he concentrated, he sensed the HIVE—the thousands of souls—tied to her. If they came any closer, she would attack them.

“She was a Metal this whole time?” asked a voice behind him.

He quickly turned around to face Lenda. She looked as if she’d run a long way. The sanctuary was a few blocks north—he figured Siege had called for backup once Mellifare attacked. She stared out across the square to Viera on the other side.

“Yeah, she’s a Metal,” replied Robb. “Mellifare tricked us. Viera’s been HIVE’d—Goddess knows for how long.”

“And those people on the ground . . .”

“Viera was so quick, we couldn’t stop her,” said the captain, grinding her teeth. “I should’ve seen this coming. After all these times.”

Jax didn’t understand what that meant, but as he felt her light shift and flicker, he began to realize that he didn’t know a lot about his captain.

“She’s been standing there since Mellifare went inside after Ana,” Talle said softly, and went to help Siege to her feet. Blood splattered Siege’s shirt, quickly soaking through. “She hasn’t attacked us yet. And all of the channels are down.”

“Maybe Viera can fight the HIVE,” said Robb, “like Di did.”

“I don’t think she knows she can,” Talle replied. “And there’s no way past her.”

Lenda took her gun out of its holster. “All right then, I’ll find out—”

Robb caught her by the arm. “That’s suicide.”

But the gunner shook her head. “Nah. She’s family.” Then Lenda set off across the abandoned square toward Viera, and in turn the ex–guard captain eased down to the steps to meet her.

As Siege rose to stand, she gave a painful wimper and leaned against her wife. “We need to get into that shrine.”