Page 135 of Vows of Ruin

The room goes silent. Hugo walks to me and whines at my feet. I take a slow breath, sharp, steady, careful. It still feels like swallowing glass.

“So we have a general area.” I say. “A timeline. And enough evidence to confirm Sebastian’s building a stage for something.”

Torque snorts. “Yeah. A performance we’re not letting happen.”

Max squeezes my hand under the table, grounding me again. “We’re going after him. But we need a full plan.”

I straighten, spine rigid. “I’m going.” I say. No one argues. Not one person. Even Doc just nods.

Riot mutters, “We’d never stop you anyway.”

Margot gives me a tight smile. “Good. Because we need our queen angry.”

A trace of something sharp and violent settles beneath my ribs. Not panic. Not collapse. Purpose. This isn’t panic-attack Wrenley. This isn’t dissociating Wrenley. This is burn-it-down Wrenley. Everyone in the room feels it.

Max leans in, his shoulder brushing mine. “You ready?”

I lift my chin. “No,” I whisper. “But I’m going anyway.”

The war room breaks into motion the moment the plan takes shape. Torque and Riot head straight for the armory. Wrecker makes a call. Elias is pulling blueprints and satellite overlays up on every screen. Margot’s already prepping comms.

Max stays glued to my side, shadowing me without hovering. I make it halfway down the hall toward the armory when a small voice pipes up behind me.

“Wrenley?”

I turn. Daisy stands in the war room doorway, arms wrapped around herself, looking smaller than she did even the night Wrecker pulled her out of that hell. Her eyes are too wide. Too knowing. “Are you guys going after him?”

I take a slow breath. “Yes.”

Her chin trembles. “Then I’m coming too.”

A muscle in Max’s jaw jumps. Wrecker, hovering behind her, rubs the back of his neck with a helpless groan. I walk toward Daisy, Hugo sitting by my side like he senses the uncertainty radiating off her.

“Daisy,” I say softly. “You can’t come with us.”

“I don’t want to stay alone. Not after—” She swallows hard. “Not after everything.”

I reach for her hands. She lets me take them, fingers trembling. “You won’t be alone,” I promise. “But coming with us? It’s too dangerous.”

She looks down, jaw trembling. A quiet voice comes from down the hall. “I’ll stay with her.”

We all turn. It’s Gray, one of the mid-level Serpents, loyal, calm, someone who’s been with us long enough to be trusted but far enough outside the inner circle to avoid drawing attention. He stands with his hands in his pockets, wearing an expression that’s equal parts empathy and absolute seriousness.

Daisy lifts her eyes to his. “You’ll stay?”

Gray nods. “I won’t leave you. Not for a second.”

Daisy’s shoulders lower just a fraction. It’s enough.

I brush a curl from her cheek. “And Hugo will stay with you, too.”

At his name, Hugo lifts his head and nudges Daisy’s hip, whining softly. Her face crumples with relief as she wraps both arms around the dog’s neck. Hugo leans into her, guardian mode activated.

“You’re safe here,” I tell her. “I swear it. And we’re coming back with him.”

She nods, wiping her eyes quickly like she doesn’t want anyone to see.

Max squeezes my shoulder, grounding me again. “Come on,” he murmurs. “Let’s suit up.”