Contents
Chapter 55
Overview
Evlynne confesses Fisher is Travis Redden’s son and defects to protect him. Back at the Dagger, Poppy reveals her lethal infliction ability and admits she accidentally poisoned Wren on red moon night. In the war room, Elite’s involvement and heavy Bramble losses emerge, and Kallister invokes Order Five to disband the Authority.
Summary
On the runway, Evlynne reveals that Travis Redden fathered Fisher and that she intends to trust Travis to protect their son. Wren argues that Travis will exploit Fisher and begs Evlynne to reconsider, but Evlynne prioritizes Fisher over the cause and departs with him, leaving Wren stunned and scrambling for extraction.
Returning to the Dagger, Wren and Poppy meet Gray. Grieving Fiona’s death, Poppy accepts Gray’s grounding. In Wren’s quarters, Poppy discloses her hidden bloodmark and her power: infliction, the ability to induce pain, seizures, and stop hearts, which she can usually control. She admits accidental animal deaths and then confesses she unwittingly poisoned Wren on red moon night by mistaking heartroot for crimlock while trying to make Fiona leave the party early. Wren forgives her.
Summoned to the war room, Wren joins Kallister, Adrienne, Gray, and Karra. Debriefs confirm a full-scale assault at Bramble, Elite present on the ground, Teriq captured, and many civilians dead or taken; sixty-two are sheltered by the Hollow after Jasper’s appeal. Wren withholds Evlynne’s revelation about Fisher but reports Evlynne linked to say, “I’m sorry.”
Kallister blames Adrienne’s push for talks with Travis for the disaster, arguing Redden used her and never intended peace. With the council diminished and leaders imperiled, Kallister invokes Order Five, initiating a vote to disband the Authority, escalating the internal crisis.
Who Appears
- Wren DarlingtonNarrator; confronts Evlynne’s defection, comforts Poppy, debriefs Bramble events, and withholds Fisher’s paternity in the war room.
- PoppyGrieving Fiona; reveals infliction ability, demonstrates control, and confesses accidentally poisoning Wren by mistaking heartroot for crimlock.
- EvlynneAdmits Travis fathered Fisher and defects to him to protect their son, apologizing to Wren before vanishing.
- AdrienneLeads debrief, accepts blame-tinged scrutiny, maintains Elite assaulted Bramble; faces Kallister’s move to dissolve the Authority.
- KallisterFurious over Bramble losses; condemns Adrienne’s strategy and invokes Order Five to disband the Authority.
- Grayson (Gray)Supports Wren and grounds Poppy’s emotions; weighs Elite’s role and the assault’s scope during the debrief.
- Karra ColferReports on the ground breach at Bramble; skeptical about Evlynne’s betrayal; survived the assault.