Contents
Chapter 10
Overview
Over lunch, Teriq reveals Betima was his sister and shares blame for her death, deepening Wren’s guilt and ties to the unit. Gray departs on a mission with Adrienne, while Karra warns Wren to keep things platonic. In the Temple, Hawkins begins rigorous incitement training, teaching Wren to harness and channel gold.
Wren learns incitement can be maintained like a mental leash after initial contact, but struggles to hold the energy until Hawkins demonstrates full-body flow.
Summary
Wren eats alone in the mess hall until Teriq joins her and reveals he is Betima’s brother. He confirms Betima was an empath and died when Roe Dunbar discovered her Modification, and admits he voted to send her on Gray’s mission. Wren shares her own guilt over Julian’s arrest, and they part subdued.
The next morning, Gray appears in a flight suit and tells Wren he is transporting Adrienne to the city and will be off-grid until tomorrow. He mentions Wren’s pending work assignment and refuses her request to visit Xavier, advising her to ask Kallister. After seeing Saint’s latest fling depart, Wren is confronted by Karra at breakfast; Karra acknowledges Wren’s past hookup with Gray and warns her to keep distance while they are together.
Wren descends to the Temple, briefly meeting Poppy before Hawkins arrives. Hawkins immediately addresses Wren’s past incitement of a woman to suicide, then outlines his training plan: he will teach her to harness gold while Gray has volunteered as a future “rat.” He explains that incitement, once initiated in person, can be maintained remotely like a leash.
Hawkins instructs Wren to stop pushing the gold away and instead gather it. She repeatedly attempts to grip the elusive dust, experiencing draining shudders and losing her hold. Hawkins insists she is tensing and restricting the energy; he demonstrates harnessing by letting silver surge through his veins, showing full-body flow.
Applying his guidance, Wren makes incremental progress, briefly holding the gold before it slips away. The session ends with Hawkins urging her to continue, emphasizing that channeling the energy through her whole body will make controlled incitement possible.
Who Appears
- Wren (Stella Hess)Protagonist inciter-in-training; shares guilt with Teriq, rebuffed by Gray’s departure, warned by Karra, and struggles to harness gold under Hawkins.
- HawkinsInciter and trainer; explains harnessing and the incitement “leash,” pushes Wren to channel gold through her body, demonstrates full-body flow.
- TeriqReveals Betima was his sister and his vote sent her on the mission; shares grief and guilt with Wren.
- Gray (Grayson)Leaves to transport Adrienne to the city; refuses Wren’s requests about accompanying him or visiting Xavier; volunteered as Wren’s future incitement subject.
- KarraConfronts Wren at breakfast about past hookup with Gray; warns her to keep boundaries while they are together.
- PoppySeen meditating in the Temple, strengthening her shield; avoids Hawkins and briefly acknowledges Wren.