Contents
Chapter 49
Overview
Reeling from seeing Adrienne meet Travis Redden, Wren avoids Gray until he confronts her, sparking tension over her past with Cross. Tana comforts Wren. At dinner, Gray hints at a risky mission Adrienne proposes. Wren privately meets Kallister in the daggerstone cave, where he confirms Adrienne’s covert contact and reveals the Uprising once worked with Travis to depose his father.
Summary
Returning from the mission, Wren is shaken after witnessing Adrienne meet Travis Redden. She avoids Gray’s comms and broods on the Ledge until Gray finds her. Pressed to talk, Wren admits Cross has been with other women, deepening Gray’s hurt over her past. He leaves, and Tana arrives at Gray’s behest to comfort Wren, who mourns the end of Cross while affirming she has moved on.
The next day Gray is absent, and rumors swirl of heated Authority debates. At dinner he mentions Adrienne has proposed a risky mission opposed by Kallister, requiring unanimity. Concerned the argument relates to Adrienne’s secret rendezvous, Wren arranges a confidential meeting with Kallister in the white daggerstone cave.
On the way, Wren senses her old ridgehowler, Prince, and reflects on Fisher’s hidden bloodmark. In the cave, she confronts Kallister about Adrienne’s meeting with Travis. Kallister calmly confirms he knew and clarifies that the Uprising isn’t allied with the Company but did collaborate once—with Travis—to take down his father, revealing a covert, destabilizing alliance.
Who Appears
- WrenNarrator; shaken by Adrienne meeting Travis, mourns Cross, strains with Gray, seeks answers from Kallister.
- KallisterAuthority leader; opposes Adrienne’s risky mission and reveals past cooperation with Travis to depose his father.
- GrayWren’s partner; confronts her, hurt by Cross revelations, arranges Tana’s support, alludes to contentious war room debates.
- AdrienneAuthority head; secretly met Travis and proposes a high-risk mission, sparking conflict with Kallister.
- TanaWren’s oldest friend; comforts Wren during her emotional breakdown after Gray’s visit.
- Travis ReddenGeneral of the Continent; secretly met Adrienne; once collaborated with Uprising to remove his father.
- Jasper ReedPast-projector whose memory showed Cross with another woman, intensifying Wren’s grief.