Contents
Chapter 26
Overview
Wren defies orders to free Tana from Ice Canyon’s prison, aided covertly by Cross. Luisa extracts Wren, Tana, and an ailing Declan as Command reinforcements arrive. Back at the Dagger, Evlynne lashes out over Neema’s death, Authority leaders reprimand Wren, and Gray confronts her about collusion with Cross, straining alliances.
Summary
As Command reinforcements approach, Wren refuses Saint’s orders to reach pickup and instead targets the west-side prison to free Tana. Declan, weakened by force-field exposure, insists on staying with her. Cross links in, confirms security is light, and diverts guards. Wren infiltrates the dim barracks and locates Tana’s cell.
Using an override code supplied by Cross, Wren unlocks the door and sends Tana to Declan and Luisa’s secondary pickup. Cross slips inside to cover the extraction; he and Wren share an urgent embrace and he provides his bike for her escape before reinforcements arrive.
Luisa retrieves Wren as Declan and Tana board, with Declan in critical condition. During the tense flight, Cross warns Wren to avoid Command wards as Travis suspects him. Tana deduces Wren had help from the Command side and questions whether she can trust Wren.
At the Dagger, Fiona and Teriq rush Declan to medical, while Evlynne attacks Wren in grief over Neema. Wren defends that the force field’s activation caused the death. In a late-night debrief, Adrienne, Gray, and Teriq reprimand Wren for disobeying orders; Wren maintains she risked only herself and that rescuing Tana fit the mission’s spirit.
Afterward, Gray privately presses Wren on how she got the code and accuses her of collusion with Cross. Wren denies specifics but argues not every Command member is the enemy. Gray challenges Cross’s past inaction, and their confrontation escalates into charged tension. Wren leaves, unrepentant about saving Tana despite mounting distrust and internal fractures.
Who Appears
- Wren DarlingtonDefies orders to rescue Tana, leverages Cross’s help, escapes via Luisa, defends actions under scrutiny, clashes with Gray.
- Grayson (Gray) BlakeMission lead who warns of timing, reprimands Wren, leads debrief, confronts her privately about Cross and possible collusion.
- Cross ReddenCommand captain who diverts guards, provides the cell code and bike, calls air support, shares a charged reunion with Wren.
- Tana ArcherFreed from prison; grateful but wary, questions Wren’s trustworthiness upon suspecting Command help.
- DeclanInsists on backing Wren despite heart failing after force-field contact; extracted and sent to medical.
- LuisaPilot who circles back for a ten-minute window and extracts Wren, Tana, and Declan; coordinates medical readiness.
- SaintMission lead who authorizes a strict ten-minute window; restrains Evlynne during her outburst.
- AdrienneAuthority figure who leads the reprimand, challenges Wren on disobeying orders and obtaining the override.
- TeriqLeader from west-side ops; questions Wren at debrief and confirms Saint’s conditions.
- EvlynneGrieving teammate who attacks Wren, blaming her for Neema’s death after the force-field incident.
- FionaHealer who readies to treat Declan upon landing.
- KallisterOffers a sympathetic presence during the debrief as Wren is admonished.