It’s the second day of interrogation, and Vex sits across the metal table, hands restrained. The sedatives have worn off now, but his eyes hold a vacant quality—Aurora’s special cocktail of drugs and magical “truth serum.” But his shoulders are stiff, bearing rigid… a sign of the mental blocks in place, Syndicate programming scrambling thoughts the moment we approach dangerous territory.
Viktor stands to my right. Caleb to my left. But the room holds others as well; Aurora Collective members I have only recently been introduced to.
Kieran Asguard leans against the far wall. Late twenties, dark auburn hair, copper-gold eyes that mark him as dragon despite his gaunt frame. Three years of Syndicate captivity left him hollow in ways that have nothing to do with weight. He watches Vex with an intensity that makes the air feel dangerous.
Luke Kenan occupies the corner. His hand rests on Ember Arrowvane’s shoulder—a casual touch that speaks volumes about how close they are.
Ember herself sits forward, elbows on her knees, vibrating with witch-fire barely contained. She studies Vex carefully.
And beside her—Vanya. Ember’s mother. Ice-blonde hair, pale eyes. The tension between her and Luke is visible but clearly restrained. I sense depth to their situation that I don’t yet understand.
Nadia Frost stands near the door. The wolf shifter insisted on being here, citing personal interests that Viktor accepted as valid.
The room is crowded. Tense. Everyone here has been touched by the Syndicate.
Everyone here wants answers.
“Vex,” Viktor begins, “you claimed Kael would lead your restoration. Explain what that means.”
Vex’s eyes focus slowly. The mental blocks resist, but Viktor’s been working on this for hours. Wearing them down. Finding the cracks.
“The old order,” Vex says. Voice flat. Mechanical. “Dragons ruled. Humans served. Natural hierarchy. Before the… before…”
He stops. Jaw working.
“Before what?” Viktor presses.
“Before weakness,” Vex says. “Before integration. Before dragons forgot what they are.”
“And what are we?” Caleb asks quietly.
“Superior.” Vex’s eyes burn with zealot fire even through the fog. “In every way. Strength. Longevity. Power. We should rule. Command. Take what is ours by right of—”
He gasps. Shudders. Syndicate conditioning clamping down. Probably some magic along with it.
Vanya steps forward. “The magical signature just spiked,” she says, confirming my suspicions. “The failsafe they have is tied to specific concepts. Words. Ideas they can’t speak about.”
“Sovereignty,” Kieran says from the wall. “That’s the trigger. Any discussion of actual plans to seize power activates the block. I’ve seen it before.”
Everyone turns to look at him.
“In the facilities,” he continues. “They conditioned operatives. Programmed fail-safes into their minds. Information compartmentalization. If capture seemed likely, the blocks would activate. Scramble memories. Make interrogation impossible.”
“You experienced this conditioning,” I say.
His eyes meet mine. Hold for a moment. “Yes.”
“And you broke through it.”
“My sister broke through it,” he says. “Her shadow magic disrupted the lattice structure. Gave me space to remember who I was… And that I loved her.”
We’ll have no such advantage with the man in front of us, who probably loves no one.
“The Syndicate’s been refining the technique,” Vanya says. “What was done to Kieran three years ago is cruder than this. These blocks—” She gestures at Vex. “They’re more sophisticated. Adaptive.”
“Can you break them?” Viktor asks.
Nadia steps forward. “I can do it. Given time. And the right… tools.” Her eyes flash silver as she studies the male.
