~Reo’s~

“Power doesn’t beg, Reovan.”

Her voice desiccates through the speaker once again like glass dragged across cold tile. Reo stands barefoot on the balcony, the wind brushing against his forearms as he leans on the railing and stares down at the still, silver city below. Her voice doesn’t match the view. It never did.

He lets her keep talking because that’s what she’s best at.

“You’ve gone soft. I hear it in your tone, I see it in the press photos. Helping with children’s programs? Playing house with that girl again? Do you even remember who you are?”

“I’m trying to,” Reo says flatly.

Mrs. Cuss pauses on the...