POV: Xavier

The world had turned against us overnight. We barely made it out of the Crimson Dawn facility alive. Ascended forces pursued us through the streets, and worse, civilian mobs joined the hunt. Normal people who'd watched Vex's propaganda and believed every word.

"Monsters!"

"Killers!"

"They created the plague!"

Rocks and bottles flew at our vehicle as we sped through the city. Dr. Singh drove while I tried to contact our safe houses.

Every single one had been compromised. Their locations leaked online, addresses posted with encouragement to "cleanse the monster nests."

"We have nowhere to go," Thelma said quietly beside me.

Through the mate bond, I felt her...