Shadow Reckoning

The room was deathly silent.

Jade was the first to break it. "…How much do you remember?"

Shade exhaled. "Pieces. Nightmares. Bits and fragments. They trained me, shaped me into a weapon. But I escaped before they could finish the process."

Lauren's voice was tight. "And now Lucian wants you back."

Shade nodded. "Because I was his greatest creation."

Jade rubbed her temples. "Okay. Just when I think my life can't get more fucked, you hit me with 'hey, surprise, I was a government murder machine.'"

Shade smirked faintly. "To be fair, I was going to tell you eventually."

Jade rolled her eyes. "Yeah? Before or after we had sex?"

Lauren cleared her throat. "Can we focus?"

Jade sighed. "Fine. What's the move?"

Lauren exhaled. "Lucian is preparing something. Big. And if we don't stop it—"

Shade cut her off. "We will stop it."

Jade studied him. "Are you sure about that?"

Shade met her gaze. "I don't have a choice."

Lauren's voice was cautious. "And what happens if he gets to you?"

Shade didn't answer.

Because deep down, he knew the truth.

If Lucian got inside his head—if the Revenant programming woke up—

There wouldn't be anything left of him to save.

And that scared him more than anything.