Desperate for answers, Lysander and Kylie arranged a clandestine meeting with an unlikely ally, an old enemy who had a vested interest in their survival. The meeting was held in a secluded location, far from prying eyes. The tension was palpable as they faced the man who had once been their fiercest adversary.

The ally revealed crucial information about the new threat. It was a group of ideologues who believed that the city’s transformation was a threat to their way of life. They ...