Maya's POV

I woke up three days later in a makeshift medical tent, my body screaming in agony. The battle was a blur of blood and silver light in my memory. I remembered killing, so much killing. Remembered the coalition forces breaking and running. I remembered Alpha Cornelius's head in my hands before everything went dark.

"She's awake," someone called out.

My mother appeared at my bedside, her face drawn and exhausted. "How do you feel?"

"Like I died and came back wrong," I croaked. ...