I knelt there holding an angel's feather with mangled hands, deafened by the sirens and stranded in a hostile world. Not because of my lack of a token, but because some invisible force had pinned me in place.

The Queen appeared in the doorway, dressed in head-to-toe red leather.

Moran stood behind her, sword in hand. He crossed to Vespa's body, crouched down and checked for a pulse, then shook his head. He closed Vespa's eyes.

The Queen sighed. "Oh, blanquita." ...