Denis looked like he had more to say, so I gave him a nod to go on.
He cleared his throat.
“Mary called from Luna Mara’s office this morning. She requested immediate military assistance.”
I turned toward him sharply.
“For what?”
“Something happened at Steel Corp. She wouldn’t say much. Just that no one could leave until she spoke to the Luna.”
Before I could respond, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out and saw Mara’s name on the screen.
I answered immediately.
“Mara.”
Her voice was tight, controlled—but I could hear the weight behind it.
“Lucian, I need you to stay calm, okay? What I’m about to tell you… it’s serious.”
Nothing good ever followed that sentence, but I kept my voice steady.
“I’m listening.”
“They cleaned us out,” she said.
My heart skipped. “Who did? W
