On Mars there is not much gravity. You have to pull the feet to break the neck. They let the loved ones do it.

Sevro smiles at me. I know that smile.

Roque finds me. He’s striking in his uniform— lean like a strand of gold summer wheat, with high cheekbones and warm eyes, but his face is pale.

He is a noble man doing what he thinks is best for humanity. Damn him.

“Time to run, Reaper,” Mustang taunts. “My army comes.”

“Yes.” Julian nods solemnly. “No.” Cassius shakes his head. “He’s not a Yorkton supporter? Julian, tell me it isn’t so! Darrow! Darrow, how could you be? They never win a game! Priam, are you hearing this?”

I hold out my hand. “Be my family and I will never forsake you. I will never lie to you. I will be your brother as long as you live.”

“You don’t understand how much this means to Cassius. After Julian’s death ... He has to succeed. He cannot be remembered solely for what happened. He can’t.” Why do I care so much?

The hollow abyss of despair calls to me. The voice that found me in the Jackal’s prison tomb. Reaper, Reaper, Reaper. Look what you have done. Look what you are. In your shadow, nothing can survive.

“Did you really eat your own Housemembers?” “After months in darkness, you eat whatever your mouth finds. Even if it’s still moving."

Down in the vale Hear the reaper swing, the reaper swing the reaper swing Down in the vale Hear the reaper sing A tale of winter done

"One moment a whip, the next moment a perfect sword. It is the weapon of a gentleman. A Gold. For any other Color to carry it is death.”

Before I can stop myself, I hail Mustang’s private frequency. It takes her twenty seconds to answer. “What is it?” Hesitation haunts her voice. “Stay alive,” I say. A pause. Emotion? Annoyance? “You too.” She closes the com link.

“Cassius.” I nod. “Cheers to your victory. I was worried you were all brains,” Cassius laughs. His golden curls are not even tousled. He throws an arm around me and surveys the room with a wrinkled nose. He feigns this nonchalance; I can tell he’s worried.

Who is closer to me than he? Who loves me more than this strange, nasty outcast? No one.

One by one, the fifty seats fill. And bit by bit, his face darkens as each chance for Julian to join the table disappears. When the last seat fills, he does not move. It is a cold anger that radiates. Not hot as I thought it would be.

“I have lost the invincible armada,” he says, stepping back, his hand tightening on his razor. Behind him, the display shows Sevro’s trap ruining the main body of his fleet. “How can I go on? How can I bear this shame?”

Of that curly-haired family, Cassius is the favorite son. Julian was the kindest.

These people are all about glory, victory, and family pride, yet they know nothing of love. Nothing of family. These are false families. They are just teams. The ArchGovernor has not even said hello to his children. This vile man cares more to speak with me.

And as we pretend to be brave, we become so. All except Sevro, who remains silent as we fly into space.