Chapter 15: Cassian's Plan

**Arin's POV**

The gunshot came from behind us. My mother stumbled forward, silver blood spreading across her white dress. Her eyes, which had been shining with the same power as mine, flickered and went dim.

"No!" I screamed, catching her as she fell.

Cassian stepped out from behind a broken pillar, smoke still rising from his gun. But this wasn't the same tool he'd used before. This gun was black as night and covered with strange silver symbols that hurt to look at.

"Sorry to interrupt the family reunion," he said with a cruel smile. "But I couldn't let you ruin everything now."

Queen Althara spun around, her face twisted with rage. "You fool! What have you done?"

"What needed to be done," Cassian answered calmly. "You see, Your Majesty, our deal is off."

I held my dying mother in my arms, feeling her life slipping away through our tie. "Why?" I whispered. "Why would you do this?"