"Really, there's no reason to be this difficult." Marcus sighed, genuine disappointment in his flat, blue eyes. "You've lost, Aurora. This scheme of yours to invent a new world has failed, you have failed. What's best for you and your mates, is to pick up the shattered pieces of your failure and turn them into something better."

"And you--you're what's better?" I croaked, rage and malice searing the edges of my words. My head throbbed from the Assassin's magic, forcing dark spots to creep at the edges of my vision. "All of that power has given you a big head, Marcus. We haven't lost anything. I'm one person, there are countless more out there who will see you removed."