Page 93 of Daughters of Ash

“From us.”

“From the system you uphold, yes.”

The weight of that admission suffocates the room, and I fear I’ve just triggered a different kind of interest.

“How many others?” Kellen asks.

“How many others, what?”

He’s pissed, jaw clenching over and over. “How many other women are in hiding?”

I laugh, but there’s no humor in it. “Why in the stars would I know that?”

“That’s not what I asked.”

“I don’t care, I answered.” I lean forward, matching Kellen’s intensity. “I have been kept inside one single building my entire life. The first time I ever stepped outside was the day I met you.” My eyes land on Elias, the man looking shocked at the admission. I’m not sure what they expected…it’s not like I could walk around, undocumented, and live happily ever after.

The silence prickles the hairs on the back of my neck as Kellen stands, a hand swiping through his hair before he leans against the wall next to Elias.

The bruises around my neck throb with every heartbeat.

“So,” Kellen finally breaks the silence, his voice deceptively calm. “Cassia Ashford.”

The sound of my real name makes me flinch. Hearing itspoken aloud in this place feels like a violation, like they’ve stripped away the last piece of armor I had left. It’s truly over.

“Your powers,” Elias interrupts, leaning against the table. “You can influence multiple people without touch…that level of control takes years to develop.”

“Ihadyears.” The words taste bitter. “Nothing but time and books and—” I stop myself before saying too much.

“And what?” Kellen’s eyes narrow. “What else?”

I meet his gaze, forcing myself to hold it. “And the knowledge that women like me are dying in those facilities while I sit safe in my room, doing nothing.”

The temperature in the room drops as the men exchange a look I cannot discern.

“The facilities serve a purpose,” Kellen remarks, scratching the scruff along his chin. “They maintain order and stability.”

A huff leaves me, the sound harsh and broken. “You call torturing women stability?”

“They’re not tortured,” Elias says, but there’s something in his voice—uncertainty? “The facilities provide care, protection—” Are they truly this dense?

“Protection fromwhat, Elias?” I stand, anger giving me strength. “From freedom? Having their own choice and autonomy? From being a fucking human?”

Kellen takes a step forward, resting his hands next to mine on the shiny surface. “You don’t understand the bigger picture. The system works—it keeps society functioning.”

“For.Who?” My voice rises despite the danger. “Formen. Forthe Syndicate. What about the women who never see sunlight? Who are raped like animals?”

“That’s enough.” Elias’ command is sharp, but I’m beyond caring.

“No, it’s not enough. It’s never enough.” My hands clenchinto fists. “You want to know why I’m here? Why I riskedeverythingto join this stars-forsaken team?”

They wait, watching me with the intensity of predators.

“Because I’m tired of hiding and pretending the world is acceptable when it’s built on the suffering of half the population. I want that to change.” My voice drops to a whisper, but it carries more weight than anything else I’ve said today. “I want to burn the Syndicate to the ground.”