You stupid, irresponsible human,” Lorelei spit the words out like a curse. Kary had never heard the word “human” sound so bad. 

Wings like Ryan's, but these were black as well as white. Swords clashing with ear-splitting shrieks. Fires raging, consuming everything in their path. The clack-clack of heels on marble floors. The flashes of gowns and spinning to music. Two pairs of the same-colored eyes.

There was power in names and knowing hers could change who she was in an instant.

It infuriated Kary in a way to compare the Astraea she remembered with this girl. Astraea had been barely a teenager when she had marched into war beside her. She had been scared, but she had never been faint of heart. She had always done what was needed. This girl in front of her now — Serena — was missing Astraea’s tenacity.