No more.

It was time to unleash their full might while the Net was in good enough shape to handle the deluge—but not so strong that it could repel so many of her children acting in concert. Because she knew what to do now. To be a true queen, she had to first rule her own kingdom.

The easiest way to do that was to take the action the Ruling Coalition had been too cowardly to complete—tear off a piece of the PsyNet, isolate it so it was an island on which the Scarabs ruled. Where she ruled.

She had everything she needed, everyone she needed. Because amongst her children were three of the bright minds needed to anchor a broken piece. So mad they were, quite out of control had she not squeezed walls around their minds that made them appear sane to their brethren, but they could do their task.

They would sit below her island and hold it up.

Are you ready, my children?

Yes, Mother.

It is time. Cut the threads, make the excision. Let the Net bleed.

Acknowledgments

A very special thank-you to Hasna Saadani for reading a draft of this book and taking the time to provide honest and in-depth feedback. You are incredibly kind and generous, and Last Guard is a better book because of you.

My thanks also to Karen Lamming and Vladimir Samozvanov, for coming to my rescue once again on a Russian question.

Any errors are mine.