An excerpt from A Living History: The Modified People explains the origins of the “Aberrant” people. The Theta-3 biotoxin was released by the Lost Continents during the Last War as a deterrent against nuclear strikes, but the Continent retaliated with a nuclear holocaust anyway. Years later, one in three survivors manifested psychic abilities and were isolated in prison-like facilities. Scientists have never discovered the “Mod gene,” leaving Theta-3 unsolved.

Wren flies with Luisa to visit Tana, who is staying with Luisa’s parents. Wren admits Cross was the Silver Block captain who helped her at the mine. Tana resents that Wren was involved with an enemy. Tana then reveals the deep trauma from her sexual assault by a Prime soldier (in Book 1). The trauma has left her feeling emotionally dead and forever changed, unable to connect with Wren. Wren tells Tana that she will accept Tanas as she is and affirms their lifelong friendship.

Back at the Dagger, Wren reads Marina’s school records. Kallister mentions her father’s first wife, Cecilia, who mysteriously disappeared. He questions her about Lyddie De Velde and her parents, Lyddie being a friend who betrayed Wren in the first book of the series. Suddenly, Wren overhears a conversation between Cross and Travis through a new uncontrolled ability, like a radio transmission. Cross has returned to the Command and is arguing with Travis over a plan to execute Aberrants. She again fails to link with Cross.

Gray gives Wren a file on Lyddie’s parents, noting Travis has been meeting with Biotech. In the Temple during incitement training, Wren successfully commands a resistant Gray to cut his own palm, shaking him.

The Authority announces a plan to build alliances, starting with the Faithful and Tierra Fe. Gray will lead a mission to negotiate with Jasper Reed. He assembles a sniper team including Wren; Xavier insists on joining. Despite Evlynne’s protests, Gray agrees. That evening, Wren’s new ability activates again and she overhears Cross with Lyddie.

Wren is consumed with jealousy about Cross’s meeting with Lyddie, who always had a crush on Cross. She again fails to link with him. She confides in Xavier, who dismisses Lyddie as too timid for Cross and reassures Wren that Cross wouldn’t be interested in her. Wren resolves to treat Lyddie as an enemy.

Gray, Wren, and Xavier arrive in Sanctum Point for their meeting with Jasper Reed. At Jasper’s request, Wren and Xavier join in, forcing Evlynne to take sniper position. Gray offers Jasper a seat on the Uprising’s council in exchange for arranging a meeting with the Faithful leaders. Jasper mockingly refuses.

Evlynne warns of a Gold Block (a military unit of the Company) convoy approaching. The group flees with Jasper in his armored van. At Jasper’s insistence, Gray removes and destroys Xavier’s tracker, since it might give them away to the pursuant unit. A high-speed chase ends with an explosion at the warehouse. Jasper drives through a secret tunnel to a hidden community called the Hollow.

At the Hollow, the group meets Kitty, the leader. She explains the Faithful community is a permanent settlement of over 400. Jasper and Xavier bond over their rebellious natures.

Jasper gives Wren a drink, revealing only after that it was laced with seraphis, a potent aphrodisiac. Sexual tension mounts between her and Gray. Later, Gray knowingly takes another swig, and the tension culminates with him leaning in to kiss Wren.

Wren stops Gray, reminding him he has a girlfriend. A small earthquake breaks the moment. The next morning, Kitty reveals both she and Jasper are Mods. The Faithful reject the Prime-Mod conflict, seeking only freedom. Wren wonders if the community’s idealism is a form of naivete.

Xavier announces his decision to stay at the Hollow. Gray initially objects, but with Jasper vouching for Xavier, agrees. Back at the Dagger, Wren and Gray part with the near-kiss unresolved.

Wren feels lonely without Xavier’s company. At 2 in the morning, Wren overhears Cross’s ex-girlfriend Ivy in his quarters. Ivy expresses fear of one of Travis’s subordinates; Cross offers to reassign her. Ivy asks if he thinks about their past. Wren is consumed with jealousy.

The next morning, Wren convinces Tana to go horseback riding. Wren confesses she almost kissed Gray, and Tana advises moving on from Cross, arguing a Mod-Prime relationship is unsustainable. Tana shares that she kissed Luisa but struggles with intimacy after her assault.

On their way back, they encounter Evlynne and Fisher. While they talk, Wren thinks about Cross. Fisher suddenly asks, “Who’s Cross?,” revealing he has read her mind.

Wren is disturbed by six-year-old Fisher’s ability to bypass her formidable shield. The fact that the ability manifested so early is another clue Fisher has extraordinary powers. Later, she finds Gray playing cards with Saint, Mako, and Karra. Karra’s constant displays of affection towards Gray inflame Wren’s jealousy. She makes a caustic remark about their PDA.

Regretting it, she apologizes and leaves. Gray comes to her quarters, angry at her rudeness to Karra. He asks her if she is jealous. Wren denies the truth, and Gray leaves.

Captain Jerrika Quinn questions Colonel Marina Serrano about her family. Serrano was estranged from her parents due to her father’s loyalty to former President Tack Severn, whom she viewed as corrupt. She felt no grief when General Redden executed them after his coup. She proclaims her loyalty to General Redden, citing her assistance in his takeover. Quinn challenges this by asking why she concealed her status as an Aberrant.

In Kallister’s quarters, Wren reads the interrogation transcript. Marina expresses unwavering loyalty to former General Merrick Redden and disdain for her parents. Quinn presses on why a loyalist would conceal her Aberrant status.

That evening at a party, Wren dances with Saint but realizes he’s not who she wants. She goes to Gray’s quarters. He opens the door as she arrives. She apologizes and admits she has feelings for him. Gray tells her he and Karra broke up that night.