Silver Elite

Wren Darlington was smuggled from the city by her Uncle Jim when she was five years old, and she lived in the Blacklands for three years before returning to civilization. As one of the Modified—individuals mutated by a toxin released in a past war, known colloquially as “Mods”—Wren has psychic abilities. She can penetrate the minds of those around her, but the military forces of the Continent, known as the Command, can enact mental shields around their minds to ward off these infiltrations as they pursue their goal of wiping out Mods (also known as Aberrants or silverbloods).

After a one-night stand with a Command soldier named Jordan, Wren sneaks away but runs into an attractive stranger. After excusing herself from the stranger, Wren is quickly found by Jordan, who walks her out of the building. While passing through the village of Hamlett, which is celebrating Liberty Day, Wren is approached by a longtime friend, Tana Archer. Tana, a fellow Mod, creates a telepathic link with Wren to speak privately. Beneath Tana’s long sleeves, Wren knows her veins are rippling and glowing silver—a physical manifestation of Mod power. However, Wren is one of the rare few whose veins do not change when she uses her power; there is no explanation for why.