On the underground train Mare Barrow and Cal boarded at the end of Red Queen, Mare waits, tense, as they speed toward the city of Naercey, which they’ve learned is not surrounded by deadly radiation and is actually a former safe haven for the Scarlet Guard. Now, they likely travel toward an ambush of Silvers sent by Maven, but despite Cal’s warnings, the Scarlet Guard doesn’t change their plans. Diana Farley, the guard’s leader, puts Mare’s brother Shade Barrow in charge of keeping Mare safe, and Cal reminds her to trust her lightning ability, and Mare thinks, “[T]he electricity in my veins might be the only thing I trust in this world” (6).

As Cal predicted, fighter jets approach shortly after they arrive in Naercey. The group scatters, with Mare, Shade, and Kilorn Warren taking a path through the forest toward the river. Mare refuses to leave without Cal. Shade promises they won’t leave without him, and Mare fires back that she doesn’t trust his promise, thinking she’ll apologize later “if later ever comes” (13).