Shield of Winter

Hope

THEY MARRIED AS the apple trees opened their first blossoms, the grass an emerald green carpet beneath their feet. Vasic wore his Arrow uniform modified with a formal jacket in place of the lightweight armor. On his lapel was a pin: a black arrow entwined with the branches of an apple tree.

The handcrafted item had been a gift from Aden. Now the other man stood beside Vasic as Ivy’s parents walked her up an aisle strewn with cherry blossoms another teleporter had brought in that morning. Ivy’s dress was a light, gossamer creation of cream and lace; she had a ribbon in her hair and a bouquet of tiny peach roses in her hand.

Friends and family stood on every side.

Every member of the squad who wasn’t on duty was in attendance. Ivy had invited the others to a special breakfast tomorrow, where she planned to make them try at least a bite of the wedding cake.

Dressed in a neat charcoal suit paired with a white shirt, Samuel Rain—infuriated because he’d so far failed to build Vasic a robotic arm that integrated into his damaged systems—blended in oddly well with the Arrows. The lethal men and women stood beside Ivy’s friends from the settlement and the world.

Kaleb and Sahara were next to Judd Lauren and his changeling mate; Sascha, Lucas, and Alice nearby. A man with pale green eyes and dark blond hair introduced as Walker Lauren was also present, his healer mate at his side. Aden had spent an hour with Walker after asking Judd’s brother to arrive early, their discussion intense even from a distance.

Dr. Bashir, the surgeon who’d operated on Vasic, stood proudly beside the two nurses, while Anthony Kyriakus had been invited as Zie Zen’s guest—Zie Zen, whose last name Vasic had officially taken as his own in a quiet, powerful act of honor and of family. Eben and Jaya beamed at Ivy from near the front, and a washed and groomed Rabbit, his collar a debonair bow tie, stood quivering with excitement by Vasic. The air was filled with hope and love and promise.

I would’ve married you on Zie Zen’s porch, Ivy said to the man who was hers, but there is something so special about this day, about the people around us.

Vasic took Ivy’s hand when her parents handed it over, clasped it tightly. She was already his on the psychic plane, but this ceremony wasn’t only about them. It was about every black-clad man and woman who stood in the orchard. It was about hope. And his fierce, generous Ivy knew that.

He married her with spring in the air, the sunshine a cool gold.

Kissing her to the quiet jubilation of their guests, his Ivy dressed in cream and lace, Vasic felt a wriggling at his foot and looked down to find Rabbit had squirmed his way between them, was now looking up. Ivy laughed, and it was the perfect music for their wedding day.

To be an Arrow has always been to protect our people. That mandate now requires the protection of designation E. As of this update, the empaths are the squad’s top priority—any threat to an E is to be swiftly mitigated.

First Code of Arrows (Revised)

For too many years, others have made choices for us, and those choices have defined us in darkness. Today, we make a free choice. We cannot know where that choice will lead us, but one thing I know—this is a path of honor . . . and perhaps of redemption.

Aden Kai to the Arrow Squad, after a squad-wide consensus to update the Code

When an Arrow gives his or her loyalty, it is carved in stone—only if that stone proves false ground, shattering from the corruption within, will he break the bond. For those who hold his loyalty, an Arrow will lay down his life without hesitation, stand in the path of a bullet or a blade, sacrifice every last drop of blood in his body.

We now hold the promise of an entire squad of Arrows, men and women who have vowed to act as our shields against violence. It is a gift that we must always cherish and never dishonor.

As such, our first law, decided after discussion across the entire collective, is this: No Arrow is to ever be used as a personal weapon by an E. No E is to ever use his or her connection to an Arrow to induce that Arrow to do harm to another living being for the E’s personal gain (whether that gain is emotional, financial, psychic, or otherwise).

The Arrows are our partners and the relationship must be of mutual respect and trust if it is to grow ever stronger. Also, as in any partnership there must be give-and-take. The Arrows know only how to serve, how to give—it’s time they learned how to receive as well. (A personal note on the latter point: They can be stubborn about this, but so can an E. Persevere. Trust me, it’s worth it.)

Memo from Ivy Jane Zen, President of the Empathic Collective, to its membership

Dear V,

I ate the whole box of Turkish Delight. Under no circumstances are you to bring me any more (this month at least). I have the self-control of a starving squirrel.

Rabbit also has no self-control and is currently lolling around deliriously in his bed after gorging on his treats.

Love,

Ivy

p.s. I bought a new manual just for you. I haven’t even opened it. Come home early.