Page 11 of Catalyst

My idea was ambitious, maybe even reckless, but if it worked, it could redefine what wearable combat tech could do. I wasn’t just here to pass the class—I needed this. If I could pull it off, I wouldn’t just prove myself to Dr. Langford or my family. I’d prove something to myself.

Dr. Langford’s voice snapped me back to attention. “This isn’t just an academic exercise. If you do well, your tech could become a genuine piece of the heroing world, which is exactly what I expect from one of you."

Her gaze narrowed on me, and the weight of the world fell onto my shoulders.

“Calista Voltaris.” She said with a curl of her lips.

Slowly, every set of eyes trained on me, causing me to duck my head. It felt like my heart was going to explode.

“I trust you’ll live up to the family name this semester,” she said calmly. “I'd be a disgrace if the spawn of Flora disappointed me.”

Chapter 4

Jace

Istared at my reflection, straightening the collar of my sanguine button-down. It was Saturday, which meant I'd be subjected to another fucking dinner at the Anastasakis house.

Maybe it was the orphan in me, but the whole idea of family dinners felt pointless. Sure, Sulien’s death had been tragic, but the four of us gathering every week? It felt like we were already rehearsing for the next loss.

All of us—Kane, his mother Gianna, Sulien’s father Shin, and me—were villains. Kane and I weren’t as bad as the older generation, but we sure as hell weren’t saints. Our lives revolved around the gray areas of the law, where death was just part of the deal. I didn’t need to be reminded of that over roasted lamb and forced conversation every goddamn Saturday.

Except this week, I actually wanted to go. Not for the company—definitely not for that. No, I wanted to pull Kane away fromher.

Callie Voltaris.

I’d never really liked Callie. She was too perfect, too polished. It made her feel fake as hell. I still didn’t understand how she’d caught Sulien’s eye. And now, somehow, she’d wrapped Kane around her spoiled little finger.

I’d known Kane my entire life. He never really got caught up in people. He was stoic, serious, and all business. But since Callie had shown up on our doorstep with her sob story and swollen belly, he hadn’t shut up about her or that damn baby.

“She’s been holed up in Sul’s room since last night,” Kane said, his tone flat as he shaved in the bathroom mirror. “Think I should be worried?”

I shot him a look, watching as his tanned skin peeked through the white shaving cream. Worried? About some prep-school princess who’d lived in a bubble her whole life? She was finally facing reality, andthatwasn’t our problem.

“Worried about what?” I scoffed, running a brush through my long chestnut hair.

“She’s pregnant, Jace,” Kane muttered, tilting his chin higher as he dragged the razor down his jaw. “And she hasn’t eaten since last night.”

“She’s big enough as it is. She’ll be fine.” I yanked the brush harder through my hair, feeling the tension as the long strands fell back down my spine.

Kane froze mid-shave, glaring at me in the mirror. “What the fuck does that mean?”

“It means she’ll eat when she’s hungry. Missing one meal won’t kill her.” Gods, did I really need to spell this out for him?

Callie had let herself go since Sulien died. While I knew that would’ve driven that chubby-chasing motherfucker wild, he wasn’t here to see it. That meant it was up to us, as his partners, not to enjoy what he couldn’t. Yet Kane had been plowing herevery chance he got, which was disrespectful to Sulien, to say the least.

“If Sulien were here, he’d beat your ass for saying that,” Kane warned, his voice low.

“If Sulien were here,” I mocked, waving my hands dramatically, “He’d incinerate you for fucking his baby mama morning, noon, and night. Or did you forget how much he hated people touching his stuff?”

Kane’s grip on the towel tightened, and the light above the sink flickered. For a second, I thought he might use one of his shadows to yank me by the collar, but he let out a slow breath, his dark eyes burning into mine.

“Well, he’s not here,” Kane finally said, his voice a dangerous rumble. “And it’s my job to take care of what’s left of him.”

Great. His favorite topic—the baby that shouldn’t exist.

“Take care of her?” I snorted. “Which part of ‘taking care of her’ involves you screwing her every chance you get?”

“I don’t know!” Kane snapped, tossing the towel down. “I’m just doing what feels right. She’s not like us, Jace. She doesn’t know how to handle losing everything she loves. I just want to make sure she’s okay.”

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