Late on June 3, 2440, in the quiet of the Marmaduke farmhouse, Angelina and Lola Rhea confront long-buried truths about Matt, grief, and unspoken love. Over cold coffee and fading memories, they name the wounds no one else will—and the silent ache Matt still carries beneath his public strength.
Julia welcomes her former sorority sisters to the Marmaduke Freehold—and immediately regrets it. As influencer energy collides with post-collapse pragmatism, Angelina lays down the law, Priya quietly observes, and the house begins testing everyone. Some came to study a culture. They didn’t realize they were stepping into one.
Corporate leaders reel in the aftermath of Matt Marmaduke’s unexpected rise as High Lord of the V’ren. Amid blame, paranoia, and the realization that they’ve been outmaneuvered, one truth becomes clear—he didn’t take power, they gave it away. And now, the Midwest isn’t theirs to reclaim.