Reyna urged Guido to fly at her top speed. She prayed that no monsters would attack, because she could barely see through her tears. She kept seeing Richard's lips on that strange woman's, then her chest would hurt a little bit more. She felt as if she wouldn't be able to breath at all soon, as she gasped for air between sobs. She had to pull herself together. She was a warrior, a fighter. She couldn't let something like this get to her. But she had wanted it so badly. She wanted him. She could hear Hylla's voice in her head scolding her, "I told you. Men are selfish and will always hurt you." Was she right?

Reyna shook her head trying to clear her thoughts. But no matter how hard she tried she couldn't get the image out of her mind. She couldn't work with him, now. Not anymore. She didn't think she could even look at him again. She never wanted him to hurt her again.

Thankfully, she reached New Rome with no attacks. She was able to get to her bunk without encountering anyone, thanks to the late hour. She located the folded white T-shirt under her pillow and threw it across the room. She then promptly curled up on her bed and cried herself to sleep.

By morning, she was determined to push him out of her mind. She dressed in her armor and was ready to face troops.

"Attention!" Hazel yelled as Reyna walked in front of the troops.

"Mortals are threatening our lives. You will need to train harder than ever, to face this threat. Pair up." The soldiers faced off in pairs, their swords at the ready. "Begin!" Reyna ordered.

It was a familiar scene, the young soldiers fought with each other trying to hone their newfound sword skills. Normally, Reyna was more relaxed during sword exercises, but today she found every slow and clumsy move annoying.

"Keep that sword up! Feet apart! Shield up! Protect your flank!" She yelled. With each order, she became more and more irate.

"Uh, maybe we should take a water break." Frank timidly suggested.

"Fine." Reyna agreed as she turned away from the relieved kids, who eagerly went to get a drink from the coolers.

Frank followed her and asked her out of earshot from the kids, "How did last night go?"

It was a simple question, but Reyna felt the hurt and anger rise up. She couldn't stop the anger in her voice. "It was a complete disaster. We're on our own."

Frank looked at her with a mixture of horror and concern. "But I thought that the auguries said we had to work with . . ."

"Well, obviously, they were wrong." Reyna snapped. She could feel herself loosing control.

"What happened?"

Reyna whirled around to face him, seething with anger. "I don't want to talk about it. And you will not bring it up again." She said it louder than intended. The students across the arena stopped their chatter to listen in on their conversation. Reyna felt a burning in her chest and knew she had to get out of their to get her emotions under control. "Finish up training." Reyna ordered Frank before she left the arena, trying to look as emotionally under control as possible. By the time she reached the Praetor's office, she let the tears fall.

She hit the desk as hard as she could. She was so angry. She was angry at Richard or Nightwing, whatever he went by. She was angry at herself for falling for his charms. Most of all she was angry that he had this control over her to make her feel this aweful. She had to get him out of her head.

Reyna did what she did best. She wiped away her tears and hardened her face, refusing to show any emotion or weakness.

This was how she survived the next week. She thought she was doing pretty good, until a Senate meeting was called.

"It has come to our attention that you have stopped all collaborations with the Justice League. This is of great concern." Senator Marino stared at Reyna.

"With all due respect," Reyna growled, "The Justice League may be more of a threat than a help."

"That's a strong accusation. I trust you have evidence to back it up?"

Reyna wanted to scream together a bunch of curses all about what she thought of Nightwing. But instead she took a deep breath. "I have been Praetor for almost eight years. I have always put the camp ahead of myself. We take a huge risk in trusting the Justice League."

"A risk that was decided to be acceptable. What has changed?"

Reyna went over her responses in her head, each one sounding lamer and pettier than the next. He hurt her feelings. He seduced her and then cruelly betrayed her. He kissed another girl! She couldn't say any of those out loud, lest looking like a fool. As she struggled to just come up with a sentence, the meeting was suddenly interrupted.

"We're under attack!" Frank yelled as he ran into the middle of the Senate.

"What?" Reyna said along with several others.

"One of Lupa's pack arrived with bullet wounds. It's confirmed. The wolf house is under attack."

Reyna let the horror of his words sink in. They had delivered at least twenty kids to the wolves for their own protection. An attack on the wolf house would result in those kids either being killed or retaken. "Sound the troops! Call the eagles! Get as many to the wolf house as possible!" Reyna ordered as she left the Senate with Frank on her heels.

"What about the Justice League?" Frank asked.

Reyna's heart clenched painfully at the mention of calling Richard. She couldn't. She physically just couldn't. "There's no time. We'll call the Amazons. They're closer." The troops lined up ready for battle. Frank turned into a giant eagle ready to help carry his share of troops. She prayed that they would get there on time.