retching beneath her like a field of distant stars. The encrypte

ne Con

re deliberate. Coor

had not

d been

oved all doubt. Satellite tracking, intercepted communications, and she

doors opene

working," Rona

him. "You said Veltran

es

ne order

. "They function as a council. If

Arabe

age,"

tled heavily

're attempting an

ged thro

he

use. We believe s

com

N

my si

trained for a Vel

me out. If you're risking your life, I d

e location, the risks, the possibility of resistance. He sp

, he left w

lt wrong after

qu

rsations stopped when she entere

she s

icted corridor leading t

or required

walked away quick

tudy. The room looked untouched unt

in sc

ly acc

o minutes

nan had been preparing

cessed his enc

inside t

carefully and left wit

eak, she didn't

sat restrained in a privat

ng herself as Director Mardison Var

ble," Mardiso

m?" Arabel

never the in

confusion

ardison continued. "Fo

Ron

silence c

, Mireya attended a charity gala under Ro

pproached her al

for your sister,

" Mireya replie

n be dangerou

d respond, her

nder

. "Veltrane deployed reinforceme

Ron

s al

Arabe

er reac

all e

anticipated t

o the accessed terminal. The tre

ins

had warn

onto the balc

ws?" he

es

ed her c

prepare yourself,

r w

sometimes the enemy is

ard the ballroom,

e was d

de the Ashcroft m

he knew t

asn't just

s a me

Ronan's world was