ghtning strike. Alexander sat draped in the shadows of the Maybach, his gaze fixed on Elena. He didn't look at his tablet. He didn't

o the Grand Hall, the

xedo jacket, tossing it onto a velvet settee with a rare display of carelessness. "Claiming you were my co-con

rne was already aiming for me, Alexander. At least now

e dark ring of intensity around his pupils. "You're learning. Most people spend decad

pite the way her heart thrummed. "Now, keep your end of the ba

nto his pocket and pulled out a small, antique silver key.

me," h

ll portrait the one she was only allowed to look at for three seconds. He press

al books and a single, ancient vanity. No screens. No

edge of the velvet stool. "The woman you see in the mirrors... she

sn't the polished obsidian of the rest of the h

sely," he

stantly. She wasn't winking or pointing. She was s

er tried the same experiment to save my mother's failing heart. He used Celeste as the biological anchor. But the

tled into her marrow. "What

plained, his hand trembling as he touched the glass. "Celeste's consciousness was accidentally mapped into the very glas

hand against the surface, exactl

ns when the 100 days are up. She knows that once Lira's mind is transferred into your 'Replica,' the ori

said I would get a memory suppressant. You sa

ved toward her, his shadow swallowing her. "But Lira is getting strong

e mirrors in the Grand Hall outside began to vibrat

to the room, distorted and hungry. "The Proxy is ready. The

the glass, then at Elena. He reached out and

ent ten years trying to save my sister, b

me go!" El

l kills you. If you stay, the machine consumes you. There

med her fist against the glass from the inside. A

HEART, the w

ack, then at Alexander

ry server isn't in the East Wing. It's under the sanctuary. But if we destroy

ror itself. The violet-eyed woman vanished, replaced by a swirling vortex of digital s

at the man who had lied to her, kidnapped her, and was now of

he key," E

her palm. "If you do this, Elena, the $2 million disappears. The Vance empire co

the money, Alexander. I was in it for the truth. And the trut

oor and began to sc