phin

lding on 42nd Street in Queens. I paid the driver, grabbed my

studio smelled faintly of damp plaster and warm air from the old radi

e frayed sofa, drew the yellowed curtains shut against the neon streetli

led rapidly across the screen. I placed my fingers on the keyboard, drew in a steady breath, and bega

rk's most secure nodes. Within three minutes, I created a phantom routing script that bounced my IP address across twe

t pocket and pulled out a palm-sized mechanical wolf sentinel

ift. It was the only thing of his I had brought with me. Looking down

not lo

me flat, emotionless recording it had pl

ing, I tossed the red-hatted mechanical wolf

he dim room. Gripping the band with my right thumb and forefinger, I pulled it over my knu

te resignation as Senior Data Analyst. Then I dialed an encrypted European number I hadn't dared to call in seven years

d, my eyes stung. "Grand-aunt, it's Sera

ian

into the gated drive of Black Stone Castle, with Finn sn

of the SUV with one arm, and strode through th

liar trace of warm cotton that meant Seraphina was waiting f

ipple of Alpha Dominion roll throug

pressure of my aura. "Alpha, the Luna left with a travel bag three

nto slits. After handing Finn over to a nanny, I took the st

y side under the chandelier light. I yanked open the closet doors. Every couture g

nd my pupils contracted. The red-hat

ing the heavy metal casing as I clenched it. A violent snarl rumbled in my ches