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"I will have a talk with Alex anyway" He rubbed his jaw "Has there been any word of her brother?"

"No, nothing, and I can find no trace of hi the city I will continue the search, but if he has been taken by the Brethren again…"

"I understand Thank you, Val" Michael ended the call and looked at Phillipe "Do you knohat Alexandra was doing last night before she placed the call to Chicago?"

Phillipe looked uncomfortable "I did not see her myself, but one of the seneschals , near the high lord’s chambers"

Michael nodded If there was anyone who could infuriate Alexandra, it was their liege lord "I think it would be sensible for you to visit the hospital while I a with Richard and the others Perhaps you could help Alexandra with the patients Shewhat Cyprien meant "I think I can assist her until le conseil supérieur is over"

Michael went fro and Tristan The two seigneurs were discussing the possible locations of Brethren cells in their territories Both fell silent as they noticed him, but nodded before they took their places

Michael saw soneurs already seated, and kept his own expression bland He knew that opposing war against the Brethren had set him apart from the other Kyn rulers, and he had expected some backlash because of it

Richard entered last, and took his place at the head of the table He was about to speak when a servant ca to hi Alexandra to the rooneurs rose froed out of her lab coat and wore one of the dresses Michael had bought for her The deep green material complin of the gared her curls to fall frolowed in her ears and around her throat

"My lady," the high lord said, sounding none too pleased to see her "I understand this address you wish to ency, but I think you and I should step out of the roohtly at Michael beforeto the other end of the table to face Richard "Please be seated, gentlemen I want you all to hear this"

Michael looked froloves, and put his hand on his dagger as he sat doith the other roup of Brethren in A experiments on mortal children," she said without preamble "They isolated orphans, runaways, and abductees in underground breeding centers, where they kept thee, who had fled the Nazis to prevent the the Kyn for their insane schemes of racial purity, looked furious

"Brethren scientists and doctors subjected the children to treatned to alter their bodies, their enetic makeup," Alex replied "I believe the experi these children into superhu the Darkyn I can also provide evidence that at least six of the children who survived these experirew up to display extraordinary abilities"

Richard planted his hands on the table and began to rise "This is all quite riveting, Doctor, but your theories about Brethren breeding practices can wait until--"

"I’enetic experiments" As the h lord a slittered with malice "So sit down, Richard, or I’ll show you just how effective they were"

The high lord sank back into his seat

"You were raised by the Brethren?" Sevarus growled, his one eye ablaze with hatred

"Seigneur, I was probably bred by them," she said "As were Sa Harper, the other orphans who’ve e to Kyn in the last couple of years"

"So the order seeks to infiltrate us with their killers" Cordoba spit out the words

"We didn’t knoere killers," Alex told hiuess is that ere created as reserve troops Most of us were adopted out or raised by foster parents as normal human children We were never told about the experiments, our abilities, or their purpose Evidently I was the first to be changed" Her e appeared bewildered "Were you sent to us by the Brethren?"

"No I didn’t know they existed until after I becae was simply an accident--or a twist of fate My enhancement, which allowed eon in the world, brought Michael and ether Sa the blood of the victi’s ability to reed them as well"

"Why enhance only women?" Tristan asked