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"And I’ave her a sense of peace to say that "I’ the truth for the first tilad"

"Good, because there’s no getting out"

It was at that moment that Sascha’s eyes flicked open Talin was startled to see the blackness cascading with color The wonder of it astonished her, ht

But what Sascha had to say eclipsed even those ht"

Her knees would have collapsed had Clay not been holding her upright "What?" she croaked out "Did you see so so wide it was in danger of cracking her face "Your ht it was because you were huht, but our preconception kept us fro the whole truth You don’t suck in the biofeedback the same way a Psy does The flows aren’t obvious It’s like" - she paused her rapid-fire explanation - "like you need a misty rain, while we need a downpour Do you see?"

Talin was so dazed, she had trouble forh to die iht unless I have it?"

"Yes!" Sascha’s expression gloith exciteht, draw on the biofeedback Your brain is taking in what it needs through your link to Clay and therefore to the Web" Her eyes sharpened "Are you feeling much better?"

She didn’t have to consider the question "Yes I can think so clearly Ever since - " Blood rushed out of her face "Clay’s headache"

"That explains it," Sascha said, s draw at soo by your symptoms, your brain ell into starvation mode I didn’t notice a shift in the Web that would have alerted me to the truth, but that’s because you took it directly froh Talin’s veins "Did I hurt him?"

"No, no, it’s like a blood donation," Sascha assured her "If you’d been taking in that much constantly, it would have hurt him"

"Can it kill?" Talin asked, nant "Yes For the PsyNet born, yes But you don’t need as much You would have si bite" - she senerate With the bond settled in the Web, you’re soaking it in froeneral extraneous buildup, like me and Faith It harms no one"

"Okay" Now that she knew Clay was fine, it was all she could say, her mind numb

"Clay," Lucas said, "how about we pick this up tomorrow?" His eyes were intent on Talin "I think your Tally needs ti needs to work off soasp and a chuckle from someone, but Talin was barely aware of it As she was barely aware of Clay ending the call, peeling off her robe, and dropping it to the floor along with his own clothes But when he kissed her, it was as if a switch had been thrown inside her She cahed and they played and when it was over, she lay with her head on his heart, and thought about forever

Chapter 48

In the PsyNet, the third e place

"We can’t have a repeat of the situation we had last year with Enrique," Shoshanna said, referring to the Councilor whose death had led to Kaleb’s ascension "We need to swear in a new Councilor before anyone starts questioning the true circureed "Though the populace does see the explanation of accidental death very well"

"There’s oneinterrupted "We may have a situation with Ashaya Aleine"

"She’s controlled," Kaleb said, brushing the issue aside "We have her son, correct?"

"Yes However, I’ to hold her"

"But it does for now," Nikita responded "Shoshanna’s right - we need a new Councilor fast"

"Agreed," Ming replied "But unlike with Kaleb, there’s no one ready to step into the role We considered Gia Khan in the last round, but she’s since proven weak, unable to stop unrest in her local region"

A taut silence

"I have a suggestion," Kaleb said "He was once a Council candidate, is noerful enough that he defies us, and he’s strong enough to take on Marshall’s responsibilities"

"You’re talking about Anthony Kyriakus," Shoshanna said "The ht Make hiain access to his considerable resources and business network"

"He turned down a Council seat once before," Nikita reminded them "He may not accept now"

Kaleb considered his next words with care "After the confirmation of Marshall’s death, I had a discussion with Anthony"