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A ht thing Certainly Chaz looked happier Now, only tienda

• • •

Sasha’s plane had flown disturbingly close to Mount Rainier on the way over the Cascades, but the view of theThe helpful pilot had also pointed out St Helens and Mount Adauided the plane into its final approach to Seattle A chill slithered over her skin at the e to close the drapes She had to get used to the sight eventually, and the sooner the better

Granted the three peaks were beautiful, but she knew their truth Underneath all that nificent splendor beat the cold hearts of killers At times unstable, always unpredictable, and when the mood hit, totally lethal Even if thethemselves, they also harbored the Others, crazed murderers froed beauty, not when she knew about the trained warriors who lived and died under those scenic slopes, all to keep people like her safe

The Paladins--a society shrouded in secrecy Even working for the Regents, she’d caught only an occasional glient Her father had done his best to protect her from the world the Paladins lived in Even with her limited experience, she knehy

They arriors in the finest sense of the word--alpha lory, the kind of men who attracted woain She knew better It’d been another secret she’d kept froht have tere of time, the memories remained sharp and clear; the pain still ached like an old sports injury that acted up whenever it rained

But enough of that It was ti the flutter of butterflies in her stomach, she picked up her briefcase and left her rooes was scheduled in less than an hour

Devlin Bane, a legend in their world, hadn’t been happy when she’d refused his request to meet with him one-on-one ahead of time He’d raised some valid points in their brief flurry of e- to color her first impressions of the Paladins stationed in the Seattle area Besides, it was prettythat they’d close ranks to shut her out Fine They had good reason not to trust the Regents any and hard to break through their firrained "us versus them" mentality

If she could reestablish a positive working relationship, though, she’d guide theulations established by the Regents for the good of all The Paladins were the best at what they did, but soone way off track--to the point of harboring the ene their ranks

Her father and soleaders out, scattering theed to convince the Board as a whole that to do so would only spread the contagion

No, contain list As the elevator whisked her down to the ground floor, a surge of pure adrenaline hit her veins The battle for control was about to begin

It was tireed to attend theas the sole Kalith representative in the crowd Barak and Lusahn had offered to coreed that one of them should be there to hear what the representative had to say Larem had no idea why the Paladin leader had picked him and hadn’t bothered to ask

Lare their way toward thehis presence only because they’d been ordered to Inside the room, he paused to locate his friends, who had pro the back wall near one of the exits Lonzo was on duty and needed to be the first one out the door if the barrier crashed

"Hey, rooed your mind" Lonzo scooted to the side to make space for Larem between himself and Hunter

DJ joined the around the roo Devlin What’s up with that?"

Lonzo shrugged "Maybe he’s afraid of the biglittle huave hiet the nored the banter, focusing instead on a sudden stir at the front of the room Devlin had walked in, but for once he wasn’t the one leading the parade Whoever had entered just ahead of hiuards

Interesting

Few in the crowd had even noticed that the party was about to begin Devlin looked back to bark so at Trahern, who had followed him into the rooers in his ht all conversation to a screeching halt

Devlin walked up to the podiu up with Lare on,his approval that Larem had dressed in jeans and a flannel shirt to better blend in with his co, although Lare hair down past his shoulders Devlin hih it lacked the sprinkling of gray that gave the Kalith people their distinctive look

"Okay, everybody, listen up I’d like to introduce our new adents"

Before he could complete the introduction, the crowd turned restless as several Paladins shouted out comments and questions Lare it wouldn’t accolad the Paladins weren’t going to ents’ representative to impose his will over them

Devlin obviously had a different take on the situation When the ruuys shut the fuck up!"

Then he flushed red as he turned to face his unpopular companion "Sorry about that"