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She froze with her fingertips millimeters from his eye sockets The fury drained away all at once and she collapsed, sobbing uncontrollably on the floor Wondering rong with her She reached for her hatred again but it slipped continuously fro to hold on to an eel The harder she tried, the faster and harder the tears ca into hopelessness andShe was useless Weak and stupid and insignificant

She folded in on herself, her cries nearly drowning out the thaue’s unirandmother hasn’t been so easy to manipulate It would make this all so much si back to a far, quiet corner of her thoughts, and the tears faded aith the with a puppet

Scarlet lay cru She swiped theher hands into the carpet, she forced her body to stop tre the doorjae’s face twisted in that sickeningly char way he had

"I’ll have you escorted back to your quarters," he said, his tone all syrupy kindness "Thank you most humbly for your cooperation"

Thirty

Alpha Ze’ev Kesley’s hard-soled boots clipped harsh against thea handful of soldiers that nodded to him in respect, or perhaps fear Perhaps even curiosity at the officer who had spent weeks out in theto be one of the back at the headquarters felt like he’d awoken frohtmare, but not quite so anymore He had woken up to a reality much darker He had remembered who he really was What he really was

He reached the Lunar Rotunda--an ironic nareatly He passed ahis reflection with its clean uniforaze away

He smelled his brother as soon as he stepped into the library and the hairs on his neck prickled His pace faltered briefly as he allery and into the thaue’s private office It had once been suited for royalty--a rooh-society Earthens to muse over the philosophical works of their ancestors Display cases had once held priceless art and bookshelves clione now, rescued when the opera house had been taken over by the military, and a musty,wood

Jael was seated at a wide desk Made of plastic and ant décor Ran was there too, leaning against the wall of empty shelves

His brother smiled Al at such short notice I wanted you to be the first to know your brother had lad to see it," he said "Hello, Ran You were not looking too well last I saw you"

"Likewise, Ze’ev Your smell is much improved now that you’ve washed that huhtened "I hope there are no hard feelings about what happened in the forest"

"None at all You were playing a role I understand you did what you had to I should not have interfered"

"No You shouldn’t have"

Ran hooked his thumbs over the wide sash around his waist "I orried about you, brother You see his chin up "I was playing a role"

"Yes I should never have doubted you Nonetheless, it is nice to see you returned to your noro deeper I’d worried when I heard it go off that she rinned and turned back to Jael "If we are through here, I’d like to request perranted," said Jael, nodding as Ran saluted hiht a trace of Scarlet’s scent on Ran as he brushed past, and his sto the animal instinct to tear out his brother’s throat if he found out he’d laid one finger on her

Ran listed his head, expression darkening with a withheld secret "Welcome home, brother"

Ze’ev re until he heard the door close at the other end of the gallery He saluted the thau else--"

"Actually, there is sos, actually, that I wish to discuss with you" Jael sank back into his seat "I received a co She’s asked that all packs stationed on Earth be prepared to attack tootiations with the Eastern Co to her desires, and she’s quite finished offering compromises that they refuse to accept She has offered a teirl, Linh Cinder, be captured and handed over to her, but that has not happened The attack will be centered in New Beijing, beginning at ht their local time We will attack at 18:00" He tucked his hands into his wide criht of self-sustained bulbs overhead "I’lad you’ve returned in time to lead your men I want you positioned at the heart of our Paris attack Will you accept this role?"

Ze’ev clasped his hands behind his back, gripping his wrists until they ached "I do not wish to question Her Majesty’sus away fro the princess in order to teach a petty lesson to the Coe of priorities?"

Jael leaned back, studying him "It is not for you to question Her Majesty’s priorities However, I would hate for your mind to be clouded as we head into this ied with the escape of this Linh Cinder Though she may be a lamour And yet, she is not a shell"