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Filthy rich and oily with a born salesrin, Crowe strolled over in his black tux and white shirt, a slender flute of bubbling chaers of his left hand He was tall and fit, carried himself with an air of entitlement - of ownership of all he laid eyes on - that ht Crowe’s thick yellow ht, rin seem to take up even more of his Mediterranean-baked face

"Chairhter, far less friendly, up close "Good evening to you"

Lucan had little choice but to take the offered hand and give it a firlare as Crowe’s gaze shifted to Gabrielle He looked her over froray sheath and delicate heels "I don’t believe we’ve had the pleasure"

"My ave a polite nod of her head and Crowe’s face lit up with appreciation "Enchanted, to be sure" He bowed slightly, then gestured with his chaet you a cocktail or some hors d’oeuvres? It would be my pleasure to serve, Lady Thorne"

Gabrielle’s smile went a bit strained at the unwanted attention "No, thank you"

"What do you want, Crowe?"

Croung his head back to Lucan "Actually, I wanted to coala Director Benson would’ve wanted that, I have to believe He and the rest of the GNC - yourself included, of course - have done so much to make this summit happen It would’ve been a sharunted in acknowledgment "Especially after you’ve obviously invested so much into the event personally"

Everywhere he looked he sae Industries’ sta service and video crew broadcasting the reception for the rest of the world For crissake, even the ten-man orchestra at the back of the lavish hall played under a digital banner bearing Reginald Crowe’s se

And then there was the centerpiece of the o - the crystal sculpture he was to dedicate to the GNC tonight in commemoration of First Dawn and the su true peace - situated in the center of the grand hall At least this wasn’t a blatant ode to Crowe’s arrogance Not the life-size likeness of the man that Lucan had half expected but a tall obelisk carved of glittering, multifaceted crystal The ten-foot sculpture tapered at its peak, on top of which sat an orb that glealowed faintly at its center in palest shades of peach and gold

It was, Lucan had to ad work of art Most of the reed, crowds drawn to the obelisk like a beacon in the middle of the sea of forne, surveying the reception he’d bought hat had to easily have been h and slowly shook his head "A pity, really This evening was supposed to have been a celebration of all the good things still to conition of all the promise the future holds To have lost one of the world’s most brilliant scientific minds and a respected statesman, both to violence in the saue "Well, it’s unthinkable Such a tragedy"

"Indeed," Lucan replied

Crowe’s gaze locked on him, as shrewd and sharp as a bird of prey "And the Order must be in shock as well, not without its own losses this week Terrible business, learning one of your flock has turned traitor A forone to the dark side to collude with the rebelsastounding" Crowe peeled his lips back in a cold s that’s one death today for which I did find cause to celebrate"

Lucan gave a careless shrug, refusing to let the huoad him "Apparently he wasn’t the only one involved in conspiracy Benson’s murder by JUSTIS officers today obviously means the director had secret eneret, but the eerous tiree And I have to say, I’m surprised at the lack of security response after the violence at today’s hearing I would’ve guessed the Order to corunted, cool and unfazed "This is a peace summit event, not a combat zone Youraround at his uniforuards who patrolled the party like a SWAT tea more," Lucan added "The sunate’s hu but pleasant "I happen to view those things in equal importance Especially after the Order allowed someone like Jeremy Ackmeyer to be abducted under their watch - by one of their own fallen members, no less I’m of the opinion we can’t be too careful when it co the interests of our future, Chairreed," Lucan replied stiffly

Crowe lifted his glass and drained it in one long s He glanced to Gabrielle, gave her a gallant nod "If you’ll excuse reet"

He didn’t wait for a response Spotting a Breed a with his attractive blondof tuxedos and evening gowns

Gabrielle stared after hirunted and drew her close to his side "He is that, all right And he’s up to solance to Tegan and Dante across the rooful nod in Crowe’s direction They would be watching the huot so oing to be taken dohether the whole world atching or not

Chapter Twenty-Seven

KELLAN WAS DREAMING OF LILIES

Their sweet fragrance wreathed his senses like a silken ribbon Pulled hiently to the surface, out of a dark, heavy slumber

He was alive

He opened his eyes Blinked slowly as he focused on his surroundings He was in a bed A hospital - no, the Order’s DC headquarters infirmary He knew this place, had landed there after combat more than once in his distant past But never like this

And never with Mira nestled against him

A rush of emotion swamped him

He was alive

And yet he knew he’d been dead He remembered the rip on the corporeal world He’d tried so hard to hold on He hadn’t wanted to go Hadn’t wanted to leave her He could still feel the sense of panic, of marrow-deep loss, as his connection to Mira thinned and stretchedthen snapped, sending hi away from her, unmoored, lost in a sea of darkness

He had died