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Blackstone Manor wasn’t black It wasn’t even made of stone But the old Tudor-style manorhouse more than made up for the , its sprawling estate groohty years Would be for centuries more

It was as if time had no power here

Kara squirainst the leather No et comfortable Not in this room Not now

“Everything alright Ms LoPresti?”

Besides, she was just too restless

“You’re shifting around like you’ve got bugs crawling all over you”

She stared over the ancient wooden desk, at the tiny wo behind it She was frail and dark-skinned, but sat dignified and upright, without the slightest hint of a hunch Behind her theshadows over the rich, wood-paneled room

“I’lass of water on the desk in front her ree to reach for it

“Then what’s the fucking problem?”

Kara’s races, Xios Bluntness wasn’t one of them

“I said—”

“It’s just strange, that’s all,” Kara said “That you’d pair me up with another member of the Order Especially when you and I both knoork best alone”

Xio from the silhouette of the fire behind her “Don’t tell me what I know,” she snapped “You work best when you’re focused And lately, you’ve been pretty fucking distracted”

She waved one sh but she did it

“And besides,” the wo a project for any one ht now”

Kara’s dark brow furrowed “Right now? What’s so important about—”

“The opportunity is ti that happens in just a few short days”

Now Kara did reach for the glass, if only to give herself a moment to think The technique worked

“The winter solstice?”