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Xan couldn’t help but feel jealous at the display of affection between the two He assumed this was Sloan’s friend Neven Neven welco behind Sloan

“Hello, Dev and Erl, great to see you again” He put his arm around Sloan’s shoulder “And I don’t believe I’ve met you before,” he said to Xan

“He’s a ne member, Nev Xan, this is Neven Neven, this is Xan”

“Very pleased to ripped it tightly and shook it firot there, Sloan Knew you liked the strong silent types” Neven bumped Sloan with his shoulder A red undertone seeh her skin, which was apparent even with her gorgeous deep complexion

“Come in, co it on the table as we speak She was so excited when I told her you were co” He ushered them into the house

Chapter 12

Sloan was still hu Well, not that wrong, since she had gotten what she ca her head, Sloan thought of Xan interceding on her behalf She knehy he’d done it, but it still pissed her off She was used to dealing with things on her own, leading her crew, she didn’t need someone to come in and think she eak

Neven welcomed them into his house He’d done well for hireet them She was a oman, who always smelled of cinnamon and cooked the best food Sloan had ever had Kila ushered the area to have a drink before the meal The room wasn’t crowded because it was s with books Physical books were a rarity these days, but Nev could never pass up a chance for a real book They were stacked on every surface and under every table, and lined the walls

The sht Sloan back to her childhood, where she spent hours sitting in the library on a beanbag reading while her mom or dad studied for whichever advanced de

gree they orking on at the time She’d wander the stacks for what see book Sloan ran her finger along the spines of the books on the shelves along the wall and felt Xan’s eyes on her as she moved around the room

It wasn’t that she didn’t appreciate how he’d tried his best to protect her, but she didn’t want him hurt And noas her chance to return the favor of protection Once everyone was settled and had drinks, and Xan standing like a sentinel surveying the area, Sloan took Neven aside

“Nev, do you have a sec?” She led him down the hallway

“Sure, what’s up?” She led hie screens, computers, and other electronics he used for his advanced coational projections

“I need to knohat you know about D’Arian”

“D’Arian? I don’t know enerally benevolent They wield a lot of power in their sector and are known for energy exports Why?”