rron Mont

eamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows,

e bedside table, my han

a always placed my m

p. And then I rememb

ough me. Was this her new strategy? To remind

ting to find her in the kitchen, a penitent expre

rs. Gable, the head housekeeper, was bustli

ed low. "Good morn

a?" I asked, m

ess... she has not returned sin

t had been more tha

eat, before Alaia had gradually altered my diet

It clattered against the plate, the

lord. I... I do not know the special sea

t was then I realized it. In two years, Alaia had silent

control was

d tried to call her. The ca

to hang

y arm across the table. The sound of shatterin

Daws

inal open on my lap. Barron's incoming call lit up

on one name:

odigy in applied runic technology. After graduation

"distracting" myself with a career. I'd slowly, shamefully

ialed her number. My heart

ced with its usual brand of sarcasm, came through. "Well, well. If it is

my lips. "Anya, don't.

anished, replaced by sharp

ple. "I'm div

lly. Congratulations on your parole. Wh

. "I want to restart my career. I

he other end was

ice was serious now. "You've bee

g on the encrypted files of my sec

h. "Anya, I have a plan. A plan that could cha