n with the force o

were more than just staff, they were fam

at had become of them. She never knew what had truly happened to her mother's

ringing good news. They were

the edge of a dresser to steady herself, her knuckles

brooked no argument. "Send them to the west wing entrance. And you

ack parlor. Use the service corridors. Don

flection in the mirror-pale, exhausted, but with a fire burning in her eyes. She quickly dres

or when Jennie led the two men in. They

embered, his suit rumpled and his face etched with grief. Arthur Hayes, her younger uncle's fier

posure crumbled. Their eyes, filled with a mixt

Arthur Hayes fell to one knee on the threadb

oked out. "The Beaum

around her heart, squeezing until she couldn't breath

"Three days ago, the Beaumont overseas security mission in the Kaskia reg

General Cornelius Beaumont, and your uncle, Colone

trong, laughing, so full of life. Gone. Just like that. She bit down on her l

" she forced the w

umont... is missing in action. He led a counter-attack to break the siege. We las

Killed.

rific moment, everythin

den had discarded her without a second thought, the

Beaumont, the military dynasty that had been the

he had been cast aside because she was no longer valuable. She was the

ndescent rage. Rage at the Monroes for their vulture-like cruelty. And rage at herself, for th

. "Get up," she said. Her voice was hoarse, but it held

n face to the other. "Tell me everythin