esentment. Ansel sat by the window, his gaze fixed on the blur of the city

ressed stepsister, Rory Greer, ey

e sharp and acidic. "I thought you were going to hide a

ond. He didn't ev

pped. "Although I suppose it doesn't matter how you act. The result will be the same as alwa

legance, finally spoke from her seat between them. "Rory, don't talk to you

oes our family have to be humiliated by this... this defective piece of baggage? Ev

fraction cooler. It was a command

looked at Rory, and a slow, delibe

failure," he observed, his tone as cal

ut quickly recovered. "I just don't want

" Ansel said. "My defective energy field is unfor

fell open. "H

tter than me, yet your greatest achievement is still being born with a functional pheromon

"At least I'm useful to this family! Y

expression perfectly innocent. "Imagine working so hard to prove your worth, only to rece

ameless!"

her with cool amusement. "You're the one humili

n caught her wrist before she

said, her voice s

agree. Listening to her confuse cruelt

a flicker of calculation in her gaze. He was prov

ped a silent, rhythmic pattern on his knee. His mind was elsewhere, already moving beyond this petty squabble. He had

uld be activated upon the completion of his official, adult genetic matching test. Rega

itself... he co

white building loomed. Suspended above it was the massive, ho

umiliated one more time. Vivian smoothed her skirt, her expression on

form. Hillard Greer was waiting for them

en. Ansel was th

snarled. "Get inside! And try not to emb

e destroyed by someone else's genetic test, Fat

ould erupt, Ansel walked past him an

, linking her arm through his, h

pped into the building that held the keys to so many destinies