Annara pursed her lips. She ran a hand through her short, thick black hair and cleared her throat, looking around the chair to make sure her crossbow and other weapons weren't stowed far from her grasp.
You can take the girl out of the wilderness but you can't take the wilderness out of the girl. Olivia tapped her fingernail against the armrest, her impatience growing by the second. She's definitely hiding something from me.
Olivia sighed. "Out with it."
"Whatever do you mean?" Annara's olive complexion paled as she frowned. "I didn't withhold any information from you, Olivia. We simply don't know what all the Alphans are capable of. There are rumors and legends and—"
"And what? Evidence they're able to manipulate memories and control people through their psychic abilities?" Olivia threw up her hands in disgust. "At the very least, you should have warned me that sort of thing was possible."
Annara shrugged. "I wasn't sure, and I thought it an acceptable risk."
Olivia shook her head. She knew she should keep the disappointment out of her voice, but she couldn't help herself. "I should have been told about every eventuality before I left Earth. Who knows? I may have gone along with it anyway. At the very least, I would have been better prepared."
Annara bowed her head. "Yes, I realize now I was wrong. I'm sorry."
"Too late for sorry," Olivia barked. "I've ruined any and all spying missions from now on in the Alpha clan. They have the upper hand. We're no better off knowing what they're up to with a rogue Portal than we were before."
"We are better off—you've given us the names of the Alphans most likely to be breaking the law. It narrows the field of players we need to watch, and the friend who helped you escape is still in the clan house..." Annara's smile didn't quite reach her eyes, suggesting to Olivia that her friend had her doubts. "With her aid, we could yet discover where they've stashed their Portal device."
Olivia frowned. Kate didn't want to play cloak and dagger. She just wanted to marry her egghead professor and settle down to teach history classes. It wasn't fair to put her into further danger. Besides, Kate would be leaving for Earth soon if the Alphans had their way.
"No, you're not putting my new friend at risk. She didn't ask to be a part of this... scheme. Her life shouldn't be placed on the line." Olivia slapped her legs and stood. "It's my life at stake. I said I'd go in as a bloodsucker's mail-order bride and spy, and I'm going to keep my end of the bargain."
Annara blinked and shook her head. "What? You don't mean you're going to walk back into the Clan Alpha House after you’ve just sneaked out of it. Do you?"
"Yes, that's what I mean. It's something they won't expect."
"You're not making any sense. You sure you feel okay?" Annara rose to her feet and felt Olivia's forehead. "You feel a little warm. Why not go and lie down in the council dormitory for a while until you're positive you're still not under the Alphans' control."
You're not under the Alphans' control. Your mind is clear, my dear child.
"My mind is made up—and it's my mind, not theirs, speaking." Olivia smiled, softening her tone as she leaned toward Annara. "I won't be alone. Remember Valori? I will ask her advice on how to deal with the voices in my head. She'll help me."
Annara sighed. "Oh, Olivia... Valori isn't in any condition to help you. She's been recuperating since our kidnapping by Roland Grundfest. No one's seen much of her at all. Last I heard she was still receiving regular transfusions and therapy."
"I think you'd be surprised at how much better Valori is feeling lately."
"You've seen her?"
"Not in the flesh, but I know she's been out and about."
Annara crossed her arms and leaned back. "I'll believe it when I see it."
"Will you deny the evidence when it stands before you?" came a familiar voice from behind them.
Olivia and Annara both startled. Olivia laughed and ran to hug the petite, silver-haired figure in the doorway.
"It's so good to see you." Olivia and Valori hugged. "I knew you were doing well when I heard your voice stronger than any of the others."
Annara's eyes narrowed. "Are you certain this is our Valori?"
"What do you mean? I swear, you're a suspicious one, Annara." Olivia turned her focus back to the older woman in front of her. "Of course this is our Valori—the beautiful silver-gray hair pulled back in a bun, the practical black dress which never shows dirt, the comfortable sandals, a gorgeous giant ruby necklace..."
Olivia lost her train of thought. She stared at the striking crimson-red teardrop-shaped stone suspended on a thick silver chain. "Whoa, some rock you got there. Is it a family heirloom, or did you meet someone fabulously wealthy and start dating again?"
Valori smiled as she fingered the shiny pendant. "I wish I'd met someone special and had been given such a gem as a token of affection, but truth be told, it was given to me by Drucinda."
Olivia took a step backward. "Drucinda, the high priestess of Clan Alpha? That Drucinda?"
"Yes. It's to help me focus my mental energies so they can do the most good, and not harm."
"It's why I questioned her identity." Annara came forward and took the gem stone in hand, studying it with a frown. "This gemstone is an emblem of the Pure Blood priest caste of BloodDark." She dropped it with a harrumph and returned to her seat.
"Come on, give her a break. She isn't a priestess working for the Alphans. Are you, Valori?” Olivia crossed her fingers behind her back.
"I will be. As of today, I outrank even Drucinda."
Olivia took another step backward. No, this can't be happening. You can't be telling me this...
"It's already happened, my dear child, and just in time. I've come to do as you wished." Valori held out her hands. "I've
