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‘I’m working,’ she screeched towards the door. ‘Wait your turn.’

‘ASSIST Corps. Open up.’

Kreshkali grumbled obscenities as she pulled on a satin robe, careful to cover her tattoos but expose her breasts and belly. Rosette swallowed hard as she watched. The woman was formidable, impervious to the shocked faces and leers when she opened the door.

‘What the fuck do you want?’ she asked.

‘We’ve had reports. People coming and going…’

‘Of course they are coming and going.’ She clicked her tongue. ‘I’m not a seamstress, you realise.’

‘He’s your client?’ The captain pointed to An’ Lawrence.

‘Last trick of the night if you’d let me get on with it.’

They scrutinised An’ Lawrence, bare chest, legs covered by a thin sheet.

‘You’re getting what you paid for, mate.’ The captain chuckled as he spoke, indicating the protrusion under the covers.

An’ Lawrence didn’t reply but tightened his grip on the sword hilt nestled between his legs.

‘We’ll have a look around, if you don’t mind.’ The captain pushed past her, not waiting for a response.

They circled the large room, shining their beams into the corners, looking at the books and knick-knacks. Rosette knew Kreshkali wouldn’t allow banned titles to be displayed, but she blurred the shelves anyway, making the walls melt with obscurity. They walked right past her and the temple cats, past the stocks from Gaela, past Jarrod, Zero and Clay, and into the kitchen area. Rosette felt a wave of panic when she realised they had left drafts and notes on the table. She took a deep breath and blurred them into an image of a table-cloth, trusting such things existed here in this world.

‘You do well,’ the ASSIST captain commented as he fingered the edge of the rich cloth draping the table. He ran his hand over the woven surface, his face giving a hint of longing.

Kreshkali laughed, letting her open robe speak for itself as he shone his beam on her breasts.

‘There were reports of animals…’

She shrugged her shoulders and winked.

The captain took off his cap and wiped his brow before continuing his search. He went over the kitchen thoroughly then snapped his fingers, bringing his men to attention.

‘That’ll do for now.’ He led them to the door. ‘Remember, whore, we’re watching you,’ he said as they marched out.

‘Wouldn’t want it any other way.’ Kreshkali followed them to the door and locked it, leaning her back against the cool frame, letting her shoulders relax. Her face was etched with fine lines. Rosette waited, her heart pounding, before letting down the glamour. When Drayco said they were completely out of the building, they all emerged from the shadows.

‘That was a risky little game,’ An’ Lawrence commented, his voice barely more than a low growl.

‘I know it rankles not to slice and dice your opponents, Rowan, but now is not the time to confront them. We aren’t ready.’

He made an incoherent response.

‘Will they come back?’ Rosette asked.

‘Probably not tonight, but we’ve got to move.’

‘Where to?’

‘A bigger place, for starters. I’ve got one set up, closer to ASSIST. It’s being minded by that ragtag of rebels I told you about, but first we need more recruits.’

‘Are you going to get Rosette to conjure those up as well?’ An’ Lawrence asked as he put down his sword.

‘No, but I’m thinking about paying a visit to Los Loma in the morning. Might find some volunteers there.’

Kreshkali entered the chamber, dressed in a full-length fur-lined cloak and knee-high boots. She shivered. It was the dead of winter under the mountain of Los Loma and the contrast to the muggy Earth climate made her fingertips numb and her nose cold. She looked at the faces staring up at her. Dark eyes set, expectant.

‘Why have you called us?’ Hotha asked, morphing from his wolf form to stand before her. Several other Lupins did the same. Kreshkali smiled. She had gathered the leaders of these strange creatures to her, uncertain how they would respond, but she could tell by their auras they were keen