The grand ball

[Marcus DuBois]

Alexandrova Vladislavovna

Office of the Consul on Public Engagement, Propaganda, and Interdominance Relations

Alexandrova watched Nik wait for the American representative. She had seen Nik with women before, had known of his liasons. They had never bothered her. Yes, he was a beautiful man and they had had one brief moment so many years ago. But she was his sister, not his lover. She, Leonid, Valentin and....Garrett. God but she still missed him.

He was such a dork. But she had been his and he hers. She had loved his goofy lopsided smile, the way he made her laugh. The five of them hitting the bars and clubs of Bologna. An age ago. And he had disappeared. She and Nik had tried, but they had never found him again. Alex's heart had broken. Nik was so kind. Leonid even more so.

She and Leonid and Valentin had Nik's back. Always. Forever.

No, what bothered her was Nik opening himself to this child. She was a child. He should know better. But men were men. And clearly she had his number. He was letting her into their group. It wasn't right.

Nik knew. Tonight was a disaster of global proportions. No one was thinking of it at the moment. No one was thinking of the Ijiraq's words yet.

But they would. And they had seen the Ascendancy at his weakest. No matter that he had been victorious in the end. They had seen him on his knees, needing to be saved. Alex and Leonid would have to fight for control of the story. They needed to confer.

And he wanted Avalon. Alexandrova felt a stab in her heart. She did not deserve to be in their group.