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Lord Renith smiled. “Keep it with you. It suits you.”
The two researchers stared at her like she had grown a second head. The bracelet was still cheerfully sparkling with bright and inviting colour.
He took her hand with the file and helped her to her feet. He brushed his hand brusquely over her butt, and she blushed. He chuckled. “Your hands are full.”
“Yeah. Um, thank you. I hadn’t realized you were so good with your hands.” She blinked and pressed her lips together. “Sorry.”
He grinned, and the general growled. “Shut up and get in there. How are you doing that?”
She shrugged. “I have no idea. What am I doing?”
Lord Renith escorted her into the lab, where the ash outline of the dead man was in front of her. Despite her urge to make light of the situation, she puked right into the ash pile.
Chapter Two
“Ohmygod, I am so sorry.” Haley coughed, and the smell of scorched human wafted up and around her.
Lord Renith escorted her to a desk and settled her down there. “May I see the file that you found the bracelet in?”
She handed him the file, and one of the researchers cleared up her mess along with the ashes while the other got her a glass of water and a napkin.
The general just stood and glared at her.
She finished cleaning her face and took a sip of the water. “I am mortified.”
Lord Renith stared at the file. “It’s all here. How did we miss this?”
The general snapped, “What?”
“It’s all jewellery. There is one man’s ring, and the rest is jewellery. No one reset the stones after the last incursion. They were designed for a lady to wear.”
“Doesn’t make sense. No one can wear them.”
Lord Renith cleared his throat. “We haven’t tested them on a woman.”
Haley spluttered, and they both looked at her. “Sorry. I am totally losing control of my fluids today.”
Lord Renith grinned, and it transformed his features. He looked hypnotic. She shook her head and blinked. “Sorry.”
The general growled. “You are a shadowborn?”
“Yes, sir. It was a requirement for this position.”
The general frowned. “It was?”
“It was. My designation is on the books because there are some clients who don’t want one of my kind in their facility. I was rather relieved to be given this assignment.” She shrugged.
Lord Renith blinked. “You were?”
“Sure. I like the sorting and am good at it. Being shadowborn makes it hard to get gainful employment. I have bills to pay like everyone else.”
Lord Renith nodded. “I can understand that.”
She looked at him and had an inkling of understanding. The military was contained, and this wasn’t a regular outpost. “Strategic location?”
A hand gripped her hair, her wrist felt heavy, and her head slammed into the desk. Light flared, she saw red, and she heard screaming.
Haley felt a cold compress on her forehead, and helpful hands held it in place. “So, he is going to be a lefty from now on. They are trying to save his hand.”
