Allegiance of Honor (Psy-Changeling #15) - Nalini Singh Page 0,99
blew hot air on it while rubbing gently at his skin. “What about your mental state?” Her skin felt tight over her cheekbones, her heart that trapped bird that returned in times of greatest stress and fear. “What’s it do to you each time you become part machine?”
“Katya.” Dev tipped up her chin. “You keep me human, no matter how many machines I touch.”
Fear still knotted her gut. “You’re getting so strong.” He did things like turn on household computronics without even thinking about it.
The dark of his hair sliding forward, Dev bent so his forehead touched hers. “And I love you more each day. I’m in no danger of losing myself.”
His skin was warm now and whatever he’d done this morning, their psychic connection had never once flickered. She had to remember that, believe in that. Dev might be changing, becoming something new, but he was still the man who loved her.
He was also the leader of the Forgotten, a people who’d had far more dealings with Zie Zen than the rest of the world ever guessed. “I have sad news,” she said, her throat thick again. “We’ve lost Zie Zen.”
Dev’s grief was a rough, harsh thing, and it was painfully, rawly human.
• • •
ADEN didn’t want to deal with Trinity or Ming LeBon right now. He wanted to be there for his friend, to take care of details so Vasic didn’t have to. But Zie Zen had believed in Trinity, had spoken to Aden at length about it the last time they had a conversation.
It is a construct of raw hope, this Trinity Accord of yours. A bold, audacious, defiant thing that challenges the world to be better and demands that people be the very best they can be. Never let this construct fail, Aden, for so long as it stands, it broadcasts that challenge. Sooner or later, even the consciously deaf will have to listen.
For that reason and that reason alone, Aden forced himself to stare at the proposal that had arrived in the hour directly after Zie Zen’s passing, at a time when Vasic and Ivy had told no one but Aden and Zaira, and Ivy’s parents. At least Ming LeBon could be acquitted of the crime of trying to use Zie Zen’s death to his own advantage. That was the only good thing Aden could say about the letter that had gone out to every signatory of the accord.
Proposal for a European Alliance
The Trinity Accord presents a hopeful view of the future, but in the short time since its inception, it has already proven lacking in the basics and is a group clearly dominated by certain parties to the detriment of others. It is for this reason, and because Europe has needs Trinity simply will not be able to fulfill, that I am proposing a European Alliance.
The proposed alliance would encompass members from across the continent as well as the British Isles, and will provide a vehicle for better growth for all parties.
Membership in the EA will not preclude being a signatory to the Trinity Accord. The two organizations can coexist, though the EA is apt to be the far more useful tool for those who intend to do business in this part of the world.
—Ming LeBon
Aden knew the core of Trinity needed to respond to this, but he also knew that he refused to disrespect Zie Zen by playing politics today. So he’d have faith in his “bold, audacious, defiant” construct and in the people who’d helped him take it from idea to fruition.
He input a call.
Lucas was more than willing to handle the situation. “Anything Trinity or Ming related that manages to make its way to you, forward it to me.” The panther held Aden’s gaze, his own eyes solemn. “I heard. The world lost a hell of a man yesterday.”
That was when Aden realized that, of course, Lucas would know of Zie Zen’s passing. A child whose birth certificate listed Zie Zen as his father lived within DarkRiver. “Yes, it did. Thank you for handling the fallout from Ming’s EA proposal.” He knew the alpha had to still be dealing with tracking down those behind the abduction attempt on his child.
“None necessary.”
Signing off, Aden turned to find Zaira waiting for him.
She slipped into his arms, her own locking around him. “I’ve spoken to Ivy.” He couldn’t see her eyes, but he knew they remained shell-shocked from a loss no one had seen coming.
Zie Zen had always been there, until it seemed even