Evelyn's porcelain mask slipped for just an instant, revealing something venomous beneath before she smoothed her features into a smile cold enough to freeze flames. She retreated to a nearby chair with the fluid grace of a predator temporarily withdrawing but never truly defeated.

"Very well," she murmured, though her tone carried undercurrents of barely restrained fury.

Rael cast her a measuring glance before refocusing on the tactical matters at hand. "I've positioned our best men at ...