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that each one of them receives one of these packages?”
    He took a moment to look at the gold coin in his hand. “I would be more than happy to do so.”
    “Understand when I tell you this—if those packages do not make it to the families of those men’s families, I will come back here and kill you myself.”
    “Understood, milord.”
    I flipped him another coin. “Just see that it is done.”
    It didn’t feel like enough, but the least I could do was offer those families a little gold. It wouldn’t bring their sons or husbands back, but it would make the next few years easier. No one would know what happened to those men, and those families wouldn’t be receiving any help from anyone else with them branded as deserters. I found Dimitri waiting in the courtyard, his horse saddled and ready to go.
    “I expect her to be waiting for me in good condition when we catch up with you.”
    “I promise you that I will do my best to make sure it is so.”
    Dimitri held out his arm. I stood there for a second, shocked by the offer. Clasping his hand, I said the phrase of our order. “I am the flame against the dark.”
    “May you burn ever brighter,” he intoned, before saying, “Safe journey, Brother.”
    “And to you,” I said, releasing his arm and swinging myself into the saddle.

    * * *
    E xhaustion almost forced me from the saddle as our base came into view. I had taxed myself by using my gift to keep the horse running for the last twenty-four hours straight. Riding directly to the front of the building, I was surprised to find a valet waiting to take my reins. Jumping from the saddle, I started to head inside.
    The valet called out, “Adam is waiting for you.”
    “I will see him after I clean the grime of the road from my clothes.”
    “He requested that you attend to him immediately.” He watched me intently as if waiting for an answer.
    “Make sure this horse receives the best treatment possible.” I turned and stormed away.
    The long hallway extended further than I remembered from my first visit to Adam’s office. Every step toward his office seemed like an additional weight was placed on my shoulders. The next step I took faltered, and I was forced to rest against the wall for a moment. Had I made the right decision in not telling our team what had happened the night before? Would the delay in delivering the information make Adam even more upset than the loss of the artifact alone? There was only one way to find out. I forced my legs back into motion and tried to steel myself for what was coming next.
    Adam opened the door as I approached. “Don’t dawdle in the hallway. Come in and tell me what in the hell happened.”
    “Yes, sir.”
    Adam didn’t wait for me to follow; he just turned and walked away. I closed the door behind me as I entered and quickly followed him to his desk. He hadn’t killed me as soon as he saw me, so things were already looking up. He motioned for me to take a seat, and I obeyed as quickly as I could. There was nothing to be gained by my normal flippant attitude.
    His eyes burned with a fire that they hadn’t during my first meeting with him. That put me a little more on edge than I should be for just a general report. This wasn’t just any report, though. This was the one where I told Adam that I had witnessed the dead walking. We would see where the chips fell, when I lay that little beauty at his feet.
    Adam’s intense gaze burned into me when he said, “No reason to wait on ceremony. Just tell me what in the hell happened.”
    I had a problem meeting his eyes for longer than a second or two at a time. “Ah, sir, it’s a little more complicated than I would have hoped. Where should I start?”
    “Where all good stories start, at the beginning.”
    I let out a little forced laugh. “I think I will leave out the drinking and the dancing, and just start with the attack on the chateau.”
    “That seems like a good idea.” His eyes bore into me.
    I swear I saw a