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Interesting, Julie said. I wonder why Adrian’s revelation caused them to do that. Kayleigh could get away with it but not Garrett. A family head leaving a meeting without explaining to the prolocutor is a massive breech of protocol. Alex will not be pleased. She gave a slight smirk as Alexandra held up a hand to pause whatever Marian had been saying and frowned at Garrett’s empty seat. And it looks like she’s noticed.

“Robert,” Alexandra said sharply. “Where did your uncle go?”

“I-I don’t know.” Robert had the look of a rabbit caught in the headlights. “He grabbed Kayleigh Laverne while everyone was looking at Kelly and they both rushed out. He was very pale.”

“I see,” Alexandra said flatly. She turned and spoke quietly to several of her family members who then got up and left the room. “We’ll see what they have to say when my children bring them back.” She looked back at Marian. “Do you want to wait or continue without Garrett?”

“Whichever you prefer, Lady Prolocutor,” Marian said.

“I think we’ll wait, then,” Alexandra said. “I have a funny feeling about this so I’d like to monitor my family’s search.”

“As you wish,” Marian said.

People began murmuring to each other as Alexandra declared the short recess.

“Do you think they’ll be able to find them?” Lydia asked quietly. “We had quite the game last time.”

“I’m sure of it,” Adrian said softly. “The Loudens have some of the best clairvoyants of any family. It’ll take more than that confusion trick to put them off and they’ll see straight past Xantaria’s masking as well if it’s her they’ve gone to see.” He pulled a face. “I know we wanted them to reveal themselves but I didn’t imagine they’d do anything so stupid.”

“None of us did,” Matthias said. “I get the feeling your being resonant messes with Xantaria’s plans somehow.”

“Good,” Adrian said. “I like the idea of messing with her plan, but perhaps we should warn–” He broke off as Alexandra rose from her seat and made her way around the table to them. “Lady Prolocutor?”

“We’re in recess, Adrian,” she said. “There’s no need to be so formal.” She paused. “My eldest daughter just informed me of two disturbing things. One, someone is trying to confuse Garrett and Kayleigh’s trail and secondly, your wife’s mental signature changed quite abruptly a moment ago in a way that suggests she’s been hiding her true personality.” She hesitated at Adrian’s expression. “You aren’t surprised?”

“Unfortunately not,” he said. “I was just saying that we should warn your children to be careful when you came over. We have no proof but Kay and Garrett are in league with certain enemies of Earth. We think they may be meeting with them again.”

Alexandra’s eyebrows shot up. “Interesting,” she said. “I shall tell them to proceed with care then. Maybe they will bring us the proof. So you were trying to provoke them into revealing themselves? I think it worked.”

“It did,” he agreed. “But I wasn’t expecting this.”

“No,” she said. “I wonder why it provoked such a reaction.” She shook her head and turned to Julie. “I worked out why you’re so familiar, though I have no idea how it’s possible. And if your grandson provoked such a reaction goodness only knows what yours is going to do, Caro.”

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