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“My mirian would have understood why the negotiations had to be paused,” Adrian said when he arrived a little later as they were just finishing their meal. “This meeting you have to go to is clearly of critical importance.”

“Yes, but it still wouldn’t be polite,” Matthias said. “And anyway, Sal thinks she found something and would like to share it.”

“Oh.” Adrian looked at Sarah. “I’ll be interested as well.” He paused. “I need to talk to you about Kay.”

“Ah! So that’s why you’re here early!” Matthias said. “Did you learn something?”

“I think so, yes,” he said. “Now I know what’s happening, I can mimic the effect and make sure she doesn’t sense me and slip back inside her box automatically when I’m around. She’s been speaking to some of the cousins – trying to get them to turn against me. I wasn’t able to get close enough to hear what she was saying to them but she miscalculated: Erin came and spoke to me after Kay spoke to her.” He chewed on his lip. “She says Kay knows I’m resonant and is telling the others. Fortunately the others either don’t believe her or – like Erin – don’t care.”

“Are you sure Erin’s telling the truth?” Sarah said.

“About not caring?” he asked. “Yes. Erin’s never had much stomach for hunting but she was too afraid of mum to say anything.”

“Like most of your family, then,” Sarah said.

“Well most of them were scared of Mum, yes,” Adrian said. “Though many are sadly unsqueamish about hunting.”

“And Erin is?” Julie asked.

“Jonathon’s daughter,” Adrian replied.

“Ah!” Julie nodded. “So your second cousin. I remember her. She takes after her father then?”

“Yes,” Adrian said. “Though mum managed to cow him as well.”

Julie sighed. “Yes, from what Tara’s told me I’d imagine she did.”

“Did Erin know if any of the others had listened to Kayleigh?” Matthias asked.

“She didn’t think so,” Adrian replied. “And I doubt it. I was careful about who I brought with me. I can’t be sure though, so I’ll be extra cautious. But I’m thinking that since Kay is busy outing me it might actually be time to drop this bombshell myself. That should certainly shatter Garrett’s cool if the Silvers appearance doesn’t.” He shook his head. “I can’t believe it’s that family. Even mum was too scared to go looking for them after what they did to the Taylors.”

“The Taylors were idiots,” Julie said. “I advised them to back off after the first disaster but no, they had to keep going – even once it was obvious they’d got themselves embroiled in a war they couldn’t win with an extremely powerful lost line.”

“That was a mess by anyone’s standards,” Matthias said. He looked at Adrian thoughtfully. “Do you really think it’s safe to blow your cover that way?”

“Safe?” Adrian shrugged. “Probably not. I do think it’s necessary though.”

“I agree,” Julie said. “My gut says it’ll shake some things loose. We should reveal my secret as well. That will really blow things open.”

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