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Endelle lifted her arms, preparing to hit both women with a hand-blast, but Alison just met her gaze. Then she smiled.
Oh, the depth of understanding in those lovely blue eyes rimmed with gold. Alison reminded Endelle of Thorne. Both had the kind of loyalty that shook her soul. In the same way she trusted Thorne with every atom of her being, she trusted Alison. Besides, that smile was as amused as it was instructive.
Endelle sighed. She was having one shitfest of a bad week. The Ambassadors Reception was about a breath away and she hated the idea of greeting all those f**king foreign dignitaries, Luken had gotten himself burned to a crisp out at the Superstitions and almost died, Havily had been attacked in her home by High Administrator Crace, who’d obviously gone to the darkest of the dark side, then Leto had issued a warning about the Ambassadors Festival. Leto, who might or might not be on her side, but whom Alison said was at least on the side of some Sixth ascender by the name of James.
So … shit!
Now she had to deal with this fake-mortal.
The thing was, Thorne had come to her the night before with word from his sister. He’d been adamant that one of the sisters with powerful Seer ability had had some kind of vision of Parisa while taking a little jaunt in the future streams. No details. Of course not. That would be way too easy. But the message had been that this fake-mortal, still lying unconscious on the floor with Havily petting her cheek and speaking in low tones to her, would make a difference in the war.
Endelle huffed a sigh. “Tend to her, Lissy, will you? I’ll behave.” She moved toward the windows that overlooked the eastern desert and waited. She turned, crossed her arms over her chest, and watched the tender scene from afar.
Alison dropped beside Parisa and put her hand on the woman’s forehead. A moment later the fake-mortal awoke and stared first at Alison, then shifted her gaze to Endelle. She struggled to her feet with both women supporting her. Endelle meant to apologize, but Parisa looked back at Alison and asked, “What did I just do to Madame Endelle? How did I send her flying into the windows?”
Alison smiled at her. “You threw a hand-blast, from the palm of your hand.”
Parisa looked at her hand. “I’ve seen this done, in my visions I mean, but I didn’t know I could do it as well. My hand and arm feel a little numb.”
Alison patted her shoulder. “The sensation will pass.”
“What do you mean, your visions?” Endelle called from across the room.
“I don’t know how to explain them exactly. Sometimes I just see things.”
“Huh,” Endelle murmured. She wasn’t sure what to make of this. Maybe the woman had darkening capability, which would again confirm her opinion that she was looking at an ascender and not a mere mortal.
Parisa added, “When I see you in my visions, you’re always in a rage.”
“There, you see,” Alison cried. “We really do need to work on your anger management skills.”
Endelle rolled her eyes then addressed Parisa. “I will try very hard not to yell at you again.”
“And…,” Alison said.
Endelle drew a noisy breath through flared nostrils. “And I apologize if I frightened you.”
Parisa blinked. “What do you want from me?”
“I want to know the truth. I want to know why you’re pretending to be a mere mortal when clearly you’re already ascended.”
Havily put an arm around Parisa’s shoulder. “Show Madame Endelle your fangs. Your vampire fangs.”
Parisa just looked at her then shook her head. “How do I show her something I don’t have?”
“Like this,” Havily said. She smiled very big, pulling back her lips just a little, so that her incisors showed. She lengthened them.
Haltingly, Parisa drew her lips back.
Endelle left her controlled position by the window and moved back to the three women still clustered near the door. She got up close and stared into the woman’s mouth, but there were no fangs. There were no fangs. “Jesus,” she whispered.
“What?” Parisa asked.
“It’s not possible to be ascended and not have fangs. Vampire fangs always come with ascension.” Endelle still didn’t know what she was looking at. “You make no sense to me but I still can’t believe you’re not ascended. Let’s see your wings.”
Parisa looked down at her shirt and shook her head. “I can’t. Not … not like this.”
“Well, take your f**king clothes off.”
The fake-mortal blushed.
Endelle groaned. “Creator, save me from modesty. Parisa, I know this is trying but it would help me a great deal if you would mount your wings.”
Parisa removed her red tank and then her too-tight bra, oh-so-slowly.
“For f**k’s sake, we’re all girls here. Who gives a rat’s ass except, well now, don’t you have the prettiest br**sts. I actually think they might be bigger than mine. Huh.”
“You’re not helping,” Alison cried.
Endelle again rolled her eyes.
“Try to ignore Madame Endelle’s lack of manners,” Havily said, glaring at Endelle. “She lost her filters a few millennia ago. Now take your time, and as soon as you’re able, mount your wings.”
Parisa, still wearing her jeans, closed her eyes. After a few minutes, her wings flew through the wing-locks, interfacing at the same time with the mesh superstructure.
Endelle took a step back. She gasped. “Holy shit.” Parisa’s wings were huge, especially for someone who was apparently un-ascended. “You’ve got goddamn royle wings. I’ve not seen these wings on anyone in five, maybe six millennia. Well, have you flown yet, un-ascended ascender?”
“I’ve only jumped from a sixteen-foot railing, but I have longed to fly. I have had such yearnings to take to the skies. But I was afraid to because—”
Endelle nodded, “You were afraid you’d get caught. Well, if you really are what you say you are, that was a smart move. A lot of idiots on Mortal Earth. You would’ve been taken to Area Fifty-one and dissected.” She let her gaze drift over the wings, which were among the most beautiful pairs she had ever seen and that was saying a lot. She glanced at Havily. “And she’s been here how long?”
“Almost eighteen hours now.”
“Wow. Okay. Parisa, this might feel uncomfortable but I need to get inside your head. I need to see exactly what’s going on with you. When I came at you with my mind earlier, you were a wall of shields, which reminded me of Morgan here. But if I’m to know how to act on your behalf, I must see exactly who and what you are, do you understand?”
