The Architect's Reckoning

and, the applause washing over him. He' d done it. He was on his way. Sera was in t

night, after the gala, a rin

m a lauded military tour, a bona fide war hero, dripping with charisma and an

shifted, subtly at f

her, to pull her aside, but Marcus

evening. Ethan felt a growing u

red conversation near the grand staircase.

proached him, her face pale.

cus has asked me to accompany him to the W

we always go to the Wellbourne

hange, Miller. Sera needs an escort who c

han' s anger flared. "A

than, please. It' s

s voice rising, drawing attention. "Are

urious onlookers, then back to him, a fli

old. "Marcus is a hero. He understands duty, family. Maybe it's

metaphorical but just as painful. H

ra? After all our pla

she said, turning to Ma

n a daze of pain and fury, grabbe

her eyes blazing. "L

e air, the crack of it connecting with his chee

She pulled her arm free, took Marcus' s offered arm, and swept away, leaving Ethan sta

Ethan's "public display" and "lack of decorum." The informal understanding of an engagement was, of course, rescin

nd utterly undesirable infrastructure project in th

assignment; it

nt table, and driven away from D.C., the city of his dreams, n