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“He is insisting that he needs to go to Europe,” Holden sighed with irritation in his voice.

“Do you know why?”

“He only said that his father hid something from him, that it might be in Paris or Florence,” Holden sighed. “I told him that it wasn’t the right time for personal adventures, but he wouldn’t listen.”

“I got the impression that you didn’t like having Roman around,” the raspy voice called out.

“While it is true that I do not enjoy having him back,” Holden said. “He is still a part of your plan.”

“Yes,” the voice said. “But for right now, he can be free to play games with his father. There is still time before we are ready for the next phase.”

“And what about Tomas?” Holden asked. “It seems clear he is having difficulty following the plan, so what do we do with him?”

“Keep him under control by whatever means you deem fit,” the voice whispered. “Forget the rest of the lesser packs. We have enough. Let the others think they have a chance.”

“What about Burning Ember?” Holden asked.

“What about them?”

“They have…information about the packs we’ve already taken….” Holden said.

“Do you really think that Caleb and the annoying Winter dog don’t already know where the packs have ‘disappeared’ to?” The voice scoffed.

Holden clenched his jaw, hating to leave loose ends.

“Forget Burning Ember and the rest. Let them chase their tails, trying to figure out what we are planning. They will think we have been weakened or lost our momentum. They expect an attack any day. They will let down their guard when it does not come, and then we will strike.”

“As you say,” Holden bowed._.

Holden turned to leave the room.

“What of your doll?” the voice asked suspiciously.

“What about her?” Holden replied without turning.

“I’ve heard she came home on her own,” the voice smiled, “awake.”

Holden swallowed.

“Alice has returned to Wonderland,” he replied.

“I see,” the voice replied. “And where is she now?”

“She has returned to her tasks.”

A root tendril touched against Holden’s shoulder. He closed his eyes and took a slow, measured breath.

“And what of the time she spent away?” the voice rasped. “What sorts of adventures did she have on her own?”

Holden swallowed and licked his lips.

“Nothing of note,” he said.

The tendril slipped beneath his chin, and the rough texture of the root scratched and scraped as it moved across his throat.

“Would you tell me if there was something of note?” the voice asked, his words laced with unspoken meaning.

“I would tell you if there was anything to be concerned about,” Holden replied.

The tendril at his throat continued until it had wrapped around his head.

“Holden,” the voice whispered. “If your broken doll does anything to ruin my plans… I will let Roman have her.”

Holden swallowed and took a breath.

“She isn’t his type,” he said, attempting to keep his voice even.

“No…” the voice replied, “yet he shows a keen interest in her.”

Holden clenched his jaw at the playful tone of his master.

“Alice will not be a problem,” he said.

“She had better not be,” the voice whispered as the tendril slid away from Holden’s throat.

***

“It seems I owe you my thanks,” Roman smiled sweetly toward Alice as he entered her room.

Alice turned to face him. The expression on her face showed confusion and then understanding.

“You are Roman, son of Alpha Tomas,” she said.

Roman took a disappointed breath.

“You’ve been altered again,” he sighed. “Why do they do this to you?”

He continued toward her, walking around her and observing her as he spoke.

“Why do they take that fire in you and snuff it out into this hollow shell?” he asked with a scoff.

“Darlin’, I am made to order and provide the service that best fits my abilities,” she smiled and winked.

Roman shook his head with disgust.

“That’s not you,” he whispered. “That’s not even your voice.”

Roman moved to her, grabbing the back of her hair and pulling just enough to lift her chin.

She kept her smile. But something in her eyes changed, and then he felt the slightest tick of pain in his stomach. He looked down to see a small knife in her hand. The tip of the blade had pierced his abdomen just slightly.

The corner of his mouth lifted into a grin, and he looked back into her eyes. He recognized that something in them now. Hidden deep within her was that spark. The fire that burned brightly in her soul.

“There she is…” he whispered with relief. He brought his other hand up to stroke her cheek.

She pushed the knife forward enough to draw a quick hiss from his lips.

“Tsk-tsk,” Alice smiled. “A gentleman should never put his hands on a lady. Especially without an invitation.”

Roman chuckled. He let her go and stepped back.

“Then why don’t you invite me?”

“Aww, darling, I fear you are the type that has trouble remembering safe words,” Alice smiled. Then she stepped away to continue packing, as she had been before this man entered the room.

Roman looked at her bag.

“You are returning to Spring?” he asked.

“I am going where I am needed,” she replied.

“I am also leaving tonight,” he said, moving closer. “Perhaps we should share a proper goodbye.”

“I don’t think we would have the same idea of what exactly that would look like,” Alice replied with a smile.

“Maybe we should find out?” Roman suggested with a grin.

“My idea,” Alice said, raising her brow, “involves knives.”

Roman leaned forward until she could see the dark swirls in his fiery eyes.

“So does mine,” he replied in a thick voice.

Alice swallowed.

“That’s quite enough,” A voice from the door interjected.

Alice looked past Roman to see Holden standing in the doorway.

“Oopsie,” she whispered. “Daddy’s mad.”

Roman chuckled and turned toward Holden.

“We were only saying our goodbyes,” he shrugged.

“Alice?” Holden called.

“Goodbye, Roman,” Alice said, returning to her packing again.

“Goodbye, ‘Alice’,” Roman replied without looking back at her.

He smiled at Holden as he left the room.

Holden clenched his jaw and took a deep breath before continuing into the room.

“What did he do?” he asked, turning Alice to face him. “Are you alright?”

Alice chuckled.

“Oh please, Holden,” she laughed. “I can take care of myself. I’m perfectly fine.”

“He’s not just anyone, Alice. You don’t know all the horrible things he is capable of,” Holden said, looking back toward the door.

“No, I don’t,” Alice replied. “But even though I don’t know much about him, I know he is dangerous. I get an awful feeling when he’s nearby. A sense of dread.”

‘That is because you were programmed to remember the danger you have been aware of since you were a child, but not the reason.’ Holden thought.

“Trust that sense,” he said. “Now, come. It is time for you to get back to work. It seems that Summer has gotten themselves a new coding specialist, one that was able to stop your worm from destroying their system.”

“Oh?” Alice asked with a smile. “Sounds like a new playmate.”

Holden nodded as he grabbed her bag, and they left the room.

Alice took a break from punching the two dummies wearing Holden and Roman masks inside her mindscape.

“A new coding specialist?” she whispered aloud and smiled. “That might be something I can use.”