Chapter 93

Marcelle bowed slightly to the Elder. "Esmeralda, may I introduce you to our guest. This is Kim Russell and her First Lieutenant Julie. The others are her personal staff."

Esmeralda held out her hand. I wasn't sure what I was supposed to do with it—kiss it, bite it, or shake it.

Marcelle smiled at me.

I took Esmeralda's hand and shook it. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I understand that I was summoned here."

"Yes," Esmeralda said. "You were summoned by me. Marcelle said that you were badly burned around your eyes, yet your skin is flawless." She tilted her head slightly. "How did you manage this in one evening?"

I slammed my shields up remembering something Alexis had said about creating false memories. Athena would be able to see what had happened between us unless I created false memories, too. How the hell did you create false memories? How did I spend my evening if it wasn't with Alexis? Perhaps I had spent my evenings with an elder, but the only one I could think of in a pi