Will smiled faintly. He had spent twenty years training under Blind Crowe, enduring punishing summers and freezing winters in the mountains. If he couldn't handle something this simple, he'd have no right to call himself a member of the Order of the Veil.Summer stared at him, her expression conflicted.The truth was, he had been right. She had a medical condition, although it was far too personal to discuss with a stranger on a crowded bus.She had inherited an unusual condition from her mother. For the past ten years, every period had brought crippling abdominal pain, and cold or damp weather made it even worse. She'd consulted specialists and experienced energy healers alike, but nothing had offered a lasting cure. Eventually she'd learned to endure the milder episodes and rely on painkillers when they became unbearable.Yet the instant Will touched those spots on her body, the pain vanished. In its place came an unfamiliar warmth and relief she hadn't felt in years.Before Will co

“What the hell are you talking about?” Joel Morton exploded.Will gave him an amused look.“You know exactly what I'm talking about. Haven't you noticed things aren't going so well with your mistress lately? Having a little trouble keeping up?”Joel's face went purple. Of all the things Will could have exposed, he'd chosen the one humiliation Joel could least bear to hear discussed in public.“Security!” he roared. “Get this lunatic out of here!”“Nobody touches him!” Summer stepped forward, furious. “Master Hartnett is here to help my father. You don't get to throw him out.”“Summer, I'm trying to protect you,” Joel protested.“Save it. I'm sick of listening to you pretend you care.”She clenched her fists.“You've made it clear you don't intend to behave like family, so don't expect me to treat you like family. Joel, if you interfere with my father's treatment, I'll bring Morton Group down myself before I let any of you get your hands on his money.”The relatives exchanged uneasy gl

Will took Summer's hand.“Don't worry, Mr. Morton. Arthur Lillard doesn't scare me. He's a bug I could crush under my shoe. I'll go with Summer, and I won't let anything happen to her.”Matthew considered him for a moment. The young man was a member of the Order of the Veil; he'd already shown what he could do. With Will beside her, Summer might actually be safe. Besides, hiding from Arthur wouldn't solve anything. If they could put an end to this threat now, Morton Group would finally have room to breathe.“All right,” Matthew said. “I'm trusting you with my daughter. Keep her safe.”Summer gave Will a skeptical glance. The whole Morton family couldn't deal with Arthur Lillard, and this guy thought he could handle him alone?Still, her father had made his decision.They drove to the Velvet Room, an upscale nightclub whose elegant name concealed a decidedly sordid reputation. Summer had never had any reason to visit a place like it.“Once we're inside, let me do the talking,” she warn

Will forced himself to concentrate.He'd only just met his fiancée, and already things had become far more intimate than he'd ever expected. This was certainly not how he'd imagined their first day together.Even under the sleepbinding spell, Summer occasionally stirred and made soft, uncomfortable sounds. Will had to work hard to ignore the distractions while he drew the remaining drug from her system.Downstairs, the motel clerk heard noises through the walls and shook her head in amazement. Two hours had passed, and the sounds still hadn't stopped.“Good Lord,” she muttered. “That guy's got stamina.”Upstairs, Will finally wiped the sweat from his forehead.“Done.”After two exhausting hours, he'd managed to purge the drug's effects. Summer was sleeping normally at last. Concerned that she might have another reaction, he stayed beside the bed to watch over her.Before long, exhaustion caught up with him, and he fell asleep with his head resting on the mattress.A splash of icy wate

While Summer struggled to contain the crisis at Morton Group, Will settled into his temporary quarters at the Morton estate.He rose early the following morning and went for a run. Years of training under Blind Crowe had made daily exercise a habit, and marriage wasn't about to change that.His route took him to Hawthorne Hill Park, where joggers and early risers were already making use of the open space. Will found a quiet spot, sat down, and closed his eyes. He followed the breathing pattern his mentor had taught him, gradually settling his mind and drawing arcane energy into a steady rhythm.Not far away, two people stood out among the morning crowd.One was an older gentleman in a neatly tailored linen jacket. He carried himself with the confidence of someone used to being respected. Beside him stood a striking young woman in workout clothes, probably in her early twenties, with lively eyes and a confident smile.“Grandpa, am I doing this right?” she asked.She extended her palm a