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.None of the advisors flinched, and Amory had not expected them to.But if he wasn’t mistaken, the corner of Jalen’s mouth twitched as if amused that he had affected Amory.Advisor or not, Jalen might soon die.“I will seal these Hosts today.” Amory’s Host had a much deeper voice than his own had been.It sounded more deadly and more powerful in this body than the one he had grown old in, then discarded.“As I seal them I will be able to perfect the process.”“I would hope so, Lord Amory,” Jalen said.“You have little time or our move to our new world could be endangered.”“Endanger.What will endanger my plan? What can stop this?” Amory bared his teeth and narrowed his eyes.“Nothing can or will.”LeeLa, the Earth Otherworld surgeon, cleared her throat.“I understand you have excellent news regarding your niece.”Amory calmed his expression and let the storm of his emotions subside a little.“Una and Tieve brought back word that Bryna has been found in a paranorm infirmary.She is in her target Host, the female named Candace Moreno.” Amory released an inward sigh of relief that his favorite niece would soon be recovered.“Tonight they will ensure she is freed and returned here to Doran for sealing.”“It will be good to have her back amongst us,” LeeLa said.“Bryna is too valuable of an asset to have been lost as she had,” Jalen said with a scowl.“As an advisor she has information that would be unfortunate in the hands of those in the Earth Otherworld.I am surprised she has not been recovered yet.”Amory studied the male who looked the part—just as arrogant and pompous as the Army general whose body he had taken.Information on the general had been well researched before Jalen had been sent to replace him.Perhaps it hadn’t been such a good idea to give Jalen that Host body.Unfortunately it was too late.Amory ground his teeth.But he had other ways to deal with problems.“You may be excused,” he said to his advisors.They began to bow and turn away but Amory said, “Jalen, I wish for you to stay and oversee today’s sealing.”“I must return to the Earth Otherworld,” Jalen said.“And I must insist you stay.” The chill in Amory’s voice made Jalen’s eyes flicker.Almost imperceptible, but it was that slight moment in time when Amory knew Jalen was afraid of him.It was one of the few instances he had seen weakness from the advisor.A smile threatened to turn up the corner of Amory’s mouth.But he maintained his scowl.“Join me.We have much to do.”Jalen hesitated only a fraction before he walked forward to stand beside Amory.The Sorcerer turned his attention from Jalen to the crowd and let his voice ring out as he said, “Do any of you have information from your Host that may be of significance to our takeover of the Earth Otherworld?”Out of the four hundred Hosts standing before him only half a dozen approached the balcony and looked up at him.One by one they gave him information they considered significant.The first five would be very useful.A well-known news reporter for The New York Times who had been researching instances of slayings and disappearances; the daughter of the owner of a major television network; a scientist who studied biochemical warfare; even a paranorm who was a Metamorph, able to take on the persona of any human she wished to …And the best prize of all … a Tracker.Amory looked over the sea of Hosts and Shells.“All Hosts, please sign in for your scheduled time.You may not know what knowledge you possess that may be valuable.You will fill out the questionnaire and will be called as needed.”He pointed to each of five of the six Hosts standing in front of him.“You five, go to the Knowledge Center now for your full debriefing.“Tracker.” He looked at the sixth Host.“You will remain with me for now.” This Host looked far from one of the elite paranorm fighting force known as the Night Trackers.Instead she looked more like a silly young female with her pert features, small frame, and long blond curls that tumbled over her shoulders and down her back.But when she spoke it was with intelligence and authority.In just a few words and with the power he commanded, he determined she was decisive, independent, loyal, and could not only protect herself but others as well.“What is your name?” Amory asked.“My Kerran name is Aela.” She tossed curls over her shoulder.“My Host’s name is Angel.”“Angel.” He repeated the name aloud because he liked the sound of it.It had been a long time since Amory had felt the stirrings of desire and his new Host’s body felt it with a power he hadn’t experienced before.“I’m sure you have much to tell me.” His voice lowered to a deeper rumble.“I would like to discuss it with you in private.”The Host’s self-assured expression cracked and Amory saw the underlying Kerran’s fear to be alone with him.He remembered the female she had been before.A plain, forgettable female with no backbone.No longer would that be true.Her plain, forgettable Shell was out there somewhere and would one day be destroyed or fail.Amory just smiled.“Join me on the balcony, Angel.”“Aela.” There was a stubborn set to her jaw.“I am Aela.”“Not anymore.” Amory gave the young female a look that made her cringe.“Now, Angel.”The female moved through the crowd until she was at the foot of the balcony.He flicked his finger and heard the raw scrape of metal against metal as he unlocked the gate.Its hinges squeaked as it swung open.Her footsteps were almost silent as she ascended the steps.He barely heard the breath of sound as she climbed higher on the staircase.Amory turned his focus on Jalen.“You will organize the Hosts and Shells and arrange for their care.”Jalen opened his mouth but Amory made a slight turning motion with his fingers and the advisor’s mouth snapped shut.His eyes widened and his jaws worked as he tried to open his mouth.“Much better.” He wasn’t killing the bastard, was he? So there was no conflict with his advisors as far as he was concerned.“You will organize the Hosts by age and separate males from females.” It wasn’t necessary, but it would keep the advisor busy.“Have the wranglers take the Shells to the corrals.We’ll deal with the Zombies later.”Jalen put his hands to his mouth, begging with his eyes for Amory to release the spell.Amory flicked his fingers at Jalen, and an exhalation of relief and fear came out the moment the advisor’s mouth opened.The Host named Angel approached them.Amory smiled at her and she looked terrified in response
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