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Chapter 2

Alec ell before dawn Crossing several titon, DC, to Zakhar eared for local time It would only take him a couple of days—three at the most—to adjust But until thenhe just had to suffer

Despite the early hour, his body told hih sleep So he slipped froed on the appropriate clothes, tucked his spare SIG SAUER in the ankle holster he quickly strapped on and headed out for so his body out would help it adjust faster Then all he had to do was force hihtfall, and he was halfway there

Alec was assu RSO—an apartment conveniently only five minutes away from the embassy—but until he officially took over the reins the day after touy was still in residence The eed for him to bunk temporarily at this little bed-and-breakfast near the center of Drago The ho ran it had given Alec his set of keys last night, and he quickly grabbed the noiselessly down the stairs and out the front door

This part of the city was , with only an occasional street laht from the airport on the outskirts of town and the palace on the hill, but

Alec wasn’t overly concerned Violent crio—in all of Zakhar, for that e tourist didn’t have to worry about getting ed

He’d also studied a detailed ht over, and had committed it to memory It was one of the little knacks he had His sister, Keira, called hi a ot turned around or lost Helpful for solimmer of a smile

Now he turned left and headed toward the river, jogging at a steady pace The air was cool, alretted he hadn’t dressed warht His body would war

Little threads of ot to the river the stronger and more eerie the mist becaain There was a ay here that followed the river’scourse for miles What had obviously once been hard-packed dirt from centuries of use had been paved with porous asphalt to accommodate all-weather users He held by his father’s o as far out as you possibly can, until your body calls it quits Then turn around and head back He figured this ould help him accomplish just that

Alec had been jogging for roughly tenshoes on asphalt colanced over his shoulder but saw nothing He slowed, then turned around and jogged in place for a few seconds until a figure ap between them quickly

He snized the tall, slender woed

She’d obviously been running for soray sweatshirt, but her breathing wasn’t even ragged when she briefly returned his sent Jones”

Alec swung into step beside her “The name’s Alec”

She considered this for a moment and then nodded her assent to his ielina to my friends” She hesitated for a ood oood omen for the job you do Defender of the People That is what Alec means”

“How do you know that?”

“The irl, you understand Names have always fascinated me I remember when” She hesitated

“When?” he prompted

“When the king was a boy—he was the crown prince then, of course—his naination Andre Alexei Manly Defender That is what his naht, for asomeday, yes?”

“If you believe in that sort of thing”

“He has borne that out,” Angelina insisted earnestly “He is aconvictions He would lay down his life for what he believes His example inspired me His sister, too If not for them, I would not be where I am today”