Since I said I was done, then realized I wasn’t, I thought I’d post a new teaser in penance.

If you read one of the first teasers, you know Dori was given a year to learn the skills necessary to be self-sufficient without drawing undue attention.  Her time’s now up.  In this snippet, she’s meeting the various Council members before her hearing begins.  It’s not going at all how she expected as the President of the Council, Lyle Bainsbridge, plays host for a bit:

“Please, call me Lyle.”  I smiled.  He smiled.  Donovan smiled, but the corner of his mouth trembled from the effort.  “And let me introduce you around.  Donovan, I think you can stop hovering for a bit.  She’ll be okay with me.  I promise.”  He followed his statement with a wink, but Donovan continued to exude tightly coiled tension. Continue reading →