The second notification in as many minutes appeared and vanished at the bottom of Anselme’s screen. The first, he knew without looking, was no more than a reminder of his impending introduction to the new team member from America, but the one from Legate Kristensen piqued his curiosity. He knew leaving the Legate waiting was unwise, but his mind was more consumed with the man’s daughter than his directives at the moment.

The vision of her from the night of their cita secreta1 was far more intoxicating even than his imagination from the one before that, reality richer than fantasy…