Board’s Gambit
Valenticias POV~
“Clara Vane, tech support,” I said, forcing calm into my voice despite the tremor pounding in my chest, and thrusting a fake badge at the security desk of Seryne’s glassy high-rise. The guard, his eyes glacial beneath the lobby’s chandeliers of crystal, nodded, beckoning for me to pass forward. My heart was thumping, my tech assistant disguise — a black blazer, fake glasses, brunette wig — felt like a construction-paper shield against Galden’s empire. The elevator buzzed upward, delivering me to the 40th floor where Gregor’s board gathered in their Lazareth serum ties, the secret I would reveal. Rosanna’s file, nestled in the bottom of my satchel, seared my side, claiming that Dr. Patel’s brother, Ravi, a spy who supplied Gregor with information—is Patel compromised? A grim spike of fear went through me, like a cold blade, shattering trust that I had only recently rebuilt. My fingers found the locket Eleanor gave me, the silver rose a link to my mother
