Chapter 857

• "Oh, were you under some delusion that you could tell me what to do, Elsa?" I replied. There was a hush for so many reasons. Elsa being denied, a man denying anything to any of them, and my cavalier, even dismissive attitude toward the Full-blooded assembly.
• "Under what delusion do you think you can safely defy me?" Elsa smiled shark-like.
• "Hmmm," I mused, "let me think. You are not Hayden, Katrina, or Buffy -- my chain of command. You are not Aya, who I love. You are not acting in my best interest as it relates to Havenstone. Yeah, that should about cover it."