Chapter 50

• The man took a slow sip of his brandy, savoring the flavor before responding, his eyes meeting hers with an intensity that made her heart skip a beat. “In return,” he said slowly, his voice smooth and calm, “I require a favor. A favor that will not be easy, but it is necessary.”
• Ariana felt a chill run down her spine. “What kind of favor?” she asked, her voice steady despite the unease she felt.
• The man leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled in front of him as he considered his next words. “There is someone I need you to find,” he said. “Someone who has something that belongs to me. I cannot retrieve it myself, but you, with your unique... abilities, can.”