  SASHA POV
  	&quot;Ah, you have returned…Commander Sukoshku,&quot; the tall, otherworldly elf who interrupted my conference with my team remarks as I open the office door. He looks me up and down, as though he s expecting some sort of fae trick. This one s loyal to top brass. And none of them are taking any funny business. I just look at him, waiting for him to continue. &quot;The Ruling Council sent me to…check the status of your office. I imagine…they will be pleased to know that you are here.&quot;
  	I arch an eyebrow but otherwise do not react. I want him uncomfortable.
  	&quot;Um…. They instructed that, if you were here, you should come with me to their Inner Sanctum. They would like to speak with you at your earliest convenience,&quot; he adds once it s clear that I will not be encouraging this conversation.
  	&quot;Of course, I would be most pleased to engage in civil convers

  DRAKE POV
  	Mina s 'Turbo Frog  looks nothing like a frog. At first glance, it looks more or less like a long, aerodynamic tank, or maybe a submarine with wheels. Whatever else it may be, it s certainly big enough to accommodate all of us comfortably—Logan s stealth corps, the healers and other support staff Dad s assigned to us, Xander, Callum, Mina, and me.
  	As soon as we step on board, Mina s all business, sending Logan and his troops to the main passenger bay and our support staff to other assorted locations. She knows the Turbo Frog like the back of her hand. I m super proud of her, but also worried; I don t want my baby sister anywhere near any kind of battlefield, in any capacity.
  	&quot;You guys will be in the cockpit, with me,&quot; Mina directs. &quot;Callum, I want you on navigation. Xander, take first gunner, next to him there.&quot;
  	&quot;YES!&quot; Xander exults, 

  DRAKE POV
  	&quot;How ya holdin  up there, Drake?&quot; Commander Baryshnikov asks from the other side of his bullet train as it hurtles through its tunnel, supposedly towards my parents  underground hideout beneath the mountains of Maine.
  	&quot;I…don t know,&quot; I reply. My fingers tighten around the tablet that s supposed to give me a view of what s going on with Sasha. Static gave way to a visual of what must be her new office at WASP HQ just a couple minutes ago, which was a huge relief. I don t like the looks on her fae assistants  faces, though. Why wouldn t they just let me go with her?!
  	&quot;Let  im be,&quot; Callum says behind me. &quot;All of us been havin  a rough time, and some of us ain t sure we s doin  the right thing.&quot;
  	&quot;Will you come off it?&quot; Xander demands. &quot;The Elders are on board now. Even if we d stayed home in Maine and been sensibl

SASHA POV
  	&quot;Ah, you have returned…Commander Sukoshku,&quot; the tall, otherworldly elf who interrupted my conference with my team remarks as I open the office door. He looks me up and down, as though he s expecting some sort of fae trick. This one s loyal to top brass. And none of them are taking any funny business. I just look at him, waiting for him to continue. &quot;The Ruling Council sent me to…check the status of your office. I imagine…they will be pleased to know that you are here.&quot;
  	I arch an eyebrow but otherwise do not react. I want him uncomfortable.
  	&quot;Um…. They instructed that, if you were here, you should come with me to their Inner Sanctum. They would like to speak with you at your earliest convenience,&quot; he adds once it s clear that I will not be encouraging this conversation.
  	&quot;Of course, I would be most pleased to engage in civil conversation with my colleagues,&quot; I reply. Berach ought to love that, if he s heard it.
  	The elf 

Chapter 53 The Ruling Council