Ariella stood at the large conference table in a hidden estate in Geneva, surrounded by influential figures who operated behind the scenes.
These were the elite of the Order, the ones who had survived empires, controlled economies, and erased entire lineages.
Now, she was among them.
Not as a pawn.
But as a player.
LaVey sat at the head of the table, observing her intently. "You've made quite an impression, Miss Devereux."
Ariella smiled, her fingers drumming on the smooth surface. "Good. That was my intention."
An older man, Laurent Kessler, the Order's financial expert, leaned in. "We've been keeping a close eye on you. You took down Vaughn's empire. You restored the Devereux wealth. Now you sit here, in his position."
Ariella raised an eyebrow. "And?"
Kessler's face was unreadable. "And we need to know… are you one of us?"
The atmosphere in the room thickened.
This was a test.
Ariella remained steady.
