The woman in the doorway was not Joan.
She was shorter, broader across the shoulders, and she carried a metal case in her left hand.
Council insignia on her collar, gold thread on black, and the family resemblance hit him two seconds before the name did.
Hira Vasquez.
Lior's aunt, not his father.
The Council had sent the sister instead.
"Soren Kane," she said, looking past Selah and Maren to find him on the bed.
"You're awake, good! The classification scan was scheduled for six this morning but your roommates informed me you were indisposed."
"He was recovering from a bond recalibration," Selah said, still blocking half the doorway with her body.
"I can see that." Hira didn't comment. "Bring the wolf to the assessment hall on the second floor. You have twenty minutes."
She turned and walked back down the corridor, the metal case humming with each step.
Maren closed the door the second she was gone. "Tell me you have a plan."
Soren looked at Grimm.
