She’d risen well before dawn after a restless night spent sleeping on the thin cot in her office. Her mother would read her the riot act if she knew how often she stayed at the lab. Most nights she worked so late she couldn’t be bothered driving across town to her tiny apartment. She wasn’t married, didn’t own pets, hell, she didn’t even have plants, so there was very little reason for her to return home. Ever. She turned to her computer to input the figures and to hash out some ANOVA calculations. Her life seemed to be one long stream of trials and data analysis. Mom despaired over her long hours and disinterest in a social life, but Deni couldn’t tell her mother there was no reason to worry. She would definitely get married…someday. She had found a way to guarantee a marriage without the awkwardness of dating. She’d been introduced to the Trinity Masters just as she was finishing up her doctoral degree. Her professor had asked her to remain after class one day and had opened her eyes to a world she’d never imagined existed—one of secret societies, symbols, ceremonies and power.
