Last Guard by Nalini Singh

The Architect

What we witnessed today was the most breathtaking act of psychic management that has ever occurred in any of our lifetimes. Bravo, Designation A. We salute you.

—Editorial, PsyNet Beacon

THE ARCHITECT STOODcloaked in the section of the Net where minds had been repositioned in an awesome display of power, and knew she needed to control the mind behind the maneuver. Whoever had done this must be one of hers—no one but a Scarab, one of the new people, had that much power. She just had to find that Scarab and pull them to her, collect them in her web.

In the meantime, she had to keep making room for her children in this Net. There were too many Psy, that was the problem. Why couldn’t everyone see it? That was why the Net was collapsing. Their race had never been meant to be millions. Bring it down to a small number and it would be far more pure, far more powerful.

Taking a deep breath on the physical plane, she reached out to one group of her children. It’s time. Wash the Net clean of the disease. Remove all the weak old players from the network. Create space for the newborn Scarabs to thrive.

Her children stirred and began to act. They trusted her in every way.

Yes, Mother.