Noor's new position at the auction house ended up being a blessing in disguise and not just because it gave the young women closer access to the Wescotts. Helping Noor with provenance research and valuation also kept Reine blissfully occupied.

For the next few weeks, all her attention was focused on identifying the prior owners of a tenth-century ceramic bowl instead of her drama-filled reality. Working together on a topic they were both so passionate about also strengthened their bond. When word finally came from Max about a perfect opportunity to make a move, Reine didn't even consider excluding her friend.

"How come we've never done this before?" Noor asked without taking her eyes off the gaggle of players on the rugby pitch. The men - separated into jerseys of either green or white - huddled in a tight formation with their arms entwined around each other's shoulders. Amidst pushing and shoving, one group eventually managed to throw itself on the contested ball.

Reine took a sip of her icy lemonade and set it on the small, round table. Somehow, the Order had gotten permission to turn this otherwise plain, grassy patch of Hyde Park into a temporary playing field. The spectators - all on a strictly controlled guest-list - even got to enjoy a catered brunch while watching the game. Leaning back in her chair, she had a perfect view from the sidelines.

"For starters, we haven't been invited until today. Plus, this may be the first time we know someone who's playing," she said, looking at the two men high-fiving each other a few hundred feet away.

She hadn't seen Gabe for weeks, not since that brief glimpse of him at the racetrack. He now appeared to be his usual, carefree self, laughing and goofing around. It probably helped that Mal - who'd Wescott brought to London to assist with his friend's integration - was now at his side.

The next play started, and Noor's fiancée got control of the ball. Running up the field while dodging the opposing team, he was unable to offload the oval ball before being tackled. Noor cringed at the harsh impact, and the referee also noticed an impropriety. Calling a penalty on the defense, he awarded Mal with a chance to restart with a kick.

The players took their time setting up, anticipating being close enough for a goal and allowing Mal to mentally prepare. A few of his teammates patted him on the back in a show of encouragement, while Gabe privately said something in his ear.

The act reminded Reine of when she'd whispered good-bye to Gabe as he slept in the hospital. She sighed. It was the last time she was so close to him. It was the last time she saw him as a mortal.

Done with his pep talk, Gabe jogged across the grass. His white uniform made his tan more prominent, and with his sun-streaked hair, he was easy to spot from afar. As Reine watched him move across the field, her gaze fell on people on the other side of the pitch.

Max was there among a sea of unfamiliar faces. Reine hadn't seen or spoken to him since he was supposed to meet with the Council, but given his presence, they must have agreed to his new plan. Although he was standing next to Morgan, his attention wasn't on his companion or the game. Instead, he was unabashedly watching Reine. Flustered by unexpectedly meeting his eyes, she picked up her glass again. "I'm not sure it was a good idea for me to have come," she said before taking a sip.

Noor laughed. "Are you kidding? And miss all this eye candy? Don't be a hypocrite, Rennie."

"What?" She almost choked on the lemonade.

Noor leaned closer. "Don't even try to deny it, sweetie. I saw those looks."

"Oh, please." Reine frowned. It didn't matter who Noor was alluding to. They were both equally impossible options. "He doesn't remember me, and he's the reason why." She took turns nodding toward each of her former lovers.

Noor laughed again. "That doesn't mean that you don't want them both."

"Pipe down!" Reine covered her friend's mouth with her hand and lowered her own voice to a whisper. "You know almost everyone nearby can hear us if they wanted to. Besides, you've already made it quite clear you wanted me to stay away from Max. Did you change your mind?"

Noor straightened in her chair. "Of course not. But I can definitely tell that you haven't been listening to me. There's still a twinkle in your eye every time you look at him. Although I do have to give him credit for trying to keep you safe. Plus, he sure knows how to wear a Polo shirt." She fanned herself with her hand. "My God! Does he have Ralph Lauren on speed-dial? Because cotton's never looked so good."

The two young women laughed in unison until someone placed a hand on Reine's shoulder. "Reine, darling. How are you feeling?" A handsome face leaned over and gave her a peck on the cheek.

"Thank you, Cooper. I'm wonderful." She turned in her chair before noticing the redhead in a flowery summer dress. "Hello, Paisley."

"Oh, don't get up!" Morgan's sister objected to her move and also stooped down to kiss her face. "You've gotten so much bigger since the last time I saw you. Do let us know if you need anything, won't you?"

"Sure. Absolutely. If you've got a second, this is--" Reine began, but the pair moved on.

"We'll talk later." Cooper waved, leading his wife toward another table.

Noor adjusted her pink, silk headscarf. "So that's what it feels like to be invisible."

"Wow. I'm so sorry," Reine said. "Don't mind them, sweetie. Wescott may have let you come because of me, but that doesn't mean they'll accept a mortal in their inner circle. They were bound to consider you an outsider, but it's their loss."

The girl didn't answer, and they continued to watch the rugby match in silence until Gabe caught a pass directly in front of them. Running at a fast - but not superhuman - pace, he evaded most opponents until he was able to kick the ball to a teammate. With her attention on the action at the end of the pitch, Reine jumped when Noor placed a hand on hers.

"Just give him some time. He'll come to his senses especially after he finds out about all this." She motioned toward Reine's mid-section.

"You know this . . . situation," she struggled to find the right word, "can't be used to influence him in any way."

"I know. Don't worry. But how do you know that he hasn't already found out?" Noor asked.

"You just said it yourself. If he knew, he'd want to have more to do with me. It's obvious he still has no idea who I am." She sighed just as the referee blew a whistle signaling the end of the match.

After the obligatory mutual congratulations, the players began to trickle off the field. The moment Reine had been dreading for days was now inevitable. Pulling her wide-brimmed sunhat off her head, she held it against her belly as Mal grabbed Gabe by the arm and headed straight for their table. "Come on, let me introduce you to my fiancée."

Without breaking his stride, Gabe pulled up his shirt with his free hand. Reine couldn't stop staring when the motion of wiping the sweat from his face revealed his perfectly toned abdomen. The place where a six-inch scar recalling the loss of his spleen should have been was tanned, smooth, and flawless.

In a few more steps, the duo were standing right in front of them.

"This is Noor," Mal said as he beamed at the girl. "Habibti, this is Gabe Moran."

Noor waved to him from her seat, and although they'd already been acquainted, she followed pretenses. "Nice to meet you. This is my best friend, Reine."

Accepting his extended hand, Reine shook it briefly. She wanted to say something, but when Gabe smiled at her, the words caught in her throat. Looking down at her, his eyes conveyed the same carefree happiness she saw the night they met.

"Reine. That's kind of unusual. Is that spelled like the bird?" he asked the same question as months earlier in the coffee shop.

She shook her head, still unable to vocalize an explanation when his eyes widened. "Wait a minute! I know you," he exclaimed, pointing at her.

"You . . . you do?" Her voice cracked with hope.

"Yeah. You called me at the track that day, right? I saw you there. You . . . did I say something wrong?" He frowned, noticing her defeated expression.

"Oh, this is gonna be good." Mal couldn't contain his pleasure from Reine's misfortune, but Noor's swift kick to his ankle ended his grinning.

Reine ignored the jab. "Not that it really matters around here, but can we talk in private?" she asked.

Gabe nodded, and she followed him a few feet away, holding her hat in front of her stomach the entire time. Not knowing how to begin, Reine attempted small talk. "You were pretty good out there." She motioned toward the rugby pitch.

"You think so?" He crossed his arms and smiled. "Maybe I played football as a kid."

His response made Reine sense she'd chosen the wrong topic. Bringing up the past for someone with amnesia was just plain cruel, but the path of the discussion was now unavoidable. "Yeah, maybe," she reluctantly agreed while avoiding his eyes.

He tousled his already messy hair with his fingers. "It's hard not remembering. I have to take others' word on who I am. It's just so many new things to take in, you know?"

"Of course. I'm sorry. It must be tough for you. But at least you have Mal." She motioned toward the young man still within earshot. "He's a good guy, you should listen to him."

Gabe nodded. "Yeah. I don't know what I'd do without him. Millie was great, too, but she was more like a glorified babysitter than a mentor. At least I finally get to be around other people. Plus, London's pretty cool."

Reine shifted from one foot to the other. "Is that what you've been doing for the last few months? Hanging with Jameela, hiding out?"

He laughed. "Pretty much. Is that normal? I mean, is there like a standard process?"

"Well, I'm pretty new to the Order, but I'm fairly certain yours was a unique case." She looked past Gabe at Emery Wescott, who'd just walked up to Cooper.

Gabe smiled his million-watt smile. "What was it like for you, then? How did you get through it?"

"Me?" She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. "Well, the first time, I lost twenty-three years of my life. And unlike you, I had no one to guide me through it," Reine recalled, tears unexpectedly clouding her vision.

Gabe wrinkled his forehead. "What about the rest? Did it get easier?"

"There's only been one other time and that . . . that was different," she began, but pinching the bridge of her nose, she squeezed her eyes shut. "You know what? I . . . I can't do this. I'm sorry. Forget it."

Although he'd been on the other side of the pitch a few minutes earlier, Max was now jogging towards her and was soon at her side. "I'm taking you home." He put an arm around her.

She wanted nothing more than to bury her face in his chest and sob, but he was playing a part and she had to, as well.

"Are you serious, Max? You've got some nerve!" Reine shook off his hold, knowing all attention was now on them.

"Me? I've got nerve?" His hazel eyes were wide with surprise. "You're the one flirting with your former lover right in front of me. Technically, I'm still your husband, and I thought we were trying to make things work."

Her face blushed at the words, but even though Max had been more blunt than she'd expected, she couldn't fault him. Everything was going according to plan.

"Wait. What?" Gabe looked from Reine to Mal for clarification. "Did he say lover?"

Trying her best to ignore him, Reine gritted her teeth and pushed past Max. "I can walk home."

She didn't even have to turn around to know Emery Wescott was most likely smiling.