My Vampire System novel · Chapter 6 of 24

Chapter 6: Crypt Bench

Sebastian was dressed before I had found my second boot.

He zipped, buckled, smoothed his jacket, and stepped out from behind the rack with his face as blank as a plate.

I was still hunting for my belt.

"Councilor," he said calmly. "You have the wrong hour. The armory is closed for inventory."

"Is it?"

Venn walked in with two guards behind him and his hands folded at his back.

His eyes went to the rifle racks, one by one, and settled on the one that sat a few inches out of line.

Then they settled on me.

I got my belt on, finally, and stood at attention.

"Cadet Solheim. The Null who climbs ropes." He smiled. "Rumor travels."

"Yes, sir."

"Tell me. What does it feel like when a bond passes?"

My heart gave a hard thump.

"I wouldn't know, sir."

"No?" He came a step closer. "Give me your wrist."

I held it out.

His fingers closed on it, and they were very cold, a different cold than Sebastian's, thin and dry.

"A runner's pulse," Venn murmured. "In a girl the stone read as nothing."

"I jog, sir."

"Of course you do."

He let go, and he turned to Sebastian.

"You look dreadful, Major."

"Late night."

"Do you know, Sebastian, I believe you do." He tilted his head. "I have known you since nineteen forty-one. I have never seen you come to inspection with a flush on your face."

"I ran the course."

"You did."

For a long moment nobody spoke.

Then Venn smiled again, and my skin crawled.

"I will be back to see what you have made of her," he said gently. "Everyone is watching the Null now. It would be a shame if she disappointed us."

He left, and the guards left with him.

Sebastian waited until the sound of their boots was gone.

Then he sat down hard on an ammunition crate.

"Don't," he said, when I started toward him. "I'm all right."

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