Page 363 of Black Reign

Both of us freeze.

A seam appears around the base.

My heartbeat becomes deafening.

Xavier's entire demeanor changes.

The husband from the field disappears.

Blackwell returns.

“Stop.”

I look at him.

“Why?”

“We don't know what's inside.”

“It's a telescope.”

“Your father worked on classified surveillance architecture and someone kidnapped you over a second key.”

Annoyingly reasonable.

He rises, crosses to his bag, and returns with gloves.

I stare.

“You brought gloves on our wedding night?”

“I bring gloves everywhere.”

“That is extremely unromantic.”

“You'll appreciate it when nothing explodes.”

I accept them.

Carefully, I turn the section.

The brass base releases.

Inside is a narrow cavity.

Sealed.

Something wrapped in waxed paper rests inside.

For several seconds, I can't move.

Papa put this here.

His fingers folded this paper.

His hands closed this compartment.

Maybe years before he died.