Page 404 of Black Reign

He looks at me.

I look at him.

Neither of us smiles.

“Sabine.”

“Mr. Blackwell.”

His mouth tightens.

“We are technically family now.”

“I know. I'm adjusting.”

Xavier walks past us.

“Play nicely.”

His father glares at him.

I look at Xavier.

“Which one of us was that directed toward?”

“Both.”

“Coward.”

He almost smiles.

Blackwell Senior does not.

Good.

I like consistency.

The second key sits inside a shielded case on the central table.

Papa's handwriting is beside it.

I haven't looked at the note since France.

I don't need to.

I know every curve.

Every letter.

For Sabine. When the stars stop being safe.

I touch my wedding ring instead.

Xavier notices that too.

He always notices.

“We've built the system exactly as requested,” he says.