Page 415 of Black Reign

Almost invisible.

Twenty-three years.

Renewal after renewal.

A credential that never technically logs in because it never needs to.

It is already trusted.

It lives inside the security framework itself.

A heartbeat.

Slow.

Steady.

Sleeping when unnecessary.

Waking just enough to remain alive.

I smile.

“There you are.”

Xavier leans closer.

“What?”

I point.

“Your ghost.”

Senior moves beside me.

“What am I looking at?”

“A sleeper credential.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“It can't persist that long.”

“It can if the department responsible for killing it is the department keeping it alive.”

Silence.

Xavier understands first.

“Security.”

I nod.

His father's face loses color.

“No.”