Page 462 of Black Reign

“Yes.”

“No Blackwell lockout?”

“No.”

She looks up sharply.

“Really?”

“Your machine.”

“Root?”

“Yours.”

Her entire expression softens.

That matters more than the hardware.

I knew it would.

Not the equipment.

Access.

Trust.

The keys.

I step closer.

“There's one condition.”

There she is.

Suspicion returns instantly.

“I knew it.”

“No anonymous black-market work.”

Her mouth tightens.

“We discussed this.”

“I know.”

“We're building NULL.”

“I know.”

“So you don't get to⁠—”

“I wasn't finished.”

She waits.

I touch the little bridge resting against her chest.