Chapter 30 · The Vial and the Mark

The lock lets go with a clunk that rattles the door frame, and the clerk's voice cracks through the speaker like a held breath finally out.

"Magnets restored. Panel logged at zero-zero." A pause.

"Both of you need to initial the seal. Now." Neither of us moves. My arm is still flat over the lid, Levi's hand still trapped under mine, his blood still sliding warm across my knuckles in a thin red line that hasn't stopped since the door started dying on us.

"You heard her," Levi says. His voice is wrecked from the hour, low and scraped.

"Let go."

"You first."

"I'm not the one who's been bleeding on state property for twenty minutes, Ortega."

"Funny. Feels like you're enjoying it." Marcus edges toward the door, eyes ping-ponging between us like he's watching two dogs decide whether the leash is still on.

"I'll — I'll get the log book. Somebody has to sign the restore." He's gone before either of us answers, the door swinging shut behind him, and the deadbolt doesn't catch this time.