POV: Dante
Aurora's confirmation lasts two minutes in peace.
Umbra registers her "I confirm attendance" and immediately another email arrives, this time for me:
"We appreciate Noir's collaboration and request clarification on the scope of his representation in the Vega session."
Translation: Are you just there for decoration or are you going to open your mouth, Dante?
I close the window and descend to the shadow level.
Aurora is hunched over the screen, her bun messy, her T-shirt wrinkled. On one screen she has the Council's invitation; on the other, Umbra following the noise about the "ghost analyst." I don't need to see her to know that she knows I'm here. Her pulse changes when I walk through the door.
"One day I'm going to put a bell on you," she says without looking at me. "For quality control."
"No need," I reply. "You already smell like the shadow level from the elevator."
She turns, her eyes tired but sharp.
"Did you get the boss version?" she asks.
