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Thea druainst the table “In the Meathook? Seriously? Even knowing nothing about the Veil or the Lorica you know better than to go traipsing around there at night You’ve lived in Valero all your life, haven’t you?”

I sed thickly Yes, I are of the Meathook’s colorful reputation, and it had been shoved down ht alone by many different people, but I wasn’t about to say that

“I’ain” I dared to look her in the face this tiet terminated – whatever that meant at a place like the Lorica – I wanted to be able to ot cocky, okay? I thought that I’d be able to just step my way out of trouble now that I knohat it is that I can do” I scratched ot careless because I kneas under the Lorica’s protection”

The wrinkles around Thea’s eyes relaxed, her expression going just a notch softer “That protection only goes so far, Dustin We can’t have Eyes watching you at all hours, and you’re not always going to have Hands to escort you The whole point of this exercise was to see if you can handle things on your own That’s what the other Hounds do”

I folded ether and stared at uess I wasn’t cut out to become one of them Disappointain

Thea sighed “Next time, just call a damn car, will you?”

I liftedto be a next time?

The corner of Thea’s mouth quirked Not quite a srievous one, but not soiven time we’ll be able to beat the insubordination out of you”

I gulped

“Or at least your propensity toaround alone late at night That’s what got you into this in with”

Ouch But that was only fair She wasn’t wrong

“I’ you another chance,” she said A deeper exhalation of breath, then she continued “There’s so about you that we need to cultivate, Mr Graves The Lorica isn’t quite done with you We need to see how far your gift can go You’re – unique, to say the least”

Charured it couldn’t hurt to see how much farther it could takeI’m special?”

To hed “Special, yes, to a point We’ll have to see yet if you’re exceptional” She steepled her fingers and leaned forward “If you’re worth the time and effort”

“But,” I blustered This was a farce, at first, but somehow I felt honor-bound to defend my specialness “The sword Vanitas It resonated with me Herald said so It picked me It chose me”