The galvanized man who stood behind John Black frowned at me. The black stitches that speared across his tawny skin through his eyebrow and all the way down his cheek, jaw, and neck, did nothing to distract from his intensity and good looks. His hair and beard were shaved to a shadow, making his angular features and ocean-green eyes pantherlike.
He had on a short-sleeved black T-shirt, which showed the stitching on his muscular arms.
I couldn’t tell if he was angry at me or just angry in general.
“Perhaps you could give us a little privacy, Mr. Harris?” Oscar asked.
Neds looked at me.
It was sweet of him to wait to see if I said it was okay. I nodded. No need to get him into any more of my trouble.
“Of course,” Right Ned said. “Good day, Excellencies.” He strode toward the suites.
“So, this is the new galvanized.” John Black strolled toward me, his galvanized walking beside him.
Abraham had also left the elevator and stood a respectful distance to my right, about midpoint between Oscar and me. I wasn’t the best at reading body language on a person—give me a wild critter, and I could tell exactly what was going through its brain—but Abraham didn’t seem worried about this man or the galvanized with him.
“How old did you say you were?” John Black asked.
“I didn’t, sir.”
He stopped and the galvanized—Buck, that was his name—flicked a look to Abraham, who gave a slight shrug. Buck went back to frowning at me.
“No,” John Black said. “You didn’t, did you? So I’m asking you now. How old are you, Matilda Case?”
“Twenty-six, sir.”
“Since your reawakening?”
Oscar, who was still standing by the window, answered, “She’s twenty-six and apparently wasn’t reawakened like the others.”
“Are you strong?” John Black asked.
“Would you like me to show you how strong I am?” I offered, maybe with a little too much challenge. Okay, with a lot too much challenge.
Abraham quickly stepped forward. “If I may, Your Excellencies?”
He never spoke that formally around Oscar, but apparently when there was another House in the room, he pulled out all his manners.
“Continue, Abraham,” Oscar said.
“I would be happy to test Matilda’s strength, reflexes, and other measures that prove her as galvanized.”
What? Was the man picking a fight with me?
I glared at him. He glared right back.
Oh, this was so on.
“Will that satisfy you?” Oscar asked John Black.
“It will.”
“Good,” Oscar said. “We will meet you in the training hall.”
Abraham gave both men a shallow bow. They turned and walked down the hall that led to Oscar’s office, Buck following behind.
“Matilda.” Abraham strode past the elevator and took a cleverly hidden staircase beside it.
