Valor did not answer. He slowly closed the book and rubbed his thumb along the cover. The air between them grew stale and uncomfortable, something neither had experienced in each other’s presence until now.

He would not look at her.

“Valor?” She asked again.

“I heard you. It is simply hard to answer.”

“Why’s that?”

Valor went to the other side of the desk, putting the book down as he went. Behind the desk ...