Page 50 of It Starts With A No

“I guess you always hang around with really smart science people.”

“I don’t discuss my work with anyone.”

“Why not?” She could hear his passion for what he was doing.

He shrugged. “I don’t like to bore people.”

“Why would it bore people?”

He leveled a glare at her that she supposed was meant to explain everything, then stopped outside a white door. “And here’s what we’re here for—the robotic hand.” He pressed on a panel that looked just like a part of the wall. The panel popped open, and Seth flipped it aside.

“Should I have turned away? It feels like I shouldn’t know that exists.”

He pressed his hand to the security panel within the wall. “If anything goes missing, you’re the first person the police will come after.”

“Thanks for the warning,” she said as the electronic lock whirred and ended with a click.

He opened the door and stepped into the white laboratory.

A rush of cool air swept over her, and she rubbed her hands against her arms.

Three long gray tables extended across the room. Various tools and what she assumed were small pieces of equipment were scattered across the tables. The larger equipment stood along one side of the room. Behind each long table was a desk with a laptop.

Seth pulled out a chair in front of a desk and rolled it over to her.

She sat and scanned the place again, then glanced over at him when he draped his jacket over her. “Thanks.” She slipped her hands through the sleeves and wrapped it closer around herself, as a fresh, woody scent enveloped her.

Combined with the warmth from his jacket, the fragrance felt comforting, and it made her feel safe. Was it because they’d been held at gunpoint together?

Because despite knowing that she was probably alone in the building with Seth, she wasn’t worried he’d hurt her or even try anything untoward. Because he still needs your help to get in contact with Mr. E.

Therein lay the curse of being associated with an Eolenfeld.

Clary never knew if people around her were only there because of the association or if they were honestly her friends.

Perhaps that was why she felt so comfortable with Seth—because she already knew he was only here with her because of that connection.

“This way.” Seth wheeled her over to a work-in-progress prototype of a robotic arm propped up on a stand.

“You need to put this on.” He held up the headband for her to take a closer look. “It reads your brain waves.” He paused when she didn’t immediately respond to him. “Are you okay? If you’re bored, we can go.”

“Sorry. I was just caught up in my thoughts.”

“What about?”

She shook her head, then turned her attention to the object in his hand. “Go on.”

He fitted the band over her head, then said, “Now think about curling your fingers.”

Clary dropped her gaze to her hand.

“No. Don’t look at your hand.” He put a hand on her back, and she could feel the heat of it through his jacket.

The touch wasn’t anything intimate, yet that was exactly what it felt like.

He pointed at the robotic hand. “Look at it. Think about curling the fingers. Imagine it moving.”

Focus. Clary stared at the robotic hand for a moment.

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