A bead of sweat traced the edge of Nathanael Barnes's collar as he faced the students, the white-hot glare of the auditorium lights turning the rows of expectant eyes into a sea of pale moons.
His own heartbeat was loud in his ears, and he couldn't ignore the way his palms prickled against the cool plastic of the podium. This wasn't the kind of information he could just brush off. He couldn't help flickering a glance at Agent Lee, who looked like the picture of calm.
Honestly, the more he interacted with the man, the more he disliked him. He'd never met someone so disagreeable in his life. Barnes found himself tightening his grip on the podium, jaw set. He didn't have to announce it aloud; the air between them was already thick with unspoken irritation.
He sighed.
