by Sophie Davis
“Well then, let’s see about feeding all these mouths.”
I craved alone time with Talia. Since the announcement of the vote, there hadn’t been a minute when we weren’t putting out fires. I was so determined to keep my head, to hold onto the small amount of control that I could still muster. But now that we weren’t in an immediate fight or flight situation, it was harder to compartmentalize. I needed Tals. She was my great equalizer.
Still, I wasn’t leaving my dad in a room alone with Alpha and Epsilon. Luckily, a solution arrived in the form of James. He entered the McDonough’s kitchen, his eyes widening at the group gathered.
“Hello,” James said awkwardly. Kenly’s boyfriend glanced around the room at the newcomers. “I heard you all, figured I would come see about it.”
I made quick introductions, and everyone shook hands. Then I pulled James into the hallway.
“Look, I know you want to stay with Kenly right now, but—”
“Take a break, mate,” James said with a wave of his hand. “Kenly’s asleep, and she seems peaceful right now.”
“Just a quick break,” I promised quickly. “We’ll just be in the master bedroom if you need anything.”
“I can handle things here,” James assured me.
“Thanks, man. There’s food for everyone, just needs to be cooked.”
The Brit nodded. “Not a problem.”
As I gestured Tals into the hallway, James put a hand on my arm.
“Any word on my sister?” he asked hopefully.
Tals’ hand slipped into mine.
“Her medi-hover landed safely,” she told James, phrasing her response carefully.
A quick search of my girlfriend’s most recent memories turned up no new mention of Bryn Wellington. Talia wasn’t lying, more like bending the facts. Penny was obviously alive and well, at least enough to be in charge for Ian while he was in London. The medi-hover flying Bryn and Riley must’ve landed somewhere safely.
Still, Talia was quick to add, “I’ll see if I can get an update from someone.”
“Thank you,” James replied, too polite to insist she start making inquiries immediately.
He returned to the kitchen, and I led Tals toward the only unoccupied area of the house.
The master suite contained two small offices and a sitting room along with the bedroom and bathroom. By unspoken consent, we chose the sitting room, and both collapsed on the couch in an exhausted tangle of limbs.
My hands reached for Tals without conscience thought, lifting her into my lap by her waist. Small palms cupped my cheeks as her intense gaze locked on mine. The increase in her heartrate was instantaneous. The pounding of her pulse filled my ears, setting me as ease.
I slid my hands beneath worn cotton and over soft skin. Desire made Talia’s violet eyes sparkle as my fingers skimmed her spine and over her ribs. Her mind grew unfocused as she gave in to more primal instincts, and the kiss we shared was heady.
I’d planned to use our alone time as a break from the reality, but escape wasn’t what I found. Each kiss made my mind sharper and my senses more refined. Each touch focused my talents.
Unfortunately, my amplified brainpower zeroed in on the last thing I ever wanted to think about while making out with my girlfriend: Donavon McDonough.
More specifically, the version of him inside Gracia’s head. Like the other obstacles, I’d thought Donavon was Gretchen’s way of safeguarding her evil plans. From a strategic standpoint, it was smart. One prisoner with vital intel could cripple a movement more effectively than mass casualties in battle.
But what if the purpose wasn’t to keep Talia out? What if Gretchen’s plan was to imprison her inside?
It made sense, and yet my gut said there was more to it.
What am I missing?
“Seriously?” Tals demanded. She crossed her arms and glared down her nose.
Shit. How much did she hear? I wondered. I knew a drama-loaded minefield when I was about to step in one.
“Your brain activity is through the roof,” she retorted suspiciously. “I can feel you using your higher reasoning abilities. What were you thinking about?”
“Natalia, don’t,” I snapped.
At least she hadn’t realized I was thinking about Donavon. I still hadn’t shared exactly what had happened in Gracia’s mind, there hadn’t been a chance. As soon as I found the right way, the right time, I planned to tell her about the mindtrap version of her ex-boyfriend. This was not the right way. And definitely not the right time.
“What aren’t you telling me?” Tals whispered. Though she didn’t try to compel the truth from me, the pleading in her gaze was just as persuasive. “What’s so bad you think I can’t handle it?”
Nothing, I thought. There’s absolutely nothing you can’t handle.
I wasn’t protecting her, I realized. I was protecting myself. I didn’t know if I could deal with her heartbreak when she heard Donavon’s name, the rush of memories and emotions that always came with just the mention of him.
Talia was still on my lap, my hands resting lightly on her hips.
“Can we not do this right now?” I asked, expression and tone perfectly neutral.
It seemed prison had taught my girlfriend some patience.
“Sure,” she said after a moment. Talia swung her legs to one side. “Whatever you want.”
“Tals, c’mon.” I tried to draw her back. She scooted to one end of the couch and stared in a way that never meant good things for me.
She pierced me with her icy purple stare. “I thought we were done keeping secrets from one another.”
And I thought Donavon was in the past.
A shadow crossed Talia’s expression just before fury ignited. She’d heard the thought. Her tone was icy when she threw my own words back at me.
“Can we not do this right now?” she snapped.
I knew I should apologize. My temper had risen when hers did, though. I wasn’t feeling very apologetic.
Focus, or you will lose this war, I lectured myself.
I inhaled deeply. “I don’t want to fight, Tals.”
She studied me for a long moment, and I half expected random items from the McDonough’s shelves to begin hurdling at my head. Finally, her expression relaxed.
Talia shook her head. “I don’t want to fight either.”
The mood was friendlier but still far from our earlier make-out session.
“What now?” I ventured.
Talia’s annoyed expression faded. Fear of the looming unknowns made it hard for her to think straight. Suddenly, she seemed so tired.
You’re an ass, I told myself. I considered coming clean about the imaginary version of Donavon, just so she wouldn’t use her energy worrying about me when there were worthier candidates.
“I don’t know,” Tals admitted, rubbing her temples warily. “Get Gracia and the other prisoners to a more secure location, I guess.”
Though not my top priority, moving the prisoners to a facility better equipped to hold them was important. It was also logistically tricky, since we didn’t want the world to know our location.
“Kip could teleport the prisoners,” Tals suggested.
“Where?” I asked.
She shrugged. “Vault?”
It wasn’t a bad plan, supposing Vault was still intact. Michael hadn’t offered up much information about the state of the islands, and Tals hadn’t asked. She let her head fall into her hands.
“Why did Crane have to go radio silent now?” she moaned.
The question was rhetorical. Tals and I both knew Ian wouldn’t have gone to a sequestered meeting with the Joint Nations in the middle of a crisis unless there was no other choice. Still, it got me thinking.
“Ian would be ideal right now, but maybe one Crane is as good as another?” I suggested.
“You mean Penny?” Tals asked, looking up with renewed hope. “Why didn’t I think of that?”
She stood from the couch and headed for o
ne of the two home offices. I followed a step behind, and the comm was already ringing when I caught up. An unfamiliar male voice answered. Tals and I exchanged uneasy glances.
“Who is this?” Talia demanded.
“Who is this?” the voice countered.
“I want to speak to Penny Crane,” Talia responded.
“Agent Crane is very busy meeting with the wounded.”
“I don’t care if she’s performing brain surgery—”
I yanked the comm from Tals’ hands with my mind before she said started yelling.
“Tell Agent Crane that Erik Kelley needs to speak with her,” I snapped. “Do it now.”
The voice didn’t respond. Several seconds later, the hologram function turned on, and Penny’s pale worried face appeared.
“Holy shit! You’re both alive!” she squealed, glancing from me to Talia, who’d moved to stand beside me. “I’ve been so worried. You have no idea. I’ve had half the crypto banks chasing down sightings of you guys and the other half chasing leads on the Isle attack. Did you guys hear about it? It was so awful.”
Never thought I’d find her rambling so endearing, I thought with a smile. Her words and the haunted look that passed over her features hit me after the amusement.
“Were you there, Penny? During the attack on the Isle?” I interrupted. Talia and I watched as the shadows in her expression darkened. “You were. You’re okay, though? And the others?”
“We’re all okay. Well, we’re all alive,” she amended. Penny lowered her gaze. “Bryn’s not in good shape.”
“How bad is it?” Talia asked.
The dread I felt over breaking the news to James was mirrored in Talia’s gaze.
“Bad. Her chances are…low.” Penny’s eyes narrowed in steely determination. “But she’s beaten the odds once today, so don’t lose hope yet.”
“Riley?” I asked.
Penny’s smile held genuine warmth. “He’s good. Well, not good, you know. But stable. He just needs rest and fluids. The doctors say he’ll be strong enough to leave the hospital in the morning.”
Well that’s something, I thought.
“Where are you guys?” Penny asked. She peered behind us, surveying our surroundings. “Looks fancy. Wait, why is there a super creepy painting behind you?” She squinted and cocked her head to one side. “Is that Mac? It looks like him, but like if his face melted. Or maybe like Mac and Uncle Ian went halfsies on an offspring.”
“That’s not how genetics works,” I said, scrutinizing the painting. It was creepy, like the man was all-knowing.
Talia looked behind us too. “That’s not Mac. It’s his grandfather, or maybe his great-grandfather. Whatever. Not important.”
She waved a hand dismissively.
“Mac’s grandfather? I thought evil was like spawned into being.” Penny’s green eyes lit up with understanding. “That must mean—”
She cut off abruptly and glanced in both directions. When Penny continued, her voice was low. “Are you at the McDonough School?”
“Got it in one guess,” I replied dryly. “Give the girl a prize.”
“Where are you?” Talia asked her.
“Virginia. Reed Jackson Memorial Hospital, to be exact. Best trauma doctors in the country are here. The most severely injured survivors from the attack on the Isle have been transported over.” Penny seemed to age a decade with the admission. “I deployed as many medics as I could to help with the search and rescue efforts, but with everything else happening there aren’t many to spare.”
Talia and I looked at each other briefly. It seemed Penny had her hands full. Was it fair of us to ask her to send a team for Gracia and the others? Maybe it really would be better to have Kip teleport them away instead.
“Are you calling for help with your clone problem?” Penny transitioned from one topic to another without taking a breath. “I’m dying to see the power dampening coils the Nightshade agent had. That tech is really advanced.”
I studied Penny carefully, searching for any detail of her appearance that was off. Aside from the large amount of dried blood on her clothes and in her hair, she looked like the same Penny I’d traveled with for a month. The same girl who’d befriended Talia at Elite Headquarters.
But if she was our Penny, how did she know so much about what’d happened at the school?
“I see you’ve been talking to Councilman Tanaka,” Tals said without a hint of suspicion or accusation.
Penny’s brows furrowed. “Yeah. I mean, of course I have. But what does that have to do with anything?”
“Oh, sorry. I just assumed he was the one who told you that we have Gracia and the Nightshade agent.” Talia shrugged, as though the mysterious source of Penny’s intel didn’t matter.
Penny wasn’t fooled. She laughed shortly. “You think I’m a clone?”
“Don’t look so surprised, Tals,” I sent my girlfriend. “She went undercover with TOXIC for years; subtle information gathering is more her thing than yours.”
“Oh, so now you don’t think she’s a clone?” Tals shot back.
“Undecided,” I admitted with a bitter laugh.
“What’s so funny?” Penny asked.
“Nothing,” I insisted. “I was just wondering when this became our life—we called you, but we actually need to consider that we might be talking to one of Gretchen’s Privileged clones.” I shook my head. “The world gets crazier by the day.”
“Gretchen?” Penny zeroed in on the name, oblivious to everything else I’d said. “Gretchen McDonough? Are you serious?”
Something in the periphery caught her attention, and Penny motioned over a man with graying hair and a trim goatee. He handed her a tablet, and she gave him a thumbprint as authorization.
“You have a call with the council in—”
“I know,” Penny cut him off. “I’ll be there.” She waited for the man to leave before resuming the conversation. “I’m not surprised. About Gretchen. She’s as batshit as her husband was. And I know about your clone problem because we intercepted some chatter that suggests someone who isn’t UNITED is missing one freakishly short brunette with mind powers. As soon as the cryptos worked out the message, I was pretty sure I knew what had happened to the clone. Or, well, who had happened to her anyway.”
The answer made sense. I also knew Penny well enough to feel confident I would be able to spot an imposter in person. Just like Gracia was so clearly not Talia to those of us who knew my girlfriend, a Penny lookalike still wouldn’t be Penny. But the hologram was trickier. I couldn’t feel Penny’s essence the way I could in person.
Talia didn’t share my reservations, though. Something in the mannerisms and speech patterns had convinced her we were speaking to the real Penny.
Am I being paranoid? I wondered.
In my defense, in the last twenty-four hours I’d killed a guy with my face and invaded the mind of girl who was physically identical to my girlfriend. It wasn’t farfetched to believe Gretchen would’ve remade one of her Privileged in Penny’s visage.
“What’s up with you being in charge?” Talia asked her best friend. “Where’s Ian?”
“This thing with the Joint Nations couldn’t be avoided,” Penny said, her shoulders slumping. “UNITED can’t hold the ports without help from domestic militaries and police forces, and most of those are refusing aid. Uncle Ian went to plead with the council to order local authorities to help UNITED.” Penny raked a hand through her fiery hair. “He’s also asking for an extension of the evacuation period. We have to figure out where to put all the exiled Talented now that the Isle isn’t an option.”
“How bad is it?” Talia asked quietly.
“Penny,” I interjected before the conversation went any further.
Tals might’ve been convinced we were talking to the real deal, but I wasn’t totally onboard yet. “Where’s Brand?” I asked.
He’d surely know if his girlfriend had been replaced by a pod person.
“Hu
h? Oh, Brand. He’s…,” she checked the time, “landing on the Isle as we speak, actually. He wanted to personally oversee the few prisoners we recovered from Vault.”
“Prisoners?” Tals asked, turning a sickly shade of green. She answered her own question, though. “Right, because who better to recruit than a bunch of super dangerous Talents who are already pissed at UNITED for locking them up. Did she tell them about the execution order, too? Because that would’ve really helped any holdouts see the genius in her evil plan.”
“Yeah, she’s creating chaos,” Penny agreed, shaking her head ruefully. “I don’t care what Michael says, the Privileged are behind a lot of the incidents at the ports. I know it.”
“What exactly is happening at the ports?” I asked.
Penny’s lime-colored eyes narrowed. “Have you not seen a wallscreen today?”
“No,” Tals and I replied in unison.
“Really? So…you guys don’t know, do you?” Penny looked supremely uncomfortable.
“Know what?” I demanded. The sinking feeling was all consuming, like my entire body was in freefall. I had a feeling I was about to have a very hard greeting with the ground.
Tals felt it, too. For a moment, I considered telling Penny to forget it, that we didn’t want to know whatever “it” was.
Eyes full of compassion, Penny looked from Talia to me and then back to Talia.
“Victoria Walburton was found dead in a secret bunker below Pure Bliss in London,” she said slowly.
Tals sagged with relief. “Oh, yeah. We know. We—”
“Were there?” Penny supplied pointedly. “Yeah, I know. Your DNA is all over that bunker. Both of yours. So is Kenly’s.”
“I don’t understand,” Tals said uneasily.
But I did.
I knew what Penny was so reluctant to say. What Michael Tanaka didn’t think to mention. What only the people inside the McDonough house knew to be untrue.
I locked eyes with Tals, knowing the fury I’d see there once she realized.
“They think we murdered Victoria.”
Chapter Thirteen
Talia
The council’s working theory wasn’t that Erik and I killed Victoria. Nope, they thought I killed Victoria. Possibly with help from Kenly. That UNITED would’ve leapt to such a conclusion didn’t surprise me. In fact, it was probably something I should’ve considered sooner.