I cough and turn my head away from the smell, fully awake.

The man corks the vial and slips it into his blazer pocket. I focus my eyes on him and it suddenly occurs to me where I am, who he is. Oh no.

Conner watches me curiously as the events of the night begin to come back to me: Aarya, Ash, Felix…

“Well, there you are,” Conner says, perfectly at ease.

“What did you do? Where’s Ash?” The fear in my voice is apparent and I’m sure he doesn’t miss it.

Conner smiles. “It’s amazing to me that you would worry about someone who was helping to kill you.” He makes a tsking sound, as though it’s all such a shame. “Just like her father,” he says under his breath, but I can tell it was meant for me to hear.

I freeze at the mention of my dad.

Conner gives me a knowing look. “And that’s another thing. You’re far too easy to read. It’s actually disappointing. One would think the Strategia in your blood would have manifested itself more, but alas.” He clasps his hands behind his back. “Yes, I know your father, November. And when I saw you, the exact image of your mother, I was expecting someone polished and poised. A true opponent. But you?” He laughs. “I’m not saying you’re not like them. After all, you’ve certainly managed to inherit their worst qualities.”

I hate the way he’s talking about my parents. He’s clearly trying to get a rise out of me.

“It makes you angry when I talk about your father?” Conner says in answer to my thoughts, and puffs out his chest. “Well, then I imagine you’re not going to enjoy our time together very much.”

My fists clench, making the zip ties dig uncomfortably into my skin.

“Now, November,” he says slowly. “Where is your father?”

I struggle against the restraints, pain be damned. “I don’t know,” I say, because it’s the truth.

I look at his desk on my right, but it’s too far away to get the knife Aarya said was hidden under it.

Conner sighs. “You may not know where he is at present, but you can tell me where you live.”

Suddenly it’s hard to breathe. If I give him my address in Pembrook, the people I love are in danger—Dad, Emily.

Conner smiles. “I see you understand the question now. Based on the assessment I gave you and your skill sets, I’d say your father has hidden you away in some sleepy town in the country that you don’t leave. Probably has a mundane job that never raised any flags. Near a forest—lots of light and trees.”

I cringe, remembering the yellow and green I chose on the color test my first day here—what else did I give away during my interview with him?

“Your aunt wasn’t easy to find, either, even in a small city,” he says casually, like he’s merely commenting on the weather. “But your father…he has managed to elude us for a very long time. Then again, our Family always was excellent at deception and disguises.”