My skin crawled under Darren’s disapproval. I was going to pay for it.

We were both going to pay for it.

“Like I said. I’ll show you otherwise.” Darren voice was deadly even. He twisted my face to the side, and for a split-second, I could see Tair again. He thrashed against his chair, yelling something so hard his throat corded, but his voice was soundless through the glass.

I couldn’t get to him and he couldn’t get to me.

Both of us were screwed. I gave one last mental swipe at the pages of time, but their edges danced away. I couldn’t peek. Couldn’t reset without Tair.

I had nothing.

All I could do was watch this timeline barrel to its heart-shattering conclusion.

Just to drive that home, Darren crushed his lips to mine.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Six

ALTAIR

Murder.

The drugs and the binds tying me to the chair meant nothing. I was going to kill Darren.

I’d choke his life away until the light left those poisonous green eyes.

As he forced himself on Quanta, his gaze flicked to mine, hammering in his twisted message. He was in control and he could do anything he wanted. I had no power.

The pain of it cut through the drugs.

Quanta.

Nothing I had—nothing I could do—could spare her.

It ached in my chest. The chair rocked as I tried to tear free.

When Darren pulled back, hatred and revulsion twisted Quanta’s features, and another hard truth—one I’d suspected but hadn’t dared to dwell on—hit home.

It wasn’t the first time.

Darren had done the same before.

More than once.

Maybe often.

The thought of what she’d endured at his hands made it feel like he’d ripped out my nervous system. I wished I could erase it. I wished I could turn back time for her, and make it so none of this had happened, but that wasn’t in my power either.

Quanta finally gazed at me, an apology filling her eyes.

As if this were her fault.

I shook my head, willing my thoughts to cross the distance between us. It’s not your fault. None of this is your fault.

Darren patted her head and whispered something that earned him another look of hatred. Then he strode for the door, and I could take an educated guess where he was headed. Anger and despair had given my thoughts back their edge, but my vision blurred and I couldn’t fight the serum’s pull from dragging me down.

I had no power.

Quanta met my gaze, and I stared back, helpless.

I could read enough of her expression to know that she felt the same. Her eyes slipped out of focus and then she winced. She let out breath, shook herself, and then repeated the same sequence, never breaking my gaze for long.