“That you’re a bastard?” Not that it was new information, but the truth serum made me honest. For once I wanted him to kiss me. I’d bite off any part he put close enough.

Darren tsked. “I learned a few things myself.”

He must’ve, because he didn’t come near my teeth.

“You projected what you saw to Orpheus.”

“So?” Of all the things Darren could care about, that had to be the least important.

“I want you to show me.” Darren leaned over me, bringing his face close again. A drop of blood smudged his cheek.

Tair’s blood. I pulled against my bonds.

I’d kill him. Then I’d reverse time and kill him again.

“Why him?” Darren eyed my hopeless struggle with cold curiosity.

As if I’d tell. Darren would never understand. He’d need a conscience or empathy or a soul first, and he was zero for three. Either way, I wasn’t going to try to explain to a piece of work like him.

“Why?” He gripped my shoulder hard, digging his thumb into the joint above my collarbone. “After all the work I put in to you?”

I bit down. No way. The drugs made me want to answer, but I wouldn’t.

Not ever.

“All these years, and we’re still figuring out how complicated your powers are.” Darren’s eyes glowed with greed and glory and a million other hateful things. “Imagine when my clones can do the same. The Doc’s already planning my elevation to Seligo.” He shifted his hand to rub his thumb along my jugular. “Always knew you were my ticket to the big leagues.”

His ticket.

Ticket.

Was that what I was? A useless scrap to be torn up and tossed out when he was done with me?

No. Screw that. “You—”

Frantic beeping cut me off. Tair’s med data bloomed on the glass and I wasn’t sure what all the numbers were, but that flashing red stuff meant bad things.

Very bad.

My door slid open, but I couldn’t see the face that went with the frantic voice. “The prisoner—”

“I know,” Darren snapped. “Leave him.”

“But Sen—”

“Leave him.” Darren bit off the words and sickening sureness wrenched my lungs. He was going to let Tair die.

Tair would be gone. I’d be stuck on this path.

Alone.

I couldn’t let that happen. I wanted to live.

And I’d named names—something I’d promised myself I’d never do. Darren had gleefully sent them to the Seligo investigation teams. Now they knew where Eva was hiding, and if I couldn’t get to Tair and wind us back, then everything was already lost.

I swallowed down my dread. I had to fix this.

Somehow. Anyhow.

“Your telepathic scores are up overnight.” Darren started tapping into a data panel somewhere behind my head. “You want to expl—”

The door opened again. “Darren, I—”