The more I scanned, the crazier I felt. I had to put my foot down.

Point blank. I refused go out like that.

For what? A few kisses?

Sure that future version of me looked blissful, but only until someone died. I’d given my own prophecy right there—don’t let this happen.

I wouldn’t.

It would be easy enough to get Altair out of my life once I’d dug into his past.

Well…

It would be easy if I could sort through his layers like normal, but just thinking of him sparked another flood of nonsense featuring Altair Orpheus as he tapped a stylus against a tabletop, lounged with a book, jogged a lap around an indoor track, and freaking brushed his teeth.

Why was I seeing this? Where was the important stuff?

I bottled off the worst of the flow before it overwhelmed me again. At least I could still do that much.

That settled it.

I needed to find Altair’s weakness so I could make a threat strong enough that he’d back off. Maybe threatening to out him as a Raven would be enough. At worse, I could bluff him. Tell him I’d give Nagi the secret of Eva’s invisible tattoo ink.

The bigger problem was getting a moment alone. I couldn’t threaten Altair without revealing more than I wanted the Seligo to know.

But if he’d come to be all double agent, then he had the same problem.

I flopped back on the couch and folded my arms to wait. Eventually I’d see a future I could steer toward—some way to get at him and figure out his basic malfunction.

All I had to do was be patient.

And try not to tear my hair out in the meantime.

Chapter Eight

Chapter Eight

ALTAIR

It took five minutes to get settled in my underground apartment. Doctor Nagi’s facilities sprawled underneath the Senate, a labyrinth of stocked laboratories, fluorescent corridors, and bustling Helix staff all involved in secret and probably unethical research.

My allotted space in the maze was a box of 20 square meters on one of the dormitory floors. The design was impressive, with a narrow bed lofted over the empty desk, and every centimeter of space geared for efficient living. A Gray hung my things in the narrow closet locker, and then left me to my own devices. I took a seat at the desk, but my tablet and watch had to clear scans before security released them.

That wasn’t what worried me. Both devices were clean, with nothing to imply I had anything but good intentions.

This situation, on the other hand…

Subtle security panels dotted each wall of my new home. I’d checked the closet-sized bathroom. No tech in there, but thermal imaging could pierce the thin wall.