Kor’s posture stiffens, and he won’t meet my eyes. “That was for me.”

“You mean… for all… that?” I motion to his body.

“No. Ada, I’m the one who has cancer.”

“What?” Kor is young and vibrant and healthy.

“Leukemia. Stage four.” His gaze is calm and resigned.

I raise my hand to my mouth in horror. It feels like time slows as I try to put the pieces together.

“But if I can stay well enough for long enough to succeed with our plan, no one else will have to deal with this wretched illness ever again.”

I think of all his visits with Dr. Ambrose, the nosebleeds, the postponed tour. “How come you never told me?”

“I wasn’t ready to tell you, and then you had to leave. But it’s okay now. The Sire blood keeps me well.”

“Why couldn’t Prometheus have just given you a cure?”

“The cancer was too far gone. It was too late for any of their cures.”

Too late. Kor was dying, and he never told me.

“But now that you are a Sire, you’re… better?” Despite everything I’ve learned tonight, I want him to be better.

“No. The Sire blood gives me abilities and keeps me well while it’s in my system, but once I stop taking it, I deteriorate quickly. The girl seems to have a universal blood type that could have been more effective. But she’s been too unwell for me to try it.”

Try it. As in, try drinking it. My brain is tangled trying to rearrange all my feelings. I’m furious and disgusted by what Kor’s been doing, but the part of my heart that has loved him for so long is breaking from knowing how sick he is.

“Why didn’t you use my blood? I would have gladly given it. I’ll give it to you now.”

“I considered it, but your mother wouldn’t allow it.”

I hear rustling on the path behind me, and I turn my head to find my mother approaching. Despite the late hour, she’s as well groomed as always. I want to rush to her, fall into her arms, and have her protect me from all this unwelcome truth. But she doesn’t even look at me until she’s standing right next to me.

“I won’t let them turn you into one of their experiments, freely stealing your platelets whenever they need,” she says. A practically professional squeeze of my shoulder is the only affection I get.

She says to Kor, “Just let her go, and let her take the girl.”

“You can’t give me orders. You’re not my superior anymore.”