Tremble (Denazen #3)(71)

“There!” I shouted from the bottom of the stairs.

Well, Kiernan-as-me shouted.

My sister had woken up early.





28


I whirled to run the other way, but four agents were just coming through the door on the landing above us. There was no way I’d get through them. Not without Kale’s help—and I couldn’t get that. Not without blowing his cover. And if his cover was blown, not only would we both be trapped here, but any hope of snagging the cure would be gone forever.

In short, I was screwed.

Kiernan stomped up the steps, eyes on me and expression fuming. “That’s Kiernan, Kale,” she spat.

Kale, to his credit, shot her a look of confusion that would have even fooled me. He looked from me to her and took a step away from both of us. “What’s going on?”

“She mimicked and knocked me cold.”

Hand on hips, I curled my lip like I’d seen Kiernan do a thousand times when annoyed. “Bullshit. She’s lying!”

“If I’m lying, then how did I get out of the room?” Kiernan growled.

That was a good question—and then I remembered Kale opened the door as I was leaving the room. Kiernan had locked it after stepping inside. Of course she’d have the key to open it. Knowing there was no way out of it, I shrugged and nodded to Kale.

“Busted,” I said simply and closed my eyes. I felt a shiver run through me and when I opened them and looked down, it was my own form I saw, not Kiernan’s.

“Change me back,” she snapped. “This face makes me sick.”

“Make me.”

Her anger melted into smugness. “I don’t need to make you,” she said, grabbing Kale’s arm and tugging him close. “He will.”

He turned to me and, even though I knew it was an act, the threatening tone of his voice gave me chills. “Fix this. Now.”

As I touched her hand, I contemplated giving her a little something extra, but with this many agents surrounding me, I decided against it. Instead, I closed my eyes and pictured her as she’d been—the day we first met. Clothes and all.

When I stepped away, Kale stared at her. Her hands flew to her face, a panicked light in her eyes. “What? What did she do?”

“Your hair is different. Purple.”

Kiernan looked horrified. Worried the color might spark Kale’s memory, no doubt. But she recovered quickly. With a smug smile, she said, “Very nice, Kiernan—but sticking your old hair color on me won’t work. Kale remembers me.”

“Does he? My bad. He didn’t realize the difference when he was kissing me a few minutes ago,” I said, even though I knew I should have kept my mouth shut. I couldn’t help it, though.

Kale grabbed my arm and spun me closer to the steps. Wiping his mouth with a disgusted expression, he looked at Kiernan. “She’s telling the truth. We did kiss.”

“Is that all you did with her?” She looked genuinely hurt and it took every ounce of self-control not to scream.

Kale never got a chance to answer because Dad appeared at the top of the first landing. “Is there anything you manage to do without screwing it up?”

Kiernan tensed and Kale’s fingers around my arm twitched.

Descending the stairs, Dad locked eyes on Kiernan. In all the years I’d spent with him, and all the stupid crap I’d pulled to get his attention, he’d never once looked at me with as much venom. There was no love in his gaze. No compassion. There was only anger and hate so potent, it made me shudder. “Is there anything you’re capable of succeeding at?”

Her cheeks flushing, she looked away from him. “I’m sorry. But in my defense, she—”

“Your defense? We don’t need your excuses.” He turned away and said to Kale, “Put Kiernan in holding—restrained, please.”

Kale nodded, then guided me down the steps. Kiernan made a move to follow, but from the corner of my eye I saw Dad stop her. He pointed to the door at the top of the steps, then turned on his heel and breezed through.

I’d hoped Kale would bring me down to holding—wherever that was—by himself, but Dad sent two agents with us so there was no choice but to keep up the charade.

We didn’t travel long, and when one of the agents unlocked the door and Kale pushed me inside, I had to remind myself it was all an act.

He shoved me toward the wall and wrenched my right hand up, snapping the same cuff he’d worn just months ago into place. As he moved to restrain the left one, our eyes met. He snapped it closed, then glanced over his shoulder at the two agents standing by the door and back to me.

I knew what he was thinking—and it was too dangerous. We were too close to getting our hands on the vial to ruin it now. I shook my head slightly and let it fall so my hair framed my face. “Don’t,” I whispered. “Please.”

His hands, still on my left wrist, twitched, but after a moment he backed away. Without another word, he turned and breezed through the door, the agents on his heels. Several sharp clicks and a clatter followed as they locked me in.

I held my breath, waiting for them to leave. As soon as the door clicked closed, I’d mimic these puppies and get the hell out of Dodge—but of course, Dad would have thought of that. As the agents walked out, he walked in. “How are you finding the accommodations, Deznee?”