and it felt like swa

deep, ragged gasp, like a drow

es fle

n ceiling, the one in her childhood bedroom, with the faint

heart hammered against her r

ds she hadn't thought about in years. Her desk was cluttered with t

the date, the numb

15,

it all w

ed out of bed, her legs unsteady, and stumble

her. Twenty-one years old. Her cheeks were full, her eyes were clear, her h

essed her fingers against her chee

n't a

Get down h

ass. Marlene. Her adoptive mother. A voice she

ose to meet it. The memory of a sterile hospital room. The unending beep

er nails digging into her palms. T

would be

pened her bedroom door, a

n his worn armchair, a cigarette dangling from his lips, a cloud of smoke obscuring his face. Mar

crossed, stirring a cu

m step. A sweet, cloying smile spread across

first life, she had thought it was sympathy.

. "We need to talk. About

tion that had been the st

voice sharp and final. "With Garret's

rness coating her tongue. Tears? Screaming? She had done that last time, and it had led to a sterile hospital room and an unending beep. No. Not again. This tim

oice quiet but perfectly

nged a look of surprise, of relief. They had expected

e. "Elena Ward's stepson is looking for someone. A

single, powerful thud

lass

e of self-control. "I'll do it,"

savor their victory for

ave cond

bsolute. Three pairs of eyes stared at he