“Don’t move.”
The voice came from behind me this time, clear, human, controlled. Not inside my head. Not through the system. Real.
My heart slammed hard against my ribs. Fear spiked first, then something sharper, recognition. No, not him.
Vorde’s body jerked beside me on the floor, breath uneven, eyes flickering between himself and the thing inside him. I didn’t turn immediately. I couldn’t. One wrong move and I might lose him for good.
“Veronica,” the voice said again, calmer now. “Step away from the console.”
My fingers curled tighter over the dead controls. Pride flared, stubborn and defiant. No one tells me what to do anymore. “Show yourself,” I said, my voice steady even as my pulse raced.
A soft chuckle answered me.
“You already know who it is.”
Jealousy twisted unexpectedly
