THE REALIZATION THROWS me for a loop.
“He’s a puppet, too?”
The sound that comes out of Zane isn’t his laugh. It’s too hollow, too sharp—like something else is wearing his voice, but it’s not fitting right.
Kael’s head snaps toward us. Kieran goes still, his hand tightening around the charm at his throat. I let go of Zane, and he dropped to the floor. He tilts his head up at me before he stands, eyes flat, skin pulled tight across his cheekbones like a mask stretched too thin.
“Who’s controlling him?” Kael demands.
Kieran swallows.
“I can’t tell.”
My pulse spikes.
“Can’t or won’t?”
“I can’t. Whoever it is—” His gaze sweeps the room, unfocused. “They’re not at this estate.”
Zane’s lips twitch. A crack that might’ve once been a smile.
“It doesn’t matter.” His voice scrapes the air
