Page 179 of Twisting Beauty

No, that’s exactly what he wants me to think.

My head spun, unable to trust my own thoughts, my own judgment.

I pivoted my body so that I was side-on to both of them, needing to see her face. My scalpel stayed pointed at Deargán.

The sight of her face, my face, hit me again, clipping my breath.

“Rua?” Her name came out smaller than I wanted.

She stared back at me, her eyes wide and brimming, her mouth opening and closing as she glanced between Deargán and me.

She looked terrified.

Or was it an act?

Deargán’s voice cut in, gentle and reasonable. “Why don’t we put her back in for now. Just until we can sort this out properly.”

Something snapped in her. She seized a beaker off a side table and brought it down hard against the wood, the end breaking off, leaving a jagged stem in her fist, glass scattering bright across the floorboards.

“I will not go back in that fucking cell,” she screamed, her voice breaking, tears running down her face. “I can’t.”

She held the glass out, her hand trembling as she pointed it at Deargán. Then at me. Then at Deargán again.

“See,” Deargán said with a sneer.

I was looking at my sister holding a weapon at me. I was looking at a wounded, scared kitten with claws. Both at once.

Her music box scent-song pitched wrong in my head.

I glanced between her, the jagged glass, then at Deargán.

Deargán caught my eye, his gaze steady. “It’s up to you, Liath.”

Deargán or her.

I couldn’t let her go. She was too volatile. She’d ruin the mission.

But I couldn’t be the one to order her back in that cell.

What the fuck am I going to do?

The moment stretched, my chest winding up so tight I could barely breathe.

“What a delightful reunion.”

I turned my head toward the stairs.

Alistair was standing there, smiling, a gun in his hand.

50

LIATH

The cold black eye of the gun stared right at me. Alistair’s shadow loomed down over us all, the crawling smile stretching across his face making me shiver.

For a moment, all I could do was blink at him, praying that this was a nightmare I would wake from.

Oh God. How did he find us?