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Cat’s pulse kicked up at the hint. Stay. Why wouldn’t she stay? Did she look like she might not? Should she not? Was she supposed to move?

Omnis’ head angled. “Good question.” He took a slow, deliberate step forward, filling her entire view. At the edge of her gaze, Zero turned his body toward her with a slow eagerness, bringing a sense of something coming.

Omnis didn’t touch her. “What’s the first rule of this kind of control?”

Cat exhaled slowly, her brain a scattered mush. She remembered the only word that might fit. “Trust?”

One brow lifted. “And do you trust Zero?”

Her lips parted and Zero chuckled, deep and rich.

Her mouth shut, realizing it was another test. Another one she didn’t understand.

“It’s a yes or no question,” Zero hinted again, like that made it easier somehow. But it didn’t. It just made failing easier.

She forced herself to meet Zero’s eyes. Did she trust him? “I—”

He propped up his head with a hand, like a boy watching the animal freaks at a circus.

Do you trust him.

…Yes.

…No.

Not the way she trusted Omnis. And Ethan.

Zero was unpredictable. Wild. Calculated in ways she couldn’t quite track.

But he hadn’t hurt her. Hadn’t tricked her. Hadn’t forced her into anything.

That she knew of.

He’d revealed things, which… somehow, could be worse.

Omnis continued watching her hesitation like a hawk.

Zero sighed and reclined on his back. “You’re thinking too hard, Kitten.”

Her pulse pounded, not finding anything useful in his hint.

Omnis exhaled. “Let me make it simpler.” He moved. One second in front of her, the next somewhere behind her. She was stuck in the frozen prison again, her spine stiff. Zero had turned on his side again, head propped on his hand, back at the circus. Only something different flickered in his eyes now. Something sharper.

“Stay still,” Omnis said, just behind her.

Cat’s breath locked.

A hand hovered above her shoulder. Waiting.

Her pulse jumped while Zero gave one of those curious hums. No, not curious. That one washungry.

The hand lowered.

Onto the arm of the chair.

Rightnextto her arm.

His presence surrounded her, quiet and massive, caging her without a single touch.