Page 41 of Angel Lost (Fates Academy #3)

Chapter Forty-one: Lorelei

Chano’s trousers are soaked from the length of time he’s been kneeling in the grass in front of the runaway. But no matter what he tries, the boy won’t talk. Can’t talk, maybe. He’s unresponsive except to direct orders, which he follows like a robotic automaton.

Kai paces in ever more erratic circles in the walled garden, tugging his hair and hissing under his breath.

“He’s too like my twin. Someone’s done this to him.”

“Your twin?” Davina mentioned a twin.

Kai avoids eye contact, rubbing his palms together in jerky movements. “I destroyed him.”

I share a look with Chano. “No more secrets, Kai. Not when it might help. What happened to your twin?”

Kai tugs at his hair, eyes darting this way and that, and a flush creeps up his neck. “I…I happened. I was the prototype for our stepmom.”

We wait him out. Just when I think he’s not going to say any more he starts talking, talking and walking, pacing in tight circles around us.

“Vale and I, we’re identical. Except Davina, my stepmom, she gifted me aether.”

“Forced aether on you, Kai,” I say. “Call it what it is.”

He pauses, taking a deep breath. “So, that’s why I’m so obsessed with tattoos.”

I raise an eyebrow. His jaw works and I force myself to stay quiet .

Eventually he continues. “If I can develop my skill enough, maybe I can tattoo a fix onto him. Maybe I can fix this kid too.”

Chano frowns. “I’m not sure you can fix a mind like this, Kai.” Chano dabs drool from the side of the boy’s mouth. “But I don’t understand. What happened to your brother?”

Kai stands directly in front of the kid, peering into his eyes. “This guy is a walking shell. Someone used him for aether practice. It’s my fault. They saw how it worked with me and Vale, how it developed my skills.”

“I don’t understand, Kai,” I say gently.

He shifts uncomfortably. “It’s easier if I show you,” he mutters, reaching for our hands.

Cautiously, I place my hand in his.

I open my eyes. An austere dining room, the giant wooden table at chin height. I tug on my purple hair and clutch the toy in my grasp.

Vale runs toward me, a carbon copy of myself, a wooden sword held straight out in front of him, his chubby cheeks red with effort. I clash my own sword into his. We fight back and forth, evenly matched, giggling, until his face pales, and I know she’s behind me.

“If you’re going to fight, do it properly, boys,” Davina announces, handing each of us a tiny dagger. My stepmom is horrible, always stirring trouble. It was better before dad ever met her. When it was just the three of us.

She stands, arms folded expectantly. I stare at the sharp metal edge, then up into my brother’s face. His little jaw clenches and he gives me a tiny nod. We start, in earnest this time. Fear washes over me. Fear I might hurt him, fear of Davina if I don’t.

The rooms swims.

Suddenly I’m in a boxing ring. Naked from the waist up, hands wrapped in tape. Climbing slowly into the ring opposite me is my double. He stands, back to me, shoulders hunched. Filing in around the room are scientists—Davina’s stupid angels in their stupid lab coats. I give them the finger, my stomach roiling. I’m doing this for Regina. We’re doing this for Regina. So long as my twin and I subject ourselves to their fucking tests, their probes, their experiments, Davina will leave Regina alone. I hold the thought close, knowing I’m about to hurt the only other person I care about. My brother turns, and I raise my fists. With every aether-laced punch, I leech his power into me. Stealing it. Stealing his life force.

The ref only stops me when he’s still. Far too still. It was for Gina. Forgive me, Vale.

For Gina .

Goose bumps bring me back to my own body. Kai shakes his head and lets go. “It only got worse.” He stares at the ground. “They made me use my aether on him, and my aether increased, every time. He’s…he’s a vegetable now. Worse than…” He nods his head at the Maverik kid. “I’ve not seen him in a year. Can’t stand to go to that room, look in that bed. Fix his hospital sheets.”

His brother is why he was so comfortable at my bedside in the infirmary. Why he folded hospital corners like a pro.

“You had aether forced on you,” I say. “So they could study you.”

He angrily brushes my hand from his arm. “It was me. I lost control of my aether. Me.”

Chano grabs Kai by the back of the neck like you might a puppy and gives him a none-too-gentle shake. “Someone was going to get hurt. They gave you aether, so it was always going to be him. They did that to him. Not you. Now, focus. We’re going to get our sisters back. Both of them.”

Except we need Zephyr for my plan to work.

I curse wildly, again. But the angel barring the door to the observatory is unmoved. Arrogant asswipe. Who does he think he is, Zephyr’s keeper? He better pass along the damn message. With one last flowery curse I trail after the boys toward the dorms. Time is ticking .

“What are you doing here?”

You have to be shitting me. “Camille, what a pleasant surprise. I’m a student, remember? We were at the same party only a few days ago. Maybe you drank so much you poisoned your last brain cell.”

She taps her stupidly high stiletto on the cobblestones. “You’re not meant to be here midweek.”

I groan inwardly. “You learned my timetable? I’m touched.”

“I’m gonna tell,” she snaps.

My fingers twitch. This is not the time to try me, bitch. I step toward her, gripping her by the tie. “What are you? Five?”

She smacks my hand away and struts off toward the faculty offices without another word.

I scrub a hand down my face. Okay. I made it worse. It’s fine. It’s fine. Kinda. That’s a problem for future Lorelei to deal with.

I rush to catch up to the rest, almost running into the back of the little group at the edge of the common room. The TV flashes over Chano’s shoulder and I stand on tiptoe to see.

Urgent Manhunt: Josh, Escaped Mental Health Patient, Poses Serious Risk to Himself and Public

The title trails across the screen. Pictures of the treatment facility, and a grainy shot of the Maverik kid flash up. Shit.

Kai hustles us into his dorm. It’s oddly empty without Farrell filling the space, even if I know he’s en route back from rebel turf. I trail my fingers over the silver dragon statue in the corner, patting its tail absently. “They’ll know it was me.”

“Us,” corrects Kai. “It was both of us. And they won’t. We looked like professors when we used the portal, remember. Only the kid looked like me. So, if they’re suspicious of either of us right now, it’s me.”

I chew my lip. That’s not as reassuring as it ought to be. We have to move, quickly. “Can you cast an illusion on the whole rescue team? ”

He shakes his head. “No. Nor tattoo that many. But I hear Farrell’s pretty damn good at disguising a big group. Here’s hoping he can make illusions that aren’t random fae soldiers.”

I shoot him a smile. “Maybe he can help my little obsession. I want muscles and a dong! One I can feel.”

Chano frowns down at me. “You’re not coming, chica. I can’t lose you as well as Lottie. You’re going to wait on Maverik turf.” He turns as if the conversation is over, and I hear Kai whistle quietly.

I step up, directly behind Chano, poking the tip of my dagger into his back. “Am I really?”

Chano halts, fire rages across his skin, and his horns pop out the top of his head. I nudge the blade forward through his blazer, through his shirt until it nicks the skin. “Your tios under control yet, Chano?”

He shakes his head slowly.

I sheathe my blade, pushing it into my waistband. “That’s settled then. We stick together.”