Unforgotten(112)

But he doesn’t move. He seems to be frozen. As though his body has stopped working completely.

“Of course I’m sure,” I lie, glaring spitefully at Alixter. “He doesn’t follow your orders anymore. He follows his own.” I peer back at Kaelen, standing inches from me. “Right?”

But again, he doesn’t answer.

Alixter feigns pity. “Awww … that’s cute. Did you really think your charms would work on him like they did on poor Zen? You don’t actually think I would let that happen, do you? That I wouldn’t protect against that sort of thing when I had him created? Do you really think I’m that stupid, Sera?” Alixter makes a clicking sound with his tongue. “Well, that’s just offensive.”

“Kaelen,” I urge one more time, pronouncing his name gently, compassionately. I take a slow, cautious step toward him. He flinches and instinctively retreats. Like I’m some kind of dangerous criminal. Like he’s actually afraid of me. I freeze. My heart is pounding.

This can’t be happening.

I refuse to believe that this was just another manipulation. I refuse to believe that he tricked me.

I know him. I felt him. We felt each other. We shared something.

He changed.

I saw it in his eyes. I saw the shift. I simply can’t bring myself to accept that it was all a lie. All part of an act. Part of his programming.

Alixter lets out a throaty, sinister laugh that sends a thousand tiny ripples down my back. “See, that’s just priceless,” he says, wheezing.

He pushes a flat button on the arm of his chair and it starts to glide smoothly toward us. I retreat, my back hitting the bookshelf.

“Kaelen,” Alixter says in an authoritative tone, “congratulations. You’ve successfully completed your mission. I knew I could count on you. Now hand over the antidote.”

He reaches out, palm up, and waits.

I wait, too, my breath caught in my chest.

I watch Kaelen. His face twitches ever so subtly. The sign of that same internal battle being waged.

“Kaelen.” I repeat his name. “Remember the submarine. Remember the kiss. Remember how that felt. Hold on to that. That is real. Whatever sensation you’re experiencing right now, whatever power he holds over you, it’s fake. Please, Kaelen. Just give me the vials.”

His face flinches again but he still won’t look at me. His gaze is locked on Alixter, who’s smirking smugly.

“Come on,” Alixter coaxes. “Hand them over. This is an essential part of your mission.”

“Don’t listen to him, Kaelen. Give them to me.”

Kaelen’s foot rises, taking an indecisive step. I can’t tell which way he’s headed. Which side is going to win.

But as soon as his foot lands, I know I’ve lost.

He’s headed directly toward Alixter. Away from me.

“NO!” I scream. I launch myself toward Kaelen, letting my legs carry me as fast as they were built to go. I land on top of his shoulder, but he easily shoves me off with a flick of his arm, sending me flying across the room. I hit the bookshelf hard, feeling it slam into my back. Several of Rio’s precious antiques come pouring off the shelf, piling on top of me on the floor.

I look up to see Kaelen gently placing the vials in Alixter’s outstretched hand.

But I can’t let that happen. I can’t let him have them. I rise to my feet again and sprint toward him. But his guards step forward, forming a protective circle around him.

Meanwhile, Kaelen handles me, thrusting an arm out. The heel of his hand connects with my face. I feel something crack. Blood splatters.

“Restrain her,” Alixter commands, coughing into his handkerchief.

Kaelen doesn’t hesitate. He grabs me, pinning my hands behind my back. I manage to turn my head, meeting his gaze. I search for the other Kaelen. The one I know I saw once.

But he’s gone.

A pair of cold, lifeless blue-green eyes stare back at me. As though that other version—the one I kissed, the one I slept against, the one I trusted—only existed in my imagination.

Maybe Alixter is right. Maybe I was naïve to think he was ever on my side. That I was ever able to break through to him. Maybe it really was a ploy to get me here. To get the cure.

I melt to the ground, blood trickling from my nose, into my mouth. Kaelen’s hands stay pinned around mine. I can feel that heat passing between us. That energy. I wonder if he feels it, too. I wonder if he ever did.

“It’s a shame,” Alixter says, shaking one of the vials. “I have no doubt Dr. Maxxer did intend for these remaining two doses to be given to her lover and her son. But Rio clearly has no use for it now. And Zen … well, I’m afraid he’s just unlucky.”