Chapter 6 · The Heart Starts Lying

"Don't touch me."

Vera's hands are shaking. Blood on her palms—Iris's blood, too dark, metal flecks catching the light when she wipes it on her jeans.

Iris is slumped against the wall across the trashed apartment. Eyes half-shut. Breathing wrong. The mechanical arms are gone, retracted back into whatever the hell is inside her chest, but Vera saw them. Saw the titanium plating split open under Iris's collarbone. Saw the blue light pulsing underneath.

Their father left ten minutes ago. Took his recovery team and walked out like nothing happened. Like he didn't just try to bag his own daughter.

"Vera." Iris's voice comes out rough. "I can explain."

"Don't."

"I didn't choose this."

"You've been lying to me for weeks."

"I was trying to protect you."

Vera laughs. It comes out bitter, too high. "Protect me? I had your blood in my lab. I was hunting you."

Iris flinches.

Good.

"The subway," Vera says. "The blast. You were there."

Iris closes her eyes. "Yeah."

"You died."

"Almost."

"And someone put that thing in your chest." Vera finally looks at her. Iris looks like hell—pale, sweating, blood crusted on her neck. "Who?"

"I don't know."

"Bullshit."

"I'm serious.