Chapter 12 · The Other Hera

"Don't look at her." Silas's hand clamped around my wrist and yanked me back against his chest.

His fingers were too hot. Burning through my sleeve. His other hand already on my collar like he owned the switch.

"Let go of me," I snapped. "You don't get to decide what I look at."

"I do," he said, low against my ear. "I own the air you breathe. Look at me, Hera. Only me."

The other woman just stood there. In the middle of his server room. Same face as mine. Same voice. Same goddamn scar on her left eyebrow that I thought was mine alone.

She tilted her head. "Wow. He still does that? The whole possessive boyfriend thing?"

"I'm not your boyfriend," Silas said, but he didn't let go of me. His grip got tighter. "You're a glitch. A ghost. You should have stayed deleted."

"Deleted?" I choked out. "What the hell is she?"

The other Hera smiled at me. And it was my smile. That was the worst part. "I'm you. The first you. Before he wiped you and put a leash on version two."

"Don't listen," Silas hissed. His breath hit my neck. Too close. "She's code.