Chapter 29 · Steal the Starlight - Chapter 29: Mirror Image Pain

"Don't touch her!" Wren slammed into me hard enough to knock my shoulder against the steel wall.

The copy smiled from the other side of the glass.

She had my face. My black jacket. My split knuckle. Even the tiny silver scar under my left eye.

And her hand was pressed to Wren's chest.

Wren's knees buckled.

"Ellis," she gasped. "Do something."

"Great advice." I shoved away from the wall. "Got a better one?"

The copy dragged one black-painted fingernail down Wren's uniform. The power in her palm answered with a low crack, like stone breaking under pressure.

Wren's breath caught.

Pain punched through my ribs.

I dropped to one knee.

The copy laughed.

"See?" she said. Her voice sounded like mine after three sleepless nights. Rough. Mean. Too familiar. "You hurt her every time you try to save her."

"Shut up." I forced myself upright.

Wren grabbed my sleeve. Her fingers shook, but she didn't let go. "She's linked to you."

"I noticed."

"Then stop feeding it."

"I'm not feeding anything."

The copy tilted her head. "Liar."

The observation room behind us erupted with alarms.