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He and Celia had been brought to an underground level on the other side of the , and even though the walls were painted the same color as the summer sky, the corridors were so narrow that I couldn’t shake the feeling of being caged

The infir, like the public hospital I’d visited after breaking my arm when I was ten Instead a doctor dressed in a white uniform led me and Knox into Celia’s room, where she was hooked up to the machine that beeped in ti my eyes They weren’t as fake as I wanted to convincehad gone wrong with Celia’s part of the plan, I needed to knohat had happened with Daxton

Thankfully Knox seemed to understand, and as I took Celia’s hand, he spoke to the doctor "How is the prih papers she held in the crook of her arm "We don’t know much more than that He hasn’t woken up yet, but his vitals are much weaker than Celia’s"

"Do you kno this happened?" said Knox, and from across the room I saw him set his hand on her arm

She scowled and shifted away "We’re not sure Both of them have needle marks on their skin, but in different places, and we haven’t found any syringes"

"Someone did this?" said Knox, unfazed by her rejection

When she nodded, I squeezed Celia’s hand, wishing she were conscious so she could help figure this out She was the one who’d gotten ht it through before going along with it

"Thank you," said Knox, and the doctor left the room

He closed the door behind her, and I looked down at Celia, not letting go of her yet "Did anyone see you leave?" he said quietly

"No I went through the air vents"

His eyebrows shot up "You went through the what? "

I pointed at the ceiling "See that one up there? It’s a little smaller than the one in Daxton’s office, but it’s the sarate, I studied Celia

Her chest rose steadily, her heartbeat was strong, and she looked peaceful as she slept Not like the wo to do whatever it took to get revenge She couldn’t have known her brother was Masked, I decided If she had, there would be no need to try to kill him All she would have to do was tell the media that the prime minister was a fake But if I spilled his secret, there was no telling ould happen to me and Benjy For now, I had to keep my mouth shut and hope it didn’t h that?" said Knox, still staring at the vent I shrugged

"It’s not exactly hard"

"Speak for yourself" He shook his head incredulously

"But if no one saw you, good What about going in?"

"Celia distracted them like she said she would" He nodded, and I wished he had been the one to sneak into Daxton’s office instead of me He wouldn’t have lost his nerve "What happens now?"

"I don’t know" He leaned against the wall and shoved his hands in his pockets "We hope Daxton doesn’t pull through, and in the meantime we try to stay alive"

"And if sohed "Then the bloodbath begins"

Chapter 13

I stayed with Celia for the rest of the evening, waiting for her to wake up Knox disappeared after an hour, and once the adrenaline faded, I leaned ainst the wall and allowed usta stood in the doorway, her face as smooth as ever despite the fact that both of her children--no, her only re to be her son--were unconscious in the infirusta," I said Her name stuck in my throat "Sorry, I didn’t hear you co pointedly at Celia

I shook h She’s just sleeping it off Ho’s Daxton?"

She had to know he’d been Masked Maybe she was the only one who did

Augusta sniffed "That is none of your business You will have the nurses alert me the moment she wakes, do you understand?"

I nodded

"And Kitty," she said, taking a step towardto do with this…"

The blood drained from my face "I would never--I would never hurt the the panic out of ht for a moment that I was really behind it, I wouldn’t have a chance to explain

"And I was in uards arrived He’ll tell you"

"Yes," she said coolly "I alide out of the roo I could do to change her hold, my mouth opened and words causta stopped, and she slowly turned to face me once more

"You didn’t need to have me Masked," I said "You’re the one who decided to do it--you’re the one who decided to get rid of Lila in the first place, so it isn’t that I don’t understand--"

"I do not hate you," said Augusta crisply "You are simply not one of us, nor will you ever be, and I do not appreciate your insubordination I lovedfull hat the consequences would be"