Chapter 4
CIPHER
I calculated the trajectory of the water droplets on the window and tried to ignore the way Ember he used my raw power and genius to survive the physical trials.
It started as a strictly symbiotic transaction but with over a decade of shared secrets and buried bodies, that transaction had mutated into genuine loyalty.
Hunter Whitten was the only human being on this godforsaken planet I could look at and mean the word friend.
I arranged my features into the polite, attentive mask of Thomas Smith and regaled Dawn with a few made up exploits of our “college” days.
I allowed myself to relax marginally. Perhaps this evening wouldn’t be the excruciating social exercise I’d anticipated. Dawn was intelligent, engaged with Hunter rather than using him as a stepping stone to me, and seemed interesting.
“Annie’s here!” Dawn said, her face lighting up as she waved toward the entrance.
I turned, preparing to meet Dawn’s roommate with the hollow smile I reserved for these social obligations. But as my eyes found the woman standing at the hostess station, the noise in my head died.
Annie.
Keeper Bishop was Dawn’s roommate.
She’d changed into a soft pink wrap dress that accentuated the curves I gotten a glimpse of this afternoon when she’d been soaked by the downpour.
The fabric draped across her chest and I wanted nothing more than to slide my hand beneath it.
Her honey-brown hair fell in gentle waves around her face.
She looked soft and utterly harmless. I knew better.
A smile transformed her face as she spotted Dawn, making her appear innocent. Then her gaze drifted to Menace and the smile died. Her eyes narrowed, the recognition hitting her.
Menace had a forgettable face. That was part of his actual power set. He was so ordinary looking, he wasn’t worth remembering. Somehow, Annie remembered him.
I couldn’t tear my eyes away as she navigated between tables toward us.
In the back of my mind, an inkling of panic surfaced. She couldn’t possibly recognize me. No one does. That’s the whole point of the fucking mask. It was a perfect shield, the reason Thomas Smith could walk around Chroma Bay with no one connecting him to Cipher.
Dawn stood and hugged Annie as she reached our table. “You made it! Let me introduce you to everyone. This is Hunter.” She placed a hand on his chest and looked up at him adoringly.