No Peace for the Damned

always be the enemy.
    “No!” Theo’s eyes locked on my face. “You are not the enemy.”
    Had he just…? No, that was impossible. Theo wasn’t telepathic.
    Jon coughed loudly, shuffling his feet. “We, er, have some news that can’t wait,” he said.
    “Of, of course,” I stammered. My cheeks burned as Jon tried unsuccessfully to avert his gaze. “Just…just give me a minute.”
    I slid to the side, peeling myself from Theo’s lap. His hands grabbed tightly onto my upper thighs, holding me in place. His eyes bored into mine—angry, determined, and something else I didn’t recognize. My eyes burned as I held back the tears. I pulled away from his grip and clutched the blanket to my chest.
    My body felt odd, more solid as I moved. The connection between us was stronger now. Like a palpable weight inside me. I might be a Kelch, but that didn’t change the fact that we were more linked than ever before. The reality left me feeling very…breakable.
    I gripped the blanket tighter, quickly gathered my discarded shirt and bra—
When had my bra come off?
—and raced to my room.
    He waited to waylay me in the kitchen when I came back but I didn’t give him the chance. I was refocused on my job and responsibility—I had to put him aside for now.
    I swung around the long table and plopped down on the faded ottoman in front of Jon. Theo stood at my back, his presence more discernible than ever. I could hear his soft breathing, feel his pulse, feel the heat inside him as his frustration grew.
    Yeah, no distractions there
.
    “So what’s up?” I asked Jon, totally businesslike.
    After a quick glance over my head, Jon went into a long explanation about a text message he’d received from Thirteen. I tried to pay attention. I
wanted
to pay attention. But my insides ached as if ripped apart.
    “Did you hear what I said?” Jon said loudly, probably for the second time.
Ugh! Stupid, distracting…
    I quickly read his thoughts and gasped. “
Ohmygod!
” I jumped to my feet.
    “Right,” Jon said. “So any suggestions on what to do now?”
    “I have to go get him.”
    “Whoa, whoa, whoa!” Jon was on his feet in front of me. Shane and Theo jumped up as well. “We don’t even know where he is.”
    “Of course we do. Theo was held at the estate. Thirteen must be there too.”
    I moved to sidestep Jon. He cut me off. The room’s atmosphere suddenly shifted. Aggression seeped into the air all around us. My instincts took over. I adjusted my position. My power itched beneath my skin. Jon held his position in front of me, blocking me from the door. His hand moved to the butt of his gun.
    “You said that your father and uncle weren’t the ones orchestrating these attacks. What makes you so sure they’re being held at the estate?” Jon’s voice was deep, deliberate.
    All my senses were on alert. I chose my words carefully. “Like I said, Theo was held at the estate. I don’t know who is behind the attacks, but it makes sense that the others are being held where Theo was.”
    “And yet you didn’t see the need to return to the estate until now. Until Thirteen.” His voice was so low it came out in a hiss. “Was this your plan, Magnolia? Set up Thirteen’s capture then return to your family?”
    “Oh, for Christ’s sake!” My stance relaxed. I rolled my eyes. I should have known this was where his thoughts were going.
Stupid distractions! I was missing everything!
I pierced Jon with a look. He took a step back.
    “Listen to me very closely, Jon,” I said, my voice like ice. “Thirteen is the one and only person in my entire existence to truly care for me.” Theo shifted behind me. “I will do whatever it takes to get him away from my family. Whatever it takes.”
    I let the threat hang in the air as Jon processed my meaning. His hand fell away from his gun. “Whether he’s being held there or not, it’s not like we can just walk onto the Kelch estate and start looking around. It’s something the Network has tried in the past with exceptionally bad results.”
    “But
I
can go,” I insisted. “I can search the grounds undetected.” My stomach dropped at the idea, but I held my ground. Jon looked at Theo.
    “What about getting in his head and bringing him back the way you did me,” Theo said tightly. “You can get him out of there and not have to risk yourself.”
    “I already tried that. It doesn’t work on him.” I glanced at Theo over my shoulder. When I turned back to Jon,