Lainey’s power was a double-edged sword. It was no doubt incredibly useful against enemies, but Sienna wished the floor would open up and swallow her when the sense of elation and arousal overpowered the room when she and Jace walked into the living room the next morning. Payton grinned at them. “Feeling better, Sienna? Have a good night?”

Jace threw back his head and laughed and Sienna slapped him playfully across the chest.

Even Keila smiled at them. “It’s good to have you back, Sienna.” She turned to Lainey. “Can you dial it back, just a little, so we can get something done today other than sex?”

“Sorry,” Lainey said, and the lust saturating the room faded. “But, Sienna, any time you want to do that again, feel free. It certainly had an impact around here.”

She didn’t mean . . . she couldn’t? Sienna’s cheeks burned and she buried her face in Jace’s chest. He chuckled again, stroking his hand down her back. “Glad we could be of service, ladies.”

“Alright,” Keila interrupted. She spoke firmly, but was unusually quiet. “Can we get back to the people trying to kill us?”

“Sorry,” Lainey smiled. “Just trying to lighten the mood.” She sat down in front of a stack of papers and started sorting.

Sienna looked around the room. There were more piles, and then completed stacks sitting neatly on the table. She sat down in front of one. “What are we doing now?”

“Mostly waiting for you,” Payton said. She held up a piece of old-fashioned paper, perforated on the edges.

“Why?”

Lainey turned toward her. “We know how difficult this is for you, but we need to make sure we’re all on the same page, and that we’re ready.”

“I know what’s going on in your head,” Payton interjected. “We’ve all been through shit. I’m scared, too. We all are. But we’ve all come through it, and you can, too.”

Keila knelt down on the floor next to her. “My foster parents tried to kill me, because of what I am. What we are.”

“And someone I was dating turned out to be working for them,” Lainey made a face. “Asshole.”

Payton smiled at the uncharacteristic outburst. She met Sienna’s gaze, her expression turning serious. “The point is, we’ve all been there. I was kidnapped, held by those monsters, until Keila and Jason rescued me. Even then, it took a hell of a long time before I’d trust them. But I did, and now it’s your turn.”

Sienna looked around the room. Every one of them had the same look on their face: determination. But could she trust them with this, with her mother’s deepest secrets? Was the only reason they were here because she had something they wanted?

“Oh, for God’s sake,” Payton said. “We’re not here out of any sense of obligation. We’re stronger together—the end. Trust me, we’ve all learned that the hard way.” She sighed. “I’m not under any illusions here. I’m positive they already know about you. Let’s work together and finally end this.”

“I’ve seen her, Sienna.” Emily’s voice was quiet, but it struck deep. “Your mom. I saw the look on your face when you opened the door, when you found her lying on the floor. I didn’t know who you were then, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t feel the pain. I don’t just see the scene as an observer; I feel it. I feel it now, and I’m not leaving you to fight this alone.”

Sienna swallowed. She met Emily’s gaze and held it. She had to make a choice. She had a lot to be angry about, but it was paralyzing her. Her mom wouldn’t have hurt her intentionally. If she looked past the hurt, she knew that as surely as she knew anything. Her mom had started this, given her the tools to fight back. Now it was her turn to take the reins. “Okay. Let’s do it.” She lifted a handful of papers from the stack in front of her. “What have you guys found so far?”

Payton laughed. “I’ve found a list of every power they were investigating. You won’t believe some of this shit. There’s one on this woman who was able to tell the future using frogs.”

Keila leaned over and tried to snatch the paper from Payton’s hand. “Come on, put that thing away.” Payton dodged her and Keila’s foot connected with another pile of papers behind her. A folder fell at her feet and she picked it up, flipping through it.

“My box details the selection process they used to choose the mothers,” Lainey said. “It’s actually really interesting, when you get past the desire to murder the fuckers.”

“What is it?” Sienna’s head jerked up at the sound of the deep voice. Keila’s boyfriend, Jason, was looking sharply at her. He waded through a mess of papers, taking her hand in his. “Keila, what’s wrong?”

Keila shook her head but remained silent. She stared at the folder in her hands for what seemed like forever, until she finally wrenched her eyes up to Sienna’s. Horror was reflected in her eyes.

“What’s going on?” Sienna said.

Keila moved suddenly, snapping the file shut. “It doesn’t matter.”

“What happened to working as a team?”

Keila shook her head rapidly. “No. You don’t need to know this.”

Sienna took a step forward, ignoring a crash behind her from where Payton sat. Keila locked her gaze to Sienna’s. Her face was pale and for the first time since Sienna had met her, she seemed genuinely scared. Tough, brave Keila was scared out of her mind. “Tell me. Now.”

“You’re Isobel’s clone.”