Deceitful (Rules of Deception 1)

That was the last thing I wanted to do, especially when he was in such a strange mood. I started wrapping tape around my palms to prepare them for my training, adding one layer after the other. “There’s nothing to talk about.”

“We have to get this out of the way. We have a job to do. We can’t have something—anything—distracting us. Major’s worried it’ll interfere with the mission.”

I dropped the tape. “What’s Major got to do with it? Did you tell him about yesterday?”

“No, of course not. He noticed something was . . . going on. Everyone has.” He scanned my face and I had a hard time keeping it in check. “Listen, whatever there is between us, it’s got to stop. I’m too old for you and it isn’t right. I’m your teacher after all.”

“This isn’t a real school, and you’re only six years older than me.” Why did I even argue with him? He’d clearly made up his mind and nothing, certainly nothing I could say, would change that. The age card might have worked when I was still a minor but I’d turned of age three weeks ago, so he really needed to stop using it.

“And I’m with Kate.”

That was a point I couldn’t contradict. They may have fought yesterday and they might be together for reasons I couldn’t begin to understand, but they were still a couple. I stared at a spot over his left shoulder. There was a small crack running down the length of the floor-length mirror. It warped my reflection, dividing my face into two distinct halves. I felt a lie slipping out of my mouth. “Don’t worry. The mission is the only thing that counts.”

I started to stretch my legs and arms, ignoring the tightness in my chest.

Alec came up behind me but the concern didn’t leave his face. “All right. I think you’ve improved a lot. Someone who doesn’t know about your Variation will have trouble beating you.”

But for perhaps the first time, I didn’t want to hear his praise.

“Ready?” he asked.

“Oh yes.”

Alec’s arms came around me.

The ripping sensation washed over me. Shrinking, shifting, shaping.

Alec loosened his grip, though he should’ve been able to predict my move. Now in the body of a small child, I slipped out of his hold and scurried backward. I returned to my own body and aimed a high-kick at his head. He sidestepped my attempt and pushed me back, barely touching my body.

Why was it that he could appear on my doorstep for movie night after months of keeping his distance and then act like nothing happened? Why could he almost kiss me that day but a few days later act like it was all my doing?

“Stop holding back!” I screamed, charging toward him. He only dodged my punches and kicks. It was like he wanted to touch me as little as possible. That thought sent me over the edge. My skin started rippling and I felt myself grow, my skin stretch, my bones tearing and rebuilding.

His eyes widened.

I’d become him. I’d never done that.

My knuckles cracked as they made contact with his abs. I wished the shift would bring the Variant powers of his body with them, but I wasn’t any stronger or faster than a normal man. Something changed in Alec’s eyes as if a switch had been flicked—a fighter awakened.

I aimed a kick at his head. His hand shot out, grabbed my ankle and twisted. I spun in the air before I collided with the ground. My wrist bent back at an unnatural angle, and I screamed as I shifted back to my own body.

Alec knelt beside me on the mat but I didn’t move.

“Tess, shit. Say something.”

I pushed myself up into a sitting position and scrambled to my feet. Cradling my wrist in my other hand, I took a step back as he reached out for me. I didn’t want him to touch me if it was out of pity, not when he couldn’t stand my closeness for any other reason.

“I don’t want to practice with you anymore. Just tell Major I’m ready.”

“Tess—”

“Just tell him! I don’t want to be near you, Alec.”

This . . . thing with Alec was messing with my Variation. It was ruining everything I’d worked so hard to achieve.

I didn’t wait for his reaction; I left.

The intercom crackled as Major’s voice summoned me into his office. I dragged myself out of our room, glad that Holly had criminology and wasn’t there to give me a pep talk.

I knocked on Major’s open door and stepped inside. He sat behind his desk, a cup of steaming tea in front of him. Worry lined his forehead. He looked up when I entered, and turned on his blank expression.

I lingered in the doorway, pushing my hands into my pockets. If he wanted to shout at me for abusing my Variation, I’d rather be in a position where I could flee as fast as possible. The piercing intensity of his gaze made me squirm. It felt as if he could see right through me. What if he could; what if that was his rumored secret Variation?