said Aaron.
“No, she offered that herself,” said Casler.
“She didn’t,” said Aaron.
“Yes, I believe she wanted to donate her clairvoyance to less fortunate victims of juvengamy, but Clive wouldn’t let her.”
“She didn’t.”
“Maybe you don’t know her as well as you thought,” said Casler, his eyes twinkling.
“Well, that’s because you didn’t tell her the consequences,” said Aaron.
“No, she knew,” said Casler.
“And she still wanted to?” said Aaron.
“Apparently, until she discovered you.”
Aaron stared at him, and then he shook his head. “You’re not going to switch us back. You’d have to sever Clive’s channel. He would die.”
Casler smiled. “That’s why I need something from you, Aaron. You survived eighteen years with a severed channel . . . and I think I know why. Since you and Amber were severed at birth, your channel retained its malleability, allowing it to heal despite incredible trauma. Amber’s too, hence the scar tissue near the entrance of her channel—”
“Wait, she has the same scar tissue?”
“She didn’t know until recently. It’s where the wound healed after you two were split apart, and yes, it matches yours. You see, the machine is useless on adult patients. It’s like cutting through glass and trying to press the pieces back together; it won’t seal. However, your clairvoyance acts like glue. With a tiny sample, I could reseal Clive’s severed channel. He wouldn’t have a half, but at least he would be alive, and that’s all I ask for. Before we do it, I just need a tiny sample.”
“Of my clairvoyance?”
“Just a thimbleful. You won’t notice it’s gone. If you prefer, I could take out a bit of Amber’s—”
“You’re not taking anyone’s clairvoyance.” Aaron narrowed his eyes, but it was Casler’s hypnotic voice, the way the man’s eyes bored gently into him. Aaron wasn’t sure he wouldn’t do anything the man asked. “But hypothetically, you could switch us back? Would you use the machine?”
“I have to bend space a bit to reach the opening,” said Casler. “It’s nothing to worry about.”
“What about the part of her Clive has?” said Aaron.
“Which part?”
“The stuff you took out when she was born.”
“Amber will get it all back,” said Casler. “Actually, you’ll get it.”
Aaron’s heart slowed, skipped beats, then slammed double-time inside his chest to make them up. “Will it hurt her?”
“Only a prick.”
Casler was lying, obviously. Yet as Aaron peered into the depths of his calm eyes, he wondered again if he had gotten Casler wrong from day one. When he said it, it felt so real, so tantalizingly close; Aaron and Amber could be halves again. All Aaron had to do was give in, believe. Trust—just for a moment.
Aaron took a deep breath. The man was a doctor, after all. Trust was easy.
“When I look through an aitherscope,” said Aaron, “I want to see her eyes. I don’t want any of Clive left inside her—not a trace. And no drilling through anybody’s skull.”
“It’s a deal.” Casler returned the folder to his briefcase and rose to his full height. “Come as soon as you’re ready. She’ll be waiting.”
***
Casler’s explanation was plausible. His reasoning made sense. His facts agreed with what Aaron already knew; there were no contradictions. Maybe he could put Aaron and Amber back together again.
Maybe every last stinking word was a lie.
But Aaron also realized how much danger she was in. Amber was Clive’s second half. Clive had already killed his first.
In the middle of pacing, his phone rang. The same number Amber texted him from the night before.
“Hello?” he said, and even though it probably wasn’t her, his heart quivered with anticipation. Just the thought of hearing her voice. Suddenly, his doubts vanished, replaced by a dizzying euphoria. He was about to blurt out that Casler was a hero, that he was going to make them halves again, when she spoke.
“I know about the deal you made with Casler,” she said, her voice biting.
Aaron could tell something was off, and his heart chilled. He answered carefully. “He said he could reconnect us.”
“I don’t care,” she said. “We’re not supposed to be halves.”
“What?”
She sighed. “You were just a fling, Aaron. It’s not like I wanted you to be my half. I wasn’t thinking last night; I’m sorry.”
“But we talked about this,” said Aaron. “Casler severed us—”
“Casler lied to you,” she said. “All he wants is your scar tissue, and even if he could make us halves, I wouldn’t want him to. I know I said things before, but I don’t actually want to be your half, Aaron . . . I’m happy with