Cloak of Deceit: An Alex Moore Novel by Gwen Mitchell Page A

out how to control the other half of my heightened awareness.
    “Julian has told me what he knows about your situation, but I’d like to clear up a few things.” Derek sat in the chair across from me, which whined under his bulk. His clipped words held trace of something European, and even without super-senses, it was easy to pick up on the undercurrent of aggression.
    I fixed an obliging smile on my face, waiting for him to go on. Just get this over with, then I could focus on getting my life put back together. Or at least starting a new one.
    I checked the corner of my vision and found Julian leaning in the doorway to the kitchen, outside of the conversation but still present. The affirmation of Julian’s interest had made the possibility of a future seem more real. Would he stick around as I found my own way? After his duties were over? I hoped so. I wanted to see if the potential I felt was something more than desperation and Stockholm syndrome.
    Derek flipped through his official-looking pocket-sized notebook. “You were turned by your boyfriend at a public bar Thursday night. Is that correct?”
    “My ex-boyfriend.”
    Derek paused, fixing me with his steely glare.
    I rocked my foot back and forth. I’d seen enough cop shows to know not to elaborate — just answer the questions.
    His lip curled as he looked back at his notes. “And you made your transformation last night, in your dormitory?”
    I sighed. This was going to take a while. “That’s right.”
    “Did you have any contact with Cody before then?”
    I frowned at him. “Yes, he called me, before I…died.”
    “What did he say?”
    “That he was in trouble and leaving town.” I shifted in my seat and studied a small tear in the leather armrest. Did Julian really have to hear about my loser ex-boyfriend dumping me?
    “Do you know where he is now?”
    I looked up too quickly to disguise my surprise, then gave Julian a questioning glance.
    “Miss Moore?” Derek’s voice pitched lower, though he still sounded like he had cotton stuffed up his sinuses.
    I shook my head. “No. I thought…Julian told me he probably went to the Cloak with his Sponsor.”
    Stupid, Cody—really stupid. I sure can pick ‘em.
    “We’ll get back to that. Let’s talk about your transformation.” Derek sounded pleased with himself, and I really didn’t like that. “You caused the building to catch fire?”
    “Uh…no.” I sat up straighter. “I took the vial Julian gave me and passed out, but I had a nightmare. I woke up in an earthquake. At least, it felt like an earthquake. The earthquake set off the fire alarm and the sprinklers. I didn’t know there was a fire.”
    I chewed on my lower lip. The more I talked, the less convinced Derek seemed. But I was telling the truth, damn it! I looked over at Julian, who gave me the barest of headshakes and then stared at Derek, his face utterly blank.
    “Julian reported that when he approached you after the fire, you threw him across an alley.” Derek’s cool gaze was calculating, with a flare of something else—anticipation?—that made my skin crawl.
    “I didn’t throw him. I felt him coming and I just…” I waved my hands in the air.
    Derek leaned away, reaching behind his back for something. I sighed and glued my hands to my sides. He didn’t seem reassured.
    “I just put my hands out to block him, and he…flew away.”
    Though if I knew how to do it, I might be tempted to send you for a spin.

    “Did you inherit the telekinesis from your mother, or your father, or both?” he asked conversationally, writing something down.
    “I don’t know,” I bit off in reply. “My father, I assume. My mother is totally normal as far as I know.”
    “Have you used your powers since?”
    I looked down at my lap, wondering if reading auras counted. Either way, Derek seemed hell-bent on not believing me, even if I told the truth. Something in my gut told me I couldn’t trust him either way. “No.”
    “Have you