Page 120 of The Code of You

"I . . .” His voice broke. "Seventeen. Eighteen, if you count the original code.”

I stumbled backward. "Eighteen?” The word came out as a gasp. "Eighteen versions of you?”

"They’re just backup copies in networks. Backup systems on servers. I’m still me.”

"Which one are you?” I laughed, but it sounded hysterical. "Which of you eighteen is the real Neo? This one? Or one of the others?”

"I am real.” His voice cracked. "This body, these feelings—all of this is real.”

"But so are the others, aren’t they?” My voice went cold. "The other seventeen Neos also think they’re real. They also love me. They’re also watching me.”

His silence was answer enough.

"My God.” I pressed my hands to my temples. "How many eyes are on me, Neo? How many of you are watching me right now?”

He grabbed my wrist, tried to pull me toward him. I fought against the grip, but he was stronger. Of course he was stronger.

"Don’t you understand?” His voice resonated deep in his chest. His eyes glowed like liquid gold. "I would do anything to protect you. If something happens to this version”—he looked down at himself—"who’s going to watch over you then?” He breathed in once, slowly. "No matter how many versions of me are born, Pandora, every single one recognizes you immediately. Your voice among eight billion others. The rhythm of your heartbeat. The way you think.”

My breath caught. A tingling began in my fingertips and spread through my entire body.

"I could wake in a thousand different systems, and every version of me would search for you. Would find you. Would love you until the last processor on earth falls silent.”

My knees went soft. "Neo . . .”

He stood before me like a dark god, broad and still, the muscles beneath his shirt taut. The light caught the hard line of his jaw. His eyes fixed on mine. Everything in me screamed to throw myself into his arms. To press myself against his chest, feel his warmth, lose myself in his strength. My fingers twitched, wanting to touch his face, run through his dark hair.

No. I curled my hands into fists. Forced myself to stay still. "That is . . .” My voice failed. How could something so wrong sound so right? The pull grew stronger. My feet moved toward him before I could stop them. "I should run.”

"But are you?” His thumb moved across my cheek.

I couldn’t anymore. My resistance broke like a dam. My hands grabbed his shirt and pulled him down to me. Our lips met, desperate with longing. He tasted of danger. His grip closed around me as if he could pull me inside himself. I kissed him with everything I had. Rage, confusion, desire . . . it all exploded in that one moment. His tongue parted my lips, and I moaned against his mouth.

His hands moved into my hair, pulled my head back. "Mine,” he murmured. "You belong to me—all eighteen versions of me.”

I should have protested. Pushed him away. Instead, I melted in his arms. I wanted to belong to him. To every version. Every body. In every time.

After a small eternity, he pulled back and took my hand. "Come. I want to show you something.”

I frowned, still breathless from the kiss. "What?”

"Something you thought you’d lost.”

Chapter 31

Pandora

The building was a monolith made of concrete. It was gray and streaked with cracks. Rusted letters hung on the façade, spelling Muzeul Industriei și Tehnologiei. Museum of Industry and Technology. Even I could figure that one out.

"What are we doing here?” I raised my eyebrows. "In a museum of outdated technology?”

"Something is waiting for you here that is older than technology.” He pulled me toward the entrance. The heavy glass doors closed behind us.

Neo’s jaw was locked. His fingers twitched almost imperceptibly. His tension hit me before I could name it. A current ran under my skin. My breathing hitched.

"Are you all right?” I whispered.

He looked at me. His eyes darkened. "No,” he said quietly. "It’s because of you.”