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I honestly didn’t understand Ness’s whole thing. He didn’t seem like a Brightsider himself, to be fair. But he did a lot for my brother. “They bonded,” I say.
“He cared about Emil too,” Ma says with her eyes closed. “He said Emil made him feel warm.”
Wyatt stares at the floor.
Whenever Emil is ready to talk, I’ll be here for him. I expect he’s going to end whatever this Wyatt situation is immediately. I know my brother, he’s got to be feeling really guilty right now for getting romantically involved with Wyatt while Ness was alive and still thinking of him. Even bonding with our mother.
I’m on my phone typing up the format for the interviews I’ll film tomorrow morning when I switch back to BuzzFeed’s coverage of Ness’s discovery to find an update. Prudencia inches closer when I press play on the video. It’s of Senator Iron standing on a dock and addressing reporters.
“Thank you for your patience on this impossible evening,” Iron says as he tightens his jacket. “There were so many nights after the Blackout where I would wake up and forget that Eduardo was dead. I never in a million years suspected he was alive and being corrupted by the Blood Casters, and later by the Spell Walkers. He was manipulated into putting power above all—country, family, justice. To punish me after a successful debate against Congresswoman Sunstar, he tried to destroy the campaign he once fully believed in with the powers of a shifter.” He brushes his black eye, wincing. “I’ll admit, if this weren’t such a public affair I would get my son into a rehabilitation program to rescue him from this darkness, but my loyalties can’t only be for my family. They must also lie with the American people. My son is not above justice and has been sent to the Bounds alongside the terrorist Luna Marnette, who poisoned Eduardo with her powers. I have failed the memory of my late wife, but I hope this heartbreaking gesture proves my commitment to making this country safe from gleamcraft supremacy.”
Iron doesn’t answer any more questions as he steps into a black car and drives away.
Prudencia and I immediately charge into the library and Emil’s head pops up from the table in a panic.
“He’s alive, he’s alive,” we both say.
“What?” Emil wipes his eyes.
Ma and Wyatt follow us in and we replay Iron’s speech.
Emil bursts into more tears. “He’s being sent to the Bounds? This isn’t a win.”
“It can be,” I say. Everyone’s looking at me like I’m insane. “It wouldn’t be our first break-in tonight. We’re already tracking one-for-one in success rates.”
“This isn’t some politician’s home in the suburbs,” Prudencia says. “This is a federal prison on an island.”
“And maybe our last chance to save Ness,” Emil says. “He’s never going to get a fair trial.”
No one protests.
“This country is going to villainize everything we do,” I say. “But we know we’re the real heroes. Let’s go save the day.”
Sixty-Two
Strategy
MARIBELLE
“Am I really the only one who’s going to keep calling out these ba
d ideas?” Iris asks.
“Yes,” I say.
We’ve all been rounded up outside my guest room, where Esther is sleeping and being watched by one of Ruth’s clones. The weight of breaking into the Bounds is heavy enough on everyone’s shoulders, and I’m not sure they have the fumes this late at night.
“I can phase us in and out,” Brighton says.
“It’s still breaking the law,” Iris says.
“You’ve never cared about saving people unless you benefit,” Brighton says. “This is just like when the Blood Casters kept me hostage, when Stanton was kicking my ass and humiliating me and you didn’t want to rescue me.”
“That wasn’t only Iris,” Wesley says. “I agreed with her then and I agree with her now. We’re seen as the face for the celestials in this country. It’s not going to be a good look if we kick down the doors of the Bounds to rescue someone everyone thinks is a terrorist.”
“But we know he’s not,” Emil says. “Ness could pull back the curtains on everything his father has done.”
“The truth doesn’t matter!” Iris shouts. “It’s supposed to, but it doesn’t! I know that’s a harsh reality but it’s one we live in.”
