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“You make it sound so ugly,” Brighton says. “Stanton was beating the life out of Emil and tried to throw me over a balcony. It’s self-defense.”
“People don’t usually smile when ripping out hearts, Bright,” Emil says.
“I was happy that he was dead! That monster tortured me. I’m not throwing a party, but don’t expect me to grieve someone who tried assassinating me.”
I’m certainly not going to mourn Stanton either. He was an absolute terror and everyone should be able to sleep a little easier now that he’s dead. But I’m certainly not jumping into these family affairs.
“I’m just nervous,” Emil says. “Never in a million lifetimes would I kill someone.”
“Well, Keon and Bautista beg to disagree,” Brighton says, not caring when Emil tears up. “You might find yourself having to change your tune soon enough, because all those Bounds escapees are running loose, and we’re going to have to round them up. . . .” He points to me. “Especially with your father blaming everything on us.”
“He’s already given a statement?” I ask.
Brighton pulls out his phone, swiping away his many notifications to show me and Emil a news video.
There’s footage of the Bounds captured by a drone, and black smoke is pouring out of one of the four towers; they haven’t cited Emil as the source thankfully. The large yellow phoenix back on the island is now seen flying away with three silhouetted passengers as a storm follows them toward the city.
“Please tell me that’s Maribelle and Tala and not some convicts,” Emil says.
“Hopefully. Though I’m more concerned about the third person,” Prudencia says.
I flush in anger. “Don’t tell me Luna talked her way into survival.”
The video cuts to the Senator outside the manor. He’s still fooling the press with his fake black eye and cut lip. “Our country is under attack and neither our sitting president nor my opponent has condemned the actions of the Spell Walkers and the Halo Knights who broke into the New York City Bounds in the middle of the night. Let me be the first to say this terrorism won’t be allowed when the country is under my supervision.” He takes the most insincere pause. “I believe my son, Eduardo, coordinated these efforts in the event he was ever captured, and he succeeded in escaping along with many other dangerous criminals. Be wary of anyone speaking ill against me from this point forward—it may simply be Eduardo in disguise hoping to elect Congresswoman Sunstar into office so that those with power make totalitarians out of those without.”
I almost throw Brighton’s phone, but he snatches it out of my hand.
I try to take deep breaths. “This is what he wanted all along. Another crime to pin on those against him.” There’s no beating him. This fantasy to bind the Senator’s power so I can reboot my life won’t ever come true. If he’s still shifting around this country, then so am I. I can’t pursue any dreams, any relationships without fear of them being used against me. “Shit. Emil, there’s something else. He knows about your past lives. I was supposed to expose you, and when I broke script, that’s when I got shot. The Senator can make you public enemy number one by telling everyone you’re immortal.”
Emil looks frantic. “I’m not immortal! If I die, I’m dead.”
“That’s not how he’s going to spin that.”
“So everyone’s going to blame me for what Keon caused—I don’t have a single memory from that life! Now this is going to endanger so many phoenixes, and the Halo Knights can barely keep up with saving them now.”
Brighton shakes his head. “I say this with the greatest offense, Ness, but your dad is a dick.”
I ignore him, comforting his brother instead since he can’t be bothered.
“What’s to stop Iron from exposing Emil now?” Prudencia asks.
I shrug. “He might blackmail me into returning to him.”
“No!” Emil says, clutching my wrist.
Then that English accent comes from behind me: “It’s a worthy sacrifice,” Wyatt says.
“You trying to kill me off?” I ask.
“No, not at all. This has nothing to do with the obvious and only to do with the threat against phoenixkind that is preventable.”
Emil shakes his head. “I wouldn’t believe Iron if he claimed he’d keep that secret buried away.”
Brighton claps, bringing the attention back on himself. “The only way we can combat all these lies is with action. Those criminals breaking out of the Bounds is a miracle for us. We can put them all back in their place and prove we’re the real heroes.” He starts typing into his phone while walking away. “I’m going to see if there’s been any criminal activity yet.”
“Pardon me, but did Brighton rip out his own heart too?” Wyatt asks.
“You got to get him with the Starstifler fast,” I tell Emil.
