When Stars Come Out (When Stars Come Out 1)

“Shy,” Mom's voice is low. “Where were you?”

“What do you mean?”

She levels her gaze with mine. “When I came home last night, you weren’t in your room. You weren’t in this house.”

“I was with Natalie and Jacobi,” I say. It mostly isn’t a lie.

She watches me for a long moment, long enough that I know I'm not fooling her.

“Elite Cain excused you from patrol, Shy,” she says. I’m just relieved she assumes I was on patrol. “Have you stopped to consider he might have a very good reason?”

They certainly feel they have a good reason. “They never thought I was ready to be a Tracker.”

“Or maybe they're worried about your well-being, like I am.”

I don't mean to laugh, but I can't help it, and Mom pales. “I really doubt that, Mom. The only thing Elite Cain or Dad will manage to say if I'm killed on patrol is that I should have trained harder.”

“That is ridiculous, Shy,” her voice shakes, and I realize I shouldn't talk about my death in front of her. One of our own just died. This is as real for her as it is for me. “This is hard enough!”

“Don't you think I know that?” I snap. Mom flinches and then her eyes harden. My only motivation for getting out of bed each day is finding Lily’s killer and, now, Anora’s coin, and it pisses me off to think the Order would say she was suicidal. It pisses me off that half the school thinks it—that they will always communicate it that way—Remember that girl? The one who killed herself on campus? It was because of Roundtable.

Fuck Roundtable and fuck the Order.

I stare at her. Fighting her will do no good, and after a moment, I hang my head in my hands and scrub my face.

“I'm sorry.”

She exhales and wraps her arms around me. I don’t hug her back. When she pulls away, my phone vibrates in my pocket. I pull it out and find two messages:

The first one was just sent: I'm back. Meet me at June's tonight.

It’s Roth.

I should text back, notifying him of Elite Cain's decision to excuse me from my duties. I assume that also includes my obligation as Roth's chauffeur.

I haven't had time to decide how I'm going to approach the subject of the Eurydice with him. There's no way to avoid it, since that's the only reason Roth's keeping me around. Still, I'd like to have the advantage walking into this and figure out why Roth wants Anora, because I'm still certain it isn't for the same reason the Order does.

The second message is from Jacobi and was sent around four in the morning when I was with Anora. All it says is: When you wake up, come over. I found something.

Those words settle in my stomach like a stone.

“What's wrong, Shy?” Mom asks.

I shove my phone in my pocket and clear my throat. Suddenly, I have a headache. “Nothing. I’m uh...just going to head to Jacobi’s.”

Mom studies me a moment. I bite back the instinct to ask when she decided she didn't trust what I say.

“Be safe,” she says as I make my way to the door.

I head to Jacobi’s and send a quick text when I’m in his driveway.

“Shy!”

I look up to see Jacobi’s little sister, Lydia, run from the house.

“Hey, little one!” I climb out of my Jeep and capture her in a hug, spinning her around. She giggles, and I place her on her feet. She grabs onto my shirt and pulls.

“Come play with me!”