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.
“It’s done?” Wyatt asks.
Emil nods. “He doesn’t want to bind his powers until after Sunstar is elected and creates her Luminary Union.”
He’s fooling himself if he thinks Sunstar still has a chance at this election. If she’s even alive.
“Firefly, it took me years to really understand what a threat my father is. I’m going to need you to get there sooner with your brother.”
“But . . .”
“There’s no buts here—”
“He knows his brother,” Wyatt cuts in.
“Want to bet?” I ask.
“Just chill,” Emil tells us both. He turns to Prudencia. “What do you think?”
Prudencia’s arms are crossed as she tries to keep her head high after this long night. “I’m torn. The Stanton kill is scary, but Brighton has shown reason since having those powers. There were a lot of things we talked him out of doing.”
“Good point,” Emil says. “I’ll talk to him. Maybe bring in Ma too.”
There’s a flash of hope on his face, short-lived because even he knows deep down this intervention won’t work. But he’s going to keep lying to himself until his brother flat out shows what he’s capable of. Just because someone’s family doesn’t mean they won’t hurt you.
This is going to be a hard lesson that I already know all too well.
Seventy-SevenTraitor
BRIGHTON
My popularity is at stake, and with that, my power.
I’ve lost over one hundred thousand followers since we broke into Iron’s house last night, and as more people are waking up to the news about the Bounds, I’m expecting a bigger drop. I’m being tagged in all these INFINITY TRAITOR memes from Brightsiders who think I’ve betrayed their trust and ruined the perception of gleamcrafters, as if there was all love before I hit the scene. I’m exhausted because unlike these keyboard warriors, I’ve been out in the world making a difference while they criticize every move I make. I almost snap at them, but that never goes well.
I have to earn back their support.
I’m in the library, really tempted to close my eyes for even ten minutes on this table but I’m sure I’ll wake up to even more people dragging the Infinity Kings and Spell Walkers and Halo Knights since nuance doesn’t seem to be taught anywhere. No one is ever going to make me feel guilty for breaking the law to rescue my kidnapped mother. End of story.
It would be comforting to know my supporters are backing me up, but I think they’re being drowned out right now. It may be time to figure out how to make them feel more involved beyond reposting. I should grow a support network that’s inclusive of everyone whether they have the gleam or not. We need people working cameras to protect our image and others fighting criminals to protect our streets. This movement can start off nationally, then go global.
United, my factions of Brightsiders—got to keep my personal branding—will re-create the world.
Emil knocks on the door. “Hey, Bright,” he says softly.
I’m on edge, anticipating a confrontation. “No reports of criminal activity so far. If you want me to clear out so you and Wyatt can bunk up some more let me know. Or are you and Ness a thing now?”
Emil’s gaze is like he’s trying to calculate this himself. “Not a thing,” he says, then looking around the library. “We’ll see.”
“All right, well, today we absolutely have to film Ma and Eva so they can tell their side of the story. Do you think Ness would do a video too?”
“You’d have to ask him,” Emil says.
“He’d be stupid not to. An interview with a thought-to-be-dead presidential candidate’s son who got powers and joined a gang is not one people will
