“From the moment he was born, I knew Roderick was different. As you well know, half-Veilorians have yellow-orange eyes and pale skin, like Finn. They are tall, too, meaning they cannot blend into the human world. But genetics are a fickle thing, and while it is very rare, occasionally a half-Veilorian child takes on more of the human parent’s traits. Like Roderick.”
“You’re saying he looks human?” I asked, awed and confused and unsure what that meant for her or for him.
“Yes,” Anara replied. “He was born with your father’s light brown skin and hazel eyes, and although he was strong and healthy, he did not grow to be as tall as other half-Veilorians.”
I found my mind spinning, thinking about Roderick, my brother, living in the human world. It seemed insane and impossible, and it brought a dozen more questions to mind.
But the only one I could get out was, “When did this happen? How long has he been living in Polis?”
“I don’t know how he got the idea to masquerade as a human, or when he started sneaking out of the District,” Anara told me. “I only know that by the time he was a teenager, Roderick was going out nearly every day. And he wasn’t alone.”
“There are more half-humans living in Polis?” I asked, sitting up straighter.
“There were others born in the years following who, like Roderick, took after their human parent. And as my son got older, he began to seek them out. I was unaware of what he was doing at first, and by the time I learned of his actions, he had been taking these half-human children into Polis for years. He taught them how to blend in. How to be human.
“When I found out what he was doing, I was furious that he would risk so much, and I forbade him from leaving the District. But by then he was nearly eighteen, and I had little say in his life. He was determined to find his place, and for some reason he believed it was in Polis.” Anara frowned for the first time, and her eyes clouded over, making them seem darker and her suddenly older. “Then one day he went out and never came back. That was more than a year ago, and I have not seen him since.”
“What happened to him?” I scooted forward so I was now on the very edge of my seat. “Was he caught? Punished?” I swallowed. “Put to death?”
“I do not know, but I do not think so.” She looked past me as if trying to see into Polis. “I think I would know if he was dead.”
I could see the pain of losing her son written clearly on her face, and it was made sharper by the fact that she’d lost his father as well. But my mind was still spinning, and as much as I sympathized with her, I couldn’t focus on that. Not when I had so many more questions that needed to be answered, so many things that needed to be clarified.
“You said there are others like him living in Polis.”
“There are.” She focused on me again, regaining some of her composure. “The council tried to stop what Roderick had started, but we were unable to, and now every half-Veilorian that looks human navigates Polis on a regular basis. Most even live in the city full time, and they all come and go as they please.”
“Do they know what happened to Roderick?”
“They’ve seen him, or so they say, but I have not.” Again, her pain got the best of her, and she allowed her shoulders to slump. “I know he was angry about his father’s death, about being rejected by the human world because of what he is, and I sometimes fear what he might do.”
At her words, Veronica’s theory about a terrorist group once again came to mind, and dread pooled in my stomach. “Do you think he’s a threat? That he’s plotting something?”
Anara hesitated before saying, “That, I cannot tell you for sure.”
She sat back as if signaling she was done, and I stayed quiet for a minute, thinking it all through. What she’d said gave merit to the rumors about a group plotting to overthrow the mayor, but there was something else bugging me as well. Something Waters had said weeks ago.
“Mayor Waters once mentioned that she thought there might be half-Veilorians living outside the District. Do you think she knows the truth?”
“I remember her saying that, but what it means, I cannot guess.” Anara’s mouth turned down. “Hopefully, she was only speculating.”
If not, Roderick, wherever he was, could be in trouble. My brother could be in danger.
Brother.
I had a brother. It was an odd reality to accept, but not totally unwelcome. Even if I had no idea where he was, and even if he ended up being a Veilorian terrorist. But how had no one else known? Anara told me about her relationship with my father weeks ago, and both Finn and Rye were there. They had to have been aware of Roderick’s existence. The District wasn’t that big. Had they made the connection but kept it from me? Had they known before that day, even? Had Melora?
“Does Finn know? What about his mom?” I asked Anara then shook my head because it just didn’t make sense that they wouldn’t. “I mean, they have to know you have a son. The District is small. Why didn’t Finn tell me about Roderick after we learned about your relationship with my dad?”
The Veilorian leader’s expression didn’t change, but she did pause before saying, “They both know.”
My mouth dropped open as a feeling of betrayal swept over me, and I found it impossible to respond. How could Finn have kept this from me? And Rye? Did he know as well? Had he told Ione?
Before I was able to recover, Anara covered my hand with hers. It wasn’t the first time we’d touched, but there
