Infinity Reaper by Adam Silvera (new books to read .TXT) 📕

wrist. Instead I soften my demeanor and express gratitude even though all I can think about is how he’ll get what’s coming to him one day. There’s no way that Brighton won’t use his new powers against the Silver Star Slayer; I wouldn’t mind watching that video.

The cameras begin rolling.

“My next guest doesn’t have any powers herself, but her children do. Last night your sons uploaded a video threatening those who get in their way,” Russell says. No one showed me the livestream, but I doubt there were threats. “Brighton has abused his platform to spread misinformation about the Spell Walkers, claiming they’re good. It’s always been clear to me that he’s very troubled, but I’ll admit to being surprised about Emil. What darkness possessed him to become a specter?”

“It’s complicated,” I say, which is true in ways that the Senator and his team don’t even understand. “What you have to understand is that my boys have been through a lot this past year after losing their father.”

If Emil and Brighton watch this, I wonder if they’ll assume their mother is leaving out the obvious details to protect them. I have no idea if the Senator has been clued in to the resurrection revelations, but I would hate for Luna to weaponize that against Emil.

“Grief doesn’t give someone authority over others,” Russell says. “Do you not see the value in trusting our government?”

I know the response I’m supposed to say, but I pause. The Senator can’t be trusted with this country. I’m ready to rat him out, to transform back into myself because I don’t give a damn if they have to kill Russell to protect my secret. It’s not as if he’s a source of good in this world. Roslyn holds up the tablet and Dione is choking Carolina. Russell only lives to see another day because I want Carolina to be able to.

“The government deserves our trust,” I lie.

I stay in character the rest of the interview, echoing the lie that Carolina was also rescued by the government, sharing the story about Emil to illustrate what a kind soul he was before he chose the specter life, going on about seeking attention in a private center for heart complications, and the charges Carolina may face if she doesn’t cooperate with the authorities.

“One last question,” Russell says. “If you could send a message to your sons right now, what would you tell them?”

“Don’t be so high and mighty, and don’t get yourselves killed using powers you shouldn’t have. You’re all I have left.”

Then, on command, I get myself to cry. Actors always make it look so easy, but I learned that’s not the case for everyone. They cry because they’re tapping into their own personal wells of pain, and my trigger is thinking about how much my life has gotten worse without my mother.

The camera is switched off and Russell shows no sympathy for me. He immediately returns to the Senator’s side. “Thank you so much for trusting me with these interviews, sir.”

“Oh, please. I’m grateful to have incredible supporters such as yourself,” the Senator says.

“I’m having friends over the evening of the debate. We can’t wait to watch you destroy Sunstar.” There is so much hate in Russell’s heart that I’m sure he’s actively cheering for Sunstar’s literal demise like so many others. “Please let me know if I can be of service to you again.”

“Absolutely, my friend.”

“And feel better!”

Roslyn escorts Russell out.

I drop my morph, and the Senator sits across from me.

“Does it make you proud how you’re cheating to win?” I ask.

“I am fighting fire with fire, Eduardo. Celestials have always had the advantage over us, and I will do whatever it takes to level the playing field in this country. The work you have done so far has been incredible, son. People are arming themselves with wands for protection, and a dozen celestials have been killed since your videos have been posted. The American people understand that I’m the solution to this great threat our nation is facing,” the Senator says as if he’s trying to convince me of all this once again.

It’s not a surprise that celestials have been killed, but the confirmation hurts. I have no access to even seeing their faces, which might be a blessing so I can’t be so haunted by them that I transform into them in the middle of the night.

Gray light washes over me and I morph into the man sitting across from me. “This is the face of the nation’s greatest threat. No matter what you tell yourself.”

The Senator grins. “That face is very presidential. No matter what you tell yourself.”

ThirtyThe New Ember Sanctuary

EMIL

I grew up thinking Storm King State Park wasn’t real because its name feels fresh out of a fantasy novel, but it’s legit. Months ago Dad talked about taking us all there when he got better. He had so many plans for us, all of them involving Ma too, and she’s not with us either. During this hour-long car ride with Brighton and Prudencia, I’ve brought up how maybe Wyatt and Nox can track down Ma the same way they found Tala. It’s just enough hope to hold on to.

We drive past countless trees, freshly grazed by autumn with their orange, red, and yellow leaves. The deeper we get through the park the more we see massive boulders along the side of the road with different phoenixes painted onto them. The bright paintings are so bold they could probably be seen from the sky. Prudencia follows the path as I finally answer the seventh of Wesley’s calls and immediately apologize a thousand times and update him on everything.

“So you’re on the way to their super-cool phoenix palace?” Wesley asks.

The Halo Sanctuaries I’ve seen images of over the years are gorgeous: a Gothic mansion in New Orleans that worships obsidians like Nox; a town house a quick drive from the Grand Canyon where gray suns have been known to dive; a hilltop