“Why?”
“Because Juno risked writing it and it’s more dangerous in my care than yours.”
I tucked it into my coat.
“Cosima?”
Her eyes lifted.
“If the Council turns Caspian into his father, do you think he would know?”
For a moment, pain got through so cleanly it felt indecent to see it.
Cosima looked away.
“Not at first.”
“And after?”
“After is why I am helping you.”
The answer made me feel a little less alone.
It also made me afraid of how many people were standing near the edge of my choices.
Cosima straightened the Council page in front of her.
“Go.”
“Thank you, Cosima.”
She looked up.
“Astra.”
I stopped at the door.
“Do not thank me yet.”
“Why?”
“Because if this works, you will owe me something worse than gratitude.”
“What?”
Cosima looked down at Caspian’s name in her notebook.
“A chance to prove I am not only what they made me.”
I had no answer that would not insult both of us.
So I left.
The corridor outside the east tower was too bright for how little sleep I had gotten. Somewhere below, the breakfast bell was still ringing, dragging everyone else toward ordinary things.
I went to find Rev.
29
