Celeste leaned to the side, letting her arm press into mine as she stretched her neck and placed a gentle kiss to my cheek. Startled, I froze, my eyes so wide I feared they’d fall out of the sockets. Her hand cupped my cheek, tears pooling in her eyes.
“You have to convince her that the right thing to do is fight for the rebels. That it’s not her only option, but it is the best option. Give her the choice and help her choose right.”
Nodding, I whispered, “I will.”
“I’m counting on you, Pretty Boy. Maybe along the way you’ll convince yourself too.”
With that, she took her hand away and threw her fist into my arm, ripping baffled laughs out of my throat. As she stood, she added one last request. The one that made me realize why she seemed so scared.
“Take care of Desi, too.” She was walking away before I really had time to process what she’d said.
Desi wasn’t going with her.
But she was already weaving around a building, quickly escaping the reality of her choices.
Groaning, I reached into my pocket and fished out another note, this one readingto the dumb fuck I call my best friend.
Ouch.
Unfolding the lion-shaped note—how obvious of Cal—I prepared myself for the hostility.
Az,
I always knew you were a fucking idiot, but I never pegged you for suicidal. So imagine how surprised I was when I found Nova in the Sham District accompanied by none other than YOU.
Do you think I don’t know how shift works? Please. You really love to piss me off, Altair.
Anyway, I’m working on finding the rebellion now, because the only possible way the two of you are together and attacking officials is if you’re working with the eadi rebels. At least, that’s the only thing I can think of at the moment, and I’m rolling with it.
Looks like we’ll change the world or die trying.
See you soon.
Cal
Aggravated beyond belief now, I crumpled the note and shoved it back into my pocket. Of course Cal knew it was me. My luck would have it no other way.
So Caleb was risking his life trying to find me, Priya was in danger for just knowing me, and Quinn was pushing it with Talon.
Tugging in my knees, I put my arms up and let my head fall between my legs.
What am I going to do?
And then, as if the stars were offering me divine intervention, Nova’s voice rang out from the distance.
“Altair? Where did you go?”
II
Act II
History is a constant reminder that there is no true good or evil—only left and right, up and down. It would be an excellent warning, if only those writing it down were honest.
Interlude
There is an inherent selfishness to the plight of humanity.
While our wicked rulers above grant all the power in the universe to those who worship from below, people regularly choose their own wants and needs over entertaining the mighty stars. It is these egocentric desires that bring wrath upon Dajahim. That scorn and burn throughout the lands.
