Chapter Thirty-Two

Chapter Thirty-Two

Shy and Roth’s Return

After I drop Anora off, I head home to sleep a little before meeting Roth. The streetlights glare through my windshield as I drive to June’s. As much as I’d have liked to disregard Roth’s message, it doesn’t do me any good. I’m already in deep with the Order. Ignoring the soon-to-be luminary will just get me in more trouble.

Luckily when I return, Jeremy is gone. I really don’t like him, and not just because he’s my rival. The kid’s been trouble in the past. He was caught on security cameras spray-painting our gym. His anger has led to several penalties and suspensions for unsportsmanlike conduct and targeting. Most of all, I don’t like that he knows Anora was selected as the princess for queen’s ransom. It makes me think he’s plotting something. I hope Anora listens to me about tonight.

I find Roth at a small, round table in the corner, bent over a latte with a foam art cat on the surface.

“I didn’t know you were a cat person,” I say.

Roth looks at me and smiles. “There’re a lot of things you don’t know about me, Savior.”

“What do you want, Roth?”

He nods to the chair in front of him. “Sit down.”

Begrudgingly, I take a seat.

“What’s new?”

“What’s new?” I echo his question. He poses it like we’re friends.

“Yeah,” he says, shrugging and then leaning forward. “You have a girlfriend yet?”

Instinctually, I want to flinch, because now I know why he asks—because it is inevitable that I’ll attract the Eurydice. And I’m pretty sure it’s inevitable that I will love her.

“Why are you so worried about my relationship status? You interested?”

He grins. “Now you’re learning, Savior.”

Roth focuses on his coffee for a moment. The foam barely resembles a cat anymore.

“My father died.”

My whole body feels shaky at his news, and my stomach coils. Death usually inspires sympathy, but I feel fear. Before, Roth’s commands could be blocked by the Order. Now as luminary, there is little he can’t influence.

“When?”

“This morning.”

“Does anyone know?”

“You,” Roth says, still looking at his coffee.

“And…?”

“Just you.”

“Why?” I don’t understand. How am I the first to know of Maximus’s death? Why is Roth choosing to share this information with me?

“Everyone else will find out soon enough. Besides”—he shrugs—“we’re friends, right?”

“We’re not friends.” He stares at me, his eyes darkening, and the most frustrating part is I can’t tell if he’s joking or under the delusion we’re actually buddies. My skin starts to feel like it’s made of wool, hot and itchy.

“We shouldn’t suffer grief,” he says, then slams his hand on the table. I tense, wondering if this will turn into a fight. “It should be our power to summon Charon, walk into Spirit, and take everyone back we’ve lost.”

“It’s not that simple, Roth. Even the Eurydice has limits.”

“You don’t think she would bring someone back to life if she could?” he asks.

I know she would. The real question is, does Roth?

“Is that why you want the Eurydice? To bring your father back?”

“My father?” He scoffs like that’s the most ludicrous idea in the world. “No. Never him. I’d have no power then. I barely have any now.”

There’s too much wrong with that statement.

“Being luminary isn’t powerful enough for you?”

“What is the luminary but a lawmaker? There’s untapped potential among the Valryn. We could rule the passage to Spirit, offer life and death, all with the Eurydice’s help.”

And just like that, I understand why he wants her, and it makes me sick. He wants her as a power play to control who lives and dies. To force people to bargain with him, sacrifice for him. He wants to play god.

“The Order won’t support that.”

Roth chuckles. “Look, Savior, I’m not here to ask your opinion. I’m here to see if you’ve considered my offer.”

The offer of commander—my dream.

I thought so often of what it would be like as commander. To stand beside my father, my arms banded with red thread, marking me as someone who’s earned the title.

And there is the problem. I didn’t earn anything.

“I thought you didn’t ask twice,” I say.

Roth’s smile is barely there. He stands, takes a final drink from his mug, and says, “I hate to see wasted potential.” Then he walks out the door with all the swagger of a man intent on ruling the world.

I sit in June’s for a long time after Roth leaves, thinking about what he shared. Who exactly did he want to bring back from Spirit if not his father? Roth had hinted at his weakness tonight, and I want to learn more about it before he discovers mine.

As I stand to leave, Jacobi enters June’s, and I know something’s wrong.

“Shy, you’re going to want to see this.” Jacobi shoves his phone in my face. The Roundtable app is open. Anora’s staring back at me. She’s furious, her jaw set in a tight line. There’s a caption at the bottom of the photos that reads: Queen’s ransom is on. Come and get your princess, Nacoma Knight.

“No.”

So many thoughts pass through my head at once. At the forefront—can Anora contain her anger and keep the thread in check?

“Can you track her phone?”

“Already on it.” He takes his phone back, and his fingers fly over the small keyboard. “It’s at the cemetery.”

“Call Nat. We’re going to need help.”