Infinity Reaper (Infinity Cycle #2) - Adam Silvera Page 0,32

doing here?”

Sunstar looks past us, and her bodyguard signals something with her fist. “How about we have some privacy?”

This better be good. I was finally freeing myself fully from the Spell Walkers, and suddenly I’m following everyone into an empty employee lounge. The bodyguard closes the door on her way out. Sunstar and Lu sit at a round table, and Emil and Prudencia are clearly sheepish about joining them. I don’t care if they’re running for president and vice president, they’re still two women who haven’t been there for us. They don’t get my respect. They shouldn’t get Iris’s either, but she sits down.

“Care to join us, Maribelle?” Sunstar asks.

The last open seat is beside Iris. I cross my arms and lean against the wall. “I’m good standing. What are you and Lu doing here?”

“You can call me Shine,” Lu says. “We’re pleased to meet you all.”

Her name is a very traditional one among celestials, the most popular being Star. I was almost stuck with Skye before Mama came to her senses; a celestial named Skye who can fly is already an annoying nursery rhyme. But I understand the very important branding that Shine is pushing here. Their campaign slogan—Shine Like a Star—is catchy and cute and I don’t care.

Prudencia taps Emil’s hand. “We’re newly eighteen. You’ve got our vote. We attended the Friday Dreamers Festival last month and loved everything you had to say.”

Emil nods. “Yeah, I’m really rooting for you.”

“Thank you both,” Sunstar says. “We never pretend to be perfect, but we know this victory is of great importance for celestials everywhere. And even for well-intentioned specters such as yourself, Emil. I don’t know if you’re one of those specters we’ve seen over the years who are trying to do the right thing like Bautista de León, but our administration wants to ban that practice.”

Emil is red in the face. “I want that too, I promise. I didn’t do this to myself.”

“Were you drugged?” Shine asks.

He shakes his head. “It’s complicated.”

“And none of your business,” I say to Sunstar and Shine. “You don’t get to sneak your way in here and call for a meeting as if we’re in this together. Just because you haven’t condemned us doesn’t mean you support us. Now, my patience is running very thin, so make good use of this next minute and explain why you’re gracing us with your presence. Otherwise I’m leaving to hunt down every last Blood Caster myself.”

Sunstar folds her hands. “That ties beautifully with why we’re here. We’re very sorry for not publicly supporting you, but if we aren’t careful with this campaign, then everything will become worse for every celestial—and every innocent specter.” She eyes Emil, who blushes. “We don’t understand the cause of the Blackout, but we know something happened behind the curtains. I promise we support you and will make right on that soon by saying so publicly. I don’t want to mislead the American people. If we can secure the White House, we’ll be able to set a precedent for how gleamcrafters deserve to be treated globally.”

I’m tired of having to defend my humanity. My life shouldn’t be a debating point.

“How do you intend on doing that?” Iris asks.

“We want to abolish the Enforcer Program,” Sunstar says. “Every time an innocent celestial is brutalized and killed because of corrupt enforcers, the narrative increases that we’re all dangerous. That we must be stopped by the wands containing power sourced from our own blood. We need honest protectors who would devote themselves to detaining the Blood Casters and other rogues.”

“And who would that be?” I ask.

“You all,” Sunstar says.

“And the other vigilante factions born out of great intentions,” Shine adds.

Sunstar is beaming. “We’re calling it the Luminary Union, named so because this division will be a global guiding light in heroism, illuminating security practices that should’ve always been in place. Every Luminary will be vetted by a council of celestials who don’t operate with hate in their hearts. Every faction trying to do the right thing won’t have to be classified as vigilantes. Your work will be authorized and supported by the government.”

“Every faction that folds into the Luminary Union will be paid, of course,” Shine says. “We’ve discreetly donated to your campaigns for funds this past year. Our discretion will become unnecessary if we can build this division.”

This was always part of the dream for my parents—Iris’s too. They wanted their work more than trusted, but a welcomed service to make the world a better