Infinity Reaper by Adam Silvera (best new books to read txt) 📗

“Day in the life,” I say, sitting up to kiss her, but she stops me.

“Brighton, this looks serious.”

I should’ve melted the damn phone when I had the chance. I take it from her and see everyone’s tagging me across all platforms. Everything is linking me to some new rant from the Silver Star Slayer. I can’t wait to see which conspiracy theory about me has everyone so riled up that it’s cut into time better spent having sex with Prudencia. The video title pisses me off: True Allies of New York.

I press play, and Prudencia and I are shocked to see the Silver Star Slayer sitting beside Eva. Prudencia immediately wants to check in with Iris, but we watch first. So Eva is being detained by enforcers. Does this mean Ma is too? I’m so tempted to skip ahead. Eva doesn’t share any of the big secrets revealed among the Spell Walkers, but she’s clearly beaten down by the weight of everything. Donating her blood sounds worthwhile, though I’m sure the government will be more interested in using it to heal their enforcers and military instead of actually researching it for everyday citizens. The interview ends and transitions straight to the next.

Ma is alive. She’s actually alive, like I’ve been saying this entire time! A rush shoots through me like when I drank the Reaper’s Blood, but just like when the elixir started turning on me, I crash really hard. Why is she with the Silver Star Slayer? She explains that she’s being detained too, though I hate that she’s cooperating with him.

The Silver Star Slayer finishes his rant about how the government is on our side; then he glares at Ma. “One last question. If you could send a message to your sons right now, what would you tell them?”

Ma looks so exhausted as she takes a deep breath. “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.”

There goes those words again. High and mighty. Even after our last argument, this is what she decides to put out there. She may as well have just directly said how much I’ve disappointed her by drinking the Reaper’s Blood.

As for the Silver Star Slayer, he’s on my damn list of people who have horrible, burning hot things coming their way.

“This is great news,” Prudencia says.

“It’s a great start, but we have no idea where Ma and Eva are.”

“I’ll call Iris. Maybe she’ll have some ideas on where to begin the search.”

I fix myself up as I head for the door. “I’ll find Emil.”

I open the door and dash down the hall, bursting with so much power and life because our mother is alive. This is my most personal opportunity to show the world why I’m called the Infinity Savior—and why you don’t mess with my family.

Fifty-OneSunrise

EMIL

I’ve had some chill mornings here at the Sanctuary, but this one is the best. Wyatt’s arms are wrapped around me, his body pressed against mine inside this sleeping bag. Sunlight and phoenix song are slowly filling the library. I’d definitely want some of my ashes dropped here.

I’m telling Wyatt more about my family, using the last ten percent of my phone’s battery to show him some memories from my camera’s album. There’s a photo of Ma hugging me and Brighton on the day we graduated, and Bright is holding a framed picture of all of us plus Dad.

“Brighton wanted to create one of those infinity series where you take a picture with the last one you took. The next one would’ve been after we graduated from college. Then landing jobs we love. Meeting people we love.” I’m pretty sure I’m not in love with Wyatt, though it’s possible my head is just going up against my heart right now, but I know for a damn fact that I’m straight blushing because talking about love with someone whose arms are wrapped around you feels big. “The ultimate plan was to have some huge family picture with my and Brighton’s partners and kids.”

“That’s bloody sweet. You can still do this,” Wyatt says.

“It feels like we would be jinxing ourselves by doing it without Ma. Like every time we take a picture we’re guaranteeing someone photographed won’t be around next time.”

“Rubbish, love. Keep finding time for your life as if you don’t have a lot of it left, but don’t forget that you’re fighting for your future too. Make sure you’re setting yourself up for greatness—becoming a Halo Knight, infinity pictures with your families, bonding with a phoenix. Perhaps including your phoenix in your family pictures and your phoenix’s family and the families of your phoenix’s family and the—”

I flip around and shut up a smiling Wyatt with a kiss. He slides his fingers through the collar of the shirt I borrowed from him last night, trailing my collarbone. Our bodies are reacting in some super-solid ways, especially since we didn’t have sex last night because I didn’t feel up to it. I think I’ve got some work to do on myself before I’m ready to take off all my clothes in front of another person, especially someone who’s put so much work into his own body. Nothing wrong with making out though; I can tell I’m really getting the hang of it by the way Wyatt moans into my mouth.

The library door slams open so suddenly that I gasp. Memories trigger of the enforcers busting into Nova, and I’m scared that they’ve found us again. I try crawling out of the sleeping bag, but it’s tough as Wyatt tries doing the same, and then Brighton rounds the corner and his eyes widen; I think I would’ve preferred enforcers.

“Whoa!” Brighton turns around. “Sorry.”

“Bright, go!”

“Bro, no! Get dressed. There’s something you need to see.”

“Fine, wait out on the balcony!”

Brighton listens, and I find my way out of the sleeping bag. I put on my pants, damp from the river, and tell Wyatt to stay