Troy casts me a sideways glance. “Oh.”

“He’ll know it was for me,” I insist, trying to make Troy’s color return to normal.

“Either way, he says you won’t be in trouble if you return it—return them,” Phoebe corrects. “Just give them back and—”

“I can’t,” I interrupt.

“You can’t?” Phoebe frowns.

“Why not?” Troy asks. “We already know what to—ow!”

I shake my head as Troy protects his ribs. I can’t tell her. I can’t involve her in this. It’s bad enough I’m letting Troy in—at least he’s been a part of this world his whole life. Phoebe’s only known about it for a year.

Besides, we might still need them. Surprise twists and all that.

Phoebe crosses the room to stand in front of me. “Tell me. I want to help.”

I open my mouth and close it again.

“Tell her,” Troy nudges.

Tilting my head back, I stare at the ceiling like I’m going to find some kind of answer there. Nope, nothing but boring white plaster.

“We’re friends,” Phoebe says. “You can trust me.”

“It’s not that,” I blurt. “I trust you, I just . . .”

“Don’t want to involve me,” she finishes.

I nod.

“She didn’t want to involve anyone,” Troy adds.

“Too bad,” she says, surprising me. “Friends don’t only help each other when it’s safe or convenient. Whatever’s going on, I’m in.”

I want to argue, to tell her that this is too dangerous. Too risky. Too important. I’ve already been responsible for ruining too many lives. I don’t want them to risk their futures, too.

One glance at Troy tells me he agrees with Phoebe.

Two against one. He practically blackmailed me into letting him help. She probably would, too. Doesn’t leave me much choice, does it?

“Okay,” I say, walking over to my closet, where the books are safely hidden under a pile of junk. “But you have to promise not to tell your stepdad.”

She scowls. “Do you even have to ask?”

Of course not. I dig the bigger of the two books out of the hiding spot. I only hesitate a second before walking back across the room. When I hand it to Phoebe, she reads the title and her jaw drops.

“You said it wasn’t possible.” She flips open the book and skims the contents. “You said it was ridiculously illegal.”

“It’s both,” I reply.

“Then why—”

She starts to ask the question. Why would I do this? Why would I take such a huge risk?

But then she jerks back, as if it all makes sense.

She glances at Troy, who shrugs and nods.

“Your parents,” she whispers.

I jam my hands in my back pockets. “It’s the only way.”