I fake a satisfied nod and move out of my place in line. Vera, waiting for me by the front doors, tilts her head in question. I wave off concern. “Just making sure he knows where I found a bird yesterday, before I met up with you.”

The warm summer winds rush over the both of us, our matching uniforms waving in the breeze. Vera wrinkles her face as we turn for the balcony.

“What a glamorous duty we’ve been assigned,” she says. “Necessary, but … ick.”

“The faster you find them, the less gross they are,” I say. “Where are you covering?”

“I’m at the fields,” she says, referring to the small area of vegetable fields on the eastern side of the Heliana. “You?”

“I’m near Storm’s End, actually. Northern district along the Crescent.”

“Okay,” she says. “See you later? You can come to my room and commiserate once we’re done.” She pulls me in for a hug. “I know you’re worried about your mother and the girls. Even if you don’t say it.”

I nod into her shoulder. “Thanks, Vera. I want to stop at Storm’s End once we’re done looking, but I’ll find you before dinner.”

“I heard it’s all the leftover festival food,” she says. “All the food, none of the prices for us warriors-elect.”

“That’s the dream, isn’t it?” I say back, forcing a grin.

I take my lioness form and glide down to the northern district, but my mind stays in the Tower. I’d pressed Carrick for a reason. He backed up Renna’s lie, which means the sentinels planned their explanation of how they learned of the disease. But why not tell the truth? Even the loyalest of citizens would be hard-pressed to hate a deserter who helped our city in her hour of need.

There has to be something else.

Finding a clear spot in a nearby street, I land and retake my human form. Bel will tease me for being late, but I need a moment to think. Callen said the sentinels do everything for a reason, and I agree. Which means lying to the select group of Leonodai to whom you have already trusted with the secret of the disease is … not good.

I rack my mind, wishing I could have someone to talk this out with. There isn’t any way Shirene will be able to find time for me again, and I’m still really hurt by what she said. Callen and Ox are gone, and my mother has too much on her mind already. I’d have to put the pieces together myself.