She continues. “She’s new to town. Just moved here with her daughter. She’ll have to get her license, but I think she’ll be a great addition to my team.”

“Silby, huh?” Anora said her mother moved here for a job, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. “I think I met her daughter today at school.”

“Was she nice?”

“Very.” My brows rise as I speak—nice, beautiful, odd…familiar. The muscles in my chest tighten as I recall her eyes—heavy-lidded and a mix of green and brown.

“I’m sure she must be pretty if she looks anything like her mother.” Mom’s statement is saturated with sweetness and a hint of warning. She knows just as well as any Valryn that any affection I might develop for a human is wasted…and dangerous. Then, realizing I’m rubbing the spot on my chest where the ache is greatest, I drop my hand.

“Did her mom say why they moved here?”

“Just that things were complicated back home and they were looking for a fresh start.”

The answer disappoints me, but I can’t really blame them for keeping their business to themselves. It just means I’m going to have to work harder to discover the information I want.

I pop the last bite of pizza pocket into my mouth and move to stand. I have patrol tonight, but I need a shower first.

“Did you see your father at the Compound?”

I pause and turn to face my mom. “How many days has it been since you’ve seen him?”

Mom doesn’t respond, suddenly busy with the dishes. I know the answer; I just want to see if she will admit it.

“It’s three, Mom. He hasn’t been home for three days.”

Dad’s day job is as a petroleum engineer for Malachi Black’s Oil & Gas, and once that shift is over, he goes to the Compound where he carries out a variety of orders issued by Elite Cain. There are times when he’s home at four in the morning, but at least I see him at breakfast. That hasn’t been the case the last few days.

“I’m sure he’s busy. You know this whole thing with Luminary Maximum has him stressed.”

It is stressful for all of us.

“That doesn’t mean he can ignore us.” Well, I’d prefer he ignore me. I might escape some of his scrutiny that way, but I know it hurts Mom, and that’s something I can’t stand.

“Shy—”

“I know…don’t talk about your father like that.” I mimic her voice poorly.

“No…just.” She pauses and takes a breath. “Give him the benefit of the doubt. You don’t know what he does for this family.”

She’s right. I don’t.