The Stars Never Rise

“So you kidnapped one of my classmates?” That thought was too bizarre to truly comprehend.

Finn shrugged. “Then I took him shopping.” He held out the bag, and I accepted it before I realized what I was doing, and once I held the bag, I opened it for the same reason.

Jeans. A couple of plain cotton T-shirts. And beneath that, I found underwear, still in the package, a bra, still tagged, and a new toothbrush. “What is this?”

Another shrug. “This guy’s sister looked about your size. The rest is from the dollar store down the street from your school. Not top quality, obviously, but better than…” His focus wandered down from my face and I was suddenly hyperaware of the fact that I wasn’t wearing a bra. “…whatever you’re not wearing now.”

“You stole this?”

“I didn’t.” Another indomitable grin. The boy had no shame, and I almost envied him that. “The assistant manager opening the store put them in a bag and set them just outside the back door for someone to pick up.” He patted his borrowed chest, indicating that Jacob was that someone. “At least, that’s what the cameras will show, if anyone ever realizes the store is missing a few pairs of underwear and the manager is missing a solid three and a half minutes from his morning routine.”

“I…I don’t know what to say.” I’d always been the one who took care of Mellie, and it felt strange to let someone else take care of me. I wanted to return the favor. I wanted to be as much use to them as they’d been to me.

“?‘Thanks’ is the typical response when someone goes out of his way to supply you with new underwear so you can comfortably go into hiding because you’re wanted on two counts of murder.”

I found it hard to believe that particular scenario was common enough to have a typical response, but…“Thanks. And wow.” No wonder they’d avoided getting caught for so long—securing food and supplies didn’t represent much of a risk when they could have them delivered by one of the locals, who wouldn’t rouse suspicion walking around town.

“Yeah.” Devi slid the door chain home with an aggressive clank. “He knows a few clever party tricks. But he’s not supposed to bring them home with him.”

“Finn?” Grayson opened the bedroom door, and her eyes widened when she found him in a new form. She padded across the floor barefoot, then ran one hand over his chest and down one arm. “What on earth are you wearing?”

“Nina says his name is Jacob Gilbert. You like?”

She nodded solemnly. “Very pretty…” Grayson frowned up at him. “But you know you can’t keep him.”

“I know.” He grinned. “I’ll take him back right after I talk to Nina.”

“Finn, man…” Reese frowned. “He’s gonna be missed.”

“He’s probably already missed,” Maddock said, but I could hear the confliction in his voice. He didn’t want to deny Finn this outlet for expression—not to mention interaction with the physical world—but he understood the risk.

Even I understood the risk.

“Take him back.” Devi slid her knife back into the block. “Now.”

Finn’s green eyes narrowed, and I recognized the stubborn set of his jaw—that expression had looked nearly the same on Maddock’s features when Finn had occupied them. “Ten minutes.” He turned to me. “Nina. Give me ten minutes.” His gaze was solemn and intense. He really wanted this.

After a moment’s hesitation, I nodded.

Devi ignored the pleading look Grayson threw her way. “If you haven’t gotten that walking liability out of here in ten minutes, I swear I’ll exorcise your ass right out of him.”

“Devi!” Maddock sounded truly pissed for the first time since I’d met him. The real him, anyway.

Finn’s expression hardened, but beneath his anger, his borrowed cheeks were pink with humiliation. He looked…bruised.

“Can she do that?” I didn’t want to ask, but I had to know.

“No.” Grayson glared at Devi. “Because he’s not a demon. But she can be a real bitch.”

Devi scowled, and when no apology came for what was obviously a huge personal insult to Finn, I tamped down my own misgivings, then boldly took his hand and pulled him toward one of the bedrooms.

“I’m sorry he’s so sensitive, but we can’t afford the kind of—”

I closed the door behind us, cutting off Devi’s lukewarm attempt at damage control. Then I set the bag of clothing on the carpet and leaned against the door, studying the boy in front of me. Noting the differences between Finn and Jacob. The longer I stared, the more of them I found. It was like looking at a painting, picking out more intricate details with every passing second of study.

“That’s amazing.” I stepped closer, staring up at him, examining familiar features that suddenly seemed new. A mouth that looked softer. A brow that was less furrowed. Eyes that looked…smarter. Kinder. Greener.