Page 57 of Shadows of Stardust

And there’s nothing at all on Zandrel’s stark, stoic face that gives me a clue what he’s thinking.

I take a deep breath. “Yes, my sister. She’s somewhere here on Eritin.”

Shovel by shovel, I dig my grave deeper. Only, it’s not just my grave, is it? I’m playing with Savvie’s fate too, and might have just damned us both.

But if what Zandrel’s said is true, if he really meant it all, then maybe…

I toss aside thatmaybeand wait in silence for him to cast his verdict.

“It’s illegal for any non-inhabitant to be on Eritin, aside from the Mate Match cast and crew.”

“Yes.”

There’s no point denying it, no point arguing with the obvious.

“And you’re sure she’s here?”

“As sure as I can be, given that she disappeared from Severin without a trace and my only lead sent me here.”

Zandrel hums low in the back of his throat, and desperation rises in mine.

I don’t know if he’s got an ounce of kindness or empathy behind that fierce facade of his. I don’t know if he’ll toss all of this aside and decide I’m still the liar he believes me to be.

That desperation crests and breaks, and I start speaking again before I can think better of it.

“Everything I’ve done has been for my sister. For Savannah.”

His deep black gaze cuts to me. “Everything?”

“Everything. All of it. It’s all been for her. Enlisting with the Sol Alliance so I could send money home, working to give her a better life, coming here to find her. It’s all been for her. And if I don’t find her, I…I’ll…”

My rambling cuts off in a rush of bleak hopelessness.

There’s nothing else I can say, nothing I can think of, nothing I can offer. My truth is out, and it’s up to Zandrel to decide what he’s going to do with it.

God, I fucking hate this.

Leaving it in his hands, leaving our fates inanyone’shands but my own, makes me want to scream in frustration. I came here alone and intended to do this alone. I was ready to put everything on the line for Savvie, and knowing it’s no longer up to me makes me feel small, powerless, alone. Weak.

Zandrel’s deep black eyes are as unreadable as ever, silver swirling as he considers everything I’ve told him.

“Very well. I will help you find your sister.”

The floor beneath my feet tilts, and I have to brace a hand on the counter to steady my equilibrium.

“You will?”

He nods once, short and succinct, like he’s irritated I’d question his word. “Of course I will. You’re helping me regain my rank and position. This is a fair exchange, helping you regain contact with her.”

“But it could get us both in trouble. Leaving the filming area. Traveling further into Eritin.”

He levels me a flat look, unimpressed.

And fine, I don’t know why exactly I’m trying to argue the point right now, but the fact that he’d be so quick to help me seems… unbelievable.

There’s got to be some catch here.

This is a trap meant to lull me into a false sense of security so he can… can…

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