Page 76 of Nanny and the Beast

When we’re alone in the outdoor garden, Alaric glances up at the night sky. The stars seem to burn brighter than ever tonight, scattered like diamonds across the velvet sky.

“Do you remember when we used to stargaze?” Alaric asks, smiling up at the sky.“We didn’t have a care in the world back then. We used to sit on the rooftop with blankets wrapped around us while we waited to be dazzled by meteor showers.”

“Your mom used to bring us toast with Biscoff spread,” I say.

“Yeah.” He swallows. “I don’t think we ever saw a meteor shower, did we?”

“Not once.”

“Life was so simple then,” he says. “What happened?”

“We grew up,” I say. “Life happened.”

“It sucks balls,” he says. “I want to sit on rooftops and look at the stars and not have a single thought in my head.”

He’s stalling.

He has something to say, but he’s not sure if he’s ready to say it. And I’m not sure I’m ready to hear it.

“It’s about Sera, isn’t it?” I ask.

His gaze drops.

He nods.

It feels like a bucket of ice water to the face. Even the air in my lungs freezes as I wait for him to continue.

“This is classified information from the Resistance,” he says. “I received clearance to share it with you, but you cannot share it with private investigators or anyone else.”

“I won’t.”

Hope builds like a storm in my chest.

Nothing is more hopeless than holding on to hope. I know it better than anyone.

But still, I hope.

“We have a new technology,” he says. “A few months ago, we launched our own satellite. It’s called ShadowEye. It has the ability to recognize faces and track people in real time.”

“Like Google Earth?” I ask.

“Yes, but a much more advanced version,” he says.

“And you found something through this satellite?”

He glances up at the sky again. I follow his gaze.

So much is out there—satellites, space stations, and maybe even extraterrestrial life.

But right now, there’s only one thing on my mind.

“What did you find, Alaric?” I ask.

“Your sister’s husband is still alive,” he says finally.

“Richard?” I whisper.

“The photograph was taken during nighttime, so it’s grainy, butit’s definitely him.” He opens his phone and shows it to me.

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