Celeste

“My dear daughter,” my mother said from my doorway, her lips twisting into a smile. “What about what I asked you to bring tonight? I’m sure you obeyed your mother, right? You brought the files?”

“Yes, Mother,” I replied, standing up from my bed.

Her face lit up instantly. She crossed the room and grabbed my arms. “Good,” she whispered. “You did the right thing, honey.”

“Thank you, Mom,” I said with a smile. “I’ll always be your baby girl, right?”

I walked to my desk, where I’d hidden the files Jace gave me, and handed them to her.

“Of course, honey,” she responded, snatching the folder from my...