Page 2 of Dark Rebel's Fortune

"You weren't going to leave without saying goodbye, were you?"

"Of course not," Kyra said. "I was just coming to wake you."

The other three girls appeared behind Arezoo,looking sleepy and determined at the same time. Laleh, the youngest, rubbed her eyes.

It seemed that the four girls had all slept in one bedroom, which was kind of sweet. It made perfect sense that they would feel safer together.

"We want to make you breakfast," Arezoo announced.

"That's really not—" Kyra began, but Arezoo cut her off with a gesture that was so like Kyra's own that Jasmine laughed.

"Nonnegotiable," Arezoo said. "Donya makes excellent eggs, and I can handle the coffee. Azadeh, go get the fruit from the refrigerator."

Watching the girls mobilize with military precision, Kyra felt a swell of pride. Despite everything they'd endured, they retained a resilience that was nothing short of remarkable.

They were survivors, just like her.

"You might as well surrender," Jasmine murmured. "When Arezoo makes up her mind, there's no changing it. I wonder where she gets that from?" There was a teasing lilt to her voice as she cast a sideways glance at Kyra.

While the girls got busy in the kitchen, Kyra and Jasmine sat at the bar and watched.

Jasmine leaned toward her. "You've left one rebel group only to lead another, but I have a feeling that Arezoo will fight you over leadership."

Kyra nodded. "She reminds me a lot of myself. Iguess it is true what they say about blood being thicker than water."

"Yeah." Jasmine winced. "The problem is that we carry some nasty genes in addition to the good ones. I don't like what your father did to you. He wasn't a good person."

"No, he wasn't," Kyra agreed.

She would have liked to believe that her father had had her best interests at heart when he’d stolen her from her husband and daughter and asked Durhad to make her forget about them, but now she had to accept that this was not true. Based on the information that she had pieced together from what she'd learned, it had become obvious that his career and his reputation were the only reasons he hadn't killed her but instead had her committed to an insane asylum for reprogramming. He'd hoped no one would ever find out her so-called transgression, and so his honor would remain intact.

When the doorbell rang, Ell-rom walked over to the door and opened the way for Max.

He was dressed in tactical gear similar to hers, and a duffel bag was slung over his shoulder.

His face brightened when he saw the scene in the kitchen. "Something smells amazing," he said, setting his bag down.

"Breakfast is almost ready," Arezoo said. "You all need to move to the dining room. There are not enough seats next to the counter."

As they headed to where Arezoo wanted them,the doorbell rang, and Jasmine went to answer it, returning with Fenella in tow.

"I smell coffee," Fenella said, sliding into a seat on Max's other side.

She looked good in a pair of black leggings and an oversized blue top. Some color had returned to her cheeks, and her smile looked more genuine, but even though Fenella was healing and her natural beauty was emerging, Kyra was no longer jealous of her.

Last night's episode was one big misunderstanding, and Kyra was now secure in the knowledge that Max was interested only in her, and Fenella was just a friend to him.

Arezoo brought the coffee pot to the table, pouring for everyone with the gravitas of someone performing a sacred ritual. Donya followed with a large platter of eggs, Azadeh with another one of cut fruit, and Laleh with a basket of toasted sliced bread.

"Thank you," Max said, helping himself to some eggs. "This looks very nice and much better than anything I make."

"Do you cook often?" Donya asked him.

Max laughed. "Let's just say my culinary skills peaked sometime during the Renaissance, and I haven't bothered updating them since. I can build a decent cooking fire, though."

Kyra stifled a laugh. He was exaggerating and clowning around to put the girls at ease.

"Renaissance?" Laleh's brow furrowed. "That was hundreds of years ago."

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