Page 53 of Dark Rebel's Fortune

KYRA

Kyra descended first, with Parisa following at a much slower pace, the metal structure creaking under their combined weight but holding steady. Once they were at the bottom, Kyra led her sister into a narrow alley that would eventually connect to the street on which the van was parked.

"My sons," Parisa said as they moved, her calm façade finally showing cracks. "How will your people be able to get them out safely? What about their guards?"

Kyra wasn't sure what to tell her because she had no idea how Jade was going to pull that off on her own. The female had limited shrouding and thralling ability that was nothing compared to what Yamanu could do, but maybe it would be enough to get the boys out without having to eliminate their guards.

"My partner Jade is extremely capable, and she'llprotect them with her life," Kyra assured her with more confidence than she felt, given the fractured communications coming from the other teams.

For all they knew, the boys had already been taken by Doomers.

Parisa nodded, though uncertainty lingered in her eyes. "The boys will be frightened. I wish I could be there to get them."

She shouldn't have sent them to school after what had happened to Yasmin and her family, but Kyra would never say that to her and add to the guilt her sister was most likely already feeling.

Parisa must have assumed that it was safe during the day and that the guards would protect them, which was a reasonable assumption for someone who didn't know the Doomers existed and what they could do.

"They'll be fine," she said instead. "Jade has a teenage daughter of her own, and she's also a very capable fighter. I trust her with my life."

Every word she'd said was true, but it still didn't guarantee successful extractions of the boys.

They emerged from the alley onto a busier street, and Kyra adjusted their pace to blend with the pedestrian traffic. Walking too fast would draw attention, but the sooner they got to the van, the better.

The café with a back exit to a parking garage where the van was parked was less than a block ahead.

Kyra's pendant remained warm against her skin,not the burning heat of immediate danger but a steady reminder to remain vigilant. Her hand stayed close to her concealed weapon as they walked, her senses extended to their limits.

"Almost there," she murmured to Parisa, who was doing an admirable job of appearing casual despite the tension radiating from her body.

They were halfway to the café when Kyra spotted two men moving against the flow of pedestrian traffic, their eyes scanning the crowd with a predatory focus.

Doomers, without question.

"Don't look," Kyra instructed Parisa quietly. "But we have company at ten o'clock. Keep walking naturally."

To her credit, Parisa didn't so much as flinch, continuing her steady pace beside Kyra.

"Are they the ones from my building?" she asked, her voice barely audible.

"Possibly," Kyra replied.

The Doomers hadn't spotted them yet, but it was only a matter of time in the relatively sparse midday crowd.

Making a quick decision, Kyra guided Parisa toward a clothing store shop. "A quick change of appearance is in order."

Inside, she quickly selected two headscarves in different styles and colors than what they were currently wearing and two loose caftans to pull over her and Parisa's clothing. The shopkeeper seemeddelighted by the quick sale that hadn't involved any haggling for the price, something that was uncommon for Persians.

"Put it on," Kyra instructed as they moved toward the back of the shop, using the racks of clothing as cover.

They donned the caftans and new headscarves. Kyra arranged hers to partially obscure her face and stuffed her other one inside her shirt to make her belly look more rounded. Parisa did the same, giggling as she stuffed her old scarf inside her bra, making her breasts look huge.

Kyra wasn't sure that it was a particularly good tactic for attracting less attention, but they didn't have time for anything more elaborate or less conspicuous.

"Through the back," Kyra said, nodding to a curtained doorway that likely led to storage or an employee area. "There should be an exit to the alley from there."

The shopkeeper called out in protest as they moved toward the restricted area, but Kyra ignored her, pulling Parisa through the curtain and into a cluttered storage room. As expected, a door at the back led to an alley.

"We can go through the restaurant next door," Kyra said as they emerged into the narrow passage.

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