Page 209 of Phoenix's Fire

Rymar

When we got home, Ayla took the pages and hurried upstairs, saying she had to finish her letter. She offered to make Saveah a copy of the list, but her sister said she didn't need it. Ayla did. I just wanted to know what letter she was working on, and I had a feeling there was one person here who knew.

"Let me walk you back to your place," I offered Saveah.

She gave me a suspicious look. "What do you want?"

I lifted a finger, then opened the door, making it clear we should do this outside. Saveah rolled her eyes at me, but didn't fight it either. Heading outside, she waited for me to close the door, then took me right to the edge of the road before saying exactly what I wanted to know.

"She's writing a letter to her friend down there," she explained. "At the library, she explained to me that Callah is being courted by Tobias, but it's all a ruse to let them plot together, or so she hopes. Still, Tobias gives Callah cover, and that means she can ask questions and hopefully get information back."

"Via Tobias," I said, proving I was following along. "Hopefully, there will be a door code with that, since they have their compound secured in a way we don't know how to get through."

"Mhm," Saveah said. "Electronics. Supposedly, Irrik and now Lansin are watching for sacrifices?"

"Yeah, and they said they'll have someone look daily. With two women being chained out, and knowing there's a third? There's no telling what's going on down there."

Saveah hummed. "Well, Callah's mother was also in quarantine. So was Tobias's. Meri's wasn't. Still, that's thirty-two women and who knows how manychildren. Our mom had three other kids besides us. If we say four children per woman, that's over a hundred and twenty kids, Rymar."

My breath slid out and my lungs felt like they couldn't remember to suck any air in. "Fuck," I finally said.

Because that was a lot of children with relatives up here who didn't know about them. A lot of new Moles who might become our enemy too. Never mind the women they already had, the kids they were raising, and the people we didn't know about because they weren't women or hunters.

Saveah continued, "The problem she's having is the delay between messages. Ayla wants to let Callah know so much, so she's writing her a letter Tobias will take back. Her plan is to explaineverythingso Callah's prepared, and maybe to share it with the other women before she breaks out."

"A rebellion," I realized.

"Mhm," Saveah agreed. "And speaking of being rebellious, funny how you haven't said a single thing about that date you were going on. Trying to hide it?" She lifted a brow.

"Weak transition," I told her. "Me going on a date is not rebellious."

"It is when you're being so subtle about it, Rymar."

"I am not being subtle," I assured her. "I'm just not making a big deal about it around Ayla."

Which made her grin. "Why's that?"

"First, because I'm seeing a man." I lifted a finger before she could break in. "And second, because Ayla's ideas of courting are problematic, so I don't want her to think I'm abusing this guy."

"Which guy?" she asked.

"Qavan."

Her eyes narrowed in concentration. "Red with cream markings?"

"That's the guy," I agreed. "I'm also taking it slow, and yes, we're dating."

She chuckled. "Doesheknow that?"

"He's the one who asked me out."

"So, dating as in still going out on dates, not as in a boyfriend?" she checked.

Which made me sigh. "Yes. Exactly. I'm taking it slow and not rushing into things."

"And not telling your friends, dressing very nicely, and I caught your walk of shame the other morning."

"I promise there was no shame in it," I assured her. "And yes, Zasen knows. Kanik knew I went out, but he didn't ask more."

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