Page 102 of Of Flame and Fury

She sat up and raised her hands in surrender, trying to swallow down the resurfacing aches in her muscles. Savita—burning, alone—flashed through her mind. She needed a diversion from the pain—from everything.

“Fine,” she relented. “But we need a new distraction.”

“Your mother,” Coup sputtered, still short of breath. “You write to each other, right? When did you last hear from her?”

Kel bit the inside of her cheek. Yes, hermotherwas just as good as an ice-cold shower. “I thought she’d be calling every day once she heard I was here, living withtheCanen Cristo. But she hasn’t tried to contact me since we came to Vohre.”

Kel had thought for sure that Madilyn would call and ask for a place to sleep, money, perhaps an introduction to Cristo. Instead, there had been total silence.

Coup frowned. He pulled away slightly, turning to face Kel. “That’s not true.”

Kel mirrored his posture. “What do you mean?”

Coup’s brow deepened. “I’ve seen postcards from your mother onthe kitchen table. I’ve seen you reading them. I heard you talking to Dira about whether or not you should reply.”

Kel scrunched her nose. “I think this cell is getting to you. I haven’t heard a single word from Madilyn Chambers since we left Fieror. I wouldn’t forget that.”

Coup’s frown knotted into something uncertain. A muddled silence filled the room, and Kel could see the tired cogs in his brain struggling to turn.

Finally, Coup opened his mouth and—

“I’m going to toss you into a cage with starved phoenixes!” a deep voice rang out. A moment later the door behind them slivered open.

Kel heard another throaty, familiar voice speak, “I’ll lock you in a cage withmyself. Trust me, you’d fare better against the phoenixes—”

The cell door yawned wide open.

FORTY-FOUR

Kel rushed back to avoid the swinging door. The guard in front of them rubbed his face. “Ten minutes,” he said wearily. “Then you need to leave.”

From behind the guard, a voice said, softly, “Thanks, Lucian. I’ll be quick.”

Kel rose to her feet as Dira barreled into the room, launching herself at Kel. She coughed from the force, but quickly wrapped her arms around her friend.

Behind Dira, Kel spotted Bekn locking Coup in a similar, viselike embrace. Another figure moved slowly through the door, around the guard.

Rahn.

The guard exited the room and slammed the door shut. Rahn stayed by the door, her head ducked and dark hair hiding her face.

“What’s going on?” Kel asked, voice muffled through Dira’s hair. “How did you get here?”

“These guards grabbed us from our rooms this morning. Rahn was there and told us everything. I’m sorry, Kel,” Dira mumbled,burrowing herself deeper into Kel’s arms. “I screwed up.I trusted her.”

Kel tightened her hold on Dira and shifted to face Rahn. Slowly, the technician lifted her head, eyes filled with a silver sheen.

“You knew this whole time,” Coup spat at Rahn. He moved closer, though Rahn didn’t back away.

“I’m sorry,” Rahn whispered. “I just can’t let anything go wrong. I don’t expect you to forgive me—but I never wanted to hurt any of you.” Her gaze darted to Dira. A tear trickled down her left cheek. “You deserve to know the truth. Canen is just trying to save everyone.”

Kel moved past Dira. “Everyone but Savita.”

Rahn’s jaw clenched. “You’re asking me to choose between a phoenix and a human. If it was us or Savita, which would you choose?”

Kel’s throat went dry. She couldn’t—wouldn’t—even imagine that.

“That’s what I thought,” Rahn muttered. She shook her head and held something out toward Kel.

---