Page 48 of Of Flame and Fury

A chill spread down Kel’s arms. She flexed her hands in her pockets. She didn’t know why mention of Alma made irritation bloom through her chest. She should have just kept going through the motions of their charade, counting down the minutes before she could see Sav again.

Instead, her next words escaped of their own free will, injected with as much venom as a snakebite. “Bat your eyes another hundred times and you might actually convince them you care about people more than their praise.”

Coup slowed, half-turning toward her. “You seem awfully concerned about who and what I care about. Just focus on your own mask and we can get back to hating each other soon enough.”

Kel didn’t know whether to retort or apologize as they hurried along the path leading to the exit. Neither slowed until they spotted a small cluster of reporters waiting inside the gates.

Coup moved to hold her hand again, but she couldn’t bear it. She merely shook her head and tried to loosen the strange sinking in her stomach.

NINETEEN

“This way!” Kel shouted.

After Rahn and Dira tried—and failed—to locate their team’s tent with maps, Bekn had hoisted Kel onto his shoulders. Squinting through the harsh sun, Kel scanned the grounds. Moments later, she spotted a yellow tent bearing the number17and their black-and-burgundy emblem.

Jumping to the ground, Kel led her crew through the dense crowd. Gold flags hung in rows overhead, and commentators with voice-comms screamed over thunderous music. From raised stands, spectators waved posters of Coup’s and Kel’s faces inside hand-drawn hearts. The sun poured down in heavy waves. All Kel could smell was sweat and smoke.

She glanced back at her team. There was no fear on their faces. Nothing but wide grins and flushed cheeks.

Spectators and reporters were meant to remain in the raised stands, as the ground was reserved for racing teams. Still, some cameras flashed at their sides. A nearby reporter turned toward the Howlers, trying to draw her and Coup’s attention, but Kel breezed past. News of theirentry into today’s race had spread like fire. Cristo claimed to be bombarded with requests for interviews withCendor’s latest power couple.

Dira had taunted her for hours after they’d seen that particular headline.

Savita raked her talons against the moist ground, feathers ruffled in agitation. Kel’s arms strained against Sav’s harness.

“Not much further,” Kel crooned, trying to keep the growing tension from her voice. “I know it’s a new place. New smells, new chaos. Just…” Kel grunted as Sav released an agitated grumble. “Wait until you’re on the track to let off some steam.”

If Sav understood Kel’s plea, she ignored her tamer, folding and unfolding her wings, forcing other scattered CAPR teams to give her a wide berth. The other Howlers meandered ahead, unaware of Sav’s stubborn flailing.

Kel grunted again, trying to keep Sav’s head down. Though Sav was used to CAPR tracks, the current crowd was at least twice as big as any of Fieror’s, the noise like crashing waves.

Savita lashed out toward Kel as another nearby flurry of cameras flashed. Kel jumped to the right and narrowly avoided Savita’s knifelike beak. Before Kel could grumble another plea, a pair of hands appeared to help tighten Sav’s harness.

“Is she always like this before races?” Coup huffed, as they guided Sav forward.

Coup was dressed in his new riding uniform, goggles on his head like a glass crown. His shoulder pressed against Kel’s and warmth shot down her arm, making her fingers tingle. She tried to ignore his nearness, as a sudden influx of cameras flashed overhead. Her mouth went dry.

Kel didn’t reply until Sav—reluctantly—shuffled toward their tent. “She’s just excited. And overwhelmed.”

She kept her focus glued to her phoenix. In the two weeks since their romantic stroll through the conservation center, it had been a relief to sink into their new normal. Arguing with Coup over safety precautions and new maneuvers, with no need to reignite any bitter or confusing emotions for cameras. Though memories of the park flashed through her mind more than she’d have liked, today’s race had provided the perfect distraction—even if a new media parade shouted for photos of them coupled up.

As they neared their tent, Kel spotted the track’s railing. Other phoenixes began to line up, hovering below the low netting.

By the time Coup and Kel caught up to the others, she could see the track in its entirety.

“Ashes,” Dira mumbled.

“Fuck!” Bekn gaped.

Water. It was full ofwater.

“I’ve never seen a track like this,” Dira said, panic lacing her words. “No phoenix will be used to this much water. It’s practically a river!”

Kel swallowed a hard lump. Phoenixeshatedwater. A small fountain on a track was one thing. But a river? Phoenixes couldn’t swim. Water battled against their very nature.

Rahn shuffled closer to Dira. “How will the phoenixes react? Will they be scared or angry?”

“It’ll make them destructive,” Kel said, not missing the wince on Rahn’s face. She turned to the other Howlers. “We’re not racing unless we figure out how CAPR’s expecting us to navigate the track.”

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