Page 64 of Of Flame and Fury

Rahn moved toward the van, but Bekn blocked her path. “He needs the closest hospital, Rahn. I don’t care what Cristo wants. My brother is—”

“Coup has amuchbetter chance of recovery in Canen’s facilities. Trust me.” Rahn’s face contorted. “Canen has his own private hospital and team of specialists on hand. I’ve seen patients recoverfrom burns like this in days. Cristo will cover all expenses. Please, let him help.”

Bekn was quiet for a moment. Kel glanced around, trying—failing—to find Cristo in the frantic crowd.

Rahn’s face was too calm. Perhaps that was why Bekn finally said, “Okay. No one’s touching him without talking to me first.”

Rahn nodded and moved aside to let Bekn climb into the van with Coup. Kel tried to follow, but another paramedic blocked her path.

“Only one person can ride with us. You’ll have to find your own way,” the man said in a clipped tone.

Kel was about to say that she’d climb on the van’s roof if she had to, when Savita shrieked behind her. She swallowed something thick. Sav still needed caring for. As comfortable as she was around Dira, Sav wouldn’t let Kel leave, not in a new environment.

Kel let the CAPR paramedics flood into the van. Lights flashed. The siren blared clear a path through the scattered crowd.

Then Coup was gone.

TWENTY-SEVEN

Cristo’s small waiting room was white and clinical; the bare walls occasionally trembled from phoenix screeches.

She’d helped wrangle Sav into a transport engine from the race and had hurried to the hospital with Dira and Rahn. By the time they had piled in, Bekn was sitting in a brown armchair, head between his knees.

He looked up as they approached. “He’s already in surgery.” Bekn’s grave eyes met Rahn’s. “You were right to have him brought here. Thank you.”

They all reached for Bekn, as if to protect him from what lay beyond the hospital doors. Kel hoped he couldn’t feel how hard her heart was pounding.

Kel could still hear the static ringing in her head, and Coup’s screams—echoing over and over. As she slumped into the seat next to Bekn, the static grew louder, mingling not just with Coup’s screams, but also Oska’s, and the voices she’d heard the last time she was in a room like this. Waiting for her father to reappear.

“Canen hires the best specialists across Salta. Coup will be fine,” Rahn whispered. “He’ll be fine.”

Dira squeezed Rahn’s hand. They shared a smile, though Rahn’s face was chalk-white.

“I knew he’d pull something like this,” Bekn murmured. “It was only a matter of time.”

Dira nudged Bekn’s side. “It’s not your fault. We all got a little cocky after the last win.”

Bekn shook his head. “No—you don’t understand. He’s been getting away with reckless stunts like this for so long. He just doesn’t care anymore.”

Numbness spread through Kel. “What do you mean?”

Bekn was silent, almost long enough for Kel to apologize for asking. Before she could take it back, Bekn whispered, “He thinks it’s his fault. That I stayed on Cendor after Mom died.”

Dira and Rahn exchanged looks, and the lump in Kel’s throat grew thicker.

“I was meant to go to a university in Ascira,” Bekn continued, his head ducked, as if he spoke to himself. “To study business. But I stayed with Coup after she died. I stayed forbothof us. Coup… he thinks he owes me for that.”

Bekn’s words slotted together in Kel’s mind. She could see that alternate future, so clearly. Cendor was a home for those comfortable with jagged walls. Ascira, as much as Kel hated the tourism isle, suited Bekn’s aspirations much better than Cendor ever would.

She recalled the truths she’d forced from Coup when they’d walked through the conservation center.

I owe Bekn. And I can repay that debt through CAPR. So, for now, debts overrule self-preservation.

“I used the money I’d saved for school to support us. He thinksearning back the money will make things better. But even if he did, I don’t think he’d ever stop.” Bekn’s voice broke. “I don’t think he knows how to anymore.”

None of them said a word. Kel leaned on his shoulder. She tried to quiet her own breathing, tried to ignore the ringing in her ears. Part of her had already known there was something darker lurking beneath Coup’s arrogance. But it hadn’t mattered, as long as they won.

“Bekn Coupers?”

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