Page 69 of Of Flame and Fury

Coup’s face was unreadable. He nodded stiffly and walked with her into the kitchen, where Bekn hunched over the stovetop, a green apron—his favorite color—tied around his waist. There were floral initials stitched into the apron’s side: E. C. Kel’s stomach gurgled as the smell of pancakes wafted from the stove.

Bekn gestured to the long dining table. Six plates were set out, two bottles of maple syrup at the center. She assumed one of the extra plates was for Rahn. She didn’t know who the last plate was intended for—maybe Bekn hoped Cristo himself would join them for breakfast. Her pulse raced at the thought.

Kel helped Coup into the nearest chair, trying as hard as she could to avoid touching him.

Kel’s stomach growled again as Bekn slid three pancakes onto her plate.

He raised a brow. “I think I’ve heard more from your stomach this week than I have from you.”

Heat filled Kel’s cheeks as she thanked him. “Sorry. We’ve been busy.”

Dira nodded. “We need to talk—but not here. Not yet. Pancakes are more important.”

Kel agreed, barely cutting her food before shoveling them into her mouth. Bekn filled his and Coup’s plates, then took a seat. They all ate in a familiar, comfortable silence, until their plates were clean.

Bekn licked syrup off his thumb and frowned, as if there’d been no break in the conversation. “Why can’t we talk here?”

Dira and Kel exchanged looks. Eventually, Kel said, “It’s… about some future simulations that Dira and I have planned. We don’t want anyone else to hear and steal our ideas.”

A muscle in Bekn’s jaw feathered. “Coup’s just gotten out of hospital. I think training talk can wait.”

“I want to hear about the simulations,” Coup cut in. “We should go to Bekn’s room. I’d bet fifty ceres that his is the cleanest.”

The other three rose to their feet and looked expectantly at Bekn.

Their mitigator sighed. “Follow me.”

They trailed Bekn down the corridor, past the small lounge. The long, leather couch was strewn with blankets and movie cases. The sight sent a strange itch through Kel’s bones. But the sensation vanished as soon as it had come, and moments later, they’d filed into Bekn’s room.

Scenic posters covered the walls in neat rows. Other than a framed photo of Bekn and Coup and piled documents, his desk was bare. Photographs andNova Pressclippings were carefully stacked along his dresser, and his bedsheets were pulled tight.

“Ashes, Bekn,” Dira chuckled. She pointed to a nearby corkboard filled with pictures. “Is that a dream board?”

“Of course not,” Bekn barked, flushing. “It’s just… ideas. A plan for the future.Ourfuture, if we can win the next race without getting hospitalized.”

Kel traced her fingers over the corkboard, the only cluttered item in the room. It was mostly filled with motivational quotes and Asciran architecture blueprints.

Bekn’s life had grown around others’ needs, like branches around bamboo. If he was given the freedom to choose, the money they all desperately needed, would he leave Cendor?

Coup settled awkwardly against the headboard and Dira took aseat across the room. Kel perched at the foot of the bed, as far from Coup as possible.

Bekn drummed his fingers against the desk. “Well? Is this to plan our recovery after the last race?”

From the corner of her eye, Kel saw Coup wince.

Without waiting for a reply, Bekn reached for a pile of papers. “I’ve spent the last week working with Cristo, wading through new media partnership offers. Everyone in Cendor is desperate to know how the fallen hero and his heartbroken sweetheart are faring.”

Kel had seen that headline across plenty of race reruns over the past week. She didn’t need Bekn reminding her.

Coup cleared his throat. “Bekn’s organized an interview withNova Pressfor this afternoon. I can do more afterward, if other newspapers catch word.”

Dira and Kel exchanged stunned looks.

“You’re already signing him up for interviews?” Dira asked.

“It was my idea,” Coup retorted. “Bekn wanted me to rest for another week, but I’m ready. I’ve been watching the news in the hospital. Every channel is still covering the race, but who knows how long that will last?”

Kel made a noise in the back of her throat. “You shouldn’t be back in the spotlight yet.”

---