Page 70 of Of Flame and Fury

She couldn’t believe that Bekn was encouraging this.

Kel narrowed her eyes at Coup’s brother. “How much say have Cristo’s publicists had in all of this?”

Bekn’s throat bobbed. “Cristo’s media team thinks this publicity is a good thing. Outlets are still talking about us, but not in a good way. They all think that what happened was… Savita’s fault. They’re saying she’s too wild for CAPR.” He turned to Kel. “That she hasn’t been tamed properly.”

“What?” Kel rose. “That’s ridiculous!”

“Exactly,” Coup said, voice flat. “That’s why I need to do the interviews. They need to know it wasme, not Savita, who caused the accident. Otherwise word will keep spreading and it won’t be long before the council comes calling.”

Kel stiffened. The council wasted no time if they thought a phoenix—tamed or wild—was uncontrolled. There was only ever one course of action.

Death.

Kel tried to slow her breathing, to remind herself that Savita wassafe. After a long moment, she said, “That’s not what we needed to talk about. Dira and I—we saw something.”

With a shared glance, Dira and Kel told Bekn and Coup everything about that haunted night in the aviary.

Since that night, Kel’s access to Sav’s data had returned. Her phoenix’s vitals were perfectly normal; nothing resembling what they should be with Sav nearing a rebirth. The knowledge had kept her muscles strained and awake over the past week. Cristo’s team was still lying to her—they’d just gotten better at it.

When neither brother spoke, Dira said, “We have to tell Rahn. She might know something about what’s going on.”

“We can’t,” Bekn said quickly. “Rahn trusts Cristo more than she trusts us. If we go to her with accusations, she’ll just go to him.”

Dira’s face fell as Coup and Kel voiced their agreement. Kel felt Coup’s gaze on her, the hairs on her neck rising. She risked a quick glance at him; he was watching her with a slight frown, a question in his eyes. Kel felt her face redden even more, and kept her focus on Bekn.

“We shouldn’t do anything,” Bekn said. When Kel opened her mouth to argue, he added quickly, “Not yet. You were right to tryand find more proof. For all we know, it could have been employees just grabbing samples for research, which is Cristo’s right.”

Dira moved to stand beside Kel. “You’re telling me that what we sawwasn’tsuper sketchy?”

A muscle in Bekn’s jaw quivered. “No, but as long as Cristo isn’t seen actually harming Savita or the other phoenixes, it’s not our concern what he does with the rest of his business.”

“But wedidsee them harming phoenixes.” Kel exploded. “If they weren’t hurting the phoenixes, then why would they lock me out of Savita’s readings? Why would they pull feathers andmuzzlethem?”

Bekn’s face shifted into a look of such sincere pleading that it almost cut through the haze of Kel’s fear. Almost.

“YouknowCristo,” Bekn said softly. “After everything he’s done for us, do you really think he’d try to hurt phoenixes? Until we see him hurtSavita, we have no legal way to stop him. So, for now, we just need to do our jobs, and keep an eye out for anything odd.”

Anything odd?Looking around, Kel couldn’t believe that Dira was nodding at Bekn’s words. The winger wouldn’t meet Kel’s gaze.

Kel didn’t want to think about Cristo’s painted face or sentimental gifts. She wanted to hold on to the rage and fear thrashing inside her. She wanted it to drown her.

How were they just meant to sit back and wait for whatever Cristo was planning? When she could do more to stop it?

Kel knew nothing more could come from this meeting, so when the others left the room to begin the day’s work, she stormed off, too.

At least she would have done, had Coup not blocked her path.

Standing crooked with one arm propped over a crutch and the other barring the doorframe, Coup cocked a brow. “Nowcan we talk, tamer?”

THIRTY

Kel kept her features blank. “I should really be getting to work.”

“Perfect. I have no duties for at least another week. I’ll tag along.”

Kel’s jaw clenched. What could she say?

Sorry, Coup, but your presence makes me want to curl into a ball beneath Savita’s wing like a frightened hatchling.

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