Page 73 of Of Flame and Fury

If there were ashes remaining, it meant that the phoenix they belonged to had never been reborn. The creature had met a true death.

Kel looked up at the camera attached to the crystalline roof. Cristo would never leave security so lax for a room as priceless asThe Prism. Yet, the camera was switched off and gathering dust, nothing more than a sleek ornament. The door was always unlocked; locks would draw questions, and no one seemed to know that this room even existed.

Cristo didn’t want to draw any attention to the invaluable room. The cameras were switched off on purpose.

So no one would ever know what kind of crimes he committed within.

THIRTY-ONE

When Kel and Coup gathered Dira and Bekn, déjàvu punched Kel in the gut.

“There’s nothing we can do,” Bekn said, his voice like gravel. “Don’t give me that face—you know I’d help if I could.”

Kel wanted to shake Bekn, to wake him up. “Savita is nearing a rebirth. How can you just stand there when Sav could be next?”

Bekn rubbed his face and paced along the length of the small room. She’d forced the Howlers into her sleeping quarters, not daring to lead them back toThe Prismand draw attention.

“Of course I care about Savita,” Bekn snapped. “But I care aboutyoumore. Neither you nor Coup should be trying to take on a billion-cere business in your spare time. You should be enjoying your work and exploring the city. Maybe even pick up your schooling again, like Dira has.”

Kel swiveled toward Dira, who sat perched on the edge of her bed. The winger shrugged sheepishly.

“Bekn is right, Kel,” Dira said, slowly. “If Savita is in danger, weneed to get her out—but there could be thousands of reasons for those ashes.”

Disbelief sent a chill down Kel’s spine. Just thismorningDira had been on her side. What could have changed since—

Then she realized. “You told Rahn.”

Dira folded her arms. “Only enough to work out if we can trust Cristo. Rahn says that Cristo’s doing everything he can to preserve phoenix numbers—both tamed and wild. Why would he spendbillionson conservation if he just wants to kill them?”

Kel didn’t have an answer. All she knew was she had a headache and the thought of Savita far, far away from Vohre was like a soothing balm.

“We have more immediate concerns, anyway,” Bekn said. “There’s another race coming up in a few days. Cristo thinks we need a presence. It’s rumored to be Vohre’s biggest race of the year.”

Kel’s pulse leaped into her throat.

“What?” she stammered. “Coup isn’t ready to race, and even if we could find a substitute rider, it would take too long for Sav to let them ride her.”

Bekn chewed his lower lip. “You’ve raced Sav on occasion, right, Kel?”

Kel blinked, slowly. “Yes—but Sav’s too close to a rebirth. We can’t risk taking her out of the compound right now.”

“And Varra hasn’t had time to train,” Coup cut in, jaw clenched. “She needs practice before we throw her into a storm like that.”

“Why would Cristo even risk Sav leaving the compound if she’s nearing a rebirth?” Dira added.

Bekn made a pained expression. “I’m sure he has his reasons. He wouldn’t ask this if it wasn’t safe. And we don’t even need to place.We just need a presence, and it will be good to keep up media attention and prove to the council that Savita isn’t a threat.” Bekn turned to Kel. “Just think on it.”

Kel opened her mouth. No sound came out. She’d assembled her team, hoping they’d help protect Sav. Instead, she discovered that Cristo wanted to strap her to a phoenix nearing a rebirth.

She felt defeated already. Against riders who trained every day, she stood no chance of placing, especially against a race rumored to be the grandest of the season.

She didn’t give Bekn an answer. As he and Dira filed out of her room, Kel wracked her brain for a way to make them stay. She was all too aware of Coup still sitting behind her in an armchair, annoyingly quiet for the first time in his life.

“Don’t say I’m overreacting,” she croaked. She didn’t think she could take hearing it from him, too.

“For once I think your melodrama is warranted,” Coup said. A tired smile lifted his cheeks. “I think you’re right. The others do, too, even if they don’t want to admit it.”

Kel blinked away unexpected tears. “You’ll help me find out what’s going on?”

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