Page 23

As Dira and Rahn spoke, Coup nudged Kel’s shoulder, sending a shock of warmth down her arm. Against her ear, he whispered, “I’m surprised, Varra. Annoyed is your default setting. You’re not frustrated you don’t get a say in her recruitment?”

Kel folded her arms. “She can’t possibly be more annoying than you. That’s enough for me.”

Kel ignored Coup’s next jab, focusing back on Cristo. Kel watched him as he watched Sav, noting the intricate hue of his irises. Near-black, speckled with varying shades of brown.

“I’m so grateful you all could come on board.

I’ll explain your roles soon enough, but first I’d just like you to familiarize yourself with the facilities.

There’s free tutoring available for anyone who’d like to continue their schooling, and plenty of fun on the floors above your rooms. This is a home. ”

Dira seemed delighted at the mention of free tutoring, and Coup’s eyes glowed at the word fun . Eagerness lanced through Kel’s veins. She still believed the compound was just an oversized aviary for its workers. But… she was open to the possibility of being proven wrong.

Bekn stepped forward and shook Cristo’s hand. “Thank you for all of this. Truly.”

Cristo gave a humble nod. “No need to thank me. This is just as much a professional partnership as it is a delight. Sponsoring CAPR teams like yours gives me a chance to show off my new-to-market tech. I expect our work to be very, very beneficial for everyone.”

“That’s why you’re sponsoring CAPR teams? To demonstrate new tech to a commercial audience?” Bekn asked.

“Exactly. I have my hands full with council research contracts, but I wanted a new, direct avenue to show off my team’s fun creations.

” Cristo toyed with his sleeves. “It doesn’t hurt that CAPR is the most profitable industry in Cendor.

If all goes well, I’m open to funding entire races to show off my gifted teams.”

Cristo’s voice fizzed with excitement. “Dira and Bekn, Rahn will show you to your workstations. Coup and Kelyn—why don’t we see what else Savita feels like showing us today?”

Coup’s giddiness electrified the air. He climbed back onto Savita, retightened the buckles around his ankles and, after placing a steady hand on her back, spurred her into flight.

The rider and phoenix soared once more around the long track.

Savita was in no mood to listen to Coup’s guidance, gliding when he wanted to turn and pivoting when he wanted to soar.

Kel turned to Cristo, worried that he’d judge Savita’s behavior, or that Sav would overheat again.

To her surprise, his face was slack with wonder.

She had plenty of questions for the billionaire. Questions that she doubted her new mitigator would approve of. Now might be her only chance to ask them.

Kel swallowed a bubble in her throat and asked, “Why did you recruit us?”

Cristo shifted to face her. “Are you not aware of your own reputation, Ms. Varra? You’ve made your own skill quite clear.”

Kel pressed on. “Dira is just as skilled a winger. Why only ask for me and Coup?”

“If hiring Dira and Bekn is what it took to get you and Warren on board, I was willing to make the arrangements.” He paused, tilting his head.

“But that doesn’t answer your question, does it?

” Kel continued to stare at him, willing him on.

“I wanted to hire you because of the footage I saw. The way you worked with that uncollared phoenix… I’d never seen anything like it.

My phoenixes here deserve to work with someone with that level of care. ”

Kel’s shoulders loosened. Most people spoke of phoenixes as creatures to be handled and controlled . Instead, Cristo had complimented how she worked with them.

She ticked a small box in her mental checklist. “So, I’ll be working with other phoenixes here?”

Cristo nodded. “You’ll remain Savita’s primary carer, but I’d like you to help analyze the behavior of our other phoenixes, too. We have over fifty in this facility and just a handful of CAPR teams. Some of our phoenixes need guidance, and others simply need someone they can trust.”

“What kind of guidance?”

One side of Cristo’s mouth twitched up. “Monitoring vitals, managing their socializing, exploring how we can improve conservation efforts. If we can understand their biology, perhaps we can convince phoenixes to trust us. At least, enough to reproduce in aviaries, where it’s safe.

I want you to split your time between CAPR training and planning for these kinds of sanctuaries. ”

His words exploded through her like fireworks.

“That—I think we can make something work,” she stuttered.

Cristo beamed. “Come with me. I have two tamers on standby to assist Warren. I’d like to show you something.”

Right on cue, three figures—presumably tamers—entered the hall across the room. A faint smell of lilies was left in their wake.

Quickly, Kel grabbed her new tele-comm from her pocket and checked Savita’s vitals. Everything seemed in control. Kel had no excuse not to follow him.

Minutes later, they were near Savita’s new aviary. Then Cristo turned right instead of left, and led Kel to a simple door with a sign that read, T HE P RISM .

Kel pushed through the heavy door, expecting another laboratory. Instead, she was met with the most expensive, glorious array of silver light.

Never in her wildest dreams could she have imagined standing inside a room made of diamond .

Every facet was studded with glowing gems. A small globe hung from the roof and refracted light across the walls like a broken mirror. Kel hadn’t wanted to be swept away by Cristo’s wealth… but her resolve was melting. Just one chipped diamond could fix her farm a hundred times over.

Cristo stepped into the room behind her. “We haven’t yet used The Prism , but we had it built for phoenix rebirths. It’s the perfect containment material.”

Kel wanted to run her fingers along the nearest wall, but she was too afraid to leave a thumbprint on the flawless stone.

“The diamond can withstand the heat,” she whispered.

She’d heard of the different materials used in attempts to contain phoenix rebirths—all of which had ended disastrously. Rebirths were catastrophic for their surroundings; there was no way to avoid the damage.

Kel had read a few recent papers on gems that might withstand a rebirth’s heat. Diamond was the only stone that, theoretically, might offer results. But who had that kind of money?

Cristo chuckled. “I shouldn’t be surprised you’ve heard of diamond theory. But I didn’t bring you here to show off. I want to prove that we’ve accounted for every moment of a phoenix’s life. From birth to death to rebirth, we’ve ensured they have the best facilities in Cendor.”

He added, “Romar told me that you had some… reservations about joining my team. But anything that Savita needs, we can provide.”

Kel’s throat dried. “I have a list.”

She had planned it all out. She’d storm up to Cristo and demand that he meet her requirements, or the Howlers would leave. She would read out all eighteen pages of her instructions. She would demand that he treat her like the tamer she was—not a child.

But the speech vanished like shadows in the room’s fractured light. Savita’s food, gear and shelter were all far superior to anything Kel could ever afford. Her phoenix would thrive in a social environment and would receive better medical care than anywhere else.

As their sponsor, Cristo would earn a commission of their winnings. He had the power to hurtle Kel back to Fieror. But as hard as she tried, there was nothing Cristo had said that she could protest.

Cristo gave a curt nod. “Give me your list, and I’ll make sure every item is seen to.”

She fumbled for the folded papers in her pocket, feeling like a child showing a parent a pretty drawing. Cristo scanned the documents before folding them in half and placing them under his arm.

“I won’t overstep, but I will care for Savita as if she were my own phoenix.” Cristo’s expression turned grave. “I had a phoenix of my own when I was younger. A young monarch. I raised her from an egg. So I do understand the bond you have with Savita. I promise to respect it.”

Kel stared at him, trying to hide her shock.

Cristo’s gaze was locked on hers as he went on, “I know what… occurred at your farm. If you’ll let me, I’ll send you the names of my personal contractors. They’ll give you a discounted price and will rebuild your aviary quicker than any builders across Salta.”

Kel blinked. “I—thank you.”

Cendorians were a ruthless people. They were as fierce, crude and selfish as the phoenixes they rode. But they also protected their own. Kel supposed she’d officially entered Cristo’s orbit.

“I wanted to thank you too, for what you did yesterday.” Cristo’s voice softened. “I was told you stopped the train for those two bodies. Too much of my family has suffered from AB, and I hope someone might do for them what you did.”

His words bounced around the room in splintered echoes. They were no easier to hear the second and third time.

“I’m sorry.”

Cristo lowered his head. “Phoenix research is my passion, but curing AB is my purpose. I believe it makes sense to fulfill both my passion and purpose in the same facility. That’s why I want you to know that no matter how long you stay with Cristo Industries, you’ll be taken care of.”

As they shook hands and exited the diamond chamber, Kel decided that she didn’t need to like or dislike Canen Cristo.

She didn’t need to ignore her father, who had warned her against trusting companies like Cristo’s.

She didn’t need to fall at this man’s feet with praise, taking his money and rebuilding her home.

She didn’t need to listen or ignore the stubborn suspicion that picked at Cristo’s every word, like a crow over a carcass.

She simply needed to protect her own, just as Cristo swore to.