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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 and Nova Press clippings 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. Our future, 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 a seat 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 with Nova Press for 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.”

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 was me , 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 was safe . 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 try and 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 saw wasn’t super 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 we did see 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 and muzzle them?”

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

“You know Cristo,” Bekn said softly. “After everything he’s done for us, do you really think he’d try to hurt phoenixes? Until we see him hurt Savita , 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. “ Now can we talk, tamer?”