"Bullshit," I growl, shifting just enough to keep my wounded side out of her sight.
She steps forward once, careful, like she’s approaching a wild animal.
"Listen to me, Traz," she says quickly. "It’s about Kelli."
The name punches a hole clean through my gut.
I show nothing.
Just cock the gun back a hair more.
"Talk," I bark.
Silpha’s face twists—grim, almost desperate.
"Kelli’s alive."
The ground rocks under my boots.
Alive.
The word keeps echoing, louder every time.
"And…" Silpha falters for the first time since I’ve known her. "You have children."
I stagger a half step, blood roaring in my ears louder than the burning wreckage behind me.
"You’re lying," I rasp, because the alternative would split me in two.
"I’m not." Her voice slices through the smoke and chaos. "Twins."
My grip on the gun slips for half a second before I clamp down.
I can’t breathe.
I can’t think.
"Petru—?" I start, my voice barely more than a growl.
Silpha cuts in quick. "She hid it while it's growing. We hid it."
My vision tunnels, black creeping at the edges.
Silpha steps closer again, careful, deliberate.
"She knew it wasn’t safe. Not inside the Spine. Not with Petru watching. Once I realized she was pregnant... I made moves."
Moves.
I narrow my eyes, heart pounding so loud it drowns out everything else.
"What moves?"
"I got her out," she says, fierce. "I staged it. Made it look like she died during a punishment detail. Slipped her out through the trade tunnels."
The words hit like a punch.
"You moved her?" I grind out.