“Then why ally with the council at all?”
Romar’s lip twitched again. “Because, unfortunately, even the best intentions need financing.”
Kel’s anger faltered, hitting an unfair, logical wall. She didn’tagree with many CAPR practices, but the races gave Savita a chance to spread her wings and burn off energy, and offered Kel the means to survive. If she argued, she’d be a hypocrite.
The kind of money that came with a Cristo job wouldn’t just save her farm. It could shift her dream of opening a sanctuary into reality. Sav could retire from the dangers of racing.
Romar went on, “The facilities we’d like you to work at also operate as our chief research center. We want to recruit young minds who aren’t simply interested in becoming famous racers—but who are eager to learn about phoenix habitats, biology and magic. That’s why, after seeing how you and Warren dealt with that phoenix yesterday, we knew you’d be perfect for this program. Though you’ll be expected to keep racing, we also want you to be directly involved in our conservation research.”
His words were too smooth. Too perfect. “The facility is in Vohre?”
Romar nodded. “Yes, accepting our offer would require you and your phoenix to relocate, but we have on-site accommodation available and we already have replacements for your current teammates lined up.”
Maybe Kel shouldn’t have hated Canen Cristo simply because her father had. She trusted her father’s ghost more than this man—but her heart pounded, screaming for a way to save her farm. To save Savita.
She opened her mouth—unsure what would come out—when she heard her cottage’s front door creak shut. She inched back a small step.
“I can’t,” Kel managed. “Not if you won’t take my entire team.”
A soft frown creased Romar’s forehead. “Take tonight to think on my offer. I don’t want you to make a decision you’d regret.”
Frustration flared through her. At him, at her own temptation, at what might happen to Savita if she didn’t find moneysoon.
She lifted her chin. “I’m not leaving my team. Not to work for a company that would rather—”
“She means to say,no thank you,” a familiar voice said at her back.Coup.
“I mean exactly what I said,” she said, to both of them.
As she turned her back to the pair and moved toward her home, she added, “Have a pleasant evening.”
Romar cleared his throat at her back. Coup jogged to her side.
“Ashes, Varra,” he cursed. “A cardboard cutout would have better media training than you.”
“Don’t speak for me,” she sneered.
“Forgive me for trying to stop you from biting that man’s head off,” he retorted, equally venomous.
The idea didn’t disturb her the way it probably should have. Kel leaned toward Coup and whispered, “Did you hear what the recruiter said? He wanted you, too.”
Coup stiffened. “I know. Another one of them pulled me from the crowd a few minutes ago.”
“What did you say?”
Coup was silent as they walked through the door. Eventually, he shook his head, chestnut locks falling over his forehead. “I couldn’t leave without Bekn.”
She glanced up at him. She’d mostly thought the brothers’ closeness consisted of Bekn watching over Coup. Seeing the severity in his eyes, hearing the loyalty deepening his voice, almost made her glimpse in him what the media saw.Almost.
There were plenty of reasons not to work for Cristo—most of which she’d shouted in the recruiter’s face—but the biggest one wascurrently devouring bread in her kitchen like a starving wolf. While Kel still had no clue how to stave off the bank collectors who were sure to appear on her doorstep any day now, she couldn’t leave Fieror without Dira.
When Kel didn’t reply, Coup added, voice sharp, “We’re no different, Varra.You’reno different than the rest of CAPR. Just because I’m better at the parts you hate doesn’t mean that I’m not just as desperate to make this damn team work as you are.”
Kel forced in short, shallow breaths as they moved through the cottage. Dira sat hunched over the kitchen bench, salivating at the sandwiches she had piled on a plate. Bekn was nowhere to be seen, probably still outside, prolonging the camera frenzy.
Coup followed Kel into the kitchen. Before shutting the door, Kel muttered, “You wanted to accept the offer, too. Admit it.”
Even if it meant working closer with Coup—it was safety. Certainty. It wasSavita.
