"It caught me off guard last time is all," Elena declared with a mental shrug. "I'll be better prepared next time."
"Doubtful," Fyr said with a curl of his lip.
"Even if I collapse again. You heard Ajix. Auntie is on her way. All we have to do is wait for her to arrive."
There was despair in Fyr's laugh. A hopelessness that said he'd already given up as he rested his forehead against his knees. "You're so naive. Not even the Phoenix could make it this far."
Elena glared at the ceiling, biting back her argument. He'd see soon enough. Elena wasn't naive. She was confident. Auntie was going to come. And when she did, she'd bring a whole lot of pain down on the Tsavitee and their masters.
Fyr's head lifted. "Someone's coming."
"Wow, that was fast," Elena said.
She'd just barely gotten done telling him about Auntie and here she was.
Except instead of the aunt she was expecting, it was Kai who appeared on the stairs. The Sye's dispassionate gaze swept the chamber, zeroing in on Elise's still form.
"What are you doing here?" Fyr demanded, the arrogance that so irritated Elena infusing his voice with a dangerous rumble that had never been aimed at the Sye.
"Peace, child." Kai couldn't have been more dismissive as the Sye headed for Elena's mother. "You must realize I had no choice."
"I don't have to do anything you say anymore. I'm the Osiri's now."
"Do not speak of them in that tone of voice."
"I will do as I please. I'm not the one trespassing in the Osiri's territory," Fyr snarled.
"I would not stand against me, boy," Kai warned. "Or do you want me to tell the exalted ones just who brought that child to my door?"
Fyr flinched at the insinuation.
The corners of Kai's lips hooked up in a sly smile. "I wonder what they would do if they found out about the generals' conspiracies."
"You don't know anything."
"Are you willing to test that hypothesis?"
There was a look of triumph on Kai's features at Fyr's hesitation.
"Are you kidding me?" Elena shouted. "He just betrayed you and now you're going to do what he says?"
What happened to the big, scary enemy Auntie had always warned her about? Right now, the generals seemed more like pushovers than actual predators.
Kai stepped around Fyr.
"What are you doing?" Elena demanded as the Sye stopped next to her mother. "Don't touch her."
Kai regarded Elise with a half lidded gaze. Almost covetous as the Sye looked her over.
"I never thought I'd get this chance," Kai murmured, glancing Elena's way. "I really have to thank you."
Elena was quiet as Kai went to pick Elise up.
Fyr stopped him. "I can't let you do whatever you're thinking."
"I was afraid you'd be stubborn," Kai said with a regretful sigh.
Fyr jerked, making a pained sound.
