All of my brothers look at me with mixed expressions. Even Fieri. They want me to join them, but they know my priority is not the war right now.
Brynna grabs her mask and pulls it away from her face just enough to talk. Her words smoke inside the mask. “Burn off some steam? You’re…steaming.”
“So are you.” I dart my eyes at her mouth and the redness of her skin. “How are you feeling?”
She rasps a laugh that spits embers. “Like I kissed the fucking sun.”
I hang my head, mortified by what I’ve done to her.
“Osiris says this is the treatment plan.” She replaces her mask and takes in a deep breath, then removes it again. “So I should be good for the Grenade Maze, even if I’ve already taken one to the back of my throat.”
As she sucks in another breath of vapor, I look up at Osiris, who’s got an arched eyebrow.
“My choice, Osiris,” Brynna says through the mask. “It wasmychoice.”
“Please don’t ever do that again,” I beg her.
She wipes her eyes and turns her head to look at me. Brynna winks.
“I’m serious.”
“Whatever this shit is, I like it,” Brynna mumbles, glancing at Osiris.
“It’s a blend of Lazariot healing serum and our Inferno stem cells, something Aura’s team concocted.”
Fieri grunts. “Mostly Eluni at this point. She and Elix’s MONA like to engineer new things. But it should be enough to help you begin to adapt and grow your own Inferno to adapt your cells to Jorusk’s. But that’s it. You get one. No mixing with other species after this. You’re becoming Drathious now.”
She’s becoming like us?I like it, and I don’t.
Brynna lifts her hand. “As long as there’s a treatment plan with a target outcome that’s decently predictable, I can handle it.”
“You shouldn’t have to,” I tell her as I trace her soft fingers between mine.
“This is life, Jorusk. We break bones falling down the combine steps or wrecking our hoverboard. We set them, then get meds, go through therapy, and we heal. I’m used to it.”
“Bryn…”
“I’ve eaten some hot peppers, but that was a first.” Brynna grins when Osiris clears his throat behind a fist and turns away from us to hide his grin. “My tongue still tingles. Brings a whole new meaning toburning love. Stars, this shit is good.”
She finally notices Fieri at the foot of her bed. “Oh, hey, big purple electric dude.” Brynna leans toward me and points at him. “He’s a big softie on the inside.”
Fieri frowns and rests his hands on his hips. “Brynna, you’re going to ruin my reputation.”
She opens and closes a hand in his direction. “Come here.”
Fieri hesitantly takes her other hand. “I do not do this sort of thing.”
“Yeah, yeah. But you should.” Brynna rolls her head to look at him. “You know who you remind me of?”
“A devil dog,” Rykarn mutters from the doorway.
“More like a cerebus,” Sidius snorts.
Fieri’s electric green eyes brighten when he glares at them.
“My father.” Brynna visibly squeezes his hand. “You protect, you serve, and you sacrifice yourself when no one is looking. And it’s all because deep down, you care more than you want anyone to know. Because it scares you to think of losing anyone you care about. Especially Jorusk.”
Fieri looks from her to me. And for the first time, I see pain in his eyes.
