Page 47 of Tempting Fate

“You and Shohari. They think your mother is behind it.”

Snippets of conversations flashed in my mind, tiny clues revealing themselves, patterns falling into place. “How long have you known?”

Imani picked at her blunt thumbnails and said in soft tones, “Not long. A few days?”

“And you did not tell me?” My veins filled with a slow, bitter misery. “Let me guess, because Airida is weak, Airida is troubled, Airida does not need to be aware of what else is going on.” How was I supposed to be liberated if I was still being treated like an incapable child?

“I’m sorry. I wanted to tell you sooner, but…”

But what? Nobody had ever kept me informed, even about things that directly affected me. I’d thought it would be better here. I’d thought Imani my friend.

Too many years of resentment bubbled up, threatening to burst, to let all the anger at the years I’d been treated as something lesser flow out in a torrent.

Kri give me the presence of mind not to say something I’ll regret. “Please go.”

Imani’s shoulders slumped, and she dropped her chin to her chest. “Here’s my comm ID,” she said, voice flat. “I really am sorry I didn’t say anything sooner. Message me when you you need me.”

My comm flashed with the incoming token, and she slipped from the room without another word.

I counted her footsteps. One, two…

On ten, I let out a roar that shook the hut and sent Orbit cowering into Kri’s shrine.

Guilt twisted through my anger, and I jabbed at my comm, bringing up my sister’s ID. If anyone deserved my ire it was her.

Shohari sat in the galley, her brows creased more than usual. “Airi.”

“When were you going to tell me?”

She let out a long sigh. “I’ve been waiting for this.”

“You let Imani tell me! You couldn’t tell me yourself?”

“I didn’t want to worry you,” she snarled. “I have it in hand.”

But of course she did. Yet again, my sister bore all the risks, and I had to sit here while she took action. “Are you in danger? What can I do to help?”

She yanked a fistful of headspines. “Nothing. I’m fine. Let us handle it.”

“There must be something—“

“Leave it. They’re looking for me, not you. There are no pics of you anywhere. No records of your name out here. They won’t find you. You want something to do? Get better.”

My head swam, and I dug my claws into my thigh. “Can you at least tell me what you know?”

“Skik, this is like planning for Orith all over again. Paiata!”

“Aye, Cap.” The comm wobbled, and her pilot’s face appeared. “Hello, lad. You’re looking well.”

“I’ve been worse. What’s happening?”

“Recovery bounty. The two of you and the Dorimisa back to Orkri—and from there, to Orith, we expect. From everything we’ve found, they’re only after us, assuming you’re here too.”

Guilt ate at my bones, a subtle, pervasive gnawing from the insides out. Yet again I was a burden. And I was safe, apparently. It was something, but I’d rather it were me in danger than my sister and her crew. “What will you do?”

“I’m telling you nothing over an unsecured line, lad. Can you get a different datapad?”

“Something untraceable? Send me the spec.” I could source anything. But here? The gods alone knew.