Page 28 of Ignite the Infernos

“Empty your quarters of everything that isn’t a necessity for the next few days, and then we’ll work on our fliers,” Enslee orders, and with lazy salutes and a few bows, everyone disperses and gets back to it.

Enslee’s gaze drifts to the tunnel doors again, and I reach out and squeeze her arm, offering what little comfort I can.

“I’m sure everyone is fine. Even if they double-timed it, Iker and Craith won’t be back until late tonight. There’s no indication that they’ve been detected.” I pointing out the empty sky and the undisturbed sand that stretches from our dunes to the yardangs in the distance. “The boat will be there. Stop borrowing trouble.”

Enslee laughs and gives me a knowing look. “Oh please, like you aren’t also running a litany of worst-case scenarios through your head every other minute.”

My smile is cheeky. “Of course I am, I’m just way better at hiding it. Work on your poker face, twin, you’re going to need it in Four Tiers.”

She flips me off and heads for the stack. “What am I thinking now?” she teases as I catch up with her.

“Hmmm,” I contemplate while rubbing my chin like some wizened elder. “You’re thinking that Amadi is a bitch and we should leave her behind to fend for herself.”

Enslee barks out a laugh and turns to me. “I knew something was going on with you two. What happened?”

“Are her and Gable . . .” I hedge, leveling her with a look that’s both curious and scandalized.

“What?” she asks, her gaze and tone dubious. “Fucking?”

I point at her. “See, your mind went there too.”

“My mind only went there because you’re looking at me like a creepy perv,” she defends.

I gesture behind me. “Just sayin’, I was picking up on some territorial vibes back there.”

Enslee’s face scrunches in disbelief. “Absolutely not, he’s way too immature for her. She’s always saying he gives off little-brother energy, and it annoys the shit out of her.”

My laugh is barbed. “What doesn’t annoy the shit out of her? She probably orgasms indignantly. Actually, now that I think of it, does she even remove her lips from your ass long enough for either of you to explore your nether regions?”

Enslee swats my arm with an “Ew.”

“Or are you two . . . ya know?” I whisper with mock shock.

“No,” she objects with another lighthearted whack.

“I mean, sow your royal oats and all that, but you could do so much better.” I start up the ladder that leads to our deck on the seventh floor, Enslee right behind me.

“Amadi’s just stressed. Don’t take it personally,” she assures me.

“Um, I’m pretty sure she’s the one who made it personal when she inferred I was a whore and a traitor,” I point out.

The sound of my boots on the metal ladder is suddenly all I can hear, and I look down to see Enslee’s stopped climbing.

“She did what?” she asks, looking up at me, thunderstruck.

I wave off her dismay. “It’s fine. I knew someone would pop off about the Noctis thing at some point. It won’t be the first time or even the last, not until everyone sees the truth for themselves.”

“Still,” Enslee counters. “I’ll talk to her.”

I step off the ladder into the hallway that connects to both of our bunks. We have the level to ourselves. Our rooms sit on opposite sides of the stack, connected by a bathroom and the hall, creating one big square.

“I’m just going to pack a few things real quick, and then I’ll come help you with your stuff,” I tell my sister as I move toward my room.

“You’re not clearing everything out of your container?” she asks, heading for hers.

“What’s the point? The Horde knows I exist. It’s fine if they want to comb through my panty drawer.”

Enslee’s snicker trails after me as I stride into my room and pick up the pack that was left on my bed. I start filling it with essentials: clothes, my dead suit, weapons. I open my bottom drawer where I store my meager trove and freeze. Sitting on top of my treasures is a note I forgot I even had. It feels heavier than I remember when I pick it up, almost as though the words written inside are now laden with everything that’s transpired since Aeson put ink to paper. Carefully, I unfold the note and read the message, my eyes catching on the last sentence.