Page 16 of Sunsplitter

Kashvi delivered the line at a level keel, precise as a blade through the ribs. Even Fi flinched at the cutthroat summary. Antal’s tail brushed the floor, eyes smoldering crimson.

“As I said,” he returned. Flat. “I won’t be gone long. I’ll complete the conduit repairs before I leave.”

He vanished. Daeyari teleportation was faster than any mortal transport, and more dramatic, leaving a snap of static on Fi’s tongue.

She cast Kashvi a withering glare.

Was this a shitty situation? Sure. Would ignoring Antal’s family for the rest of eternity be preferable? Absolutely.

But that didn’t mean Fi wanted to see him hurt.

Kashvi scowled back. “What?”

“You’ve been working together for a year, Kashvi. Could you tone it down alittle?”

Kashvi scoffed. “Got to keep these man-eaters on their toes, Fi. That’s how we’ve gotten so much use out of this one.”

“Antal agreed to this voluntarily.”

“And he did shit all for fifty years before you started batting eyelashes at him.”

Kashvi set to organizing her desk with ruthless efficiency, an uncompromising stance that Fi recognized too well. Admittedly, a year had vastly improved Kashvi’s working relationship with Antal, considering she’d pointed a crossbow at his head during their first meeting. She tolerated the daeyari for their common goal, setting this territory on a better path.

She still hadn’t forgiven him for eating her sister as a sacrifice years ago. That wound would always linger between them.

“Your army of smugglers is doing well,” Kashvi said, steering the subject back to work—where she and Fi got along best. “We’re expecting the next shipment of conductive metal soon. You should be there, make sure it’s up to snuff.”

“I’d love to.” Fi would, honestly, delight in heckling over metal quality for several hours. “But I think I should go with Antal.”

Fi had never seen Kashvi blink so slowly. “Go with him…”

“To visit his family.”

Kashvi dug a finger through her ear. Dramatic ass. “You want to meet hisfamily?”

“It could be dangerous.”

“No shit.”

“He shouldn’t go alone.”

“Theyatethe last human he brought to them.”

Yes. Fi was extremely aware.

“I can defend myself against a few hissing daeyari.” She braced her fists on Kashvi’s desk. “And why do you care?”

Kashvi mirrored her. “Boden wouldn’t want you to go. With him gone, someone has to talk sense into you.”

The name hit like a slap. It left them both reeling.

Fi had learned, quickly, not to let her brother’s nameeviscerate her. She’d had to. Otherwise, she’d still be curled up in the snow somewhere, sobbing over Boden’s selfless sacrifice in their fight against Verne.

That didn’t stop her from baring her teeth like a daeyari, fingers curled like claws against the desk. “Do notuse him for your arguments,” she warned.

“I’m notusinghim. I…” Kashvi sighed. An uncharacteristic retreat. “You know he worried about you. All the time.”

Joke was on her. Fi had listened to Boden’s warnings even less.