Page 6 of Ember Rising

“No.”

He shifts in his seat, sighing heavily. “Ms. Khalil, people who have nothing to hide hide nothing.”

“Confucius, right?” I jab back at him.

He ignores it. “I take it your parents were wealthy.”

“Okay.”

“What were their religious views?”

Finally, I’ve been waiting for him to ask the question he’s been dancing around forever.

“How is that relevant to whether the ILF can trust me to volunteer?”

“It’s part of–”

I cut him off. “Ask me what you really want to.”

“Amira,” Narelle says softly. “We’re–”

“I’m not Muslim.” My simmering frustration finally boils over. “That’s what you want to know, isn’t it?”

Neil lifts his shoulders, looking unapologetic. I hold up my hands, palms facing me.

“New America branded me for using birth control.” My voice is shakier than I intended. “They threw me on an island of predators to die, and I’ve proven my loyalties to everyone I came here with. That includes Olin. My parents’ religions have nothing to do with whether you can trust me to help your cause.”

“You’re right,” Narelle says, cutting a glare at Neil. “We’re on the same side, Amira.”

“Then why does this feel so much like an interrogation?”

“It shouldn’t,” Narelle says. “I’m sorry it does. Can we change gears? I’d like to ask you a question that may not make sense to you.”

My shoulders sag as my fight fades. Since I took the aromium stabilizer made from Briar’s blood, I’m so fucking reasonable. It stopped the emotional volatility and sexual urges my aromium caused, and now I only have the positive effects of the injected chemical compound. I’m stronger and faster than before, and I don’t need as much sleep and food.

“Does the phrase thought he could beat Apollo mean anything to you?” Narelle asks.

I furrow my brow and shake my head. It’s a strange question, but I’m not interested in solving riddles with people who treat me like a criminal.

The door to the room opens, and Evander walks in. It looks like he showered and put on clean clothes. He’s wearing the same camo pants as the other soldiers, and a plain brown T-shirt.

“Evander.” Neil shoots to his feet, the legs of his chair scraping the floor sharply as it slides out.

Narelle follows, standing and raising her chin slightly.

Interesting.

“That’s it for today,” Evander says, meeting my gaze and angling his head at the open door.

I follow him out of the room, relieved.

He gives me a quick glance as I fall into step next to him. Most of the time I’ve spent with him was when he was recovering in bed, and I didn’t realize how tall he was. My forehead is at the level of his shoulder.

“Don’t let Neil bait you,” he says, looking ahead. “He’s all dick and no balls.”

“I know the type.”

When we reach the end of the long hallway, he takes a card from his pocket and holds it in front of a gray keypad. A click sounds as the door unlocks.