Page 39 of The Incendiary

Conversation passed easily between us. Their affectionate bickering drowned out the noise. Hopefully I wasn’t getting ahead of myself thinking they could be the first friends I’d earn here.

“Commander Winterton keeps looking over here.” Mina looked past me to the front of the room while finishing a bite of dessert. “At you, Fera.”

I stole a quick glance behind me. Mina was right. He was staring, but I didn’t give him the satisfaction of lingering attention.

“He and I didn’t start off on the best terms.” I savored a bite of berry pie. After I swallowed, Mavic and Mina were still staring at me. Waiting. “I… questioned his treatment of the queen.”

Both pairs of pale green eyes widened.

“That was… bold of you,” whispered Mina.

“Yes, Commander Winterton gets a little testy when you mention the queen,” said Mavic. “It’s ill-advised.”

“You don’t say,” I mumbled, lightly touching the bruise on my cheekbone.

“Speaking of the queen⁠—”

“No!” Mina held up a finger to silence her brother. “Mavic⁠—”

“—we aren’t supposed to mention it, but⁠—”

“Then don’t!” She hissed through her teeth.

“—our brother-in-law knew her.”

I almost forgot how to breathe. “What?”

“I know.” Mavic’s eyes widened, enthused by my surprise. “He was with her before the Butcher stole her. Got his leg blown off in an explosion.”

I exhaled sharply. Caz.

“Yes,” sighed Mavic, encouraged by my shock. “Very tragic. Thankfully, Caz is fine. Only has one leg now, but he’s quite a positive fellow. My point is… you could say I knew her.”

“You said your last name is Reed?” I rushed out. Not Sinclair.

“Yes.” Mavic shared a confused look with Mina.

The red hair. Marin. Of course, Marin’s siblings wouldn’t share the same surname as Finn and Caz.

I tried to look only as relieved as any stranger would. “I’m glad to hear he’s all right.” Internally, Mavic’s words ignited hot sparks of joy blazing in my chest.

“Thankfully, he’s fine now.”

I knew Caz was all right, but witnessing Mavic’s lack of anger helped assuage any fears that his loved ones blamed me for what happened in Tovick.

“Anyway, the queen,” Mavic went on. “Our brother-in-law said she was stunning. Kind and sweet, too.” His face turned grim, and he lowered his voice. “But he also met the Butcher.”

“Mavic!” hissed Mina. “That. Is. Enough!”

“What did your brother-in-law say about the Butcher?” The question I shouldn’t ask escaped my lips. I had to know.

“Not much,” Mavic answered. “He was a brutish asshole, and he was obsessed with the queen.”

Relief seeped into my bones, and my thrumming pulse slowed. Caz hadn’t lied, but he hadn’t revealed the full truth, either.

“Thank the gods you’re not in charge, Mav.” Mina massaged the bridge of her freckled nose. “With your big mouth, all of Molochai’s army would know exactly where we are within days.”

“She’s right,” I confirmed. “Your secret’s safe with me, but you probably shouldn’t have told a stranger any of that.”