All through Neria's explanation, Emira's eyes flickered over and over toward Kell, taking in his expressions, how he held himself, his reactions to what Neria was saying.

Maxim absorbed what she was saying as if he himself were steel, grim with purpose.

And Kell -- Kell listened with dawning horror of what was to come.

He hadn't known, and it was obvious. Even to Emira. His brow had furrowed, he'd swallowed his words, and he'd gone still. Very still, eyes fixed on Neria's face, searching for any hint of-

What? That it wouldn't be true? That she was having them on? Neria would never joke about something like this.

"... Antheia," he whispered, like a soft curse under his breath. He swallowed back the faint nausea, Hakkyuu's words in the back of his mind, what he'd tried to make Kell promise, and what Kell had dodged around.

"Do I need to go back with you?"