The Vanishing Spark of Dusk by Sara Baysinger

Author:Sara Baysinger
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Entangled, Ember, Teen, Forbidden love, protector, sci-fi, science fiction, war, slavery, politics, aliens, YA, young adult, young adult romance, ya romance
Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC (Teen)
Published: 2017-11-28T00:00:00+00:00

Part III: The Fire

Chapter Twenty-Seven

The next month passes by in a blur of music and hope and strange emotions. Kalen brings his Tavdorian girlfriend over less, spares that dazzling smile for me more. And I haven’t seen Briala go to his room in weeks. But we talk very little. He’s always busy, it seems. Either working—or partying. Rarely home, and I wonder if it’s because his home reminds him too much of his mother, of her presence that filled these halls and her voice that filled the air. Though he seemed to appreciate the flowers, maybe he still needs to escape the reminders. The few times he is home, he spends much of his time with Adeline, who’s health is quickly declining, making me wonder how Mom is faring—if she’s even still alive.

Over the course of the month, not a single day has offered me the opportunity to break into Kalen’s office to get information for the Renegade. Either Adeline needs me by her side, or Kalen’s in his office, or it’s locked and the key is locked in his bedroom…there’s always something. Though I’ve met with the Renegade every week now that we’re planning an escape, I’ve had very little information to offer at the meetings, and I’m terrified they’ll kick me out if I keep failing them.

If Tarik hadn’t threatened me with my life, I would consider telling Kalen about the Renegade. If he wants to stop slavery, wouldn’t he want to work with them? Would knowing his friends are involved make him decide to be an activist against slavery? But I would sooner die than put Cada, Tythoe, and Giff at risk. Though I hardly know them, the fact that these elite Tadvorians are laying their lives on the line for slaves speaks volumes about their characters. And with all the pecarrii they must have for mingling in the same crowds as Kalen, I imagine their monetary support alone is enough to keep the Renegade functioning. No, I would never smoke them out.

I cross the moonlit courtyard toward Adeline’s room, an herbal tea sweetened with honey in hand. I can hear her spasmodic coughing from all the way down the hall. It sounds worse today, and the past fifteen clicks she’s coughed with hardly a break between fits. Kalen is kneeling by her bed, squeezing her hand in his. He looks up when I arrive, his brows arched and his tired eyes pleading. I step around to the other side of the bed, wincing at how bad the cough sounds.

“What can I do?” Kalen asks.

“Help me sit her up.” We move her to a sitting position, propping the pillows behind her, and I hold the tea to her lips. “You need to try to sit up more often,” I explain to Adeline when she catches a break from coughing. “Even at night, so the mucus can drain.” She nods and accepts the tea.

Kalen studies me with a worried expression, and I’m not sure, but I think there might be a sheen of tears in his eyes.

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