The next time I woke up, it was clearer. The fog was thinner. I could see the room. Private. Secure. His father's style. Cold efficiency disguised as luxury.
Katya was there when I could finally focus. She sat in the chair beside the bed, the same way she had for Kairen, I would later learn. Her expression was unreadable.
"Welcome back," she said, her voice flat. "The facility was compromised. Sterling is dead. The Vanguard operation is dismantled. Your actions, while excessively messy, preserved the asset."
I didn't care. My throat was still on fire, but I had moisture enough to form the only word that mattered. "Kairen?"
A slight, almost imperceptible smile touched her lips. It didn't reach her eyes. "Birds of a feather, you two. That's the first thing he asked about, too. You."
The relief was so potent it was a physical sensation, a warmth that momentarily soothed the ache in my chest. He was alive. He was asking about me.
"Where?" I rasped.
