Teorin paced the console room, grasping for any way to find Kara. Marcus and Sasha were in the wind. No sightings. No clues. Every lead had dried up, except one: Isi.

  Teorin huffed in frustration. Jeron had been clear: no Novem resources. But… what if Teorin found something concrete first? Then it wouldn’t be misuse. Not exactly. He dropped into the chair and pulled up a general net search. Public sightings weren’t restricted, and Isi left a trail of gossip. Just like Lev.

  It didn’t take long. She’d been spotted at a da Silva gala near Kalin Bay last week. Not proof, but close. Too close to ignore.

  Teorin leaned back, rubbing his eyes. The adrenaline had burned off, and the hours were catching up fast. He was running on fumes. Cascades, he’d been up all night now, hadn’t he?

  A knock sounded. Teorin turned to see Heidi leaning in the doorway.

  “Time to go?” he asked, swinging the chair toward her.

  “Almost. Jeron’s still getting the car, but Lev’s awake. You should talk to him.”

  Teorin shut down the console and followed her toward the makeshift infirmary.

  “I need to make a supply run,” Heidi said as they walked. “But I’m leaving Lev in your care. I just finished applying a biofilm to his burns. The infusion patch will keep him steady until I can set up an IV. Don’t let him out of your sight, and keep him covered. He’ll get the chills quickly.”

  Teorin nodded.

  Heidi pursed her lips. “You ride in the back with him. If he starts shaking, gets cold, or fades out, lay him back and elevate his legs. Don’t let him slump forward. His burns will pull. No sudden moves. He can walk, but it’s going to hurt. Just get him to the car. No funny business. Got it?”

  “Got it,” Teorin said.

  “He should be in a hospital now, Teorin. This isn’t minor. I’m only letting you take him because Jeron ordered it, but if I find him worse off when I arrive, you and Jeron will have hell to pay. Understood?”

  Teorin bit his lip. “Is he—”

  Heidi’s eyes locked with his. “He needs surgery, but he should be okay to travel. Still, there are a million things that could go wrong. Walking him down, putting him in a car for an hour—”

  She cut herself off before continuing, voice sharper, “Whatever you two found, it had better be worth risking this kid’s life.”

  Teorin flinched. “I—” He swallowed. Lev was that bad? Should he try to convince Jeron to take him to a hospital? But there were already too many arguments he needed to win, and that one… he probably wouldn’t.

  Not when Jeron suspected Kara had told Lev everything. She probably had, given how long they’d talked before coming up to the roof. Lev was a security risk, even if he’d just saved the whole mission—a civilian who didn’t even work for them and knew everything.

  And Lev drew attention. Cameras. Paparazzi. Just him walking into a hospital injured would send headlines spiraling and drag Novem straight into the spotlight. They couldn’t risk that, not with the entire world knowing his face. If Jeron didn’t even want to tell the police about Kara being missing, there was no way Teorin could convince him.

  Because after the fire, people thought Kara was dead. Novem would just leak that Lev had vanished to grieve. It wouldn’t even be strange. They’d have to manage his family connections, but that was far easier.

  Lev wasn’t going to a hospital. There was no way. The best Teorin could do was take care of Lev to the best of his ability.

  Heidi let out a long breath. “I know it’s not your call. Just… be careful with my patient, please?”

  “I’ll keep him safe. Promise.”

  Heidi just watched him for a few more seconds as they walked and nodded.

  They stopped outside the classroom where Lev was. Heidi entered while Teorin waited in the doorway. She crouched beside Lev again. He was still on the floor like when Teorin had last seen him, but instead of just the gauze, he was wearing a loose medical jacket. Heidi leaned in to check a monitor, shifting the blanket that was also draped over him.

  “I’m good, doc,” Lev said with a grin.

  Heidi glared at him. “You’re not, but your heart rate’s steady. Respiration’s normal enough.” She thumbed the latch and detached the device, tucking it into her kit. Her gaze flicked to Teorin. “Keep him covered and warm.”

  Lev shifted slightly, rolling his head to look toward the door. He locked eyes with Teorin, and Teorin stiffened. Heidi checked a few more things, pressing on a spot that made Lev hiss. She frowned. “Pain meds not working so well?”

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  “Working,” Lev got out after a breath. “Mostly. I just…” He stared at the ceiling. “My body remembers the pain,” he murmured.

  Teorin's breath caught as Heidi froze. “It—your body—what?” she stammered.

  Lev kept his gaze on the ceiling. “It’s fine. I’m used to it.”

  The words hit Teorin like a hammer. Cascades, he’d always just assumed Lev’s ability was muscle memory only. To remember pain like that? Heidi apparently thought the same because she snapped, “That’s not fine. I don’t want my patient convulsing in pain in that car.”

  “Won’t,” Lev said quietly.

  Heidi’s brow wrinkled like she wasn’t even sure how to respond to that. She exhaled. “Just hold it together one more hour for me, okay?”

  “Sure thing, boss,” Lev said.

  She took a deep breath. “Alright. Let’s get you up.”

  Lev grimaced.

  “Teorin, get over here,” Heidi commanded. He scrambled over, kneeling by Lev’s side. “Support under his right arm.”

  Teorin did as instructed.

  “No, higher—at the shoulder.”

  Teorin shifted his grip. He’d thought Lev would tense when he touched him like before, and he did for a second, but then his muscles eased.

  Heidi glanced between them. “We’re going to go slow. Lev, when I count to three, push with your legs. One… two… three.”

  Lev hissed as they eased him upright, his face going pale. Heidi’s hand was already at his wrist, feeling for a pulse.

  “Good. Stay with me. You dizzy?”

  “Little,” Lev muttered.

  “Fine. Breathe through it. Don’t lock your knees. Teorin, keep a hand on his back, but careful of the burns. Don’t let him stand by himself at all. Or slump. I want you touching him at all times until you’re in that car.”

  Lev’s breath caught, and Teorin felt his shoulders loosen further.

  Heidi’s eyes shot to Lev's face. “You okay?”

  Lev gave a small nod and leaned in slightly, resting some of his weight on Teorin.

  Heidi continued, “If his hands start getting clammy again, you stop before he passes out this time. Just stay and let him breathe. When you get to Crisuma, same thing.”

  She muttered something that Teorin thought sounded a lot like “Stars, this is insane.” Then snapped her attention back to him. “If he fades or starts shaking, you call me immediately. If I don’t have signal, you contact medical on base. Don’t try to play hero.”

  Teorin nodded. Heidi eyed Lev a moment longer, then grabbed her bag from the doorway, shot him one last look, and jogged off.

  Teorin just stood there awkwardly holding Lev up. “You okay?” he asked finally and immediately regretted it. Bursts, that was a stupid question.

  Lev just let out a huff of breath. “I’ll live. Kara?”

  “We haven’t seen her,” Teorin said, fiddling with the zipper on his jacket with his free hand, “But… I think my brother took her,” he finished, avoiding Lev’s eyes. Lev stiffened slightly under his hand, and Teorin glanced up to gauge the reaction.

  Lev just stared. “Okay. I’m gonna need more context. Is this a family feud thing?”

  Much calmer than expected.

  “Not really,” Teorin said, shifting his weight carefully to not jostle Lev. “Marcus… My father died when I was young. He took it really hard and struck out on his own. We haven’t been close for over a decade.”

  Lev was quiet. Then: “Do you know where he is?”

  “No,” Teorin admitted. “But I’m trying to find his girlfriend. She’s usually easier to track. Isi Rafinin da Silva? She was spotted at a da Silva gala last week—”

  He stopped. Lev had gone pale. Or paler, somehow, which was saying something. Teorin grabbed his hand, checking for shock best he could.

  Lev just squeezed it back and said, “I was there.”

  “What?”

  “I was at that party. With a friend. I met Isi.”

  “You were at a Clan party?” Teorin asked, baffled.

  “That is what I said,” Lev said dryly, turning his head to look at Teorin. “Isi found us. We didn’t talk long, but she specifically asked about Kara and what she was working on. It was weird at the time. Now? I don’t know what to think.”

  Teorin’s stomach twisted. Isi had been interested in Kara a week ago, before the pages. Before any of this.

  “Do you know when Novem first contacted her?” Teorin asked.

  “A few days before the party, I think,” Lev said. “You think that’s why Isi was there?”

  “No idea, but maybe it triggered something.” Teorin frowned. “Did she say anything else?”

  “About Kara? Not really. Just asked if Kara was translating anything. I might have mentioned Novem, but I don’t remember exactly.”

  Teorin didn’t want to guess what that meant, but at least they had confirmation: Isi had been in the city, and she was interested in Kara. It was something. Maybe, with a bit more to go on, Jeron would reconsider.

  “Isi’s vanished since that party,” Teorin said. “No public records, but maybe we’ll get lucky.”

  Lev nodded. He pulled his hand away from Teorin's and slipped it into his pocket before pressing what felt like crumpled paper into Teorin’s palm. Teorin examined it—a creased airport ticket, pocket-worn and half-faded for Krista Mcollough, flying from Bello Matto to Kalin Bay.

  “What is this?” Teorin asked.

  Lev’s lips curled faintly. “Found it in the heatsinger’s pocket.”

  “Sasha’s?” Teorin stared. An alias. If she used it again, could be useful.

  Lev shrugged slightly. “Figured if I was getting third-degree burns, I might as well pickpocket her.”

  Teorin exhaled hard, unsure whether to laugh or groan. Lev was injured, could barely stand without Teorin, and still offering leads. Still thinking. Still helping. Teorin wasn’t sure if that made him feel grateful or ashamed.

  “Think you can get anything from that?” Lev asked.

  Teorin glanced up, from this close, his pressure sense told him every time Lev’s breathing shifted. It just had, even if his face was neutral. Lev desperately wanted it to mean something.

  Guilt hit Teorin hard. His mistake. His fault. “I hope so,” he said softly. “Could be a breakthrough… or nothing. I’ll look into it once we reach Crisuma. Jeron should be back with the car soon.”

  Lev’s shoulders tightened again. “Which means I have to walk.”

  “Yeah. Sorry about that, but this time, tell me if you’re dizzy.”

  Lev grimaced, but said, “It’s fine. Whatever gets us answers faster. My top priority is finding Kara.”

  That was saying something. Plenty of people in Lev’s state would have demanded a hospital. But Lev? He was still pushing forward, still focused on his sister. He wouldn’t like Jeron’s reluctance. Teorin would have to find a way forward before tension turned into something worse.

  Every choice felt like a mistake. No time to stop. No time to breathe. Always more to do.

  Footsteps echoed in the hallway. “Teorin?” Jeron called.

  “In here,” Teorin replied.

  Lev’s frown deepened. His shoulders tensed like he was already bracing for the pain. This was going to be a long trip.

  Teorin felt the exhaustion hit him again. He felt like he was treading water, but wave after wave kept dragging him under. Jeron’s arrival had lifted the weight for a little while. He’d floated for a few hours, but now he was starting to realize: the weight hadn’t gone anywhere.

  He was still sinking.

  glossary as of Arc 3. Those studying affinity development or affinity lineages may find the revisions illuminating.