Between Burning Worlds (System Divine #2) - Jessica Brody Page 0,87

mind around it. First the Red Scar were claiming responsibility for the TéléSkin bombing, and then there was a laser, something about Nadette Epernay’s sister, and before he knew it, the whole inn was ablaze.

“That fire wasn’t exactly discreet, mec. But it worked.”

Marcellus tore his eyes away from the window and stared at the shaggy-haired man with soot on his face who was sitting across from him. “I’m sorry, who are you?”

“This is Gabriel,” Alouette explained. “He and I—”

“We met back at the Policier Precinct,” Gabriel cut in, beaming like this was something to be proud of.

“Why were you at the Policier Precinct?”

Alouette shook her head. “It’s a long story.”

“Well, that was the most excitement I’ve had all year!” a voice squealed, pulling Marcellus’s attention toward Cerise, who was breathing heavily and fanning herself with both hands. “What a rush!”

Gabriel, who was sitting next to her, surreptitiously scooted away.

“Excitement?” Marcellus repeated in disbelief. If he didn’t know any better, he would have thought Cerise had enjoyed that. “We nearly died, Cerise.”

“But we didn’t!” Cerise pointed out.

“Those people were about to brand you,” Gabriel said condescendingly. “With a laser.”

Cerise scoffed as though everyone was being overdramatic. “They weren’t really going to brand me. It was just for show. They were trying to make a point.”

“No, I’m pretty sure they were going to brand you,” said Gabriel.

Cerise waved that away as she unlatched a nearby storage compartment, pulled out a sparkly black hat, and placed it on her head with a flourish. “I would have talked my way out of it eventually.”

“Don’t be naïve, Cerise,” Marcellus warned, already losing patience with her. “This isn’t Ledôme.”

“I know this isn’t Ledôme,” Cerise snapped back.

Alouette glanced between Cerise and Marcellus, looking uneasy. “How do you two know each other?”

Cerise refreshed her chipper tone. “Well, we don’t exactly run in the same circles, but my father works with his grandfather and I see him around from time to time. All my friends are in love with him. But seriously, can you blame them? Look at those eyelashes!”

Alouette cracked a smile and Marcellus felt his entire face grow hot. He exhaled loudly. “Cerise, I don’t know what you were doing at that inn, but you put yourself in grave danger.”

Cerise rolled her eyes. “Don’t worry about me, Officer. I can take care of myself.”

Gabriel snorted. “Yeah, right. This is Montfer,” he pronounced the name like he was teaching a toddler how to speak. “They don’t like the Second Estate here. Trust me, you wouldn’t last a day—”

“Wait, how did you know I’m Second Estate?”

Gabriel coughed. “Are you serious?”

“Yes!”

Gabriel looked her up and down, taking in her rhinestone-studded hat and belted, black jumpsuit. “You don’t exactly blend in, Sparkles.”

“What?” she asked, defensively touching her hat. “This is my spy look. I made it myself. And I happen to believe that the care of one’s personal appearance represents the care of one’s mind.” She gave Gabriel’s shabby coat and thick stubble a disdainful once-over.

Marcellus sighed. He didn’t have the time nor the energy to argue with the likes of Cerise Chevalier. “Are you going to tell me what you were doing in Montfer at a Third Estate protest?”

“Are you going to tell me how you learned to start fires?” Cerise shot back.

“Um,” Marcellus stammered before remembering that he was in charge here. He was the one who had rescued her. He got to ask the questions. “Answer me first.”

She huffed. “Fine. I was following you.”

“What?” Marcellus sputtered. He was certainly not expecting that. “Why?”

“Because you’re Vangarde,” she replied as though this were the most obvious answer in the world.

“You are?” Alouette and Gabriel asked in unison.

“Well, I … ,” Marcellus began haltingly, feeling caught out. He narrowed his eyes at Cerise. “What makes you think I’m Vangarde?”

She spat out a laugh. “Who’s being naïve now?”

Marcellus furrowed his brow. “What?”

Cerise sighed and tapped hastily on the TéléCom on her lap. Then, with a flick of her finger, she sent the contents of her screen to the cruiseur’s internal hologram unit. Suddenly, the familiar footage of an arrest warrant appeared. The Ministère emblem—a pair of crossed rayonettes protecting the planet of Laterre—glowed in the air, and just below it, hovering in the center of the cruiseur like a disembodied head on a spike, was Marcellus’s face.

“Arrest warrant for Marcellus Bonnefaçon issued on Month 7, Day 32, Year 505,” a voice announced through the cruiser’s speaker system. “Marcellus Bonnefaçon is wanted for collusion with a terrorist group known as the Vangarde. Suspect