I stare. It takes a second for me to realize he picked up on my worry through the tether. Gods. That is going to be hard to get used to. But... it's also kind of nice. It's like he can read my mind. Sense my desires. Hopefully not all of them. If he knew about all my desires, I imagine there'd be less calm talking and more ripping off of clothing involved.

"This is fine," I say.

"I'll get you more when you've finished." There's no argument with his tone, so I don't bother.

"It might be a good thing if people think I'm dead for a little bit."

Raith nods. "I had the same thought. They'll all be planning and scheming for the Crucible, no doubt. If you're out of the picture, you may get left out of plans. All the better when you show up full strength."

"What about the siphon? You've been careful, right?"

"We’re all making a new password each morning. Nobody gets near you without it.”

I grin. "I saw that yesterday. But couldn't the siphon take the place of someone who shows up to learn it?"

"It's possible. But it's just one way to make it harder to infiltrate our trust. And we have to give the previous day's code to get the next. It's not a perfect system, but it's better than nothing."

"Okay, but you said to gain access to me. I'm not worried about me. You're the one the siphon was after."

"There's nothing I can do about that. My fires are with me when I'm not with you. When I'm not with them, I'm with you and your friends. If it wants to come for me, it'll have a fight on its hands."

I realize he's right. Other than having allies, there's not really much that can be done. We just have to keep moving forward the best way we know how.

"And Voss?" I ask.

Raith's expression darkens. "He's a question. Yes. If he wanted either of us dead, all he would've had to do was not show up when he did. Makes it hard to consider him the biggest of our worries, at least."

"Right. Maybe we can rule out him wanting us dead. But what the hell does he actually want?"

"I intend to ask him when we meet with him tomorrow."

A smile plays at my lips. "You really think he's going to let you into his office with me?"

"I'm not planning on asking permission."

A hint of emotions drifts over me. Determination. Distrust. Worry. And rage... gods, so much rage.

"I thought we were supposed to meet with him today?"

"Not today." Raith's voice softens as he finally stops moving around the room and sits beside me on the bed. "Today is for recovery. If Voss has a problem with that, he can show up at my door and tell me to my face."