Page 31 of Dark Rebel's Reckoning

"We didn't live in California," her daughter said. "I don't know if you ever visited here before I was born or when I was too young to remember. I moved here later for my acting career, after college."

Pride swelled in Kyra's chest. Her beautiful daughter was an actress and a singer. She hadn't heard her sing yet, and she couldn't wait for the right opportunity to do so.

"Do you act in films or television?"

Jasmine sighed. "Right now, in neither, and before, I mostly acted in commercials and a few tiny roles. It wasn't much of a career, and I paid the bills by working in a customer service center. In a way, it's good that I never got famous. It would have been more painful to leave a successful career behind."

"Why would you leave it?"

"It gets complicated for an immortal, for obvious reasons." Jasmine gestured toward her face. "Can't exactly keep appearing in films and never age. People would notice."

"That's a shame." Kyra took her daughter's hand. "Are there other avenues you could use your talent for? Perhaps as a recording artist?"

"That's a possibility, although I would be doing it more for fun than any hopes of earning a living from it. I've been exploring options with Perfect Match for gainful employment."

"Matchmaking? I've heard it's a profitable business, but does it align with your talents and what you enjoy doing?"

Jasmine chuckled. "It's not what you think. Perfect Match is a virtual reality enterprise that allows participants to experience shared adventures. Some people use it for matchmaking or dating—hence the name—but it's evolved well beyond that. You can pilot a plane, skydive, and explore ancient ruins, all from the comfort and safety of a specially designed chair."

"That sounds fascinating." Kyra tried to imagine such technology. "What would be your position there?"

"I'm not sure yet." Jasmine shifted in her seat. "I haven't had much time to pursue it seriously. Other things kept coming up."

"Like me?" Kyra asked softly.

Jasmine wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. "Finding you was one of the highlights of my life," she said fiercely. "Don't forget that for years I believed that you were dead. My father was convinced that your family had killed you for marrying outside your faith."

A shudder ran through Kyra. "I don't follow any religion, but I know what he was referring to. Most Iranians aren't so savage and primitive, but there are enough who are." She'd seen it firsthand in her years with the resistance—the particular brutality reserved for women who dared step outside the narrow confines of what was deemed acceptable.

Not for the first time, Kyra wondered what her family had been like. Were they the kind who would have killed their daughter for marrying a man from another faith? Or had they tried to brainwash her to forget him and marry someone else, someone of their choosing?

The only one who might hold the answers was the monster in the body bag, and she couldn't wait for Max to beat the truth out of him. She wasn't a bloodthirsty fiend, but she was looking forward to seeing him suffer.

The bus slowed, turning into a descending ramp. Concrete walls replaced the view of city streets as the bus entered an underground parking garage, and instantly Kyra's chest tightened. The walls seemed to close in, the ceiling hanging too low. Her breath came in quick, shallow gasps.

"What's wrong?" Jasmine's hand tightened on her arm.

"I don't like being underground," Kyra murmured, trying to focus on her breathing. "I don't know why. I know thereis nothing dangerous down here." She concentrated on her breathing, trying to calm her racing heart.

"It's just the parking structure," Jasmine said. "We are not staying down here. We are going straight to the penthouse that has beautiful views of the city. You are going to love it."

Kyra closed her eyes, trying to visualize the luxurious apartment, but she could still feel the walls bracketing the bus and realized that not seeing them wasn't helping.

Taking a deep breath, she opened her eyes, but instead of looking out the window next to her, she looked straight at the front window that didn't have a wall inches away from it.

Across the aisle, Max leaned forward. "It's a shame you have a problem with underground spaces. You'll miss the Doomer's interrogation, which is going to take place in the keep's dungeon."

Kyra lifted her chin and met his gaze. "I've overcome a lot of fears, and I'll get over this one too. I want to be there. I need answers."

Max gave her an appreciative nod, admiration flickering in his eyes.

As the bus continued its descent, spiraling deeper underground, Kyra focused on measuring her breaths.

In for four counts, hold for four, out for four.

Her fingers closed around her pendant, its familiar weight reassuring in her palm.

"Is that helping?" Jasmine asked quietly, nodding toward the pendant.

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