Page 85 of Dark Rebel's Reckoning

"Thank you," Kyra said. "I like having nice things, too. Who doesn't, right?"

He smiled and his fingers tightened briefly around hers before reluctantly letting go as voices approached from the hallway.

The girls tumbled into the living room, each wearing a selection from their new wardrobes. Their transformation was remarkable. They looked like ordinary teenagers. Even Arezoo, the most reserved of the four, had a glint in her eyes that hadn't been there before.

"You all look beautiful," Kyra told them.

"Is it too much?" Donya asked, smoothing her hands over the colorful tunic she'd paired with leggings. "I've never had anything this nice before."

"It's perfect," Kyra assured her. "Very fashionable."

Jasmine emerged from the dining room and beamed at her cousins. "Look at all of you! You are gorgeous."

When the doorbell rang, Ell-Rom and Max went to get the delivery, and minutes later, the dining table was laden with boxes of fragrant dishes: glistening stir-fries, steaming rice, dumplings that released aromatic steam when pierced.

Kyra couldn't remember ever having Chinese food before, but she recognized the dishes and could name each one. The smells were appetizing, and she eyed the various dishes Jasmine was transferring onto platters with curiosity.

Her nieces, however, seemed hesitant about trying the unfamiliar cuisine.

"We've never had anything like this." Laleh eyed a platter of orange chicken. "Is it very spicy?"

"Not at all," Jasmine said. "It's delicious. Try a little of everything. Whatever you don't like, you don't have to finish."

The meal unfolded in a surprisingly relaxed atmosphere, and after a few minutes of hesitation, the girls piled their plates.

Jasmine showed them how to use chopsticks, and after a few attempts they could all manage, albeit clumsily.

As chopsticks clicked and conversation flowed, the girls opened up and began sharing information about their mothers and aunts.

"My mother, Soraya, is about this tall," Arezoo said, holding her hand at shoulder height. "She has your eyes, but her hair is lighter. More brown than black, and she's heavier. She also knows a little English. She wanted to study in the USA, but after you disappeared, that wasn't an option for her anymore."

Kyra felt guilty. Because of her, her sisters had been denied a chance of a better life. She had to make it up to them.

"Aunt Rana, Aiden's mom, always wears blue," Laleh said. "She says it brings good fortune."

"She's also the most religious," Azadeh said quietly. "She prays five times every day, without fail."

Kyra absorbed these details hungrily, trying to construct mental images of her sisters. "What about Yasmin and Parisa?"

"Aunt Yasmin is the tallest," Arezoo said. "She walks very straight, like this." She demonstrated, sitting up ramrod straight with her chin lifted. "Uncle Javad jokes that she can balance books on her head."

"Aunt Parisa is the youngest," Donya murmured. "And the prettiest, everyone says so. She has a beauty mark right here." She touched a spot beside her left eye. "She likes to hum when she's cooking."

Each detail was another piece in the puzzle of Kyra's forgotten past. She leaned forward, hanging on every word.

As the girls moved to describing their cousins, thinking about the logistics of rescuing so many people seemed daunting.

As the meal drew to a close, a sudden hush fell over the table. The girls exchanged glances, a silent communication passing between them before Arezoo cleared her throat.

"We have something for you," she said, her usual assertive tone turning soft. "We wrote messages for our mothers. It will make it easier for you to convince them to come with you." She chewed on her lower lip, something Kyra often did as well. "We didn't write about what was done to us. We said that we were kidnapped by people who wanted to ransom us for money, and the rebels saved us, and that you were their leader. I know it's not the truth, but we couldn't write about you being immortal and all that. We wrote that you are Kyra's daughter, Jasmine."

One by one, the girls handed their notes to her. She would read them later, making sure nothing in them could put her team or the immortals in danger, but for now, Kyra put the folded pages in her pocket.

"Tell her I'm safe," Arezoo said, her composure finally cracking. "If she can't come with you, tell her not to worry about us. Tell her..." She swallowed hard. "Tell her I remember what she taught me about being brave."

"Tell my mother that I've been looking after Laleh," Donya added, putting an arm around her younger sister. "That I haven't let her out of my sight."

Laleh wiped at her eyes. "Tell her I love her."

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