Phoebe

It was a lot easier to deal with children's TV presenters than grown-up journalists, Phoebe reflected as Mattie Riesin turned back to his camera to wrap up his 'report'. She'd laughed a lot more than she usually did with a camera in her face, and Mattie had been a treat to introduce to Soot. The dragon had responded well to Phoebe's relaxation, too.

Now Soot's snout was creeping over the floor towards Riesin's ankles, and Phoebe could smell the mischief rising from her partner. Fighting to keep her face straight, she stared hard at the camera, trying to get the cameraman's attention. Hoping she'd caught it, she flicked her eyes down in Soot's direction -

- right as he snorted up Riesin's baggy shorts. The presenter actually leapt a good foot in the air, yelping and giggling. His stripy propeller hat tumbled off his head and Phoebe managed to control her laughter enough to snatch it out of the air behind him, before Soot could get it. Behind the cameraman, Riesin's producer made the mistake of looking at Petunia, and the two of them almost collapsed.

Soot lifted his head, eye turned up towards Phoebe as if to check he wasn't in trouble. Phoebe stroked the ridge of his nose while Riesin pulled himself back together and finished up. There were laughing apologies and reassurances that yes, Soot had done it deliberately and no, it wasn't dangerous.

Phoebe's phone buzzed in her pocket. She fumbled for it, frowning. It was too hot on the end of the shoot to be Brynna checking in and there shouldn't be anyone else contacting her directly. Petunia reporting from her trip back to Rindburg with Adelie to manage some stuff at the new HQ? Her scowl deepened as she saw Helia's name on the screen.

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Turning away from Soot and starting to walk towards the back of the stable, she answered the call. "Hey Helia, what's up?"

"Hey Phoebe, how's it going?"

Phoebe felt her lower back tense. Helia sounded like she was reluctant to get to some point. "It's good. What time is it there?"

The family's Occidental estate was six hours behind Uriankhai. There was audible croak in Helia's voice. "Like nine A.M. I just- well, I didn't really sleep, so idk if I can say I just woke up, know what I mean?"

Tingling fingers started to spread out from that hard knot in Phoebe's spine. She leant on the wall, her back to the length of the stable. "Are you ok?"

Helia let out an ugly groan. "I'm at home. Dad's on the warpath again."

"I can't help you with that, Helia, you know I would if I could."

"No, listen," she replied, tone sharpening. "I can't talk about everything that's going on here, okay, I really can't, but dad's scheming something. You know he was at the last race?"

"He WHAT?" Phoebe shuddered. What had he been doing at one of the most isolated races of the year? If he'd found her…

"He was a guest of the Emperor."

Phoebe couldn't form words.

"I don't know what was going on, I- There really is stuff I can't talk about, but whatever His Majesty told dad, he came back colder. He's still mad with you, but it's like he's thought of something to do about it." The line went silent for a long moment. "Last night he summoned me. He wants me to be his spokesperson from now on."

"Huh?" was about the best Phoebe could do.

"I think he's got some plan to use me against you." Helia's voice wavered. "I don't know what. I just- please believe me I'm on your side, I'll fight him if I can, if he makes me hurt you I'll never forgive him."

Phoebe pressed her free hand to her eyes. What could she say to that? What could her father do to her? Too many things too inventively cruel to count. Could he have figured out her deal with Angelo, Soot's rescue?

"Phoebe? You believe me right? I love you."

Forcing herself to take a breath, Phoebe said, "I love you too. Thanks for the warning. Stay safe."