14. TWELVE

twelve

Kira hurried through the halls toward the training room, knowing she was running the risk of being late.

“I think you’re worrying for nothing,” Jin said, speeding after her.

Kira was irritated to see the gem snake riding on the top of his sphere, its head lifted as it stared around in fascination.

“Roake isn’t going to just look past the theft of something as priceless as what you used in that thing’s body.” Kira pointed to the snake. “Why did you even bring it?”

He should have left it in her suite.

Right now, no one knew what Jin had done. Kira wanted to keep it that way.

That was difficult if Jin continued to run around advertising the fact that he’d not only breached the treasury but also made off with a precious item.

Kira stalked down the hallway, nodding politely at the pair of women heading in her direction.

They dipped their heads in a sign of respect. “Heir.”

Their gazes flicked to Jin and then Finn before they moved past Kira and continued on their way.

“You said it yourself. The inquisitors camp will probably place me under observation. This guy can help me be places that would be hard to explain otherwise.”

Kira pinched the bridge of her nose. “Why this material? You couldn’t have picked something a little less conspicuous?”

If Finn recognized it at a glance, it meant others likely would to.

Seeing a set of stairs, Kira descended them at a near run.

“No, the conductivity in this material is better than any other I’ve used so far.”

“Wait.” Kira stopped as a thought occurred to her. “Did you use Roake’s treasury to create your other spawn?”

“Ah.”

Kira’s eyes widened. “You did!”

A stream of curses went through her head as she reached the hallway that would lead to the training area.

“Not the first one,” Jin said defensively. “After it was destroyed protecting you, I learned the material I used was important. It took a bit of trial and error to find what substances worked best.”

His words got Kira to move past the worry to actually listen.

It occurred to her that Jin’s obsession with his “spawn” was a relatively new development. One that began once they reached Ta Sa’Riel.

She had to wonder if perhaps this was a manifestation of his soul’s breath.

She knew for a fact that human technology had not advanced to create artificial creatures as independent or lifelike as the one perched on Jin’s casing.

It was a question she didn’t know how to ask. Particularly when they were surrounded by prying ears.

Whatever the case, they needed to hide the snake’s presence.

At least until Kira figured out a way to break the tolial’s theft to Harlow.

Kira held out her hand to the snake. “Here. Get on.”

Its tongue darted out, investigating before the snake slid forward. Its belly was oddly warm as it slowly wound its way up Kira’s arm.

The entrance to the training room came into view as the tip of the snake’s tail disappeared under her sleeve just as the woman standing outside caught sight of their approach.

“What is Auralyn doing out here waiting for us?” Kira asked softly.

As a member of Wren’s pod, Auralyn would know Kira’s presence was requested for training. She was also the only one of Wren’s oshota that Kira hadn’t had the opportunity to learn from.

“She’s here for me,” Raider said, lifting his hand in greeting.

Auralyn’s expression didn’t change from the boredom that Kira had come to realize was her default. The oshota jerked her chin in a silent summons before strolling away.

“A woman of few words,” Raider said under his breath.

“Good luck,” Kira said, sharing a look with Raider.

Despite her quiet, Auralyn had always struck Kira as capable. Raider was in for a hell of a time.

“You should be more concerned about yourself,” Finn informed Kira as Raider started after Auralyn.

“There’s no fear of that. I’m plenty worried already.”

Jin glided into the training room. “Let’s see what fresh nightmares they have in store for you.”

“Oh goody,” Kira grimaced, trailing behind Jin with the unsettling sense of feeling like a prisoner walking to her execution.

The Warrior’s Hall was a familiar sight. Mats covered the floor except for a narrow strip along the walls, offering a protective surface for those training in the middle of the room. Simulators where Tuann could conduct mock battles against holograms existed off to one side.

To her left, a wall was papered in sapphire-blue banners, names written on them in white. It was a memorial wall meant to remember those who’d fallen in defense of Roake.

Kira’s gaze lifted, finding the largest of the banners located in a place of honor. Its blue had faded with age until the letters that spelled out her father’s name, Harding, were nearly unintelligible.

Catching sight of Harlow’s distinctive burgundy hair, Kira changed direction to skirt the edge of the mats.

As she passed, a woman slammed her opponent into the ground right next to Kira.

“Sorry, heir.” The woman flashed a smile that said she wasn’t sorry at all as her opponent groaned.

“Arley, do you have to be so violent in front of the heir,” someone called at the woman’s back.

Arley moved away, giving her opponent room to rise. “Better the heir understands us now rather than later.”

Kira almost laughed at the challenge she saw on Arley’s face as she continued toward Harlow.

“It’s been a while since someone wanted to test us,” Jin crooned.

Kira schooled her features to an expression of neutrality as she made her way across the room. If she had to guess, she’d say these were some of Harlow’s oshota. Warriors responsible for the safety of the House.

Probably here to get a look at the prospective heir and judge for themselves whether she had what it took to be their next leader.

Kira didn’t pay them any attention as she reached Harlow, Caius, and Wren whose expression was hard to read as she joined them.

“You’re late,” her seon’yer said.

Kira offered no excuse for her tardiness. It would do her no good and likely lead to more trouble when the other was determined to find fault with her.

Kira didn’t know if Wren’s mood was a form of retaliation for placing herself in danger or if he had ulterior motives.

Either way, the result was the same. She had to take what was coming without an ounce of protest.

Sometimes your best way out of a situation was to take the hit and keep going. Arguing would only lead to worse results—even if you were right.

Caius covered his mouth, looking at the ground.

The three men looked over as a commotion started at the entrance. Graydon prowled toward them, Amila and Solal flanking him as the rest of his oshota lingered on the edge of the room.

“Did I miss anything?” Graydon asked.

“You’re right on time. She was late,” Harlow informed him.

Graydon lifted his eyebrows at Kira, a faint smile lingering on his lips. “Brave of her.”

Kira rolled her eyes at him, not reacting otherwise as those training in the hall drifted in their direction to form a circle around Kira and the others.

It looked like she’d been right earlier—they were here because of her.

Oh goody.

Caius’s gaze was fixated on Jin. “How about a match? I’m interested in seeing your capabilities.”

Kira started, looking between the two as Jin bobbed like a boxer preparing to get in the ring.

“It’s been a while since anyone’s invited me to play,” Jin gloated.

Caius didn’t know what he was asking for. If Raider was here, Blue even, they could have warned him.

“That’s a really bad idea,” Kira started.

Caius cut her off. “I’ll be the judge of that.”

As if obeying some unseen cue, the Tuann tightened the circle around Kira in a move meant to intimidate.

She wasn’t, but they didn’t need to know that.

Kira held up a hand in surrender. “Alright. You win. I withdraw my objection.”

She was trying to be nice and protect him from himself, but if he wasn’t going to appreciate her good intentions he could deal with the consequences.

She just hoped he didn’t live to regret this.

Actually, scratch that, she was looking forward to seeing the look on his face when he learned how badly he’d miscalculated.

“One final thing,” Caius said as Kira started to withdraw to give them room for the match. “We have a tradition in Roake. For every minute you’re late, you must take a blow from those whose time you wasted.”

Wren leaned forward. “And you’re very late.”

Realization dawned, aided by the look of satisfaction on Wren’s face that she saw too late. She’d been set up.

Finn caught her startled gaze. One of his eyes slid closed in an exaggerated wink.

Son of a—Finn knew about this.

Kira didn’t have any time for surprise as a shift of air warned of an attack. Kira sidestepped, whirling to find a woman completing her attack, blade still extended in front of her.

“That’s one,” the woman shouted with a grin. Her gaze shot to someone standing in the crowd. “Your turn.”

Kira sucked in a breath as an attack came from her right. She evaded, dodging easily.

A man straightened. “Two.”

Jin started for Kira. Ki flashed bringing him to an abrupt halt.

Caius lowered his hand, the air above it still sparking from the outpour of soul’s breath. “Your opponent is me, remember?”

A tense moment passed.

Jin reversed direction, gliding slowly in Caius’s direction. “By all means. We shouldn’t disappoint those who came all this way to see us, should we, Nixxy?”

“No, we cannot.”

“Let’s give them a show, then.”

Kira settled into a defensive crouch. “You took the words right out of my mouth.”

No wonder Finn hadn’t objected to Raider and Blue crashing their breakfast. He’d known this was coming.

She wouldn’t be surprised if the breakfast itself was a way of slowing her down.

She suspected everyone in the training hall would get a turn at trying to land a blow against her.

This was going to be protracted—and messy.

Kira slipped to the side as a Tuann man charged, arms outstretched to wrap her in a bear hug.

Kira pivoted as he blundered past her, kicking the back of his knee hard enough to send him crashing to the ground.

She bared her teeth at the rest. “Come on then. I was starting to feel cooped up. This will be a nice exercise.”

A pair of Tuann who looked like twins snickered as they circled to either side of Kira, keeping five feet of distance between themselves and her as they tried to split her focus.

Kira kept on the balls of her feet, prepared to move in any direction at an instant’s notice.

“You’re not supposed to fight back,” the one to Kira’s left said.

Kira kept her guard raised, knowing that the words were an attempt to draw her focus and give the other an opening to exploit.

“I’ve never been a fan of playing by the rules.” Kira let her eyes un-focus, her mind going silent as she waited.

There.

A shift in the balance of the Tuann who had spoken as they prepared to spring forward.

It turned out that the other was a decoy.

Kira darted forward, easily dodging the stream of ki. She grabbed the person’s arm, directing it at the twin.

There was a grunt breaking her opponent’s concentration.

“Felix.”

Kira smirked. Exactly as planned.

She shifted her grip, yanking him into the path of another who’d tried to attack while she was preoccupied.

To her right, the sound of laser fire rent the air as Jin pursued Caius.

The two wove across the floor in a graceful dance, taking turns attacking and evading.

For such a big man, Caius was surprisingly nimble. He moved as if he knew exactly where Jin would attack next.

No wonder he was part of Roake’s upper echelons.

“Where are you looking?” a Tuann woman snarled.

Kira bent backward, avoiding the wooden blade that missed her face by a centimeter.

Kira’s hand snapped out, latching onto the woman’s wrist. “Enough of this.”

She twisted.

The woman yelped, the practice blade dropping from her grip.

Kira caught it.

“Thanks,” Kira said in a chipper voice as she shoved the woman into another group of Tuann.

It gave Kira time to break out of the encirclement. She raced through the room, several warriors following.

This would take her forever if she had to wait for each to take a turn attacking.

While that might be fun in its own way, Kira was an impatient sort.

Kira parried two more attacks before sprinting for the simulators. She needed to figure out a way to speed things up if she wanted to keep the advantage.

The longer she fought; the more tired she’d get. Eventually she was bound to make a mistake.

While that wasn’t the end of the world, Kira refused to make things that easy for them.

She crossed the invisible barrier that announced the edge of the simulator. Four Tuann followed, war cries issuing from their throats.

Kira reached the simulator’s control. She brought up the menu, scanning it quickly for a species she recognized as one of the Tuann cursed.

Realizing her plan, he put on a burst of speed.

Kira smiled at him. “Have fun.”

She chose the image of a ripper, jumping backward out of the simulator as ten holograms stepped into being.

Kira had no idea why the Tuann would have a ripper programmed into their simulators.

The creatures bared their fangs as they slunk toward their prey, lowering their heads as they crept closer.

Covered in fur on their torso, the ripper had a pair of scraggly wings that made them look like a rat had mated with a bird. While they were native to a planet that was comprised largely of swamp, most people chose to avoid the world.

As far as Kira knew, it was unclaimed.

No one wanted to deal with a territorial species like the ripper which would attack on sight for a world that was severely lacking in resources.

“Mea’Ave take her. I fucking hate rippers,“ one of the Tuann exclaimed.

The four changed tactics, putting their backs to one another as the rippers surrounded them.

Kira waved when she caught one of them looking her way before sauntering away with a laugh.

“You’ll pay for this!” someone shouted at her back.

Kira was sure she would, but not before she made them regret tangling with her.

Thought they could try their hand at hazing her, did they?

Ha!

The last people who’d tried that still ran the other way when they saw her coming.

“Does anyone else find her smile a little scary?” one Tuann asked the other.

His companion nodded.

“Jin!” Kira shouted, marching toward him. “Are you ready to change the game?”

The drone broke away from Caius, rising into the air where the other man couldn’t reach.

“I thought you’d never ask.”

Caius lowered his practice blade, looking between the two of them with a suspicious frown.

Kira’s smirk widened. “Switch.”

Jin screamed a challenge as he shot toward the mass of Tuann. “Prepare for the Tin Man’s wrath, bitches!”

Kira laughed as she sprinted forward. She lifted the stolen blade, slashing at Caius’s torso.

Caius’s blade blocked hers. The force of the crash sent protest rocketing through Kira’s wrists.

Her muscles burned as Caius used his greater strength to bear down with his blade on hers.

Kira locked her legs and gritted her teeth as she forced herself not to yield.

“This is quite the unexpected turn of events,” Caius said in a conversational tone.

Kira snarled at his nonchalance.

He acted like he was out for an evening stroll, his face showing none of the strain she was feeling.

“I do that a lot.” Kira’s arms started to shake.

She let her guard collapse, stepping to the side as his sword swished past her and thrusting into the opening she’d just created.

The tip of her blade met empty air. Caius was now several feet away, the blade he’d held moments before nowhere to be seen.

“That’s not how the game is played,” Caius reproached.

Kira sank into a defensive posture, alertness filling her.

Caius was much faster than anything he’d displayed while dueling Jin. So fast she hadn’t been able to track him with her eye.

As if he could tell what she was thinking, Caius gave her a closed mouth smile. “Nevertheless, I’ve learned what I wanted to know so I’ll consider this my part of your initiation.”

Kira narrowed her eyes, unable to bring herself to believe his words.

She’d been expecting an epic battle that would take care of some of the restlessness she’d had since awakening in the Shining Palace.

He was giving up? Just like that?

Caius looked behind her to where Jin faced off with the rest. “Are you sure you want to leave him like that?”

Kira hesitated, shooting a glance at Jin to find him besieged.

He was in his element, cackling merrily as his lasers fired without pause. Every few seconds he would jerk to the side as a Tuann launched a ki wave at him.

He never stopped, smoothly weaving through the bodies as he sniped them from above.

Ki flew, the situation growing more dangerous as the Tuann began to cooperate.

Kira gave Caius her back, sprinting toward her friend.

Caius’s voice followed her as she plunged into the crowd. “I look forward to your display, little heir.”

Kira ignored his words as she fought her way to Jin’s side, not pausing as she laid about her with the practice blade.

Finally, she reached Jin. She whirled to face the Tuann, trusting Jin to protect her back.

“Having fun?” she asked Jin.

A circle opened up around them, giving them a brief respite.

“You always show me the best time,” Jin said playfully. “I really don’t know how to thank you.”

Kira snickered as a wave of Tuann advanced.

“Ready, Tin Man?”

Jin’s lasers fired. “Always, Nixxy.”

“Then see if you can keep up,” Kira ordered with a grin, charging the Tuann.

“Her skills have improved,” Harlow observed as Kira and Jin defended themselves against the Tuann. The two made a perfect team as they glided over the floor. Jin guarded her blind spots as Kira attacked, merciless as she took down those who came against her.

Their movements were a synchronized work of art that any of Graydon’s oshota would be jealous of.

“Little Storm, you found a gem this time,” Caius said, joining them.

Caius slapped Graydon on the shoulder as they settled in to watch.

Kira probably didn’t realize it, but those she’d faced so far, with the exception of Caius, were all in the lower ranks of Harlow’s forces.

Things would get more difficult from here as she deflected those with more experience.

Graydon caught her wince followed by a glare as Jiru landed a blow on her upper arm.

Jin retaliated with a laser strike that made Jiru laugh.

The rest of Jiru’s pod closed in on the two. For a brief time, Kira’s blade became a whirl of movement as she fought to avoid any further breaches of her defenses.

“Her father would have been proud,” Finn said softly.

There was a nostalgic look on the oshota’s face, as if he were watching a scene from the past.

Harlow looked over at him. “Are you going to renew your vow after she passes her adva ka?”

Finn’s gaze met Graydon’s. “This is what you’ve been hoping for, isn’t it?”

Graydon’s lips curved. “You act surprised when you knew this was what I wanted all along.”

Finn had been adrift for a long time before Kira’s arrival. The man was far too talented and loyal to be left to his own devices.

Graydon had seen an opportunity to bring him back to Roake and seized it. The bond that had formed between the two was far more than he’d dared to hope for.

Strong enough to keep Finn at Kira’s side even after she passed the adva ka. One of the few instances where it would not have been seen as a mark against his honor should he choose to step back as her oshota.

Finn’s mouth twisted. “One day, little Storm, all of your machinations will get you into trouble.”

Graydon focused on the challenges as Kira defended against the last of those standing. “As long as that day isn’t today.”

Kira’s chest heaved as she blinked away the sweat in her eyes as those surrounding her took a step back.

“Is it over?” Jin asked, sounding almost tired for once.

A path opened between Kira and those beside Graydon.

Finn shook his head as he stepped forward, grabbing a practice blade from one of the motionless Tuann.

“I’m not going to go easy on you,” Finn informed Kira.

She lifted her blade, a fine tremor in its length pointing to her exhaustion. Despite that, her gaze was alert.

Kira didn’t know the meaning of the words “give up”.

Silence spread as Finn stilled. The world seemed to slow.

Finn burst forward, covering the distance between them in a split second. Kira met his momentum, her blade coming up to block his.

There was a clang before Finn withdrew with a respectful nod that said it all. He wasn’t going anywhere after Kira’s adva ka. He’d stay right next to her.

“Any further news regarding the incident with her ship?” Harlow asked.

A low chant ran through the hall as Wren stepped forward next. The words developed a pulse, a feeling of anticipation building in the crowd.

“I learned who owned the ship that nearly collided with Kira’s,” Graydon said, not taking his eyes off the pair.

“And?”

“House Votair, though they deny any culpability for the bog’s hag.”

Harlow snorted. “And I’m betting it’s hard to prove.”

“Impossible.”

Wren moved just then, his strike poetry in motion as he attacked.

Kira spun out of the way, the exchange over almost as soon as it began.

The ground started to shake as the Tuann stomped their feet in time to their chant.

Harlow squeezed Graydon’s shoulder. “At least we know who to be on the lookout for.”

The chant rose to a crescendo as Harlow approached Kira. The room hushed as Harlow stopped in front of her.

“No weapon?” Kira asked with a brash cockiness few would be able to muster while standing in the Overlord’s presence.

Only his coli would be unwise and arrogant enough to dare.

“It is not necessary,” Harlow rumbled with an amusement only those close to him would hear.

Far from being insulted at the insinuation that she was too weak to take his full power, Kira seemed almost excited as she readied herself.

Even Graydon found himself swept up in the moment, a buzz filling the air as uncle and niece faced off.

There was no greater triumph than watching the woman he adored take her place among the warriors of her House.

To watch as the wounds created ninety-three years ago slowly began to mend.

No matter how far Graydon roamed or what master he chose to serve, Roake would always hold a piece of his heart.

Now, that held true in an entirely different sense with Kira’s addition to their ranks.

She was going to change Roake along with the rest of the Tuann. Graydon could feel it the same way he sensed when a storm was forming off the coast.

What’s more, he would be right there next to her while she did it.

A support and a shield against those forces that would batter her brilliance into dust. The sword that would cut through her enemies.

Anything she wished, he would be.

Kira fought to bring her heart under control. A difficult task considering the exhilarated feeling coursing through her veins.

It had been a long time since she’d fought like that. Perfectly in sync with Jin as they poured every ounce of energy into the physical.

She’d gotten swept away by it all. Every blow she’d successfully deflected driving her adrenaline higher.

It helped that she hadn’t actually been in any danger. She’d noticed in the midst of the encounter that no one was trying to hurt her. It was a game. One only the Tuann would think of. A showcase of her abilities and perseverance.

Toward the end, she was pretty sure a few had held back their true power.

It allowed Kira to sink into herself. To reach deeper. Move faster. Hit harder.

The few blows that made it through her guard provided a stinging counterpoint to the euphoria-like feeling.

Sweat dripped down her forehead. The shirt she wore was wet and sticking to her.

The hand holding her blade had developed a fine tremble from the extreme amount of stress she’d put on it over the last few minutes.

Quiet rang in the air as Harlow regarded her with a severe expression.

This was the Overlord. The most powerful person in Roake. Her uncle but also the person she would obey if she decided to stay.

The moment lengthened. The room still as if those present were holding their breath.

Kira braced, letting the blade fall to her side. She planned to take his blow head on.

It was crazy.

Then again, what was life without a little craziness in it. There were moments you needed to be fully present for. Your defenses fully down.

This felt like one of them.

It might be painful, but pain made everything that followed a little sweeter.

Harlow’s hand lifted.

Here it came.

A touch landed on Kira’s head as Harlow ruffled her hair. A broad smile broke through his harsh expression, like the sun through a mass of storm clouds. Radiant and warm.

“I’m proud of you,” Harlow told her as she froze in surprise.

A cheer shook the training hall as Wren and Finn congratulated her, patting Kira’s back.

Graydon clapped as he joined them, a soft look in his eyes that made butterflies take off in Kira’s stomach.

It was different than the way he normally looked at her. It was more than passion or love.

There was a tenderness. An affection that acted as a cool balm.

Devotion—and yes, passion.

She would have turned away from those emotions not too long ago.

A laugh broke from her. A cathartic release, every bit as needed as the one she’d gotten while fighting.

For so long, home was a concept she didn’t understand. It was something other people had. Never Kira.

This feeling right here must be what so many spoke about. The thing they wanted to defend even at the cost of their life.

She understood now.

This was something worth defending.

If memories were a strand of pearls that could be collected, she’d store this one in a place of honor to be taken out and cherished those times when she forgot what home meant.

The sound of stomping built. Slow at first before the tempo picked up.

It stopped abruptly.

Finn was the first to kneel. Then Wren.

From there, a wave caught, spreading through all those present.

Kira looked over the sea of Tuann who knelt on one knee, a hand to the ground and the other touching their heart as they bowed their heads.

Kira twisted, feeling overwhelmed by what was happening, lost in a way she hadn’t been moments before.

“I don’t understand,” Kira told Graydon.

He took her hand, pressing a kiss to the inside of her wrist before placing her fingers against his chest where his heart was. “This is a show of approval for Roake’s heir.”

Kira looked around her, feeling no less confused. “I haven’t done anything to deserve this.”

Graydon rumbled as he reached up to cradle her jaw, one thumb sweeping across her cheekbone in a gentle caress. “You proved you were worthy.”

“How?”

Graydon lips touched hers in a light kiss. “You’re Kira. That’s enough.”

Kira drew back from Graydon, reading the sincerity in his face. He really believed that.

She didn’t know why that surprised her. Kira had never had a problem with self-confidence or self-worth.

Except right now there was a voice whispering in her ear that she wasn’t worthy. That she’d disappoint them.

That voice made her want to run even as the rest of her wanted to grab hold and never let go of these people.

Graydon shifted backward as Harlow approached, leaving Kira to face her uncle on her own.

Nerves filled her as Harlow stepped in front of her with a lightness to his expression that had never been there before.

He looked delighted. Happy in a way Kira knew was rare for him.

It made it impossible to express worry about this whole heir thing.

Kira was coming to understand that if you gave the Tuann an inch they’d take the whole solar system.

It left her in a difficult predicament—particularly because a growing part of her no longer wanted her long-coveted freedom.

It wanted this family. All she needed to do was let herself accept it.

“My brother’s daughter,” Harlow said in an emotion filled voice as his gaze roved Kira’s face. “I have waited for this for decades. The hope of your return is the thing that kept me going.”

Kira held still as he pressed a kiss on her forehead.

“I suppose I should be grateful this wasn’t as bad as Makon seemed to think it would be,” Kira said as Harlow stepped back.

He flashed her a smile every bit as dangerous as the one she sometimes saw on Graydon’s face. “We’re not done yet. This is just the appetizer.”