19. Nineteen

Nineteen

Kira - Rothchild

Afew days later, Kira hesitated on the threshold of the temporary quarters she and Graydon had been sharing.

"It’s clear they’ve been planning this for a while," Harlow was saying from the vid screen. "Since your departure, an assassination attempt was made on the Overlord of Asanth by a sub-House. Castor survived but he lost two oshota and a high level member of his House."

Graydon acknowledged Kira’s arrival with a glance. "How is that possible?"

Harlow’s face turned grim on the screen. "They used Siphons."

Kira moved closer. "What are those?"

Harlow’s eyes were warm as he focused on her. "You probably wouldn’t have heard of them before. They’re the favored weapon of a particular sect of assassins. Parasitic in nature, they latch onto a host and drain them of their blood."

"That sounds like something Castor and his oshota should have been able to handle easily," Kira said with a frown.

House Asanth’s Overlord hadn’t struck Kira as weak. Quite the opposite actually.

Castor had carried himself like someone who’d encountered numerous dangerous situations. He shouldn’t have been brought down so easily.

"You’re right," Harlow agreed. "While siphons are more dangerous than they sound because they hunt in groups and possess an uncommon speed that make them difficult even for a Tuann to fend off, that wouldn’t have been enough to take down so many of House Asanth’s top echelon."

"Ambush," Graydon guessed.

Harlow nodded. "The sub-house was one Castor trusted. He and its Overlord grew up together. He never saw the betrayal coming."

Kira hated to say it, but she’d warned them. Maybe after this, Castor and the other Overlords would actually start to listen.

Torvald’s voice issued from somewhere out of sight on the holo vid screen. "House Asanth has gone into lockdown while their Overlord heals."

Graydon leaned his fists on the table in front of him. "A member of his House may use this opportunity to usurp his seat."

Kira glanced at him. "Would his House allow that?"

"Maybe," Graydon said with a hint of frustration.

"It’s not unheard of. Especially in Houses like Asanth’s where they put a large emphasis on strength," Harlow explained. "If they’ve lost faith in their Overlord, there are some who might seek to take advantage. Castor is highly respected, though, so I find that unlikely in this case."

Graydon pushed off the table. "Let’s hope so. Asanth’s current Overlord is a known entity. I don’t like the thought of having to deal with someone new. It could make the situation unpredictable."

"We will deal with that if it comes to it," Torvald said.

It would be nice to think that this lesson had taught Asanth something. That they would take seriously Kira’s claim that there were people among their House working with the Tsavitee.

She doubted it, though.

If there was one thing she’d learned, it was that the Tuann could be incredibly stubborn when it came to what was right in front of their faces.

It was more likely they’d blame the rest of the sub-Houses, adding more fuel to the rebellion.

"What happens to the sub-House responsible for the attack?" Kira asked.

"It’s already happened," Harlow answered. "The House was razed to the ground. The few survivors were branded traitors and cast out to become wanderers."

Kira looked from him to Graydon in disbelief. "All of them?"

Graydon’s face was hard. "Members of a House share in its fate."

Kira swallowed. "The children too?"

Graydon’s gaze held hers. "Yes."

Kira looked away, blinking away the tightness in her eyes. "That doesn’t seem right."

The older members of a House could choose whether to stay or go. It was rare, but they had the opportunity to enter other Houses. The children wouldn’t have had that chance. Their only sin was being born to the wrong parents.

"It’s a harsh aspect of our society," Graydon said quietly.

Kira made an angry gesture, cutting off his explanation. She didn’t want to hear it.

A hologram of Torvald clicked into view, causing silence to fall.

Torvald Elden’s gaze was piercing as it landed on Kira. "Don’t blame my Face for this. As brutal as it seems, this is an accepted aspect of the society you chose to enter. More than one House has been brought low for showing mercy to the offspring of their enemy. A child today becomes an adult tomorrow. What is to say they won’t seek vengeance later for the fall of their House? As your friend, Joule, demonstrates, youth is no impediment to loyalty. It is understandable that House Asanth is unwilling to shoulder the responsibility and risk of those children’s future actions."

Kira was unable to look away from the emperor, the vast distance between them doing little to dampen the effect of his presence.

Like Harlow and Graydon, he was able to effortlessly command attention when he wanted to.

He reminded Kira of a dragon. Regal—and just as likely to eat you.

His size was one of the first things you noticed about him. That and his eyes, a striking gold against his light brown skin.

It was those eyes that first clued her into his relation to Jin. They were so similar. Though Jin’s had been a few shades lighter.

Time may have dimmed Kira’s memory of that boy from her past, but she could see the shadow of what Jin may have one day grown up to be in Torvald’s features.

The thought made Kira a little sad before she shook it off.

"While I understand Asanth’s concern, a child should never have to pay for the mistakes of a parent," Kira said, holding her ground. "And they shouldn’t be exiled for what they might one day do."

"How very naive of you. House Roake will have an interesting future," Torvald said with an amused glance at Kira’s uncle.

Harlow gave no reaction, his expression inscrutable.

"As for House Blae’s children, there are three of them." Torvald’s gaze deepened. "My Face went out of his way to ensure they will be cared for by a group of wanderers who will see that they get the care and understanding they need. I assure you it is a far kinder fate than if House Asanth had taken them in."

Kira looked away in defeat.

Much as she hated to admit it, he had a point. Having seen the discrimination Joule and Ziva had dealt with in Luatha as children of a fallen House—one that hadn’t betrayed anyone, at that—she could see how those children might be better off in an environment where they weren’t constantly reminded of what their parents had done.

At the very least, it would give them a fighting chance to find a new path in life.

Who knew—maybe Pallas and the forty three’s potential House could be a future sanctuary for them.

"What about your mission?" Torvald asked. "Has there been any progress in obtaining a location?"

Kira touched the data device she’d used to download the star map Odin had given her, projecting it for Torvald and Harlow to see. "We were able to narrow the search to this sector of space."

Torvald’s brow furrowed as he nodded in thought. "That makes sense."

"What do you mean?" Kira asked.

Torvald’s dragon eyes found hers. "After your talk with Graydon regarding your suspicions a few months ago, I tasked several of our historians to review the remaining records of the Tuann’s flight across the galaxy."

Kira glanced at Graydon.

"While our ancestors deliberately obscured our point of origin to prevent any from searching for our previous masters, they did leave a few hints. This sector is one of the areas that came up in their research."

Anticipation and excitement rose. They were on the right track. Torvald’s words confirmed it.

Kira struggled not to give in to her emotions. Even if they had a direction now, there was still a long way to go.

But this was a good lead. It was the most she’d had in years of searching.

"How do you plan to further narrow the search grid?" Torvald asked.

"We’re awaiting the Wanderer’s arrival. My source should be able to give us another data point once it does. We’re hoping between that and what we already have, it should get us a location."

"By ’source’, I assume you mean the prisoner you liberated with the help of my Face."

Kira’s expression settled into bland lines as she met the emperor’s gaze.

"Still unwilling to admit it, I see. That’s smart of you. This way you don’t have to take responsibility later." Torvald glanced at Graydon. "She’s better at politics than some of the Overlords."

Graydon inclined his head. "My coli is a woman of many talents."

Harlow sat forward. "I would still like to know how you managed to get separated from your ship in the first place."

"It’s a long story," Kira said tiredly.

One Kira wasn’t entirely sure she wanted to share. She still felt embarrassment over how Pallas had gotten the drop on her.

Not to mention the damage it could do to her uncle’s confidence in her skills.

"We have the situation under control. My source is in good hands with Wren and Finn. As soon as they arrive, we’ll work on obtaining the final location."

Harlow regarded Kira steadily. "I’m going to assume you’re telling me the truth and not pry any further. In the meantime, I’m re-routing Caius’s unit. He’ll be on standby near the border of that territory."

There it was. His caveat.

"Harlow—" Kira tried.

"Caius is the person I trust the most with matters of utmost secrecy. Those I’m deploying are under his immediate command. All of whom have sworn fealty to him. They won’t betray you."

He was putting her in a difficult position.

"Treachery isn’t the only thing I’m worried about."

Harlow’s smile was small. "They’ll be discreet. You have my word."

"I hope so," Kira told him.

If they spooked the Tsavitee, this would all be for naught.

"We’ll look forward to your next update," Harlow said at a signal from Torvald.

The holograms snapped off as the feed ended.

"I think that went well," Graydon said, collecting the communication stone from the table and reinserting it into his armor.

"How long do we have until they expect another update?"

Graydon folded his arms over his wide chest as he considered. "A day. Maybe two."

"We’re running out of time."

Odin’s instruments still hadn’t picked up the Wanderer anywhere in the vicinity of the solar system.

Graydon pulled Kira’s hand away from her forehead, tugging her into his front. "We’re not out of it yet."

She buried her face in his chest, releasing a long breath. "You’re right."

This wasn’t a dead end. Not even close.

Torvald’s information confirmed they were on the right track. Assuming nothing had happened to Raider and the rest—and she was convinced they were absolutely fine—they just needed to wait.

"Yes, I am," Graydon agreed.

Kira punched his side, the gesture hurting her hand much more than it did him. No matter what his fake grunt might have tried to claim.

"Tomorrow, then," Graydon said as Kira lifted her head.

Kira nodded. "Tomorrow."

Graydon looked pleased. "We’re in agreement."

"For once." She gave him a dour look. "Don’t let it go to your head."

It was a momentary weakness.

"You can’t take it back now. When this is over, you’ll remember how satisfying it is work in tandem with someone like me." His voice lowered to a whisper. "At that point, you’ll beg for my company."

"Someone is feeling awful arrogant."

"I prefer to call that confidence."

Graydon

Graydon backed Kira toward the bed, unable to stand that look in her eyes.

His coli was beginning to break. There were cracks forming around her edges. Tiny fissures that grew wider as the days passed.

She needed a distraction. A reminder that Jin and Elena weren’t the only things worth fighting for. That she deserved a chance too.

The playfulness fell from her face as she sensed the shift in his mood. Desire replacing their banter.

Kira trailed a finger down Graydon’s chest, peeking up through her eyelashes at him in invitation.

One look and Graydon was lost. Perhaps from as far back as the first time he’d laid eyes on her, standing in the cramped hallway of a human space station. He’d known then that she’d irrevocably change his world.

It was why he’d resisted, preferring to see her as a potential burden rather than the gift she was. The calm in his storm.

Faces weren’t forbidden from taking partners, but it wasn’t common practice either. Balancing the conflicts of interest that could arise from such a relationship was often difficult. Most preferred shorter term relationships as a result.

Graydon was a selfish man though. He wanted it all. Duty and devotion. He preferred the risk of getting burned by the fire rather than walking away and missing the conflagration.

He’d never feared difficult. In fact, the harder something was, the greater the pleasure derived when he succeeded.

He was smart enough. And cunning enough to have the future he wanted without sacrificing the woman by his side.

He would accompany Kira on this journey. They would save Torvald’s first born and Kira’s niece. In the meantime, the emperor would use Graydon’s absence as a chance to weed out those disloyal Tuann who may not have risked joining the uprising had Graydon still been in play.

A win-win as humans would say.

Graydon tugged the collar of Kira’s top to the side, exposing the bare skin of her shoulder. He leaned forward to place a kiss there, a masculine feeling of satisfaction filling him at her low moan.

That’s right, coli. Sing for me.

Kira hooked a hand around the back of his neck, massaging briefly.

Graydon grabbed her hand, bringing it around to press a gentle kiss on the inside of her wrist.

He held her gaze as he reached for the hem of her shirt. Kira didn’t move to stop him, her lips parting. Her pupils blown wide with arousal.

Graydon lifted her shirt, up and over her head before letting it fall to the ground.

The perfection before him left him in awe. He took his time studying his woman. The play of muscles along her arms and shoulders. The faint battle scars that decorated her torso. Evidence of what she’d survived.

It wasn’t Kira’s exterior that made her beautiful. It was everything else that made Graydon cherish her.

"I’d follow you anywhere," Graydon vowed, an indescribable tenderness filling him as he brushed the hair away from her forehead. "Remember that when you think you are lost. You are not alone. You are loved."

Always. And forever.

Kira searched his expression, weighing each word as if she was deciding how much stock to place in them.

That was his prickly aksa. She placed rationality above all else, never losing herself to emotion. For her, actions spoke louder than words.

That was okay. He planned to imprint his message down to her very soul this night.

The arms and torso of Graydon’s synth armor retracted, sliding under his skin back to the patch where a lu-ong’s scale had been implanted.

Through half lidded eyes, Kira made no effort to disguise her admiration.

"If you look at me like that, I won’t be able to control myself," Graydon warned.

"Maybe that’s exactly what I want," Kira challenged.

Graydon yanked her body against his, the touch of her bare skin on his challenging his intention to take it slow. He caught her lips with his. One hand slipped between them to find her breast. He rolled the nipple between his fingers, pleased at how hard it already was.

Kira groaned, her hands coming up to grab his shoulders.

Graydon palmed her ass, lifting her. She wrapped her legs around him as the kiss deepened.

They ground against each other, unable to get enough. Graydon needed more. So much more.

Graydon’s smile was slow. "I was hoping you’d say that."

Kira

Graydon’s mouth fastened around her nipple, sucking.

Kira gasped. The sound changing to a moan as he nipped the sensitive skin on the inside of her breast.

Damn. How was he able to do this to her?

It was like he had a map to her pleasure centers and was intent on worshiping at every single one.

Not one to be outdone, Kira reached for him. She ran her nails over his chest. His muscles shivered.

He spilled them onto the bed. Kira yelped as she landed on her back. Graydon holding the bulk of his weight above her. He ground his length against Kira’s core, dragging it over her clitoris until she saw stars.

Her breath caught, her eyelids fluttering.

"How’s that, cheva nier?"

Graydon did it again.

Kira lost patience, grabbing his head and digging her fingers into his hair. She dragged his face down to hers. They nipped and sucked as they fought for dominance.

Kira needed to be closer. In his blood and in his bones.

She couldn’t be the only one to lose herself.

If he wanted to, Graydon could destroy her like no other. Obliterate her.

He was her person. Now and forever. Her port in a storm. So rare that she sometimes felt she’d dreamed him up.

Except her dreams had never involved love or companionship.

Graydon divested Kira of her pants. Her body writhed as he pressed a kiss to the indent of her hip. Needy sounds escaped her mouth as he moved lower. Until finally, his lips closed around the sensitive bud at her center.

Kira sucked in a sharp breath, the sensation almost too much to bear.

Especially when Graydon inserted a finger into her warmth and flicked.

Kira’s hips rose. Graydon subdued her, holding her still as he tortured her with his mouth and fingers.

Warmth pooled in her lower belly, coiling tight.

"Graydon!" Kira snarled.

Graydon pressed his tongue hard against her clit and massaged the front of her sex.

Climax tore through Kira. Her back bowed as her inner muscles fluttered.

Graydon wiped his mouth, rising over her with a chuckle. "My beautiful mess."

Kira’s glare was halfhearted as she found herself distracted by the way his muscles flexed and stretched over his frame.

She hooked her leg around his, reversing their positions as she rolled him onto his back. Graydon relaxed against the sheets, watching her with an obsessiveness that made her core clench.

She wanted this man. Now.

But first, she’d return the favor he’d given her.

She bent, her eyes on his as she pressed a kiss to the center of his chest. The look in his eyes changed, naked need on his face.

She moved to one nipple, nipping it before moving down his body. His stomach tensed, making Kira smile against his skin as she moved lower.

She cupped Graydon, wrapping her fingers around the base of his cock. She rubbed her thumb over the tip, smoothing the pre-ejaculate into his skin before giving an exploratory lick.

The muscles in Graydon’s legs tightened.

Kira blew on the spot where her tongue had just touched. Graydon whispered a muffled curse.

With a smile, she leaned forward, taking him fully into her mouth. Kira bobbed, every so often stopping to lick the tip again before swallowing him down.

Sounds came from Graydon. Desperate and needy as she worked to drive him out of his mind, the same way he had her.

It wasn’t until he tugged at her hair that she stopped. Crawling up his body, Kira settled over him. She started to guide him inside her.

His hands splayed over her hips as his breath shuddered. "That’s it, coli."

Kira’s eyelids fluttered as she sank down, the sensation of being stretched almost too much.

Tendrils of ki floated out of Graydon’s body. They brushed against Kira’s skin, dipping beneath it to coax her own ki out to play.

The sensation brought a moan to her lips. The experience of their ki intertwining sending a flood of warmth to her center.

"Graydon," Kira moaned, her hips rising and falling almost against her will.

She couldn’t take it.

His rough hands caught her, lifting her before yanking her back down. Their bodies slapped together. Pleasure exploded through her, filling her veins with magma.

Their ki speared her body. Kira came with a startled cry.

Graydon’s movement grew frenzied as he flipped them, pounding inside of her. Kira’s inner muscles fluttered around him, sending her into another climax. He followed her with a cry.

Kira’s skin still felt too tight for her body as she blinked up at the ceiling. "I think you broke my brain."

Graydon buried his face in her neck, letting some of his weight rest on her. "Trust me, coli. Yours isn’t the only one in jeopardy."

He pulled out to rest beside her.

Kira stretched, her muscles delighting in the slight pull, evidence that they’d been well used.

"We should have been doing that months ago. You’re better than any session with Quillon," Kira purred.

She felt renewed. Her body pain free and her mind clear in a way it hadn’t been since all this started.

Amazing how a little bit of sex could leave her feeling like a new woman.

Graydon’s smirk was all masculine smugness. "It’s an effect of our ki’s manifestation."

Kira snorted, grabbing the covers to pull over their bodies. Graydon lifted an arm so she could snuggle into his side.

"Are you telling me Tuann just need to get a little freaky if they want a panacea for all wounds?" Kira asked, looking up at him teasingly.

"Only when their partners are as talented as me."

Kira hid a smile against his chest. "Arrogant."

His body moved under hers as he made himself more comfortable. "Yet not a lie."

Kira rested her cheek against him, contentment filling her as quiet settled around them.

Lost in thought, she drew a pattern on his chest. "I’m not sure I know how to be alone. I’ve always had Jin beside me."

Although there had been times where she’d felt isolated, she’d always known she wasn’t truly alone. Jin was with her. That knowledge had helped stem the tide of darkness on more than one occasion, giving her an anchor to hold onto.

Graydon’s arms tightened around her. "I will always be grateful for that."

Kira’s expression was bittersweet as she pressed her forehead against his side. "I always assumed that mine and Jin’s relationship wouldn’t leave room for anybody else."

Most partners wouldn’t be able to accept how deep their feelings for one another ran without assuming there was a level of romance involved.

There wasn’t. Jin was the brother of her soul.

She had never wanted to deal with the potential resentment that might arise. The jealousy that would destroy any good she and that other person might have had.

"You’ve never tried to get me to abandon him," Kira said, looking up at him.

Even now, when it had become clear how deep that bond truly ran.

"Of course not." Graydon looked at her as if he’d never considered it. "Your connection doesn’t preclude you from developing something just as deep and unique with someone else. The same way my oath as a Face doesn’t prevent me from being what you need."

Graydon understood. Furthermore, he accepted them. It was a gift beyond measure. One she’d never hoped to have.

"What?" he asked, arching a brow at the way she was looking at him.

She shook her head. "Nothing. I just can’t help but wonder how much better our lives would have been if we’d met you sooner."

His lips curled up in a smile that warmed his eyes. "It’s good we found each other then."

"Yeah," she agreed softly. "It really is."

Graydon pulled Kira half over him, bringing her front flush with his side. She slid a leg over his, making herself more comfortable.

"The best moment of my life was when you crashed a gondola into it," he whispered, nuzzling her temple.

"Your memory is faulty," Kira corrected. "The gondola was already crashing when I jumped on it. Jin and I merely guided it to a more optimal landing site."

"As I recall, the people in charge weren’t exactly a fan of your actions."

"That’s not my fault. That man was an asshole."

That waste of space had hated her guts for years. He’d have used any excuse to fuck with her.

Graydon looked like he was suppressing a smile. "If you say so."

"I do," Kira grumbled.

Graydon placed his hand over hers. "Promise me one thing."

Kira looked up at him, catching the serious cast of his features.

"Don’t try to protect me by leaving me behind." He caught her chin, forcing her to look at him when she would have avoided his gaze. "I don’t care what’s coming or how bad it gets."

Kira pulled her chin out of his hand. "Have you ever thought that I don’t want to be the reason for your fall?"

The look he gave her made her heart hurt.

"You don’t get to make that decision for me. We each decide for ourselves what we’re willing to risk and for who. That is what it means to love someone." His lips quirked. "And unlike a certain someone, I’ve had the honor of being responsible for my decisions for years."

Kira glared, pinching his side at the teasing note in his voice.

He caught her hand, holding it against him firmly. "I will not give you up. Even to death. I’ve told you before—you’re mine. And I plan to keep you."