32. Thirty Two

Thirty Two

Kira - Ta Sa’Riel

Two Months Later

Kira moved slowly through the Shining Palace. The halls quiet as she passed through their depths. The sound of her footsteps echoed as she found her way to the tower that acted as the personal quarters for the emperor and his family.

With around the clock guards stationed in every corner of the palace and access to the best healers the Tuann had to offer, it was judged as the safest place for Jin while they waited for him to wake up.

Amila was the one on duty today outside Jin’s room. Kira nodded a greeting at the other woman as her gaze lingered on the unfamiliar oshota standing next to her.

The man’s expression gave nothing away as he met Kira’s gaze. He didn’t react as she looked him over. Even when she made no attempt to hide her suspicion.

Kira glanced at Amila, tilting her head at the man in question. "Is he new? I don’t recognize him."

Until now, the oshota who’d been tasked with guarding Jin’s unconscious body were all Tuann she knew and trusted. Mostly Graydon’s.

Amila repressed her smile, reaching for the door to open it. "You may go inside."

By that, Kira took it to mean the other woman had no intention of explaining.

With one last distrustful glance at the stranger, Kira stepped into a sun-drenched room. The full length window along one wall offered a view of the forest to the rear of the city.

Kira barely noticed as she crossed to the bed, her attention taken up by the small figure lying within it. As still today as he’d been during every visit.

It was only when Kira slipped her hand into Jin’s that she realized they weren’t alone. A woman sat beside the bed. Pretty and petite.

She wore a diadem that controlled the wavy mass of hair that flowed down her back.

Kira was betting the oshota outside belonged to this woman. No wonder she hadn’t recognized him.

"I apologize for startling you," the woman said, seeing Kira’s surprise.

Kira didn’t move her hand from Jin’s. "No need. It’s my fault. I wasn’t expecting Jin to have company."

The woman’s face softened as she looked down at Kira’s friend. There was something in her expression that made Kira feel like she was intruding.

"Do you want me to come back?" Kira found herself offering.

Immediately afterward, she frowned. It wasn’t like her to be so kind to a stranger. Someone who was already interrupting these few precious moments she got with her best friend.

The woman rose, her gaze lingering on the boy’s face. "That won’t be necessary. I was about to leave."

She glided to the door, Kira staring after her. The oshota from earlier was already waiting for her when it opened.

Amila gave the woman a respectful bow as the door closed.

"Jin, I don’t want to alarm you or anything—but I think you just met your mother," Kira said.

That was the only person it could be. Jin and Devon may have inherited their father’s coloring and some of his facial features, but the rest they’d gotten from the woman who’d just left.

A woman whose existence was so steeped in mystery that Kira hadn’t been certain she was still alive.

No one talked about her. Not even a whisper to suggest she was still present in either the emperor or Devon’s lives.

There was a complete information black out. To the point Kira had to wonder if it was purposeful or not.

Either way, she appreciated that the woman had visited her son. Even if she was a little tardy.

"Odin finally got in contact with me."

Kira pulled out one of Jin’s spawn. The last she had been able to get her hands on. And that only because she had overlooked its hiding spot in her room. It was a tinier version of the mechanical bird. Its parts just as intricate and complicated.

"The Sye is as enigmatic as ever. The message they left was four words. That’s it. ’The next phase begins.’" Kira fiddled with the bird. "I wonder how many phases Odin has planned."

Her own arrangements were a little less convoluted. There was really only one phase. Finding the Osiri and wiping them out of existence.

"I haven’t heard from Pallas yet. I don’t know whether to hate him or be grateful for his interference."

Although Pallas wasn’t the mastermind behind Rothchild, he was still responsible for so many deaths. Something like that was hard to get over.

"Elise hasn’t woken up either. Just like you. Elena and Raider are keeping her company, but I can see the toll it’s taking." Kira rested her head on Jin’s arm. "Is this what it was like when you were waiting for me to come out of my coma?"

If so, she didn’t know how he’d gotten through those three years. The last two months had been hell.

After that, Kira no longer had the heart to chat. She hummed under her breath, staring out the window. Every once in a while, she sang a few bars. Jin had always liked the sound of her voice. She could only hope it was strong enough to reach him where he slumbered.

Gradually, though, she sang less and less, staring out the window at the forest beyond as she got lost in her thoughts.

Her forehead furrowed at the clinking sound coming from the bed. Like that of gears turning.

Kira looked over to find the bird’s wings fluttering.

"Jin?"

The boy’s eyelids moved.

Kira rose from her seat to lean over him. "Come on, Jin. Open your eyes. Just a little more."

Golden irises, bewildered and vague looking, focused on hers. "Don’t be silly. I don’t have eyes."

Kira’s laugh was almost a sob. "You do now, stupid."

A constipated look took over his face.

"What are you doing?" Kira asked with a little confusion.

"Why can’t I move?"

Oh.

He didn’t know.

Kira reached for his hand, squeezing it in hers before lifting it so he could see. "That’s because you’re not the J1N anymore."

There was a hint of excitement on Jin’s face as he stared at his hand. "I’m a biological."

Kira nodded. "Yeah."

"Wait a minute."

He opened and shut his hand before comparing its size to Kira’s. "Why are my fingers so small next to yours?"

He took in their other differences. Most notably how much tinier all of him was.

He reached up to feel his face, his horror growing. "This is a child’s body. Kira, you put me in a child!"

Kira winced. "Yeah. About that—Elena may not be able to call you uncle anymore."