Graydon's jaw clenched so hard she feared he might crack a tooth.
Her gaze went over his shoulder. "Where's Isla? Didn't she come with you?"
Graydon's frown deepened as he asked, "Now, why would she have come looking for me when she had orders to stand watch over your friends?"
"Ah." That explained it.
He cocked his head, fury deepening in his expression as his voice lowered ominously, sinking a wealth of fury into his words. "I’ve got it. Perhaps because you attacked the Luathans and freed their prisoners."
"I take it she didn't get the chance to warn you about the Tsavitee attack under way," Kira guessed.
This could complicate things.
Graydon let loose a sound dangerously close to a growl, a low rumble warning people to escape before the cold grip of death came for them.
Kira stayed where she was, fascinated in spite of herself, at the way his eyes darkened as he visibly battled for control.
"I have proof," Kira offered when it looked like he might give in to his urge to throttle her.
"That would be lovely," he said through gritted teeth. "But first, we need to get you out of here. If the Luathans catch you here, they'll execute you."
He didn't give her time to argue, forcibly marching her toward the door.
"But—"
Graydon ignored her protest.
She craned her neck to look at Jin. "A little warning would have been nice."
"I didn't sense his approach. He somehow fooled my sensors."
Kira stared at the side of Graydon's face. It would have been handy to know how the Tuann kept doing that.
"We can't leave," Kira said, struggling to escape Graydon's grip. It wasn't easy, especially since she didn't want to risk hurting him or further escalating the situation.
After an aborted movement, she gave up. His fingers were like bands of steel, tight and unbending unless she planned on breaking them.
"Graydon, listen to me. There is a Tsavitee warship waiting outside the system. Someone is trying to bring down the defense network so they can land." Kira fought to slow his progress, desperation tinging her voice. "Unless we do something, people are going to die."
He turned to her, his nostrils flared. "Do you understand what they'll do to you if they catch you in here?"
Kira stared at him. It dawned on her he might be furious for reasons that hadn't occurred to her. That maybe it wasn't as simple as him assuming she'd betrayed him.
"Does that matter, if we can save them?" she asked. It was the only response she could think of.
She was no martyr. She had no intention of sacrificing herself for the Tuann. She'd seen too many people die, carried their souls on her own. She wouldn't dishonor them by throwing her life away recklessly.
Those same souls would rip her apart when she met them in the afterlife if she didn't try everything in her power to stop this, not when they'd sacrificed their lives on similar causes.
Eternity stretched between them as he studied her.
"Show me your proof."
Relief fluttered in her chest.
He was giving her a chance. That was all. She'd have to make it count.
"Jin."
