She glanced at him, noticing she had Graydon's attention again. His head cocked. "I would like to see as well."
"If I said no?" she challenged.
Graydon's smiled at her for the first time. It lacked anything resembling friendliness. It was a challenge, pure and simple. "You're not stepping foot anywhere on this station without one of us by your side."
Something in her rebelled at letting these strangers into her space.
Kira's gaze slid to theWandereragain. Her home. The place where the most dangerous of her secrets resided.
She came to a decision. It wasn't worth the risk. What was inside could wait for her return. She didn't want either man having a look around. Himoto had a way of ferreting out secrets she preferred remain hers, and Graydon unsettled her on some deep level.
She started forward, walking toward the two men and the lift behind them.
"Your ship?" Himoto inquired.
"Never mind. I'm sure I can get my things later."
The sidelong look Himoto slid her way told her he knew why she'd decided against returning to her ship. To her surprise, he dipped his chin in a small nod and didn’t push before heading to the lift.
She hesitated, unable to help the slight note of challenge in her expression as she glared up at Graydon. His expression was blank as he stared at her before his lips quirked.
"After you,coli," he said.
She didn't respond as she moved on, the Tuann falling in around her until they flanked her, Jace and the rest bringing up the rear.
Her ship had better be in one piece when she returned to it.
CHAPTER SIX
Himoto stepped intoa large conference room with floor to ceiling windows looking out into the cosmos. Stars glittered on a black carpet of night, a monochromatic counterpoint to the mostly white room. It left the viewer with the sensation as if they were standing on the very edge of space.
For some, the sight would be disconcerting, given the deceptive fragility the windows implied. Not for Kira, who found the illusion of space mere feet away oddly comforting.
It helped she knew the windows were constructed of material capable of withstanding all but a missile strike and were nearly as durable as the outer hull of the station.
In the middle of the room was a long table capable of seating twenty people. Fruit arranged in the bowls in the center gave the space a bright pop of color.
