"The House won't give up their claim so easily," he told her. "If you want freedom from their influence, you'll have to take it."
She gave him a dark look. It was good advice, but it left the question of why he’d offered it. He'd made it clear where he thought she belonged, and it wasn't with humans.
Kira turned slightly to make sure Jace and the rest of his team were following. They brought up the rear, not bothering to hide their gawking as they looked around at their surroundings.
She saw Blue subtly aiming a small device at the carvings near her. A camera probably. It confirmed one of her suspicions. Jace and the rest weren't here just for her and the ships Himoto wanted. They were here to gather intelligence.
The Consortium might desperately want the ships, but Kira suspected they were just the start. Their primary goal lay in a different direction—to learn all they could about the Tuann and what they were capable of.
Oh, Himoto would gladly accept any ships she could negotiate for on his behalf, but he was also desperate to understand what made the Tuann’s technology so superior.
"They're certainly not the most welcoming of hosts.” Jin aimed his eye at Kira. "I'm beginning to see a resemblance."
Kira stuck her tongue out at him as Graydon made a sound of agreement. "The first meeting could have gone better.”
"Oh, I don't know. It's not the worst greeting Kira's ever gotten," Jace drawled from behind her.
He'd caught up sometime in the past few minutes.
"True. There was no bloodshed, and everyone is still breathing," Jin added.
The Luathans around them paused, peering at Kira with suspicion. She smiled sweetly at them. They didn't seem to know how to interpret her expression, eventually returning to treating her and the rest with disinterest.
She found it interesting none of Graydon's warriors reacted to the statement beyond signs of amusement.
"Thanks, you two. It means a lot to know your opinion of me," Kira said, watching Graydon's warriors.
Sneaky. They used the fact most saw them as part of the furniture, to watch and listen. No doubt they understood more of the hidden undercurrents and saw more secrets than most visitors to a House. She'd have to keep that in mind. They'd make excellent sources of intelligence and gossip.
"You're welcome," the two said in tandem.
Kira shook her head. She'd forgotten how those two tended to gang up on her, given half the chance.
The amusement fell from Jace's face as he gave her a sidelong look, his expression grave. "I thought we agreed you were going to get to know these people."
It was a thinly veiled criticism, meant to say, “Don't go getting any bright ideas until you complete your side of the bargain.”
She gave him a sharp smile. "Why would I want to spend time with people who make it clear they don't wish to know me?"
His expression tightened as he read between the lines. Why would she bother with getting Himoto what he wanted when she could just as easily gain her freedom?
"I forgot. You always have to be the first to leave." The words held a snap to them.
Kira fought her flinch, her mouth already opening to fire another salvo.
"Children, enough," Graydon rumbled.
The look on Jace's face startled a bark of laughter out of Kira before she stifled it.
"That word suddenly doesn't seem quite so funny now, I'm betting," Kira murmured to Jace.
"I'm not a child," he responded.
"To me, you are," Graydon said. "You're what? Fifty? I'm nearly two hundred of your years."
"I'm thirty-nine," he snapped.
Graydon made a less than impressed face.
