Jin's voice dropped to a whisper. "Odin is here."
Kira's mouth quirked. "I know."
Jin choked. Several seconds passed before he screeched, "What do you mean you know?"
"She dropped by for a visit. I'm looking right at her."
Odin grinned, her expression mischievous. The earring was Kira’s clue as to which gender Odin was leaning toward today.
Odin had told Kira that her species didn’t experience gender the same way most humans did. They were all and neither, a benefit of having minor shapeshifting capabilities.
Often when they reached maturation, they leaned toward one or the other, but they didn’t have to remain the one they chose.
Odin liked flipping between genders as feelings dictated. The earring was her way of letting those who knew and cared for her which gender she preferred at the moment.
Today she might be female; tomorrow male. The next day she might choose neither, instead using her species’ gender-neutral form.
Even as Kira studied Odin, she could see her friend’s features taking on a more feminine caste. Her lips were a shade plumper, the line of her jaw softer. It was a minor difference, but there nonetheless.
"What do you mean you're looking right at her?" Jin demanded.
"How many other ways can that statement be interpreted?" Kira asked with irritation.
Jin exploded. "This is why I need eyes and ears on the ground. Stuck in here, I'm limited to what you see. I might as well be blind."
"Stuck there is exactly where you had better stay," Kira ordered in alarm. "I mean it, Jin. No wandering off again. You've already tipped Graydon to your presence. Let's not make it worse."
Stubborn silence answered her.
"Jin," Kira said in warning.
Odin's grin widened, her feet kicking as she slurped up her drink.
Kira slapped the table. "I mean it, Jin. I will dismantle you."
Jin scoffed. That was the trouble of having a best friend who'd known you basically your whole life. They no longer believed your threats.
Kira ignored the sinking feeling that told her no amount of threats would get Jin to listen, instead focusing on the problem she could solve. "I thought it was too dangerous to be seen together. Your rules, remember?"
Odin's smile was impish. "Indeed, I do, but I thought I'd take a page out of the great Kira Forrest's book and break a few rules."
"How did you get past the defense net? And why are you here?" Kira asked, not letting herself get distracted.
Odin's presence was concerning on a number of levels. The least of which was she'd managed to pierce a system the Tuann seemed to believe couldn't be penetrated.
If Odin had managed it, who was to say the Tsavitee hadn't as well?
Odin's shrug was casual as she reached for her drink. "I have my methods."
Kira's hand landed on her wrist. She squeezed gently in warning. "Explain."
It wasn't that she didn't trust Odin—well, Kira didn't trust anyone really—so that wasn't entirely true. She'd learned to be cautious. She didn't like it when people acted outside of the norm. This was unusual behavior for her friend.
Except for their first meeting, Odin had always been careful to only communicate with Kira via the forums and message boards. She felt—and Kira agreed—it was too dangerous to chance meeting out in the open too often. Their shared goal of finding the Tsavitee home worlds was dangerous. Too many people would have loved to get their hands on that information, or even the various possibilities.
Suspicion deepened in Kira's stomach. She opened her senses, hunting for the telltale mental scent of Tsavitee mind meddling. Odin felt normal, metallic with electricity zipping along her thought patterns.
Odin's gaze darted to Kira's ear. "Let's say a little birdie was very helpful."
