Kira's gaze was cool. "They're welcome to lend a helping hand."
Odin sent her a reproachful frown. "You know why they won’t."
Kira looked away. Yes, she did. Most days she didn't even blame them. They had safety in anonymity. With childhoods as traumatic as her own, she couldn't begrudge them the peace they had found.
"You have options they don't have, anyways," Odin said.
"You know why I don't."
Odin's sigh was grudging. "I guess I do."
Commotion at the door caught Kira's attention. Her eyes widened as Raider pushed his way inside. He paused, scanning the room before his gaze fell on hers.
"Crap," Kira breathed.
Odin twisted. She caught a glimpse of Raider and spun around. "This isn't good."
No, no, it wasn't. Their only saving grace was Odin had never lowered her hood. Good thing too, because Raider would have known exactly who she was—or at least who she used to pretend to be. Any attempt at subterfuge would be over then.
"I hope you have another way out of this place," Kira murmured.
Odin was already scooting out of the booth. "Think about what I said."
Kira didn't get a chance to respond as Odin walked past her, moving without an ounce of hurry. She was just another Tuann going about her business, in a cloak, while taking a back exit to avoid being spotted.
Kira fought the urge to sink her face into her hands.
Raider's narrowed gaze moved from Odin's retreating form to settle on Kira. There was a marked pause before he started her way.
She took a hasty sip of her drink as Raider joined her. She swallowed its warmth, as he stopped next to her table.
Kira was the first to speak. "I trust I didn't damage relations too badly."
Raider lifted a shoulder. "No worse than they already are."
And there was the crux of the problem. The Tuann were suspicious of outsiders, which meant the possibility of a lasting alliance was an ephemeral dream at best.
"Actually, some interesting things happened after you left," he said.
Kira waited.
"I don't think Rheya's ploy worked out the way she intended. If I read them right, the oshota of House Roake seemed almost impressed that you didn't try to knock her head off her shoulders," Raider said.
Kira swirled the liquid in her drink. "That would be a first."
He grunted in agreement.
His gaze was thoughtful as he considered her. After several seconds, he slapped the table as if reaching a conclusion. "Come on, I know what we should do."
He didn't give her the time to ask questions, heading toward Talon and Finn.
Kira watched through narrow eyes as the three exchanged words before Talon reached beneath the bar, pulling out several glasses and two bottles of liquor.
Raider faced Kira and tilted his head to a table in front of one of the bay windows overlooking the harbor. Reluctantly, Kira heaved herself to her feet, curious in spite of herself.
"What's this?" Kira asked, meeting Raider at the table as he started setting slim glasses the length of her pointer finger in two neat rows.
"Do you remember that dive bar we visited on O'Riley shortly after our first battle as Curs?" Raider asked.
