Kira regarded Finn for a long moment."Do you know the story of the Phoenix?"
Talon studied her. "It's a human myth, right?"
She nodded. "I got the name because of my habit of rising from my own ashes." She started walking away. "They never bothered to warn me that those who stood next to the Phoenix tend to get burned in the same fire."
EIGHTEEN
Kira found Graydon staring in the direction the light signal had come from. A small gesture from him sent Amila loping toward the tower with an easy gait.
Kira mentally cursed Odin's propensity for stirring up trouble. The hacker had better have gotten out. If she got caught, Kira planned to let Jin make good on some of the threats he'd made over the years.
For now, there was nothing Kira could do. Any action she took to prevent or delay Amila would only serve to further arouse Graydon's suspicions.
Graydon's hands were clasped behind him as his eyes met hers.
She clamped her mouth shut; her expression blank.
Graydon might look like a handsome brute, but his attractive façade hid a devious mind.
She recognized her match in him. He was a survivor, like her. Someone willing to put in the hellish amount of work needed to protect what was his.
He was every bit as deadly as she was. Maybe even more so, which was why if they ever ended up enemies, she'd come for him from the shadows and only when victory was assured. He wasn't the type you fought fairly. Not if you planned on winning.
"Come," Graydon said again before walking away.
"I'm not a dog," Kira muttered. To Solal, who stood partially hidden in the shadows, she asked, "Any idea what he wants?"
"Only one way to find out," he returned.
Kira exhaled. She'd had a feeling he was going to say that.
Kira bowed to the inevitable. If they didn't do this now, Graydon was likely to force the issue at a time that was inconvenient for her.
Reluctantly, Kira followed him through the city, over cobblestone streets and by cute houses. The architecture here showed a marked difference than that of the fortress's. The two couldn't have been more different if they'd tried. The only similarity was the fact both appeared built from stone.
The city reminded Kira of the ones in old Europe. Ageless, quaint history mashed together with modern convenience. Their buildings were decorated with natural hues, allowing them to blend in with the nature all around them even as the fortress was a hulking form in the distance.
"I'm surprised Finn took you to Talon," Graydon finally said, breaking the silence.
"Why?"
Graydon looked at the ink-dark sky above. "Talon and Finn used to be pod mates. They served the same sword."
But no longer. It was on the tip of Kira's tongue to ask why.
"If he took you there, it means he trusts and admires you," Graydon said.
Kira snorted, unable to help her disbelief. That was stretching it.
Graydon's lips twitched. "What do you see when you look at this place?"
"Blind corners. Easily taken streets. An enemy would find it easy to march through this city," Kira responded immediately. On the other hand, the locals would be able to slip through any net the enemy sought to secure, the same disadvantage working against the enemy as well.
"Most would have commented on its beauty," Graydon pointed out. "However, you've only focused on the flaws in its defenses."
There was a reason for that. When your safety depended on the defensibility of your surroundings, it taught you to look at everything through a certain lens. It was a difficult habit to change.
"Are you implying I'm broken?" Kira asked.
