"How the hell does he do that?" Kira didn't realize she'd spoken out loud until the marshal smiled.
"Practice. Perhaps one day you will be able to do the same."
Her expression closed. She doubted she'd be around long enough to learn how.
Makon glanced at Graydon. "I will remain behind. This is House Roake's responsibility."
Graydon's lips twisted. "Just make sure the crew arrives in one piece."
Kira thought it was a good idea to remind the sword-happy marshal of that necessity, given the two bodies he'd already decorated the boat with.
Makon inclined his head, a faint smile gracing his lips. "Of course. It will be as you wish."
Graydon raised his eyebrows at Kira. "Ready?"
He clapped his hands together, his forehead furrowing as power built between them. Sparks flew as he tore his hands apart with visible effort. A board hovered in the air, lowering until he could easily step onto it. He held out his hand and smirked in invitation.
Kira didn't think so.
"I'll find my own way."
He looked between her and the open water, the shore so distant as to be invisible.
"And how do you plan to do that? By swimming?"
Her smile was toothy. Laugh it up, but no way was she getting on that board with him and letting him play knight in shining armor to her helpless damsel.
The low hum of a hoverboard called her attention. Her smile widened as she caught sight of her board skimming across the water.
Suspicion slammed over Graydon's expression.
"I'll figure it out," she said.
Before he could stop her, Kira jumped over the edge of the boat. Her feet splashed into ankle-deep water, thelu-ong’scoiled body making a surprisingly stable surface as she jogged away.
"Kira, get back here," Graydon warned.
She did a little of her own taunting. "You really should learn to stop underestimating me. It always backfires on you."
As if they planned it, the part of thelu-ong’sbody she stood on rose from the sea. Good thing too, because Graydon looked seconds from coming over the side of the ship after her.
Kira grinned before turning her attention to the task ahead. Thelu-ongflexed, and Kira shot into the air. Just as she started to fall, thelu-ong’shead landed under her feet and shoved. She and thelu-ongrose, shooting past the rest of the patrol. Kira caught a glimpse of their startled faces, and then she was air born as thelu-onggave her one final push.
For a second she was weightless. All her worries were far below, and she closed her eyes, basking in the stolen moment.
Her eyes snapped open, a fierce grin on her face. This was going to be so much fun.
The hoverboard carrying the lizard streaked along thelu-ong’sbody as Kira started to fall. The board hit the edge of thelu-ong’sbody and grabbed air. Kira stretched, her fingers touching the edge of the board before she grabbed it, slamming it under her feet as gravity pulled her down.
"Unnecessarily flashy, don't you think?" Jin's voice was dry.
"Perhaps," Kira conceded. "But it was fun."
"I can't argue with that," Jin said.
The discomfort of her body was placed aside for now. "What say we give them a little bit more to be angry about?"
The lizard bussed her cheek with several small kisses. "Yasss! I love it when you're devious."
