He withdrew into himself, a mask slamming down as his attention shifted to the culprits of what happened. There was no mercy in him as he made his way toward Aeron.
"Shh, I've got you," Graydon crooned. He lifted a hand, pushing her hair away from her face. "I know,cheva nier, but you're not alone now. I'm here."
Her pain gutted him.
Jin drifted beside her.
"She sacrificed herself for you," Graydon said softly. A word crept along the edges of his mind, one he tried to ignore, knowing the ramifications of it would change everything.
It pushed forward anyway. Soul bound.
"Yes," Jin agreed. "Not all of her secrets are hers to tell."
It was a warning, one Graydon would do well to pay attention to.
As secrets go, this one was dangerous. There hadn't been a soul bound since the Tuann's escape from their merciless masters.
That there was one now would rock the very foundations of their society if it ever got out.
He was starting to understand the full ramifications of Kira's existence and the potential for danger she held.
*
Numbness spread through Kira as she clutched Graydon, nuzzling her face into his neck. Just one more minute, and then she'd pull herself together.
She needed to face the consequences of this—but not yet.
Even knowing she shouldn't, Kira's head lifted, her lips unerringly finding Graydon's.
She needed to forget, if only for a minute. All of the pain. All of the sadness. She needed to know there was more to this life than death and loss.
Graydon had come for her, dragged her scratching and clawing from the darkness. He was still here, even after he'd seen her in some of her worst moments.
Graydon's hand rose, cupping her nape. His passion matching hers. The kiss was gentle, as if he was afraid of breaking her—until he wasn't.
They sank into each other. The rest of the world faded away. The only thing of importance the way their lips clung, heated and warm. A brand that marked and claimed.
Someone cleared their voice loudly next to her.
It took several seconds before Kira could force herself to draw back, her breathing fast as arousal swam through her veins.
The brutal beauty of Graydon's face eclipsed the rest of the room. The visible battle he fought not to pull her to him and continue their interlude was reassuring. She wasn't the only one fighting not to finish what they'd started.
"As touching as this is, I'm not sure your uncle wants to see you getting busy with the commander," Jin drawled. "I second that sentiment, if you were wondering."
Kira felt drained and weak as she propped herself on one hand. "You couldn't have found another way?"
Jin darted into her chest. Her arms closed around him as his voice came, muffled. "Graydon seemed convinced this was our best option."
Kira dropped a kiss on his smooth metal. "Thank you for coming for me. I know that couldn't have been easy for you."
Jin carried his own scars from those memories.
Jin drew back. "It wasn't."
The other two were starting to recover from their immersion in Kira's mind. Devon bolted upright, landing on his hands and knees as he lost the contents of his stomach.
Finished, he scrubbed at his mouth, looking lost. "How do you bear it?"
