His face turned ugly. If he could have, he probably would have tried to kill her again.
Kira stood and shook her head.
"Why did you betray them?" Harlow asked. "You were Harding's friend too. He trusted you."
Kira was quiet. She could have told him what she’d learned, but she knew the answer would only hurt him.
She found herself reluctant to do anything that would cause him further distress.
"He was weak and a fool," Loudon bit out finally. "He never should have been Overlord. It always should have been you."
Harlow was still as poison continued to spill from Loudon's lips.
"I did it for you. He was never strong enough to do what was necessary. You were the one who was always meant to lead. You—"
Harlow hammered his fist into the reclined man's chest. Rawkiexploded through him. Kira's ears popped from the pressure.
Loudon was dead even as his eyes widened, his body convulsing.
Her uncle slowly straightened. "You fool. All this for a position I never even wanted."
Harlow's head bent.
Grief chased through Makon's expression before it was gone. The marshal met her eyes before inclining his head.
Kira lingered, torn between the need to retreat and leave them with their grief and the need to offer some form of sympathy. Her uncle’s friend had committed unspeakable wrongs against him. There were no words that would take the sting of that knowledge away.
She had to try anyway. Kira opened her mouth to speak. Pain devoured her. A high whine escaped her as fire encased her wrists.
Harlow whirled as she brought her wrists to her in an instinctive gesture to protect them.
"What's happening?" she gritted out as the fire burrowed deeper.
Graydon was there in the next second, both men hovering protectively over her as Graydon withdrew one arm, bringing it up so they could see.
Shock and awe were on both men's faces as Graydon pulled her to him, his hand rubbing a soothing pattern over her back.
"Make it stop," Kira managed to get out.
"I can’t. It'll be over soon," Graydon said, pressing his cheek into the top of her head.
Sure enough, seconds later the pain eased, and Kira stared at her new injuries. Her skin was unblistered, but it wasn't unmarked. Around each wrist were etched lines, the pattern beautiful and familiar.
The only time she'd seen anything like them was when Himoto had shown her photos or video of her primus form.
"Why are the tattoos from my primus form suddenly appearing?" Kira asked, feeling a spurt of fear.
Graydon touched them gently, smoothing a finger along the lines. Electricity and heat trailed behind where he touched, tugging at Kira's core.
"These are Overlord bands," he said. "They're bestowed on very few."
Her gaze lifted to find pride and a fierce satisfaction blazing in his.
"It means the Mea’Ave has judged you worthy," her uncle rumbled. "Congratulations. You've passed theuhva na."
TWENTY-SEVEN
It was several days later when Wren finally managed to hunt her down. A part of her had been expecting him.
