Harlow’s gaze was steady as he considered her. “No. As I said, children are rare and precious for us. Since we live a very long time, there often isn’t a strong urge to procreate. It’s not uncommon for a couple to wait centuries before attempting to have children.”
Kira plucked at the sheet covering her legs as she debated continuing this line of inquiry. There were questions she could ask. Questions she had thought often about, if she were honest with herself.
But, did she want the answers? She still didn’t know.
“My name—” Kira stopped.
This was one of those things she waffled on. She had been Kira Forrest for so long. It was a name she’d picked for herself. A way of claiming her identity from those who’d tried to strip it from her.
Her younger self had thought the name Kira meant rebirth. An attractive sentiment to someone who had grown up in hell.
It was only later that she realized she’d added an r and changed the meaning entirely.
“Did they have a name in mind for me?”
Harlow’s gaze was enigmatic. After what felt like an eternity, he inclined his head. “They did.”
Kira squeezed her hands together, the question hovering on the tip of her tongue.
Harlow waited, letting her set the pace. If she wanted this piece of her past, she would have to claim it.
Before she could decide one way or the other, Graydon appeared in the threshold, breaking the moment between her and her uncle.
Kira slammed the lid on her questions, her walls coming up.
Good thing too, as Graydon filled the room with a roiling mass of emotions Kira struggled to decipher. Anger was there. Relief. Rage.
He observed the two of them with an implacable expression, finally offering, "I can come by later."
"You're here now; you might as well stay." The Overlord stirred, waving him inside. Graydon stepped into the room, the door closing behind him with a decisive thump.
The Overlord focused on Kira and changed the subject to one no less emotionally fraught. "The Emperor's Face tells me you were recovered from a camp. Did any other children survive?"
Kira was quiet for several beats. She needed to be very careful in how she answered this. For all that the Sorrowing happened decades ago, the wounds from it were still fresh. She had no desire to reopen them.
"I was the only child rescued by Himoto and his team that night," Kira said carefully.
The Overlord's face tightened as if he'd taken a blow. All expression smoothed out. "That's regrettable. Many of our people were hoping for a miracle."
Kira had nothing to say to that.
"Little Storm, I assume you have news," Kira's uncle said, addressing Graydon.
Kira couldn't help peering at the commander in interest. That was an unusual nickname. She never would have attributed it to him if not for hearing it for herself.
He stared impassively back, not betraying by even the flicker of an eyelash embarrassment for the name. Kira found she liked him better for it. Those who took themselves too seriously crumbled and broke in the end. You had to remember the good even when the bad was at your doorstep.
"Devon will make a full recovery," Graydon revealed. "I spoke with the other initiates. They all agreed if he hadn't taken primus form, thetaladogs would likely have slaughtered them. He's shaken but mostly unharmed."
"Do we know why they ventured so close?" the Overlord asked.
Graydon shook his head. "My people are investigating. There is evidence they were driven from their normal hunting ground, but it's circumstantial."
The Overlord nodded and rose. "I'll leave you two to talk. There are other matters requiring my attention."
Graydon murmured an agreement as the Overlord made his way to the doorway. He paused before opening it, fixing his attention on Kira. "I hope you'll consider what I said."
Kira lifted her chin, not answering. She'd do that, but she doubted he'd like the conclusion she would draw. People rarely did.
