Harlow seemed to read that in her, nodding as if he understood what she didn’t say. “When you’re ready for the answers to the questions you’re afraid to ask, I’ll be waiting.”
With that, the Overlord made his way out of the room, the door shutting behind him.
Graydon faced Kira, fury on his face. "We're going to have that talk now. Then we're going to discuss the military-grade drone gadding about in Roake's territory."
THIRTEEN
Alarm chased across Kira's face, disappearing as quickly as it had come. Nonchalant ease replaced it seconds later.
"What are you talking about?" she asked, managing to strike the perfect balance between confusion and bravado.
Graydon showed his teeth in a dangerous smile, catching the barely perceptible flinch before she could hide it.That's right,coli. You're caught.
There was no escaping it this time.
"Where. Is. He?"
Kira blinked innocently at him.
Graydon stared back. Not many tested him when he was in this mood. Most feared what he would do. Even if they hadn't been wary of the power he wielded as the Emperor's Face, they would have still considered him dangerous on a physical level.
He was the youngest chosen Face for a reason, and it wasn't because he was good at diplomacy.
Kira opened her mouth, a lie already forming. Graydon lifted a hand, cutting her off with a sharp gesture. "Careful,coli. Lying right now would be inadvisable."
He knew the drone was here. It had contacted him shortly after Kira started the course. The drone's warning was the only reason Graydon reached her in time. Even then, he'd been too late to prevent the ordeal she'd endured.
The reminder of his failure threatened to send his thoughts into a very dark place, and he felt a deep-seated rage building all over again.
Surprise lurked on Kira's face. Guilt. But no fear.
Graydon's mouth quirked unwillingly, the anger easing slightly. A good liar, she was not. It made the fact she'd built an entire life on deception and subterfuge all the more puzzling.
"Bring him out," Graydon said, unnervingly calm.
"Graydon," Kira started.
That snapped the thin tendril of patience he'd been holding onto. He shoved forward, ignoring her flinch.
He wasn't an untrained initiate she could run circles around or lie to without expecting severe repercussions.
He was the Emperor's Face, the highest position a Tuann could achieve except for Emperor. He wasn't someone to trifle with.
"Bring. Him. Out."
All expression on Kira's face leaked away.
"Jin. You might as well come out," Kira said emotionlessly.
Graydon didn't drop his guard. It would be dangerous to make the mistake of thinking she had been defeated.
Kira might have conceded for now, but soon enough, she'd return to challenging him on the simple basis that she could.
Silence thickened the air as they waited.
A rustle came from under the bed, the sheet hanging over its side stirring.
No one said anything as Jin revealed himself, rising until he hovered at eye level.
