Only Auralyn took the girl's words in stride, not reacting beyond a faint lowering of her eyelids.
Kira coughed. That wasn't what she'd meant, though she supposed it wasn't really a surprise given the type of training she normally subjected Elena to.
Wren's eyes narrowed on Kira. "Follow."
Elena frowned. "He's very authoritative. I’m not sure I like it."
Kira grimaced and patted Elena's shoulder. "Let's leave that aside for now. Stay close and don't go looking for trouble again."
Elena jerked her thumb at Ziva and Joule. "Mind if I show the little sister a few moves?"
Ziva brightened, looking like Elena had handed her a gift of unparalleled worth. In the face of such excitement, Kira didn't have the heart to deny her.
Even Joule seemed eager.
Kira hesitated before nodding uneasily. Why did she have a feeling this was going to bite her on the ass later?
*
Wren's back faced Kiraas he helped himself to a drink ofkeeva.
Kira was content to wait, letting the silence that had descended during their trip to his private quarters linger.
His surroundings suited his personality.
There was very little clutter to be seen. What furniture there was, was simplistic and minimal. A black coffee table separated a couch and two armchairs.
Though the walls lacked artwork, the space was saved from being austere by the addition of an elegant white rug against dark floors that matched the dark ceiling.
The windows leading out to the balcony added texture and warmth to what would have been an otherwise cold room.
"Do you remember what you told me when I was dying?" Wren paused with his drink halfway to his lips.
Kira froze.
Her silence didn't deter Wren. "You told me my daughter wasn't waiting for me on the other side. You said she was here and that if I wanted to see her, I would have to live."
Kira's gaze dropped. That was the gist of what she'd said.
In her defense, she'd hoped her words would keep Wren alive. In that moment, she'd felt his willingness to slip gently into death and thought it a shame.
It had led to some unwise revelations on her part.
If the forty-three found out, forget about saving Elise, Kira doubted she would be able to save herself. She'd broken the taboo.
Kira's only choice was to bluff. "Did I? Fear has a habit of making you do impetuous things. Who can say for sure what I said then?"
She'd hoped with Wren being so close to death, he would doubt his memory—if he remembered at all. As was always the case, Kira's luck wasn't that good.
"Is Elena my grandchild?" Wren asked.
There it was. A frontal attack as befitting a man like Wren.
"How would you like me to answer that?" Kira asked carefully.
"The truth would be nice.”
Kira's smile was fleeting and didn't reach her eyes. "If I tell you yes, will you love and protect her with all the fierceness you couldn't give to your daughter?"
