"You sound uncertain," he resumed his slow, careful movements.
Kira shook her head. "The only thing I'm sure of is that underestimating the Tsavitee would be a mistake."
"Wise words." He nodded. "Does this mean you don't think it's actually her?"
"I want it to be," Kira admitted. It would mean an end to all these years of struggle and uncertainty. "It's all I've thought about since I realized she survived Rothchild."
"But you're scared at the same time."
Kira set her chin on her knees.
He'd caught the crux of her problem.
"The Tsavitee are skilled at making you think one thing when another is true," Kira said.
Who was to even say this woman was the one she'd been looking for?
"It could be a clone," Graydon allowed.
While the Haldeel, Tuann, and Consortium had strict laws against such things, the Tsavitee weren't constrained by the same ethics.
Cloning and genetic manipulation of sentients was considered old hat for them.
It was impossible to tell what could come out of their labs. Kira only knew it was rarely good.
"What if Elise isn't Elise anymore?" Kira whispered.
It was her biggest fear.
A clone could be dealt with.
Mental manipulation would be a lot harder.
For the first time in a long time, Kira felt utterly lost—caught between yearning and fear.
To come this far, to get this close, only to find the very thing she wanted more than anything was a mirage. She couldn’t think of a more horrifying ending.
Yet, she couldn’t stop herself from walking toward the inferno, even knowing she could very well end up consumed in the flames.
"You want to talk to her," Graydon stated.
Kira nodded.
It was the only way to know for sure.
Graydon released her hair and sat back. Kira dropped her feet to the ground.
"The Haldeel are restricting access to the prisoner," Graydon said with a considering look on his face. "We're in Haldeel space. Even as the Emperor's Face, I don't have enough power to get you an audience."
The barely formed hope in Kira curdled.
"There is one way,” Graydon said, sending Kira’s heart pounding. “Earn a boon from the Haldeel. Impress them, and they may let you speak to her unobstructed.”
Kira stared at Graydon unblinking; her thoughts scattered.
He cupped her chin, his thumb brushing across her lips. "You seem surprised,cheva nier."
Kira leaned forward before she could talk herself out of it. Graydon acted fast, pulling her against him. In the next instant, she found herself straddling him.
