She grabbed his head, tugging until he was forced to look up.
"No, it's rare."
Kira's eyes narrowed. Why did he look particularly pleased about that fact?
Graydon's smug look deepened. "It's considered quite flattering."
"If you ever want to be flattered in that way again, you'll tell me why exactly you seem so happy about this."
Graydon chuckled, scooping Kira into his arms and turning so she was lying half on him, half on the couch.
"It's considered a sign that partners are highly compatible."
Kira drummed her fingers on his chest, waiting. She knew there had to be more.
"It also shows a deep trust."
Kira reared back.
"You trust me," he teased happily.
Kira struggled to sit up, Graydon's arms closing around her before she could. Though there was strength in the way he held her, it was simply an illusion.
They both knew if she wanted to, she could force the issue and he wouldn't stop her.
A thought occurred to her.
"Wait, yourkiresonated too." Graydon had been right there with her the entire time.
Graydon arched an eyebrow. "I never said it didn't."
Her face was pensive as she let her weight settle more firmly against him. This bore consideration.
Kira rested her head on his chest, rubbing her cheek against him. She didn't know what to think about this new information, so she shunted it to the back burner.
"Why don't the Tuann like artificial intelligence?" Kira asked abruptly.
Graydon's hands paused in their stroking. "We have a dark and painful history with them."
Kira lifted her head to peer at him. "Oh?"
His smile this time didn't quite reach his eyes. "I'll admit the machines from that period all had a bit of extra mixed in with them."
Kira went still, feeling like there was a nagging sense of importance in his phrasing.
"We called them the soul bound," Graydon said, not taking his eyes off hers.
Kira controlled her reaction, burying the recognition that term brought and the flood of worry afterward.
She had a sinking feeling she knew exactly what that phrase was intended to convey.
"They were the reason our former masters retained such control over us for as long as they did," Graydon continued.
His gaze was penetrating, as if he were trying to peer through Kira's defenses.
Not wanting to give him the chance, she hid her face in his shoulder, staring at the couch.
"The way you call them makes it seem like there's more to the story," Kira ventured after several moments.
