Kira stopped what she was doing and gritted her teeth. “For the last time, she’s not myyer’se.I’m not herseon’yer.”
Elena shrugged, not bothered by Kira’s denial. “That’s between you and her. Honestly, I don’t think you’re going to win this one. Ziva seems like the sort to wear you down.”
Kira’s sigh was loud. “Is that what you came to ask for?”
Elena shook her head, folding her hands in front of her as she tried to appear as innocent as possible. “Nope. I wanted to go with them. I know Jettie better than them. May I?”
Kira hesitated.
Elena’s upbringing had been untraditional in the extreme. Oversight hadn’t really been a thing.
Selene had many children who needed her attention, and Jin and Kira had to be careful in their visits.
As a result, Elena was used to using her own judgment and going where she wanted, when she wanted.
For her to ask permission like this showed Elena felt some guilt over getting caught by Graydon because of her own arrogance.
It was her way of making it right with Kira.
And under normal circumstances, Kira would have already said yes. Jettie had always been considered safe because of the Haldeel influence, but with the attack yesterday on Devon and Skye all that had changed.
“I’ll keep an eye on her,” Wren promised, reading her hesitation.
Elena’s gaze darted between the two of them, her expression almost pleading with Kira to say yes.
Kira wavered. Wren and his oshota had proven their motivation in protecting Elena yesterday when they’d gotten her to safety after the attack.
She could trust them with this.
“All right,” Kira said finally. “You can go.”
Elena let out a yip of excitement as she bounced on her toes.
“But—” Kira pointed a finger at Elena’s face. “You will listen and obey him and his oshota. If there’s another incident like what happened on theWandereror like when you got caught, you’re going into lockdown. Nothing and no one will be able to save you then. Understood?”
Elena nodded quickly.
She bounded forward, giving Kira a quick hug before racing out of the room with a high-pitched squeal. “She said yes.”
Kira glanced at Wren. “I’m trusting you.”
He bowed his head. “I won’t let you down. I promise.”
Kira watched him set out after her niece, feeling torn. She wasn’t used to relying on others anymore.
She, Jin, and Selene had been the only ones invested in Elena’s safety for so long.
The worry of what could happen if the Tsavitee ever got their hands on Elena gnawed at her in the depths of night. It lurked in the back of her mind at all times.
“You did a good thing,” Maksym said.
Her gaze met his, reading the sincerity there.
“His wife’s passing and daughter’s loss broke him. You’ve given him a chance he never thought would come. Thank you.”
Kira’s eyes dropped, feeling the urge to hide from his words.
She’d face the possibility of death a thousand times before she willingly dealt with someone else’s emotions.
