Seeing her, Graydon prowled in her direction. "You don't seem happy. Weren't you the one who said you wanted to see me in a cape?"
Kira found herself hard-pressed to respond.
The thing was she'd said something exactly to that effect on Ta Sa’Riel when Roderick had shown up in a cape. Kira hadn't been able to resist teasing Graydon about having one of his own.
Never in a million years had she expected him to comply. Let alone that the mere sight of him in one would render her speechless.
"Tongue-tied?Cheva nier, there's no need to be shy." There was a playful look on Graydon's face.
"Shouldn't you be with the rest of your delegation? Working?"
Kira sent a significant glance to where Yukina held court among the various Houses vying for her attention.
Her gaze lingered on the group of Tuann who had bet against her during the stratagem. The looks Niland and his friends kept sending Kira's way made her feel like they were talking about her.
"What are your plans for them?” Graydon asked noticing where her attention had gone.
That’s right. Niland and Lorcan still owed her a favor.
"As long as they keep their distance, I won't do anything to them."
However, the moment they stepped in Kira's way; she'd be merciless.
She frowned as she caught the look that passed between Graydon and Lorcan. Before she could decipher it, Lorcan smirked at her, raising his glass in a silent toast.
She wasn't imagining things. There was something between him and Graydon.
The only question was whether they were allies or enemies who simply knew each other well.
Knowing the Tuann, it could be either.
“Where’s youryer’se?” Kira asked, not seeing Devon in the party that had accompanied Graydon.
“He remained behind with your imp and the rest of the younglings who’ve made you their hero.”
“And you let him?” Kira could only imagine all the trouble Elena could talk Devon and the rest into.
“I think learning from your imp wouldn’t be the worst thing for him.”
It would certainly give him another perspective on life, Kira conceded.
As they circled, Liara, with Roderick beside her, caught her eye. Liara offered a gentle smile but made no attempt to approach.
"Not going to go over there?" Graydon asked.
"It would probably be best to wait," Kira responded.
Liara had her own matters to attend to.
The invasion of Ta Da’an had weakened her House’s position among the Tuann. There was time later for the two of them to reconnect.
“That reminds me. Where’s Raider?” Kira asked. “He should have been here by now.”
Graydon snagged a drink from one of the hovering drones. “He’s around somewhere.”
Before Kira could ask more, the crowd started to move toward the raised dais Kira had noted before but hadn't paid much attention to.
Holding a lot in common with the Mayan pyramids of ancient Earth, the dais stood at least a hundred feet tall, stairs leading from the pavilion on top to the banquet floor.
