Kira didn’t answer for several long minutes.
“When I woke up from my coma all those years ago, I could never understand why I couldn’t accept it was over. Now I know.” Kira’s gaze moved to Graydon’s. “It wasn’t over. Everything was simply on hold.”
The memories of all they’d lost the last time they’d fought a war shadowed his eyes as Raider looked at her with grim resignation.
“And now they’re back,” he said softly.
“Yes, they are,” Graydon said grimly.
His fingers touched hers. She caught his hand and held it tightly.
As she looked up at him, she caught a promise in his eyes. One thing was different now. She wouldn’t face what was coming on her own.
She couldn’t even if she wanted to. The Tuann wouldn’t let her.
TWENTY-FIVE
“WE’RE READY FOR younow,” the Haldeel attendant informed Kira when she made no attempt to walk into the room.
“Thank you,” Kira said, backing up the words with a gesture of gratitude.
Knowing she couldn’t stand out here any longer without drawing attention, Kira steeled herself to enter.
She stopped as soon as she crossed the threshold, a shuddering breath leaving her at the sight of the still figure lying on the bed.
The backs of her eyes tingled and her nose stung as she fought the emotions that wanted to rise.
“You stupid old man,” she whispered.
Himoto lay unmoving in the bed, his body barely forming a bump in the sheets. Like this, the strength of his charisma and the personality that defined him was gone, leaving behind the shell of who he’d been.
The fight for Almaluk had been hard fought—both over the planet of Jettie and within the station.
Thousands had died.
The planet was the hardest hit, but the station suffered losses too. Among them, her mentor. The father figure who had kept Kira anchored when the rigors of this universe threatened to wash her away.
