Silence spread as Finn stilled. The world seemed to slow.
Finn burst forward, covering the distance between them in a split second. Kira met his momentum, her blade coming up to block his.
There was a clang before Finn withdrew with a respectful nod that said it all. He wasn’t going anywhere after Kira’s adva ka. He’d stay right next to her.
“Any further news regarding the incident with her ship?” Harlow asked.
A low chant ran through the hall as Wren stepped forward next. The words developed a pulse, a feeling of anticipation building in the crowd.
“I learned who owned the ship that nearly collided with Kira’s,” Graydon said, not taking his eyes off the pair.
“And?”
“House Votair, though they deny any culpability for the bog’s hag.”
Harlow snorted. “And I’m betting it’s hard to prove.”
“Impossible.”
Wren moved just then, his strike poetry in motion as he attacked.
Kira spun out of the way, the exchange over almost as soon as it began.
The ground started to shake as the Tuann stomped their feet in time to their chant.
Harlow squeezed Graydon’s shoulder. “At least we know who to be on the lookout for.”
The chant rose to a crescendo as Harlow approached Kira. The room hushed as Harlow stopped in front of her.
“No weapon?” Kira asked with a brash cockiness few would be able to muster while standing in the Overlord’s presence.
Only his coli would be unwise and arrogant enough to dare.
“It is not necessary,” Harlow rumbled with an amusement only those close to him would hear.
Far from being insulted at the insinuation that she was too weak to take his full power, Kira seemed almost excited as she readied herself.
Even Graydon found himself swept up in the moment, a buzz filling the air as uncle and niece faced off.
There was no greater triumph than watching the woman he adored take her place among the warriors of her House.
To watch as the wounds created ninety-three years ago slowly began to mend.
No matter how far Graydon roamed or what master he chose to serve, Roake would always hold a piece of his heart.
Now, that held true in an entirely different sense with Kira’s addition to their ranks.
She was going to change Roake along with the rest of the Tuann. Graydon could feel it the same way he sensed when a storm was forming off the coast.
What’s more, he would be right there next to her while she did it.
A support and a shield against those forces that would batter her brilliance into dust. The sword that would cut through her enemies.
Anything she wished, he would be.
Kira fought to bring her heart under control. A difficult task considering the exhilarated feeling coursing through her veins.
It had been a long time since she’d fought like that. Perfectly in sync with Jin as they poured every ounce of energy into the physical.
