If memories were a strand of pearls that could be collected, she’d store this one in a place of honor to be taken out and cherished those times when she forgot what home meant.
The sound of stomping built. Slow at first before the tempo picked up.
It stopped abruptly.
Finn was the first to kneel. Then Wren.
From there, a wave caught, spreading through all those present.
Kira looked over the sea of Tuann who knelt on one knee, a hand to the ground and the other touching their heart as they bowed their heads.
Kira twisted, feeling overwhelmed by what was happening, lost in a way she hadn’t been moments before.
“I don’t understand,” Kira told Graydon.
He took her hand, pressing a kiss to the inside of her wrist before placing her fingers against his chest where his heart was. “This is a show of approval for Roake’s heir.”
Kira looked around her, feeling no less confused. “I haven’t done anything to deserve this.”
Graydon rumbled as he reached up to cradle her jaw, one thumb sweeping across her cheekbone in a gentle caress. “You proved you were worthy.”
“How?”
Graydon lips touched hers in a light kiss. “You’re Kira. That’s enough.”
Kira drew back from Graydon, reading the sincerity in his face. He really believed that.
She didn’t know why that surprised her. Kira had never had a problem with self-confidence or self-worth.
Except right now there was a voice whispering in her ear that she wasn’t worthy. That she’d disappoint them.
That voice made her want to run even as the rest of her wanted to grab hold and never let go of these people.
Graydon shifted backward as Harlow approached, leaving Kira to face her uncle on her own.
Nerves filled her as Harlow stepped in front of her with a lightness to his expression that had never been there before.
He looked delighted. Happy in a way Kira knew was rare for him.
It made it impossible to express worry about this whole heir thing.
Kira was coming to understand that if you gave the Tuann an inch they’d take the whole solar system.
It left her in a difficult predicament—particularly because a growing part of her no longer wanted her long-coveted freedom.
It wanted this family. All she needed to do was let herself accept it.
“My brother’s daughter,” Harlow said in an emotion filled voice as his gaze roved Kira’s face. “I have waited for this for decades. The hope of your return is the thing that kept me going.”
Kira held still as he pressed a kiss on her forehead.
“I suppose I should be grateful this wasn’t as bad as Makon seemed to think it would be,” Kira said as Harlow stepped back.
He flashed her a smile every bit as dangerous as the one she sometimes saw on Graydon’s face. “We’re not done yet. This is just the appetizer.”
thirteen
Hours later Kira’s head pounded with the beginning of a headache. Tiny zips of pain pulsed along her nerve endings, a precursor to ki overload.
