Kira sniffed, a scent not unlike chai filling her nose.
Curious, she swiped the mug from the table and lifted it for a better smell. Hmm. Definitely chai-like.
Kira was picking up all sorts of interesting spices. All subtly different from the ones she was familiar with.
“That is not yours,” Boden said through gritted teeth as he cut a seething look her way.
Kira looked from the cup to him. “I beg to differ.”
She was the one holding it after all.
“I ordered that for the lady.”
Kira squinted at Selene. “Why is it that people always call you lady but never me?”
Selene’s eyes warmed. “Perhaps that is something to think about.”
“No thanks. I’m happy as I am.” Kira looked up at Boden. “Whoever you ordered this for; it’s mine now. If you want her to have one, I suggest you order another.”
Consider this payback for Selene swiping her keeva earlier. Not that Selene appeared particularly interested in having the drink for herself.
“That is unnecessary,” Selene instructed before Boden could turn to do exactly that. “This will not take long.”
Kira let Selene take the lead in the conversation. After all, her “sister” was the one they wanted.
Boden’s uncertainty was transparent as he hovered next to the table.
It was enough that Kira almost took pity on him. She might have too if movement from the balcony next to theirs hadn’t caught her attention. She watched as one of the oshota at the man’s side leaned forward to say something into his ear.
She strained, unable to decipher what they were saying without the use of her ki. Something she couldn’t chance in a setting like this.
Such an action would be considered rude if she was caught. While she didn’t mind being considered without manners, it was another story if they became aware she was suspicious.
Kira bit her lip in frustration as an outcry came from the crowd below.
Joule stood over the prone body of Renata, breathing heavily. From under the tree, Ziva and Elena let out a victory shout.
Kira tipped her cup at Joule in salute as he looked up at her. “Well done.”
Another of Renata’s companions stepped out of the crowd, tossing Joule a coin.
“I challenge you. Do you dare accept?” the man taunted.
The volume of the cheers lowered as Joule caught the coin, cradling it in his palm before shooting a look in Kira’s direction.
Her hand clenched around the mug as her laziness vanished.
Son of a bitch.
sixteen
Kira’s pulse pounded, drowning out the sudden silence that resulted from the third challenge.
Its rhythm grew louder and louder. It wasn’t until Boden, Edris and the rest on the balcony looked around them with confusion that she realized that pounding sound wasn’t coming from her.
The floor of the balcony exploded upward, raining pieces of tile and other debris on those around them.
A shape shot out of the hole, stopping to hover several feet off the ground before twisting to focus its “eye” on Kira—or more accurately, the mug she held.
