Murmurs escaped those watching as the Tuann eyed her with surprise.
“Is that her?”
“Where did she come from?”
“Has she been here the whole time?”
“I didn’t see her arrive, did you?”
Raider’s face showed boredom. “As always, you’ve created quite the entrance.”
Kira picked a leaf out of his hair, examining it closely before flicking it to the ground. “I could say the same about you. What happened?”
“Someone tried to ambush the kid. I got caught in the crossfire.”
From the way he said that Kira suspected the responsible party wouldn’t be joining those waiting in the rotunda.
“Roake?”
Raider shook his head. “Someone from one of the minor Houses.”
“They’re getting bolder.”
Particularly if they were willing to make an incursion into Roake’s territory.
The opening of a door distracted them from their conversation.
To Kira’s surprise, it wasn’t any of the doors associated with the five major Houses but rather the sixth. Unused before now.
A wanderer stepped through.
“They don’t belong here,” a Tuann nearby murmured.
“Neither does the human,” someone else responded.
Raider smirked at those eyeing him. “It’s amazing how the species changes, but the trash that comes out of their mouths is always the same.”
Kira made a sound of agreement as she met the gazes of those looking in their direction, making a note for later.
There was a lot of disdain in the faces of those around them. Not all of it limited to House Danai and their allies.
Raider had an uphill battle in front of him.
Before anyone could make a move, the sixth door opened again, allowing two more people entrance.
Selene and Alexander’s unexpected arrival sent a buzz coursing through those present.
Kira blinked rapidly as she fought to keep the surprise off her face. “What are they doing here?”
“Maybe the same thing you are,” Raider said as the pair glanced in Kira’s direction and then away, acting like they had every intention of ignoring her.
Fine. That suited her.
She’d planned to keep her distance anyway.
The wait after Selene and Alexander’s arrival wasn’t long. Only a few more Tuann stepping through each of the doors before a change spread through the room.
“Something is happening,” Raider said, looking around him with suspicion.
