“Some?” Not all?
Aeron gave her a twisted smile. “Not everyone resents our masters’ yoke.”
Good enough for Kira.
“Thank you, Aeron. You’ve been very helpful.”
He’d given her a place to start if nothing else. Break the Tsavitee masters’ hold on the generals and they’d create a schism. There would be no one to lead their horde. The chaos that would ensue could give her a real shot of eliminating the masters entirely.
“Time’s up,” Graydon said, just as black spots started eating away at the gray of the prison cells.
Aeron’s gaze pierced Kira’s. “There’s a reason they went after the emperor’s son.” He paused. “Both of them.”
Kira resisted the pull of her body as the cell flickered in and out of her sight. “What does that mean?”
Aeron’s lips lifted. “I think you know.”
She did.
Jin. Her best friend. And likely the emperor’s eldest son. Stolen the same day as Kira and the forty-three. Unlike them, however, he no longer possessed his original body. Instead, his soul had been bound to a combat drone.
If the Tuann ever found out, they would destroy him.
They’d consider him an abomination. They wouldn’t care that her friend was nothing like their stories of the soul bound. Twisted creatures with no empathy or restraint. Monsters who were once people.
Aeron’s insinuation said the masters knew or at least suspected what Jin was. That it was why they’d been after him and Devon all along.
They would come for Jin.
It was only a matter of time before Jin’s secret got out.
The connection thinned further. Aeron’s image wavered.
“One final piece of advice,” he said, recovering his smirk. “Don’t worry about finding Elise. She’ll find you on Ta Sa’Riel. Prepare, Phoenix.”
The last of the connection snapped. The gray walls disappearing to be replaced by black ones.
“Damn it. Tricky, deceitful, fucking generals,” Kira ground out.
Why had she thought it was a good idea to talk to Aeron? What was she thinking? Their mind games made Himoto’s look gentle by comparison.
“I did warn you,” Graydon said.
“Thanks. It really makes my day to have you tell me I told you so.”
“Happy to be of assistance.”
Kira shook off the lingering effects of the astral projection. There was a slight disorientation. As if part of her still thought she was in that cell.
“Did you learn what you were hoping to?” Graydon asked.
“I learned something.”
Kira wasn’t sure if that something was of any use.
“You should be happy. It sounds like your friend will surface soon enough,” Graydon pointed out.
“Yes, I’m thrilled.”
