“This is not your place, Roake,” Terrel finally spoke. “Leave.”
There it was. A command.
He was stupider than Kira gave him credit for. Why he thought she’d listen to his orders when she hadn’t anybody else’s was beyond her.
“Nice view.” Kira whistled. “Much better than down below. Also, call me Kira. Roake sounds so impersonal.”
Kira flopped into the seat next to him, Finn moving to take a position at her back.
Ziva followed, squinting up at the oshota before adopting the same vigilant posture. Right down to the stoic mask he wore.
She was adorable. A tiny, fierce mini-Finn.
The Overlord aimed a pointed glance at the battle taking place on the arena floor. “I am surprised you have energy to waste up here.”
Kira pointed at where Joule was crouched behind his shield as his opponent hammered against it. Strain showed in Joule’s expression as his shield wobbled with each blow.
It looked like his opponent had an air affinity, striker class. The worst match up for Joule.
It wouldn’t be much longer until Joule’s shield collapsed.
“You mean because of that?” Kira asked with feigned surprise.
She pursed her lips as she stretched her legs out in front of her, crossing them at the ankle and relaxing into her seat.
It was a surprisingly comfortable fit, cradling her backside perfectly.
“Naw.” Kira poked at the cushion with a preoccupied expression before looking up. “He’s got this handled.”
A cry came from below as Joule’s shield collapsed. He burst forward, delivering a crippling blow before his opponent could recover from his surprise.
Another initiate stepped forward. “I challenge you.”
Terrel made a tsking sound. “Such a pity. It looks like your friend has angered a House he should not have.”
Kira didn’t let any emotion show as Terrel pretended at a sympathy that would have been more convincing if the boy who’d just challenged Joule wasn’t from Votair.
From underneath her sleeve, the lu-ong moved furtively. The blush color of its scales appearing as it stuck its head out from under her clothes.
Kira tensed, trying not to call notice to him as the lu-ong convulsed once and then again.
What the hell was Jin doing? Was he throwing up?
Impossible.
Though it certainly looked that way as the lu-ong continued to heave.
Kira fought to keep the disgust off her face as the lu-ong spat a thumbnail sized disk into her hand.
“I prepared a visual aid.” Jin sounded proud in their comms.
Kira unobtrusively wiped her palm against her pants, swearing in her mind. She couldn’t believe he made the lu-ong throw that thing up—and why was the disk covered in slime?
Terrel was still talking. Just chattering away not realizing Kira had stopped paying attention several minutes ago.
Finn did, though. His glare was hot enough to burn a hole into the side of her face.
Ziva looked confused.
