The Consortium would face reprisal for that faction’s actions. The question was how severe that punishment would be.
Kira hoped Himoto’s death in defense of Almaluc would be enough to buy a little good will. If not, things were going to get dire for the people she’d once called her own.
Kira aimed an irritated frown at Graydon. “You couldn’t have given me a heads up about all this?”
A little notice would have been nice. A “Hey, make sure your ship is in order because you’re going to have a royal guest.”
Was that too much to ask?
Graydon invaded her space with a playful look as he whispered into her ear. “We both know if I’d done that, you would already be gone.”
Kira quelled the shiver his breath brought forth as she set one finger against his chest and pushed him back to create distance between them.
Graydon let her, his expression inviting her to contradict him. It galled that she couldn’t.
He was right. The moment she got news of what they were planning to make her do and she would have taken off even if the repairs weren’t fully done.
The man knew her far too well.
Seeing he’d won this round, Graydon straightened and flashed her a smug smile before moseying down the ramp. “I look forward to seeing you on planet.”
“Wait. Where are you going?”
He wasn’t just going to leave her with the emperor, was he? He wouldn’t do that to her.
“I think you and Torvald could use a little alone time to get to know one another.” He smirked up at her from the walkway. “Besides, someone has to escort Selene and Alexander to Ta Sa’Riel.”
Graydon strolled into the crowd, making his way toward the ship Selene and Alexander had boarded earlier.
“Kira,” Jin moaned beside her.
“I know.”
“We’re doomed. So very doomed.”
Yeah. Kira thought so too.
“You need to fix this,” Jin informed Kira’s back as she stepped into the ship.
“It’s too late. We’re committed.”
Kira pushed the button that would raise the ramp before anyone else had the chance to seek her out for “favors” she didn’t want to give.
It closed, sealing her ship in preparation for departure.
Jin pouted. “Fine, but don’t come to me when you realize I’m right.”
“It’s not going to be that bad. We’re giving him a ride. That’s it.”
“Isn’t that what you said on Osiris when we were ordered to evacuate those government officials? Remind me again. How did that work out for us?”
Kira grimaced. The incident had been a shit show from beginning to end. Everything that could go wrong, did. Almost as if they were cursed.
Half the Curs wound up with injuries that took them out of commission for weeks. The other half almost ended up court martialed.
All because a handful of arrogant officials thought they knew better than her how to fight a war.
“I’m sure we won’t even know he’s here,” Kira said, coming to a stop almost immediately.
