Kira started to respond as her eyes caught on Danai’s Overlord giving Terrel a considering look. Since he had a stake in things, Votair’s Overlord had been allowed to remain for viewing of Kira and Jin’s memories. A fact she hadn’t liked at all.
“Overlord Votair, please step forward to face your trial,” Eurus intoned behind her.
Terrel’s laugh held bitterness. “This isn’t fair. My House will be disbanded while you face no consequences.”
His arrogance was breathtaking.
Kira wasn’t the one who sacrificed her own people in this plot. That was him. He deserved what was coming to him.
“No, I won’t let it end this way.” He shook his head and glared at Kira. “You took what’s mine. Let me return the favor.”
Too late, she realized he stood perilously close to Wren, Auralyn, and Elena.
He flicked a glance at the pair of Danai oshota standing behind the trio. “Do it.”
Wren whirled, his en-blade flashing up as the chamber erupted into disarray.
The room’s doors burst open as dozens of Tuann belonging to different Houses poured inside to attack those present.
Harlow and Caius shouted something as they laid waste to any unfortunate enough to target them. The emperor’s oshota closed around him and Devon, protecting them.
Pallas roared with a laugh as he threw himself forward. Alexander grimaced, following. Finn headed in Kira’s direction as Raider sprinted toward his daughter.
Wren defended against his attackers as Auralyn snagged Elena. She shoved the girl behind her as Terrel bore down on them.
Kira started forward, Jin zooming past as Terrel threw something at Auralyn.
She deflected, flicking ki at the object. Surprise filled her face when it detonated on contact, a shrill screech of sound nearly causing Kira’s ears to bleed before a blast shook the chamber.
When she recovered, it was to find Auralyn on the ground. Half her face covered in blood. Her arm missing. And Elena being held as a shield in front of Terrel as he held something to her throat.
“I wouldn’t,” he snarled in Raider’s direction.
Raider stumbled to a stop; his eyes locked on his daughter’s scared face.
A bubble of calm formed around Terrel as those who’d been about to attack him held off, too afraid of what the Overlord of Votair would do to the child in his arms.
“Let the child go,” Jin instructed. “She’s not the one you want.”
“No, she’s not.” Terrel’s features twisted as he glanced at a still Elise, her expression haunted as she stared at her daughter in his clutches. “That bitch failed. Who do you think they’ll punish now?”
Him, of course.
Another person might have felt bad for him. Not Kira. Not after he’d chosen to take Elena hostage.
The fighting around the room gradually stopped as Harlow and the oshota from the other Houses took control, killing or rendering immobile their attackers.
“But not if I give them something more important.” Terrel gave Kira a nasty smile as he caught her tiny flinch. “Yeah, you didn’t think anyone would notice, did you? Surprise.”
Wren slipped into Terrel’s blind spot, rage twisting his face into something Kira didn’t recognize. So all-encompassing and horrible, it was hard to believe he was her seon’yer.
“Ready when you are,” Jin said through their comms.
Elise made a small movement as Terrel shifted his grip, finally revealing the object he held. An item that looked more like a strange looking needle than a knife.
“Stop him,” Elise screamed. “It’s a summons marker.”
Terrel was too quick, injecting Elena with the needle. He shoved her away as he lifted a stone-like object Kira knew from a glance probably wasn’t a stone at all. His smirk turned victorious. “I win.”
