She blinked at her tea, dismissing the memories through an effort of will.
Across from her, Yukina reached for her own cup, taking a small sip as she studied Selene in the same way Selene had her earlier. “The trip to Ta Sa’Riel will take up to a month. There will be a lot of time to discover what other things you may have missed in the intervening years.”
A faint smile graced Selene’s face.
Clever woman. Yukina acted like Selene’s accompaniment was already a foregone conclusion.
It was a move taken out of Selene’s own playbook when dealing with her children. How strange to see her own tactics used against her.
While she was considering Yukina, the doorway adjacent to their table dissolved to reveal a pair of people—a mountain of a man in matte black synth armor in the process of murmuring something to his companion.
A woman. Tall by human standards, though still short compared to the man. Gray-purple eyes that seemed like they’d seen all the pain this world had to offer focused on Selene. Their owner scanned her quickly as if to assure herself Selene was in once piece.
Hair the color of wine framed delicate features. Like Kira, it was untamed. Beautiful in its disarray.
Warmth filled Selene’s chest. She’d come.
Against all odds. Despite any arguments the Tuann would have thrown her way.
Kira’s face revealed a worry Selene knew she didn’t deserve. Not after all that she’d done. The wrongs she and the rest of the forty-three had turned their faces from. Determined not to see. Or feel. Or interfere with.
Despite all the anger and hurt, Kira had set it aside to come to Selene’s rescue. Willing to risk everything.
It was why the forty-three loved her and Jin so much—though they made sure the two never realized.
Kira and Jin were the sun and the forty-three the planets that watched over them from afar. Only intervening when the worst possible outcome was assured.
Such as was the case on Rothchild.
There was a loud clink in the sudden silence as Yukina set her cup down harder than necessary.
“Why did you bring her here?” Yukina demanded of the mountain standing next to Kira.
“She’s rather persistent when she wants to be.” Graydon prowled into the room, his movements like that of a lion. Someone dangerous and assured of his place at the top of the food chain.
Kira remained motionless on the threshold. Her hands moved in an unobtrusive gesture Selene remembered from their childhood when any form of unauthorized communication would result in a beating.
Roughly, the gesture meant, “Do you need assistance?”
Selene ran a finger along the rim of her ear. “Do not interfere.”
Once, her ears had been as pointed as the Tuann’s across from her. Now, like the rest of the forty-three and Kira, they were docked to allow them to blend in with humans easier. Just one more scar that separated them from their former brethren.
“I don’t care how persistent she is. Her presence here is not welcome,” Yukina said to Graydon as he sprawled in the seat next to her.
“You’re welcome to try to move her,” Graydon rumbled with an amused look that said he looked forward to the attempt.
It was strange. If asked, Selene would have said Graydon was far too loyal to his emperor and his position as the emperor’s Face to be here, helping Kira circumvent another Face’s will.
Yet that was exactly what he was doing.
Kira stepped into the room, revealing the man waiting behind her. Selene sucked in a harsh breath as recognition darted through her.
Taller than Kira, the man wore a pair of wire-framed glasses that managed to make him seem almost nondescript.
“Alexander,” Selene whispered.
Hope was a fragile concept, and it was one of the first things their masters had beaten out of them. What was the use of wishes and dreams when your present was filled with nothing but survival at all costs?
