A hint of warmth entered Makon’s expression as he glanced at Kira. “So I’ve heard.”
Kira concentrated on stuffing the primus in its cage. It went easily, far more so than it ever had before.
A heaviness entered her limbs, a lethargy replacing her previous feeling of indestructibility.
Kira shook herself, trying to get rid of the awful feeling. This was always the worst part of coming back to herself. Though, admittedly, she usually was unconscious for this part. Mostly because the primus refused to go back to sleep until it had exhausted her to such an extent that she collapsed.
Kira lifted her hand, studying it as her skin slowly regained its former color. The gray faded, the violet lines dulling before disappearing entirely.
Was this a sign the inhibitor had worked? That her ki channels were healing?
The air cried as a fast-moving object approached.
Kira looked up, spotting her uncle as a small dot racing across the sky far faster than should have been possible.
She started to lift her hand in greeting, her smile falling as the surrounding air went weird.
An ominous pressure built. The air vibrating with danger.
Kira twisted. Too slow.
Graydon’s roar was the only thing she heard as a force punched her in the chest. Jarek’s enraged expression met her eyes as she flew.
Kira hit the Wanderer hard, a piercing pain stealing her breath.
This was bad, she thought as a numb feeling spread.
The cracked ribs were now fully broken. A few slivers of bone had penetrated her organs, including her lungs if her struggle to breathe was any indication.
A dark shape dropped out of the sky. The earth cracked, a crater forming as a figure that looked like a nightmare straightened.
Her uncle’s expression turned murderous as he caught a glimpse of Kira. Midnight blue flames burst from his body as Kira fell forward onto her knees and then onto her side.
She ended up on her back as Finn’s face appeared above hers, concern written on it.
She looked past him to the sky where two figures hovered.
So fancy.
How did the emperor manage to change his armor so quickly?
The black armor was now edged in gold interlocking plates, each one glimmering with a brilliance that was dazzling.
Had he swallowed the sun for that glittering bright effect?
The sharp protrusions that marched along his shoulders and arms made him look like a porcupine. She especially liked that fur-lined cape flapping in the breeze. Graydon should get one of those.
She wished Jin was awake so they could make fun of him together.
Kira blinked slowly as a roaring started. “Somebody sounds so mad.”
“Shh. Don’t speak,” Finn urged as his hands moved over her.
Kira’s next blink lasted longer. Finn’s face blurred. At least she wasn’t the one at fault—this time.
Grumbling punctured the soft cloud Kira was floating on.
“You promised me no more comas. If you don’t wake up right now, I’m going to consider that promise broken. You don’t want that, Phoenix.”
