Harlow inclined his head. “Of course.”
He was lying.
Harlow patted her shoulder, his hand coming up to touch her hair gently. “Don’t push yourself. Things will fall into place on their own.”
Kira wished she could believe that. She truly did. However, in her experience nothing ever came without a struggle.
“Your parents would want you to be happy—even if that means leaving their memory behind.”
Kira wasn’t sure how to respond to that.
Harlow shouldn’t know her that well. For him to guess the path her thoughts had taken meant he’d put a lot of effort in studying her personality. What’s more, she didn’t expect someone who’d loved his twin and his twin’s wife as much as he obviously did to advocate delaying her knowing their memory.
It was surprisingly considerate of him.
Then again, Harlow had been consistent from the beginning in the care with which he’d treated her.
Even when he opposed her decision to undertake the uhva na and step onto the path of the adva ka, he’d supported her. He’d made sure she had the training she needed for success.
She suspected he was a big part of the reason Wren had taken her as his yer’se, despite rumors saying he’d never done so with someone who wasn’t at least past their rite of passage.
“When you’re ready, I’ll be here,” he said, unable to hide the hope she would someday get there.
Kira tried to imagine how she’d feel if Elena had rejected everything to do with her mother.
“I hope you’re right. That things will fall into place on their own,” Kira added, seeing the question on his face.
She hoped there would come a day when she embraced that part of herself. When she could listen to Harlow tell stories of the people her parents had been.
It was sad but that day wouldn’t be today.
Harlow’s expression softened. “Me too.”
Kira didn’t say anything as he continued down the hall, heading for the door on the other end that she hadn’t paid attention to until now.
“Harlow,” Kira said, stopping him. “I know I’m difficult, but I do appreciate everything you’ve done for me.”
Much of which went above and beyond the care of an uncle for a niece.
Harlow inclined his head, leaving Kira to her solitude as he disappeared into his.
Kira didn’t return to her quarters immediately, instead leaning her side against her door’s frame.
“Where’s Graydon when you need him?” she asked softly.
It wasn’t lost on her that Harlow had managed to avoid any further questions about what price he’d paid for beating Jarek.
She supposed if she wanted to know she could simply track down Graydon.
Of course, knowing him, she wouldn’t have to. Graydon would come looking for her soon enough.
The next morning Kira stared at the table laden with food in appreciation. She inhaled the delicious scents rising from the table, her mouth watering in anticipation.
Maybe being referred to as the heir wasn’t such a bad thing if it came with perks like this. Her previous stay in Roake hadn’t come with meals delivered direct to her room. She’d needed to venture to one of the dining rooms if she wanted sustenance.
More often than not, Finn had had to procure dishes that could be eaten on the go since Kira didn’t often make time for a sit-down meal.
She had to say she was quite enjoying the special attention.
