Castor's gaze flicked to him. "I'm always careful."
Kira's head tilted, the same blank expression on her face. "Alexander is one of the most cunning and observant people I know. How can the Overlord of his House be so blind by comparison?"
Castor's expression froze as Harlow sighed.
Kira continued as if unaware of how thin the ice under her feet had grown. "One only needs to look to the Sorrowing to realize the extent of the rot in your Houses. How many children need to be taken before you wake up and see what's right in front of your eyes?"
There were several indrawn breaths from around the table. The Sorrowing was one of the worst moments in Tuann history. A time when countless children were stolen by unknown perpetrators. They now knew the Tsavitee and their masters were behind it, but that didn't change the fact that many Tuann were complicit in the abductions.
Whether the Houses wanted to acknowledge that or not.
"You dare," Helena snarled.
"I do." Kira's smile didn't reach her eyes. "You'd be surprised at what I'd dare."
Castor's face had gone expressionless.
Harlow shifted forward, taking the focus off Kira as he turned toward Eurus. "You have a prisoner in your possession."
Eurus dipped his chin in acknowledgment. "The general. Yes. He's been most uncommunicative."
"Roake would like access to him."
Eurus's gaze drifted in Kira's direction. No doubt realizing the source of this request. "I'm afraid that's not possible."
Kira made an abortive movement before forcing herself to still. A part of her refused to believe that the emperor would be willing to walk away from his son. Soul bound though Jin might be. He never made it obvious, but his love was there. Hidden but tangible.
This had to be a game of some sort. One of his many schemes.
Harlow had been right earlier. The emperor was impossible to predict.
"Roake is the only reason you retain custody of that prisoner," she told the emperor's Face.
If not for Kira's intervention, the Tuann wouldn't have a prisoner at all.
"Be that as it may, we're on the cusp of war and the general is a critical asset. His visitors are being carefully screened so as to prevent another prison break. I hope you understand."
Oh, Kira did. All too well.
They planned to hoard any knowledge Aeron might impart like dragons would gold. Was it because the emperor didn't trust that she could keep her shit together long enough to rescue his son that he was denying her access? Or was it because he was afraid she'd somehow interfere with whatever plans he'd made?
In the end, it didn't matter. He'd just made himself another obstacle she needed to overcome.
"Luatha will answer the emperor's call," Liara interjected into the tense silence that followed.
Kira and Eurus glanced in her direction.
Liara lifted her chin. "Although my House isn't militarily inclined, we'll do our part."
"That's all the emperor asks."
Kira's hands clenched, her fingernails biting into her palms as anger strangled her. The primus turned underneath her skin, its agitation adding to her own. It demanded action. That if Eurus and the emperor didn't want to cooperate, they would take the general for themselves.
If a few people were bloodied in the endeavor, so be it.
Kira's muscles locked, her struggle for control harder than it should have been as sweat dotted her forehead. A bloodbath wouldn't win her friends or allies. Eurus couldn't give in to her request if she ripped him in half.
Not to mention Helena and Castor's presence. Both of whom were rumored to have primus's of their own.
