For a moment she stared, wondering if she'd ever get to the point where she could wield her ki so easily.
Graydon rose, holding his hand out to Kira. "Shall we?"
She slipped her fingers into his, letting him pull her forward.
Her first step sent a jolt of charged energy through her. Like the act of stepping into the circle had completed a circuit.
"I don't remember agreeing to this rescue," Aeron said, making no move to follow.
It was clear he didn't trust them. His suspicion tinging the air.
Raider shoved him forward. "Be glad we haven't murdered you yet. Resist and we might rethink your usefulness."
The general gave Raider a furious look.
Raider shoved him again. "Don't test me. I'm not in a good mood."
"No, you're desperate." Aeron's smile was nasty. "Otherwise, you wouldn't be here."
Raider's face went blank. His lack of expression putting Kira on edge.
"Don't forget we need him," Kira cautioned.
Raider acted like he didn't hear, staring the general down.
"Aeron, stop antagonizing him," Kira ordered when the general held his gaze in challenge.
If the general wanted to continue being stupid, she'd let Raider have his way. It'd be nice to have Aeron on board since he possessed essential intel on the world they'd be infiltrating, but it wasn't a deal breaker. Raider's mental wellbeing meant more to her.
"As entertaining as this is, my oshota can conceal our presence for only so long," Graydon interjected. "If we're going, we need to do so now."
Raider's fists loosened finally. His stance relaxed as he took Aeron's arm to escort him forward. To Kira's relief, Aeron went without a struggle.
"Blue, we're taking an alternate route out of here. Meet us back at the ship," Kira instructed through the comms.
"Roger that."
Graydon raised their clasped hands between their bodies, pressing a kiss to the inside of her wrist. "You ready for this?"
Despite the dangerous situation, Kira's pulse jumped as warmth flooded the place where Graydon's lips had touched. "If I had an idea of what this was."
Graydon dropped her hand, his gaze playful. "Now where would be the fun in that?"
In the depths of his eyes, lightning flashed. It set off a chain. Dozens. No. Hundreds of bolts striking in the midst of the stormy gray.
Tingling started in her limbs. The fine hair on her arms stood upright.
"Teleportation, cheva nier," Graydon whispered at the question on her face. "I thought it'd be a fun couple's experience."
The building pressure burst. Kira's world went white.
They landed on the edge of House Roake's space dock. Exactly where they needed to be.
Located in the shadow of Roake's Fortress of the Vigilant, the space dock was tens of miles from the Inquisitors' Hold which had been built well outside the capital city of Ta Sa'Riel in an area that was considered sacred.
Kira found that last part out by accident when she crashed her ship into their backyard.
With a sense of wonder, Kira held her hand out to catch the droplets of rain from the weakening storm. "Blue would have loved that."
