"How do you know that?" Kira asked.
"I have my ways."
Sure, he did. Just like Odin. And Graydon. It seemed only Kira was consistently out of the loop. She might need to fix that sooner rather than later.
Centcom’s ships began firing on the Tsavitee. The barrage was quick and furious, resulting in one demolished Tsavitee ship before too long.
"We're being hailed," Lathan announced.
Pallas looked at Kira. "Did you know they were coming?"
"No."
There was distrust in Pallas's gaze before he turned back around. "Answer it."
Lathan hit a button. Raider appeared on screen.
Surprise rendered Kira nearly speechless.
"Raider?"
"The one and only."
Jace moved into view. "Just so you know, he's not alone."
Kira shot Raider a hard look. "I thought you were avoiding him."
"Let's just say we ran into some trouble ourselves."
Jace moved out of the range of the camera, but Kira could hear him calling commands to his subordinates.
She lowered her voice. "What about the package? Is it safe?"
"As safe as we could make it," Raider responded. "How about you? Did you get what you were looking for?"
Odin moved into view and waved.
He nodded, his features loosening with relief. "That's good. That's very good."
"What about Wren and the others?" Graydon asked.
"They're here too. Along with a few friends I wasn't expecting when I began this journey," Raider said with a pointed look at the emperor's Face.
Graydon suppressed a smile, his expression the picture of innocence when Kira looked at him.
Spotting Pallas to the side, Raider arched an eyebrow at Kira. "You left him alive. That's surprising."
"Be careful of your words, boy." Pallas's grin was nasty. "I don't share her attachment for your kind. I can and will kill you if I get bored."
"Why is each of your siblings crazier than the last?" Raider complained.
Kira rolled her lips between her teeth at Pallas's furious expression. There was something satisfying in watching Raider get under Pallas's skin so effortlessly.
"I'm sending you some coordinates," Raider said as he ignored her brother. "They're about half a day out. It's an abandoned combat outpost from the last war. Rendezvous with us there. I'll explain the rest when we're face-to-face."
"Understood," Kira said as Raider vanished from the screen.
Pallas sniffed. "I don't know what Elise ever saw in him."
