They'd return. They always did.
But hopefully, this experience had taught the Consortium something. At the very least, Jace and his fleet had bought them time.
How much of it was still to be determined.
There was a bump as the shuttle landed. The hatch opened several minutes later to reveal Harlow waiting on the other side. Her uncle prowled inside, his massive presence making the already cramped space feel even smaller as his raptor's gaze landed unerringly on Kira.
"Uncle, what are you doing here?" she asked in surprise as she raised onto her forearm. Last she’d heard, he was supposed to be managing the rebellion on behalf of the emperor.
"You didn't think I'd let you attack a known stronghold of our old masters without support, did you?"
Kira glanced at the oshota in the shuttle and then the window outside where the massive Tuann warship was visible as if to say "isn't that what this is?"
His face held a faint amusement as he moved toward her, nodding a greeting to Graydon. "Thank you for protecting her in my absence."
"It was quite the troublesome endeavor at times," Graydon said, giving way.
Harlow’s face was wry. "I have no doubt."
"You can put your mind at ease for the future," Graydon said, looking down at Kira with amusement. "Just now, a second oshota has sworn himself to her service."
Kira sputtered as Harlow’s eyebrow arched. "And she accepted?"
"She did," Graydon informed him.
Kira gave her lover a scathing look. "What happened to not a word?"
"I thought that only applied in terms of mentioning it to you. Next time, you should be clearer."
Kira stared at him with a partially open mouth, not quite able to believe he’d sold her out.
Wait a minute. Yes, she did. This was Graydon they were talking about. The master manipulator. The man who always had to have the last word.
Of course, he’d told Harlow. Her Overlord. Likely to ensure she couldn’t go back on the agreement.
"I'll get you later," Kira mouthed at him.
"I look forward to it," he murmured back.
Harlow waited until they were done, leveling a displeased look on her. "You, my dear, were supposed to wait. I was not pleased to arrive to find things already in motion."
"It would have been too late if I’d delayed."
And she doubted he would have let her handle things in the fashion she had. It was almost certain he would have cut out Jace's people. Not to mention, he would have tried to wrap her in a blanket of protection that would have prevented her from doing what needed to be done.
No, things had to happen exactly the way they did.
"Your rear admiral is quite the interesting leader," Harlow commented.
"He's alive then?"
Harlow inclined his head. "As are many others due to his actions. It was quite impressive."
"Impressive enough that you'd consider an alliance?" Kira challenged.
Harlow's face was hard to read but she thought she caught a tiny gleam of amusement hiding in his eyes. "We'll see."
That was better than nothing. Jace could capitalize on the rest.
