Alexander's expression tightened, his shoulders rising and falling as he fought for control.
"If you wouldn't mind releasing this," Graydon said to Selene, tapping the shield that held Kira captive.
Pallas sneered. "What's the matter? You can't handle something this simple?"
In a movement almost too fast for the eye to follow, he slashed a hand across Selene's ki shield. It collapsed, dissipating as Pallas stepped out of the cage.
"I could, but I didn’t want to be rude." Graydon bowed an inch in Selene's direction, his manner respectful but not subservient.
"You're acting childish," Selene informed Pallas.
He rolled his eyes, not responding as he stalked up the stairs. His path intersected with Alexander.
"Move," Pallas growled when the other didn't shift to allow him passage.
"There's plenty of room. Go around."
The two men faced off. Pallas on the step below. Alexander looking down at him with a superiority that would have made Kira want to smack him if she'd been in Pallas's place.
"Pallas," Selene rebuked.
Kira watched in fascination as the men stared each other down, their hostility thick enough to strangle. Admittedly, she and Jin hadn't spent much time around the forty three since becoming adults so she didn’t know if this level of antagonism was normal for them.
A boom from the chamber beyond the door ended the face off.
"Next time." Pallas shoved his shoulder into Alexander's as he moved past the other.
"Charming bunch," Graydon observed.
"You have no idea," Kira muttered, stepping out of the cage as soon as Selene dropped the walls.
Graydon probed the wound on Kira's cheek. "He got you good."
She winced, avoiding his touch. "He has a habit of doing that."
The skin over Graydon's features went tight.
Kira caught his hand before he could do anything unwise. As dangerous as he was, the forty three were united. Any threat against one was a threat against all. Even Graydon would have a hard time against such odds.
"Explain what's going on, Selene," Kira ordered as her sister came up to stand beside them.
"I can't," Selene confessed. "Pallas's orders were to check on your condition and facilitate an extraction in the event you were being held against your will. He was never supposed to kidnap you."
"Looks like someone didn't get the memo," Kira muttered.
Typical Pallas. The man was a loose cannon, way worse than Kira had ever hoped to be.
At least she'd never kidnapped anyone.
Except that one time with Odin. But those were extenuating circumstances.
"There's something else going on," Selene said with a shake of her head.
Kira's gaze caught on her, finally registering the uncertainty that Selene was trying to hide. There was apprehension on Selene's face.
"What do you mean?" Kira asked.
Selene wet her lips, her gaze darting up to find Alexander before she looked back at Kira. "They're here."
