"This is what you and Jin have been doing all this time."
Kira nodded. "In addition to searching for the Tsavitee home world and Elise."
Graydon studied her carefully. "Every time I think I've found all there is to love about you, you show me otherwise."
Kira's gaze caught on his tender expression, the affection and love in it making her stomach flutter.
She cleared her throat, glancing at the stairs where Alexander was still waiting. "Since they brought me all this way, I suppose I should see what they want."
Though she didn't want to. Her patience for the forty three's games was at an end. Had been for a long time.
Graydon patted her back in silent support. His presence a steadying influence as she started for the steps.
"He should remain here," Alexander warned as they reached him. "They won't like that you brought him."
"I'll let you be the one to tell him that," Kira said, side-stepping Alexander.
If he could make the emperor's Face remain behind, she'd stand on her head and sing the Consortium's anthem backwards.
Graydon offered Alexander a genial smile that didn't soften the stone cold stare that came with it. "Where she goes, I go. Was I not clear in my earlier actions?"
Kira snickered lightly, unsurprised when Alexander was the first to back down. He turned on his heel, stalking through the mammoth door.
"Your siblings seem to be a little hard headed," Graydon observed.
"You could say that again."
Kira tilted her neck back to look up at Graydon. Once upon a time, his cockiness had made her semi-homicidal. Who would have ever thought there would come a day when that arrogance was used for good?
"You should be honored. You're the first outsider to ever meet all of them face-to-face like this,” Kira teased.
"Oh, I am. You can't imagine how hard my heart is beating with gladness."
Kira snickered as she took the lead, entering the same door her siblings had disappeared through. They walked through a short hallway, entering a large, circular chamber that reminded her of the ruins of a colosseum.
Most of the roof was missing, allowing moonlight to stream onto the floor. Its soft light cast the majority of the audience stands into shadow.
She stopped in the center of the room, carefully studying the darker shadows sitting in the tiers above.
"The forty three," she told Graydon softly.
The first people she'd cared about. And the ones who'd never forgiven her for choosing Jin over them.
Petty bastards.
Sensing her anger, Graydon's hand slipped into hers, the rough calluses on his palm oddly comforting. "You don't have to talk to them if you don't want to. Fighting our way out of here is always an option."
One side of Kira's lips tugged up. "Shouldn't you be ecstatic to meet the Tuann's long lost children?"
"You forget—I'm not here in my capacity as the emperor's Face."
Ah, yes. That's right. He was here as her shield.
"Don't tell me. Is this him?" a woman declared excitedly, her voice seeming to come from everywhere.
Graydon dropped Kira's hand, his en-blade appearing in his palm as he went on the alert.
A woman appeared, crouched on thin air directly in front and above them. She balanced on her toes, seemingly on nothing. Her face was painted with heavy, theatrical makeup that obscured her features. Except for her eyes which were wide and fascinated as she focused on Graydon.
