"Should we drag her back? There's enough of us. We could probably do it."
Graydon shot them a patronizing smile. "I would advise against that."
Their confidence was simply adorable. Even if they managed to get past his coli, and they might since she was a sentimental sort who would hesitate to use her full strength against them, there was still him. They were delusional if they thought he'd let them have their way.
The moment they sought to lay a hand on Kira, he'd cut that hand, and the arm attached to it, off.
"Protective," a woman observed. "I didn't think it possible of a Face. I expected the emperor's puppets to only be capable of that emotion when it came to him."
Graydon gave the shadows where that statement originated from a mocking bow. "There's many things about me you’ll find different than you’d expect."
There was silence. Graydon got the sense they were studying him as carefully as they had Kira a few moments ago.
"As amusing as this has been, I suggest you get on with it while you still have my attention," Graydon suggested.
"Aren't you supposed to be ingratiating yourself with us so you can convince us to return to the fold?" Thea drawled. "You're awfully combative for someone who should be begging for our attention."
A humorless chuckle left Graydon as he looked the woman over. "I don't beg."
Were the forty three really so arrogant? To assume Graydon and the Tuann would do anything for their return?
"You did it for her," someone pointed out.
"You're not her."
Kira had shown she was worth any effort. These others couldn't claim the same.
"The Tuann have no intentions of forcing your compliance. Return—or don't." Graydon shook his head. "It's up to you."
"And yet that's exactly how you treated Kira. By backing her into a corner and forcing her hand."
The undercurrent of anger in that statement made Graydon tilt his head. So, they did care. At least a little. Enough to be indignant on her behalf.
"Kira's situation was unique."
Truthfully speaking, Graydon had never planned to strong arm her into House Roake. That was until he'd learned the extent of her ki poisoning. Until that point, he'd intended to let her return to her ship. He'd planned to arrange several 'chance' encounters that would highlight what she was missing by ignoring her people. He'd had no doubt she'd eventually come around to his way of thinking. He'd even looked forward to the challenge.
Her ki poisoning had changed things. There wasn't time to gradually sway her to reason. He'd faced a choice. Circumventing her will or allowing her to die.
For Graydon, the choice was easy.
"You're not dying—and even if you were, you're still not her."
His coli was a force of nature. Both hurricane and a soft summer rain all wrapped into one package. The capacity for destruction existed side-by-side with a protective nature that took Graydon's breath away.
"You love her," Selene guessed with a sense of discovery.
Someone in the shadows scoffed. "How useless."
"Not useless," Selene declared, her back straightening. "Simply an emotion we're not overly familiar with."
Alexander shifted, glancing out of the corner of his eye at the woman beside him.
"I support Kira's endeavors. It is my opinion we do not intervene at this junction and allow Kira room to work," Selene said, speaking loud enough that those at the back of the stands could hear.
"Surprise, surprise," Thea said snidely. "Selene siding with the prodigal daughter. Just like always."
"Kira made a valid point," Selene defended. "Elena is Elise's daughter. That makes her ours."
