Kira’s eyebrows climbed toward her hairline as she looked from the woman to Jarek.“Does your order practice being assholes or does it just come natural?”
Maybe they recruited based on personality.The more arrogant and pretentious, the better.
Raider fake coughed into his hand to hide his amusement.
“I believe it comes naturally,” Jarek replied easily.
Oh ho.Look who had a sense of humor now.Maybe the loss of rank and privilege had loosened a few screws in his head.
“Who are you?”Kira looked away from Jarek to the woman at his side.Before she could answer, Kira made a sharp gesture to cut her off.“Never mind.I don’t care.”
Jarek’s companion wasn’t important.
No, the person with real power in the room was the woman seated at a small table in the corner, sipping tea as she watched the show.
The woman set down her cup, reaching for the pot beside her.“Don’t mind me.I’m just here as an observer.”
Unlikely, Kira thought with a snort.
The woman gave off a regal feeling that Kira recognized belonged to someone in a position of authority.She had her suspicions regarding the woman’s actual identity but no real way of confirming them.
At least today, the woman wasn’t wearing a diadem.Unlike the last time they had met.
Her mass of wavy brown hair flowed unobstructed down her back.She was dressed simply, but even that couldn’t hide the inherent power and wealth that imbued every gesture and graceful movement.
Kira glanced uncertainly at Jin, wondering what the best way to handle this was.
If it wasn’t for the fact that she very much suspected this woman was Jin’s mother—not to mention Torvald’s empress—she would have already called her on her bullshit.
At the very least, she would have dragged a name out of her.
“What?”Jin asked, seeing Kira’s look.
She pinched his cheek.“Careful—you don’t want your face getting stuck like this.”
Jin batted away her hand.“You do know I’m not an actual child, right?The tricks you used to make Elena behave won’t work on me.”
Kira hummed noncommittally.
They’d see.
Jarek’s companion chose just then to interrupt.“Aza, as I said before, this matter does not concern you.I’m afraid I must insist you leave.”
Well, that was just about as polite a “fuck you, get out” as Kira had ever heard.
And she’d heard her fair share.
Even the address ofaza, the Tuann equivalent of sir or ma’am, couldn’t quite hide the woman’s antagonism.
Kira raised her eyebrows at Jin as if to ask if this person was serious.
“You see what I’m dealing with?”Jin demanded.
“I do.”
Kira owed him an apology.He’d shown great restraint so far.
Raider snickered softly as he settled in to watch the imminent explosion.“This should be good.”
