“Just surprised you had.”
Smart ass.
Kira ignored her friend’s stubborn expression to study the three standing by.“I’m assuming you’re here to audition to be Jin’s oshota.”
Jin’s cantankerous scoff made Kira bite back a smile.She ignored him, giving the oshota her full attention.
The female oshota nodded while her companions stared at Kira with blank, impenetrable expressions that she knew would remain stubbornly unchanging unless otherwise ordered by their master.In this case, Jin’s maybe mom.
Kira was used to reticence from their ranks and didn’t find it insulting.She was betting the female oshota only responded because of how new she was to the role.At some point she’d learn that the only person who could compel an oshota to answer was their chosen master.That person they referred to as their sword.
“Choose,” Kira ordered.
“Excuse me?”
Kira regarded Jin calmly.“You heard me.Choose one or I will.”
She’d always wondered what a flabbergasted Jin might look like.Now, she knew.It was every bit the satisfying sight she’d thought it would be.
“You can’t—I won’t—” Jin stomped his foot angrily.“Kira!”
“You remember when Graydon told me Roake was keeping me?”
An “oh shit” look crossed Jin’s face.
Kira bared her teeth at him.“Payback’s a bitch, bestie.”
And how sweet it was.
“That was different,” Jin protested.
“How?”
“You were dying!”
“And you’re placing yourself in needless danger by refusing protection.”
Jin got an obstinate look on his face.“I can protect myself.”
“Is that right?”Kira looked around, spotting one of those fancy pillows sitting on a chair a few paces away.
“It is,” Jin insisted.
“Well, in that case.”
Kira grabbed the pillow and flung it at Jin in one smooth motion.It smacked him in the face.
His dumbfounded expression made Kira choke back a laugh.
Raider wasn’t so polite, his guffaw loud in the sudden silence.
The female oshota shifted like she wanted to go to Jin’s aid.Dylan blocked her advance with an upraised arm.
Uncertain, the female oshota settled back into position.
Jin fumed.“That doesn’t count.I wasn’t prepared.”
“Ah.”Kira glanced at Raider.“In that case.”
