“Because if not, I can kill someone for you.I’m good at that,” Kira offered.
“I know you are.”
His reluctant chuckle had her relaxing a little.It was a good sign if he could still laugh.
“They took the Curs from me,” he announced out of the blue.“Technically, anyway.I still have Nova, Maverick and Tank under my command.But someone else flies under the name of the Curs.A bunch of pissants who can barely operate a wave board.”
Kira listened quietly.
“I don’t know why I’m telling you this,” Jace admitted.
“Because I’m your friend and I’m also a Cur.”
“It stings knowing that someone else is using the name we built.I hate it.”
For a moment, it wasn’t the rear admiral talking.It was Jace.The man who sometimes used to fly off the handle over little things.Stupid shit that didn’t matter to anyone but him.
“They can wear our colors and use our symbols but they’re not us,” Kira said.
They hadn’t paid the price in blood.They didn’t know the true meaning behind that name or what it took to protect it.They were children playing at being legends.
“Centcom is full of fools.”Kira pinned Jace with the full force of her attention.Her predator’s gaze.Meant to subdue and conquer.“You’ll show them the error of their ways, won’t you?”
Jace withstood her gaze for several seconds, beads of sweat forming on his brow.“Yes.”
Kira released him and patted his shoulder.“I’m counting on you, Knight.Next time we meet, you’d better have those old fools under the heel of your boot.”
Jace straightened to give her an irritated look.“Was that necessary?”
“No.”Kira smiled at him.“But it was fun.”
Used to her antics, Jace had a long suffering look on his face.
“You haven’t asked me about Blue,” he said as she was about to walk away.
Kira blanked her features and looked at him.“What about her?”
Her feelings regarding Blue were complicated.She loved the child she’d once been and admired the woman she’d become.Even as that woman’s occasional thoughtlessness frustrated her to no end.
Blue had always been there for her.Ready and willing to put her life on the line the moment Kira indicated it was necessary.
But she’d also done things that could have gotten people killed.
Before any forgiveness and healing could happen, she needed to recognize that and atone.
“She left the service.”
Kira tamped down her reaction, pushing away the tangle of pain and disappointment.
The Space Force and her place in it had meant everything to Blue.She’d turned down countless, much better, more lucrative opportunities for a future in the Curs.Only to have it all blow up in her face.
“Was she court martialed?”
“Yes.They demoted her and barred her from service as a Cur.They docked her pay for six months and rescinded all medals and accolades she received.”
Harsh—but not the worst possible outcome.
She could have been charged with treason in wartime.She would have spent life in prison.
