“We’re almost there,” Kira promised.
“You said that before.”
“I really mean it this time.”
To be honest, she sounded a lot more confident than she actually was.Honeycombs were massive structures, built to confuse and disorient any would-be invaders.
It didn’t help that the scorpion hadn’t come equipped with a handy dandy map.All it could do was provide a general direction for Jin’s location, forcing them to backtrack every time they found their way blocked.
If Kira had been on her own, it wouldn’t have been an issue.The problem was Roderick.He was fading quickly.It wouldn’t be long before his body gave out entirely.
“You should leave me and go.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Kira said harshly.
“No, listen—you still have Jin and the other children to worry about.They’re what matters.Right now, I’m just a hindrance.”
Kira tightened her grip on his arm when he would have pulled it off her shoulder.“I know you don’t know this, but Curs don’t leave people behind.Not unless it’s absolutely necessary.”
And only if the situation was dire.As in, world ending.
“We’re not there,” Kira snarled, already over this self-sacrificing bullshit.“I promise you that when we are, I’ll leave your ass to fend for itself.”
“Really?”
“Absolutely,” Kira swore.“Can we get going now?Your existential crisis is costing us time.”
Roderick’s nod showed reluctance, but at least he was no longer demanding she leave him behind.
“Sheesh, most people usually beg me not to abandon them,” Kira muttered, taking more of his weight than before.
“I’m a rare breed,” Roderick joked tiredly.
“You’re something alright.”
Oddly enough, he reminded her of a Cur.Something she’d never thought she’d say given their first impressions of each other.That desire to sacrifice oneself for the good of the mission; every one of her Curs had had it.Apparently, so did Roddie.
Kira tightened her grip around his waist, vowing she wouldn’t lose him as she had them.Not this time.Not ever again.
Half an hour later that sentiment was put to the test as Kira found their way obstructed by a a man and woman.Both dangerous.And the last people she would want to encounter while hampered by the inhibitor and dragging dead weight.
Roderick went very still against Kira, his voice dropping to a hushed whisper.“That’s them.They’re the ones who attacked me.”
The woman smiled.Her expression falling flat due to the lack of emotion on the rest of her face.“We were hoping the fall had killed you.”
“So sorry to disappoint,” Roderick snarked.
Kira was so proud.The old Roderick would have been much too rigid and proud to use sarcasm in a situation as dire as this.She must be rubbing off on him.
“What should we do?”the man beside the woman asked.
“There’s no avoiding the confrontation now that we’ve arrived at this juncture.Kill them.Both of them.”
“That’s cold, Cleo.What happened to not harming siblings?”Kira asked.
“It’s time to grow up, Kira.We were never siblings.Shared trauma is not a reason to bind us forever.”
Kira’s gaze shifted to the man.“And you, Mars?You’re in agreement?”
