Holograms of three individuals appeared on the bridge.Strangers, every one of them.
“The highest ranking members from Danai, Asanth and Kashori in this sector.They’ve submitted a vote of no confidence in you, Graydon.That’s all I need to remove you from your position,” Sariah announced.
“Rebels,” Dylan said.
Sariah gave him a cool look.“Prove it.”
Kira glanced at Graydon to find him with a calculating expression on his face.She didn’t know what was going on in his head, but she had to do something.
“Roake doesn’t support this,” she declared.
“Luatha either,” Roderick said.
Kira looked back at him in gratitude, not having noticed him entering the bridge.
“Three against two.Our position holds,” Sariah gloated with a smile that said she thought she’d won.
Kira glanced at Graydon again to find a frown on his face that made her a little nervous.“It’s not that easy, right?”
“It wouldn’t hold up long.As soon as we reached Ta Sa’Riel, the emperor would reinstate me.”
“But temporarily?”
“It could be done,” Graydon admitted.
Jace’s features tightened as his justification for intervening started to disappear.
“However, Tinsley and Rhett far outrank the representatives she chose,” Graydon said.
Sariah looked stunned.“You don’t know?”A laugh spilled out of her.“They’ve disappeared.Kidnapped by those abominations she calls siblings.Another crime that can be laid at the feet of Roake’s heir.”
Jace’s expression got stranger and stranger as he listened.He glanced at something off screen.“Do you want to handle this?”
Whatever was said had him nodding.
A second later, Tinsley and Rhett’s holograms appeared before them.Pallas and Alexander joined them a second later.
But it was the last man who came into view that really gave Kira a shock.
Jin’s gasp and quiet “Ryan” was lost amidst Sariah’s exclamation.
“Impossible!”
“Not impossible at all.Just a simple location change to keep itchy ears from listening in,” Pallas drawled.“From this dog and pony show, I’d say our caution was warranted.”He paid no attention to Sariah’s sputtering as he swiveled to take in Kira and Jin.“Good to see you two came through your ordeal unharmed.”
“We did not realize that others would try to take advantage of our absence,” Rhett said coolly.
“Did your meeting go well?”Graydon asked.
“It did.”Rhett glanced at Ryan.“We’ve managed to come to an acceptable understanding.”
Ryan smiled benignly at Kira and Jin.
“We’ve agreed to allow the formation of another Major House,” Rhett announced.
“The support of two Houses isn’t enough,” the man representing Danai objected.“You would need a majority rule.”
Rhett glanced at Kira and Roderick.“What say Luatha and Roake?”
