Torvald stroked his lip as he slouched against his throne.“Is that the reason for Roake’s self-destruct?”
“I determined that sacrificing our Nexus was the only way we were going to stop the attack,” Harlow answered.
That couldn’t have been an easy decision.A House’s Nexus played an integral part in their existence.It wasn’t just the House’s brain.It was its heart and spiritual center as well.A place of communion and healing.Just as much as it was its sword and shield.
The loss would affect Roake gravely.
Torvald nodded in approval.“That might pacify the other Overlords in the interim.”
But it wouldn’t do so for long.They needed a scapegoat for their rage.If they couldn’t have the real culprit, Caius and Roake would do.
They’d overlook their own culpability and oversights in favor of their own interests.And since Roake was the only one to draw blood, the other Houses’ attempt at assigning blame would likely succeed.
It was all very political and so very predictable.
“My people are investigating.We have a few leads regarding Caius’s last known whereabouts.We will find him,” Harlow promised.
“You’d better.”Torvald held Harlow’s gaze, not needing to enumerate the consequences should he fail.“My storm, anything else?”
“Although Caius’s copy was dispatched before he could complete his mission, the same can’t be said of all the other copies that invaded Kashori and Asanth.Some fled the planet during the aftermath’s confusion.I had my people trace their ship signatures.”
Graydon displayed a star map for the others to see.On it, several ships left a planet that was easily discernible as Ta Sa’Riel.The map moved as those ships made their way out of the solar system and across the black of space until arriving at a section of the galaxy that most Tuann never had occasion to visit.
“Consortium territory,” Harlow named.
“Specifically, the outer edge of it.”Graydon expanded the map.“This,” he nodded at a blinking dot, “is the station where I first encountered Kira.That,” he nodded where the ships were heading, “is where she used to operate out of.”
Silence greeted Graydon’s explanation.
Harlow’s jaw ticked as he glared at the map.
Torvald’s exhale was heavy.“Someone is setting up Roake and your heir.”
They were doing a very good job of it too.
The other Overlords would take this information and run with it.They’d use it as proof that Roake and its heir were the architects behind this incident and that the self-destruct was an attempt to throw off suspicion
They wouldn’t care about truth or facts.Only what they could gain from the situation.
Graydon dismissed the map.“Now for the forty-three’s proposition.”
Torvald’s eyebrows twitched.Graydon hid his smile, knowing he had the emperor’s attention.
“A small number of them have agreed to an exchange of sorts.”
“Interesting timing on their part,” Torvald commented, his gaze wandering toward where Pallas and Alexander waited like sentinels on the other side of the sound proof barrier.
“I had a feeling you’d think so.”
Torvald relaxed into his seat.“I can guess their price.”
“Guarantee the safety of the two youngest.”Graydon didn’t react to Torvald’s scoff.“Barring that, they wish to buy Roake time to solve their problem.”
Torvald narrowed his eyes.“Before, they refused to act even with Jin in danger.Why the change of heart now?”
This was where Graydon had to be very careful, walking a tightrope between his loyalty to his emperor and the love he had for the woman who set his soul alight.
“They suspect that the traitor who helped the Osiri was not acting alone.”
