She wasn’t sure what Pallas had been up to.He’d disappeared after killing their sister Thea.
“They were with me when I got the news about the attack,” Graydon explained.
Kira’s frown grew more pronounced as she eyed Graydon with suspicion.“I wasn’t aware you and the forty-three were in contact.”
“Just some of them.”
The most influential of them, Kira corrected silently.
Alexander was practically his own faction.His opinion held considerable weight.
As for Pallas, he was Ryan’s, the would-be leader of the forty-three, eyes and ears.In some ways, he was Graydon’s counterpart.His position similar enough to that of a Face.
“Why?”Kira asked Alexander.
Why now?After all this time?Why was Ryan and his faction of the forty-three suddenly willing to step out of the shadows and onto the galactic stage?
“We have our reasons.”
Of course they did.Just like those reasons were unlikely to be shared with Kira.
A mocking laugh came from Pallas.“Come now.You can do better than that.Tell our sister the truth.”
Alexander’s sigh was long suffering.“Certain information has come to light.”
“Don’t sugarcoat it for the poor dear.”Pallas bared his teeth at Kira, his eyes cold.“Our dear deceased sister, Thea, wasn’t acting alone in working with the Osiri.There were others.”
“Among the forty-three?”
Pallas’s expression was vicious as his lips twisted.“Do you think we would care otherwise?”
Alexander shot his brother a quelling glance.“There seem to be co-conspirators among the humans and Tuann as well.”
“I’m going to enjoy tearing these traitors apart when I find them,” Pallas crooned with a distant look on his face.Whatever he was imaging made the corners of his lips tip up in a chilling smile.The blood thirst coming off him was stifling in the small cell.
At Kira’s silence, Pallas cut her a sharp look.“What?No pleas for mercy?”
“I guess you don’t know me as well as you think you do.”
Some people didn’t deserve mercy.
If any of the forty-three had taken part in Thea’s plans, knowing what was at stake and who her sister was working for, Kira would slit their throats herself.The death she offered them would certainly be far more merciful than anything Pallas had planned.
“My, my, how someone has changed.I guess your incarceration has done you some good,” Pallas drawled.
Kira ignored him to focus on Graydon.“What did they promise you?”
“Does it really matter?We freed you.Be grateful,” Pallas hissed.
“It matters to me,” Kira argued.
Pallas’s eyes narrowed.“Why?Afraid you’re going to owe us now?”
Kira gave him an impatient look.“You’re such an asshole.”
“Takes one to know one.”
Her jaw flexed.“Correction—you’re a juvenile asshole.”
