“Alright,” Kira said with a weary sigh.“Let’s get this over with.”
Finn and Talon followed her out, leaving Quillon inside the ship with the pilot.The hatch sealed after them, the ship taking off a second later.
Ocean wind buffeted Kira as she stared up at the palace and the transparent dome protecting it.A patina of gold painted everything inside.
For the first time that Kira could remember, the emperor’s oshota were out in force.Easily visible as they patrolled the palace’s perimeter.Others were stationed at strategic points on the walls.
In Kira’s opinion, it was an unnecessary show of force.But probably reassuring to the city’s populace.
“Did we ever get an answer as to why there were no oshota on patrol earlier?”Kira asked quietly.
“No,” Finn answered.
Talon stared down a nearby oshota who was being a little too obvious in his dislike.“We should get going before our hosts forget themselves.”
Kira stalked toward the palace, her back straight and unwavering, pretending not to feel the heat from the glares of those watching.
For once, the palace doors didn’t open automatically upon her approach.She was forced to stop and wait for an oshota to allow her entrance.No animosity showed on their faces, but she could feel it by how slowly they moved.
She kept her face perfectly blank.Her oshota were equally stoic as the door opened.
Finn took the lead, guiding Kira and Talon down several hallways to an audience room large enough to house half the city.
A commotion outside its doors caused Kira to quicken her pace.
“Move,” Jin ordered the oshota standing guard.
He hadn’t seen her yet.His attention on the oshota and chamber beyond.
“I’m sorry, lordling.That’s not possible.”
Jin squared off with the Tuann.“Either you move; or I move you.”
Oh crap.
Kira was nearly running by then.
She knew that tone.Jin was one second away from mayhem.
As usual, the Tuann had underestimated her best friend.The glance the pair of oshota shared said they saw Jin’s threat as cute but of no actual relevance.
Jin wasn’t cute.
Okay—maybe his current body contained a bit of adorableness but that was beside the point.
Jin was a badass motherfucker who’d been baptized in blood and pain.He’d probably seen more war and death than either of these oshota.He’d proven himself beyond any shadow of a doubt in conditions that would have destroyed someone weaker.
He’d earned the right to be treated to the same respect his brother, Devon, enjoyed.
“Jin!”Kira called.
Jin’s shoulders bunched as he went utterly still.If he’d had fur, it would have stood on end.
A gamut of emotions flitted across his face at the speed of light when he finally looked at her.
Surprise.Relief.
Lastly, a bittersweet delight that transformed his features.
