His retinue gathered around Elias as he rose to look at Kira and Harlow.“I wonder how merciful the emperor will be when your commander is discovered abetting these criminals.”
No words were needed as Harlow fixed Danai’s Overlord with a flat stare that managed to intimidate without a single change in his expression.
There was a cough from the side.“Excuse me, Overlords.”
Harlow and Elias glanced over to find one of the emperor’s oshota standing there.
“The emperor wishes a word with your heir before she leaves,” he informed Harlow.
Elias’s laugh held a note of surprised glee.“So, it begins.Roake’s fall.”
He walked away, still laughing.His retinue trailed after him.
Harlow glanced at Kira.“What did you do?”
She shook her head.“Nothing that I know of.”
Harlow pushed away from the table.“Very well.Let’s see what this is about.”
The oshota stopped him.“Not you, Overlord.Just her and the child.”
“Child?”Jin mouthed, looking insulted.
Harlow’s gaze lingered on Jin.“I see.”
“What do you see?”Jin demanded.
“Adjustment is always hard.Remember that,” Harlow advised.
Jin’s bafflement mirrored Kira’s.
“Head back to Roake when you’re done.Don’t go anywhere else.It’s too dangerous right now,” Harlow instructed.
Kira nodded.“Understood.”
“Why do I get the feeling that we’re in trouble?”Jin muttered as Harlow strode out of the room.
The emperor uncoiled from his chair.“Probably because you are.”
“What did we do?”Jin demanded.
Sensing this wasn’t a conversation she wanted to be present for, Kira tried to make like a fly on the wall and blend into the woodwork.
She wasn’t sure how successful she was as the emperor loomed over Jin.
“Were my previous instructions not clear?I told you I didn’t want you at this meeting.”
Kira’s head snapped toward her friend.“What’s this?”
She thought the oshota were obstructing his path because they didn’t recognize him.Not because they’d been given orders to keep him out.
Torvald glanced at her.“He didn’t tell you?”
“No, he somehow failed to mention it,” Kira gritted out.
Jin reeked of guilt as he avoided her gaze.
“I’ve noticed he’s quite good at manipulating the appearance of a situation to his advantage,” Torvald observed.
