He shrugged and held up the hand he’d used to reach into the channel.It was his left.His non-dominant left.“I’m just saying.”
Kira shoved him away with her shoulder as Wren and Auralyn appeared between the waterfalls.
“What happened?”Wren demanded, spotting the oshota lying next to them.
“Someone attacked the guards and threw these into the Nexus’s water,” Kira explained, showing him the orbs.“Finn went after them alone.”
That knowledge sat like a stone in her stomach.It was obvious from the dead oshota’s presence and the fact no other oshota except Wren and Auralyn responded to her shout that something bad was going on.
Someone who could take out the oshota guarding Roake’s heart was dangerous.Not the type of person Finn should have gone after without backup.
And yes, Kira knew how hypocritical that sounded coming from her.
“Go,” Wren ordered.“We’ll handle things here.”
That was what Kira was hoping to hear.
She didn’t wait as Raider handed the three orbs they’d collected to Auralyn.
“We’re pretty sure there are others.You might want to get them out before they do anything,” Raider called as he hurried to catch up with Kira.
She was already halfway to the exit.Unlike Finn, she didn’t take the shortcut of plunging through the waterfalls, choosing to take the longer path instead.
Raider caught up to her just as she reached the hallway outside.“Do you know where they went?”
Kira paused before nodding to a hallway off to her right.“This way.”
If she was trying to evade an oshota’s pursuit, she’d choose the most direct path out of the Fortress of the Vigilant.
“I hope you’re right,” Raider murmured.
“I am.”
She hoped.
They moved quickly, not pausing to admire the simplistic beauty of the fortress’s design as she normally would.Much like the people who called it home, the fortress was cold and standoffish at first glance, but there was a protective warmth and sense of safety layered beneath its austere surface.In the time since she’d called it home, Kira had come to appreciate its unique charm.Particularly those qualities involving offense and defense.
Before long, they caught a glimpse of Finn on the stairs below.
“Where’d they go?”Kira called.
Finn looked up, his chest working as he caught his breath.“I lost him.”
“Damn,” Kira whispered.
That was disappointing.
“The Overlord is messaging me,” Finn said.
He activated his comms so they could hear.
Harlow’s terse voice filled the air.“Wren has informed me of the situation.We have eyes on the perpetrator.He’s on the avenue and heading to the palace.Find him and bring him before me.”
Finn glanced up at Kira.“Acknowledged, Overlord.”
Harlow’s side cut out.
“We should hurry.He has quite the head start,” Kira said, jogging down the stairs with Raider at her side.
