“After all, I have nothing but time in front of me now.”
Citing exhaustion not long after that, Elise returned to the fortress in the company of Auralyn.
Kira remained at the platform’s edge, needing the solitude to get her head on straight after all that heavy emotion.
She was still trying to compose herself when Wren re-joined her.
“I’ve always liked this spot,” Wren said, apropos of nothing.
That surprised a smile from Kira.“I particularly like the illusion it’s hiding behind.”
By this point, she’d flown over every inch of the coastline around the Fortress of the Vigilant and its surrounding areas.This platform wasn’t visible from any angle.
“Just a little insurance from prying eyes,” Wren said.
“Roake’s paranoia grows increasingly charming the longer I remain with them.”
“We do like to be prepared,” Wren observed.
The silence that descended was short and easy.The waves a soothing lullaby as the wind played among the rocks.
“What happens now?”Kira asked finally.
“We do what we’ve always done.We protect our own.”
Kira lifted her gaze to the storm forming on the horizon.“That might not be so easy this time.”
“It never is.”
Things were so messed up.For once, Kira didn’t know the right course of action to fix them.
“Have you talked to Harlow yet?”Wren asked.
Kira shook her head.“That’s my next stop.”
Wren clasped her shoulder.“Focus on what’s immediately in front of you.Auralyn and I will take care of the home front.”
“Thanks, but your concern may be unnecessary.The emperor ordered Roake away from this.”
“It’s refreshing how naive you are sometimes.”
Kira narrowed her eyes at her seon’yer.“What does that mean?”
“Do you really think Harlow will leave this alone?”A gruff laugh came from Wren.“Caius is his Jin.He will not abandon him.No matter what appearances suggest.”
Kira’s thoughts moved quickly as she considered his words.“You think he’ll send me after him.”
“What were the emperor’s exact words?Think about it.I bet Caius’s name never came up.”
Holy shit.
Now that Kira thought about it, Wren might be right.
How did she miss that?
Wren chuckled at Kira’s astounded expression.“You have a lot to learn about Tuann duplicity.We may not like lying but we’re very good at twisting our words.”
“I’m beginning to see that,” Kira murmured.
