Wren’s smirk was brief.“Wherever he sends you, make sure to take Maksym.”
Kira grimaced.“Do I have to?”
Why couldn’t he send Zoella or Tavas instead?She had enough nosy people in her life right now without adding someone who acted like an honorary big brother.
“Yes.”
“Fine.IfI go anywhere, I’ll take the ginger menace.”
Wren made a sound of approval before the smile fell from his face.“With the Nexus down and us unable to fully defend ourselves, all non-essential personnel of the House are being moved off world.”
“Elise and the children too?”
Wren’s expression was troubled.“They will not be going to the same place as the rest of the House.”
Kira didn’t like that answer, but she understood it.
For the first time in centuries, Roake was vulnerable.Since no one could predict what nasty surprises might be hiding in Elise or the children, it was best to distance them from the House.
“What happens to them now?”Kira asked.
“Auralyn reached out to her mother’s side.They’ve agreed to provide safe harbor.”
“Are we sure we can trust them?”
Kira didn’t like the thought of strangers taking in Elise and the children.There were alternative havens she could send them to if it came to it.
“There are none I would trust more with their care,” Auralyn announced from behind Kira.
“What if someone guesses you went to them for help?”Kira asked, turning to look at her.
“It’s not a well-known connection.”Auralyn’s lips quirked.“Furthermore, they’re known for their dislike of outsiders.Most Tuann are smart enough to steer clear.”
“All the more reason for me to be concerned.”
In Kira’s experience, isolationists weren’t so understanding of other people’s quirks.Of which the children had a surplus.
Auralyn frowned in confusion.
“An inquisitor questioned Pallas and Alexander’s lineage.She all but called them mutts,” Kira explained.
Understanding flashed across Auralyn’s face.“They’re not like that.”
“You say that, but how can I trust people I’ve never met?”Kira pointed out.
The glance Auralyn and Wren shared contained an entire conversation before Auralyn looked back at Kira.“You should know—the children and my mother’s people have a lot more in common than you might think.”
Kira frowned.“You’re suggesting they’re different.”
Actually, she wasn’t at all sure what Auralyn was saying.
“Humans aren’t the only ones who like to rewrite history,” Auralyn said.“The Tuann pretend we’re from a single source.In reality, the Osiri spent generations tinkering with our genetic code.Some lineages show those differences more easily than others.”
Surprise rendered Kira mute.
Auralyn grinned at her expression and tapped her on the nose.“The Tuann have as many secrets as you, young one.Never forget that.My mother’s cousins will protect us.The same way they have many others.”
“And Roake protects them,” Wren announced.
