The oshota nudged each other, chuckling as they shot Kira covert looks that said “get a look at Roake’s paranoid heir”.
Noticing them, Finn’s jaw clenched, his gaze turning icy.
“Okay.Okay,” the leader said, quelling his subordinates with a glance before smiling at Kira and the others.“We understand.We’ll handle things from here.”
“I don’t think you understand how dangerous this person is,” Finn protested.
The oshota’s face turned hard.“Isaid—we’ll handle it.”
Finn’s nostrils flared, his mouth opening on a sharp statement.
Kira grabbed his shoulder before he could speak.“Okay.We understand.Come on, Finn.The man said he’d handle it.Let’s let him do that.”
Raider eyed Kira like she’d suddenly grown two heads.“That’s surprisingly understanding of you.”
Not really.She’d just thought of a better way to accomplish her mission.
“Jin’s waiting for us,” Kira said.
As much as she’d like to argue with the idiots in front of them, they didn’t have a leg to stand on.This was the emperor’s territory, and the oshota served him.Making a scene wouldn’t help their cause.Instead, it could harm them.Better to head up to Jin’s room.The oshota guarding him all knew Kira and were more likely to take her report seriously.
And if they didn’t, Jin would.
She trusted his way of handling things would have these three ruing the fact that they hadn’t listened.Honestly, she was kind of hoping Jin’s guards ignored her.The resulting fireworks were bound to be entertaining.
Reluctantly, Finn let Kira lead him away as they headed up to the wing of the palace that housed the emperor’s family.
“Someone sounds upset,” Raider muttered as Jin’s raised voice greeted them upon their approach.
Yes, someone did.
For half a second, Kira debated the merits of doing an about face and marching back to Roake.
But no.That would be cowardly.
Wouldn’t it?
Yes, it would.Not to mention she still had to report the intruder to the oshota standing guard.
Resigned, Kira marched toward the pair of oshota outside Jin’s door.“What’s going on?”
One of the guards was a stranger to her, but the other she recognized as belonging to Graydon, the emperor’s Face, and Kira’s lover.She wasn’t as familiar with Isla as she was with Amila, but they’d interacted enough for her to know how capable the other was.
The corner of Isla’s mouth quirked up at the sight of Kira.“What impeccable timing, Roake’s heir.”
Kira paid no mind to the quick look the oshota on Isla’s other side shot her, used to it by now.Most Tuann greeted her with either suspicion or curiosity.He seemed inclined toward the latter.
“Instead of asking her, why not just come inside and figure that out for yourself!”Jin shouted from the other side of the door.
“There goes your chance of escaping,” Raider snickered.
Kira gave him a one fingered salute as Isla opened the door for her.
“Best of luck, Roake’s heir,” Isla murmured as Kira trudged past.
Two
Kira
