likely be the ones to cause the most trouble on this section of the race."
Images formed in front of Kira's right eye courtesy of the small lens Odin had given her. Unlike other lens computers Kira had tried, the images on this were crisp.
"Do you see them?" Odin asked.
"Yes."
"Good. The one on the left is the former disciple of the current champion. There was some type of falling out, but I couldn’t find out over what."
"I'm surprised. Is the great Allfather slipping?" Jin taunted.
"Should I tell you a story then?" Odin teased. "I don't mind, but I thought you wanted to stay focused. My mistake. I didn't realize you were such a glutton for gossip."
"You shape-changing bastard," Jin hissed.
Finn's gaze met Kira's for a brief second.
"Don't suppose you could do anything about those two?" she asked.
If she had to listen to endless arguments during the race today, it would drive her crazy. No one wanted a homicidal Kira on a waveboard.
Finn’s smile held menace. "It would be my pleasure."
Kira immersed herself in studying the dossiers, not paying any attention even after the loud crash and subsequent grumblings of the other two.
"There won't be any further issues," Finn informed Kira happily.
She paused on two dossiers she found interesting. "Devon and Raider are in this race?"
Odin sent a sulky expression toward Jin. "See what you did? You ruined my big reveal."
"Maybe next time you shouldn't get so distracted," Jin retorted.
Finn coughed. The two retreated to opposite sides of the table.
Kira flipped through the rest of the dossiers, only finding one other of interest. The one Devon had said used the same technique as her. Moonbeam.
The only image included in the file was one where the racer’s face was hidden by a mask similar to the one Kira used.
As she finished up, Raider joined them. Like Kira, he wore flight armor—though his wasn’t as advanced as hers.
He cut a fine figure in it. He had a sort of roguish appeal. A little bit dangerous and a lot dashing. He had the sort of charm that made him easy to love, even as you kind of hated him too.
He flicked a look at Kira. "This is who you've chosen to work with? Are you being serious right now?"
"Odin has her uses," Kira said.
Raider scoffed. "That changeling tried to kill us."
Odin held up a finger that was slightly longer and slenderer than a human's. "Point of fact—I did no such thing. If I'd wanted you dead, you wouldn't still be breathing."
Kira knew enough about Odin's methods to guess she was probably speaking the truth. It was the biggest reason Kira had let her live, even going so far as to stage the other's death to help her escape from those who'd held her leash.
"There were mitigating circumstances," Kira revealed.
Raider shot her a disbelieving stare. “She was working with the enemy.”
"You don't know anything, kithiw." Menace rolled off Odin as she glared at Raider from the brim of the cap she wore to shield her face.
Raider didn't back down, if anything looking even more murderous.
Kithiw was a term the Tsavitee used for humans. Extremely derogatory, as most Tsavitee terms for outsiders were, it translated to fodder/food, something Kira had always found interesting given the way the Tsavitee divided their ranks and the fact half of them couldn't even operate without someone controlling them.
Kira caught Raider's arm, preventing him from stepping any closer. "Not everything is as it seems."
The tension in his arm under her hand remained for several long seconds before he relaxed and shrugged her off. "I hope you know what you're doing."
Raider didn't wait for a response, walking away without another word.
Odin busied herself with removing the cables attached to the waveboard, pretending not to notice Kira’s stare.
"Using that word was a mistake," Kira said softly.
It was a trigger for any human who'd fought in the war.
Odin’s hands slowed. "I know."
"Don't let it happen again." With her warning, Kira let the matter go, knowing Raider's accusation was a trigger for Odin as well.
In some ways, Odin was very like Kira.
The changeling’s early life was controlled by people who only sought to use her. Kira's interference had saved her from that fate, but it didn't save the rest of those Odin cared about.
Everything Odin did now was in service to one goal—freeing those left behind.
Odin finished the preparations and handed the board to Kira.
"There aren't going to be any issues like last time, are there?" Kira asked.
"Not unless the Tin Can made a lot of