she controlled the tempo the entire time. Forget landing a blow. I couldn't even make her take a step back. I wonder if you could do the same." Elena looked him up and down, her expression saying she wasn't very impressed with what she saw. "Would you like to find out?"
Kira stepped forward, inserting herself between the two as she shook her head. "I don't think so. That's enough out of you."
Now she remembered what she'd been teaching her niece. Those comments—especially the last one—was right out of Kira and Jin's playbook.
"Spoilsport," Elena told her.
Kira looked at her. "What did I tell you about picking fights?"
Elena gazed innocently up at her. "Not to get caught?"
"Try again," Kira said dryly.
Elena started to open her mouth but was interrupted by a cool voice coming from the direction of the doorway.
"Yes, I'm interested in hearing this too. Exactly what are you teaching her, Kira?" Raider strode toward them, Wren at his back.
Elena's teasing expression drained away, leaving her quiet and withdrawn.
Kira studied the two of them, not answering immediately.
The oshota who'd insulted Kira looked like he'd bitten into something sour as he caught sight of Wren. Kira’s seon’yer apparently had a bit of a reputation. A deserved one if his display in the uhva na was anything to judge by.
Elena, picking up on her tension, glanced up at her in question.
Kira patted her shoulder, signaling all was well and not to interfere. Whether her niece would deign to listen was another story.
"Is there a problem?" Wren asked, sweeping a gaze over the strange oshota.
Silence lingered until Auralyn straightened. "Nothing beyond the normal. Just a few pests sticking their noses where they don't belong."
The strange oshota bristled but remained silent.
Kira whistled silently. She'd really like to know what Wren and his oshota had done to create such an interesting reaction in another House's oshota.
The Tuann thrived on confrontation and duels. Opposing Houses clashed on a regular basis. She'd never seen an oshota retreat this quickly. At least not before a few blows were exchanged to test the other's mettle.
"And you, yer’se? Are you of the same opinion?" Wren directed the question at Kira.
The oshota paled, his gaze meeting Kira's before lifting away.
The oshota probably thought Kira was an easy target. She wasn't well known among other Houses. Of those who’d heard of her, she doubted any would recognize her face.
His unease was reflected in the faces of his companions.
"Yup. No problems here," Kira said, staring at the man who'd thought to ridicule her only to end up being the one ridiculed.
There was a certain poetry there that Kira enjoyed—especially since he'd gone after Ziva to get to Kira.
"In that case, follow me,” Wren ordered. “There are things we need to address.”
Kira was afraid he'd say that.
A part of her would have preferred to put the coming confrontation off indefinitely.
From the careful control in Wren's expression and the way he seemed to soften when he looked at Elena, Kira had a feeling the thing she'd been most afraid of had already happened.
Wren had guessed at the nature of Elena’s relation to him, and it was clear he’d already begun forming an attachment.
If it ever became necessary to remove Elena from the Tuann’s sphere of influence, Kira would have a fight on her hands.
Whether her niece realized it or not, her family had grown to include an extremely powerful Tuann.
"Jin, stay close to Elena and get in touch with our friend." Kira tilted her head at Elena. "You know the one."
Jin's sigh was heavy. "I do indeed."
Odin had a lot of explaining to do. He was supposed to watch Elena, not let her get caught by the Tuann.
Elena ignored them in favor of slinging an arm over Ziva's shoulders. "How about I show you my fun moves?"
The Tuann who’d picked a fight earlier, summoned his courage from somewhere. He curled his lip at Kira’s niece.
"What would a wet-behind-her-ears infant know about anything? You should let those with something to offer have the floor." He jabbed Elena's shoulder with a hard finger.
Kira, who'd started to walk away, came to a stop.
Did that man just touch her niece?
Kira did an about face. A sweet smile touched her lips, the corners of her eyes crinkling as she took a step toward the oshota.
"Girls, step back. Step back now,” Jin ordered, sounding alarmed.
Elena moved quickly, drawing Ziva and Joule with her. "Third and most important piece of advice—never, ever, ever insult someone Auntie cares about."
Ziva nodded with an intent expression,