Threshold of Annihilation (The Firebird Chronicles #3) - T.A. White Page 0,137

the attack.

She could trust them with this.

“All right,” Kira said finally. “You can go.”

Elena let out a yip of excitement as she bounced on her toes.

“But—” Kira pointed a finger at Elena’s face. “You will listen and obey him and his oshota. If there’s another incident like what happened on the Wanderer or like when you got caught, you’re going into lockdown. Nothing and no one will be able to save you then. Understood?”

Elena nodded quickly.

She bounded forward, giving Kira a quick hug before racing out of the room with a high-pitched squeal. “She said yes.”

Kira glanced at Wren. “I’m trusting you.”

He bowed his head. “I won’t let you down. I promise.”

Kira watched him set out after her niece, feeling torn. She wasn’t used to relying on others anymore.

She, Jin, and Selene had been the only ones invested in Elena’s safety for so long.

The worry of what could happen if the Tsavitee ever got their hands on Elena gnawed at her in the depths of night. It lurked in the back of her mind at all times.

“You did a good thing,” Maksym said.

Her gaze met his, reading the sincerity there.

“His wife’s passing and daughter’s loss broke him. You’ve given him a chance he never thought would come. Thank you.”

Kira’s eyes dropped, feeling the urge to hide from his words.

She’d face the possibility of death a thousand times before she willingly dealt with someone else’s emotions.

Just the thought made her want to retreat to a remote part of the galaxy.

Instead of running, Kira forced herself to respond, knowing his words deserved an answer. “He will be good for her too.”

She couldn’t see any downside to having more people willing to safeguard her niece.

As choices went for relatives, Wren was a pretty good one. He was a powerful warrior and more importantly knew the devastation that came with loss.

He’d do what was necessary to make sure it didn’t happen again.

“Now, shall we start again?” Maksym’s smile said he was looking forward to hours of torturing her—for her own good, of course.

*

A long time later, conversation ebbed and flowed around Kira as she sipped from a glass of keeva.

The training with Maksym had been slow and tedious. By the time she’d stopped for the day, she’d only managed to push her ki into a sphere one size smaller than the one she’d started with.

Her gaze dropped to the hand that held the glass. She knew at a thought she could activate the sphere again.

It was a little gift Maksym had given her so she could practice any time she had a moment.

Oh, joy.

Kira tapped her finger against her glass as she studied the gathering.

Her position along the edge of the banquet gave her an excellent opportunity to observe her surroundings without having to interact with them.

The room she was in was one of the most impressive she’d ever seen. With a transparent ceiling and walls offering an unobstructed glimpse outside, the chamber felt like an enclosed bubble nestled in the heart of the station.

The unique towers of Almaluk rose around them, unfolding like a flower to offer a glimpse of space. Trillions of stars decorated the sky like tiny jewels only overshadowed by the planet Jettie rising off the port side.

It was breathtaking. You could visit a hundred worlds and travel the galaxy for decades and never come close to matching this view.

It was a fitting backdrop for the high-stakes discussions taking place around Kira.

It had only been half an hour since she'd entered the celebration, but she had already learned so much.

From the small faction of humans interested in mineral rights on a planet whose ownership was highly contested to the group trying to broker a marriage alliance between two powerful, opposing families.

Take into account, the two previously unknown alien races she'd just encountered for the first time and the possibilities were endless for wheeling and dealing.

The outfits of those present ran the gamut. Ball gowns and military uniforms were side by side with synth armor.

Even Kira had gone out of her way to dress the part. For the night, her hair had been swept to one side to spill over her shoulder in seductive, glossy waves she couldn't help but admire.

Dramatic makeup highlighted her eyes, the colors making them more violet than gray.

Unlike many of the women, Kira hadn't opted for a ball gown, instead choosing an outfit that would be easy to move in.

Militaristic in design, it consisted of a formal overcoat with buttons marching down the front. Silver embroidery