Threshold of Annihilation (The Firebird Chronicles #3) - T.A. White Page 0,52
the top. A plain white shirt and a black leather jacket waited inside.
Jackpot.
Below them was an outfit similar to one you'd find in Haldeel fashion. That one she held out to Finn.
"Here, you go."
He took it with a grimace. "Are you serious?"
She nodded at the cloak he still wore. "Unless you plan to lose the armor."
His choice.
To her surprise, he looked like he was actually debating it.
Kira fished around in the box, lifting out a men's pair of pants and a hoody and shirt. She held the outfit out to Finn and waited.
With a marked hesitation, he took them.
They turned their backs on each other, changing quickly.
"Your hair will still draw notice," Finn said when they were done.
Kira's hair was a distinctive color. Anyone looking for her would be able to pull her out of a crowd in seconds. She reached into the box withdrawing a wig with spiky purple hair.
She set it on her head, tucking her real hair away. "Better?"
Finn grunted. "I suppose."
Kira paused to look him over. It was a little odd seeing him out of the armor, almost like something was off in the picture he presented. The clothes fit him well, however.
Except for the en-blade in a sheath at his waist, he could have been mistaken as human as long as one didn't get a glimpse of his ears.
"You'll do." Kira headed for the bay's panel, once again disengaging the privacy mode.
"Where are we going?"
"First, we're going to find a place to stay the night. Then tomorrow, we're going to visit an old friend."
Finn's frown deepened.
"You should be happy. You're about to experience what no Tuann has had the chance to. Tomorrow you get to meet another of your people's lost children."
NINE
A KNOCK PULLED Graydon from his observation of the night skyline outside his balcony.
"Enter."
The door opened and Raider appeared.
"What is it?" Graydon asked when the human lingered on the threshold, seemingly unwilling to step inside.
Graydon took a sip of keeva, contemplating the myriad of ways the day had not gone according to plan.
He should really be used to it by now. Kira made a practice of taking his assumptions and then turning them on their head. This was simply the latest in a long line of them.
He'd like to know how she managed to evade Baran, though. His oshota was one of the best trackers among the Tuann. For her to give him the slip was impressive.
When Baran had returned earlier with an update, he'd been beside himself. His frustration had been evident as was the blow to his pride. Graydon didn't even try talking him out of setting out to see if he could pick up her trail.
He knew a waste of time when he saw it.
Baran wouldn't be able to let this rest until he'd redeemed himself.
Graydon had already sent people to watch the station and look for her ship. There was no way she could leave without him knowing.
Though, something told him that was the last thing she wanted.
Her actions during the race gave her inner desires away. If she'd really wanted to go undetected, she never would have taken the chances she had.
He could only conclude she wanted to be found. Eventually, one way or another, she'd return to him.
He simply needed to wait.
Graydon swirled the keeva in his glass as he studied Raider. The man seemed more subdued than usual—as if he had a great weight on his shoulders.
When he looked up, Graydon saw his eyes were bloodshot and rimmed with red.
He'd been crying.
Graydon tensed, taking Raider's presence a little more seriously. "Why are you here?"
Raider moved further into the room. He was quiet as he seemed to debate with himself.
Eventually, he put a small data chip on the end table beside Graydon. "There's something you should probably see."
Graydon took the chip, setting his keeva down.
Raider didn't look at him, staring out the window instead.
Graydon set the chip on a console.
A video of Kira appeared in front of him.
"This was taken shortly after she and Elena left Ta Sa'Riel," Graydon said after it finished playing.
It was confirmation of what he'd suspected. Her flight from the planet had been unplanned and not entirely of her desire. She would return when she felt the girl was safe.
Graydon didn't think she expected Elena to fall into their hands. It meant the girl's caretaker was likely somewhere on the planet. It was the only conclusion Graydon could make for the sequence of events.
Raider turned toward the door. "You should watch the rest. Start