Threshold of Annihilation (The Firebird Chronicles #3) - T.A. White Page 0,54

was a long time later when Graydon sat and stared unseeing at the wall.

In an abrupt movement he hurled his glass, feeling nothing as it shattered.

Noor entered the room, a questioning look on his face.

"Out," Graydon ordered.

He found he wasn't in the mood for company, not even that of his most trusted.

Noor took note of the shattered glass but didn't say anything, nodding once and disappearing back the way he'd come. Graydon knew several of his oshota were standing guard along the perimeter of his room, ensuring none could harm him even in sleep.

Graydon couldn't remain seated any longer, standing in one sharp movement and pacing over to the balcony.

He stared into the night, struggling to make peace with what he'd seen. One thought stood out in his mind, resisting any effort to bury it. Kira could have died. From the state she'd been in that first video, she'd come very close. He didn't think anyone around her realized just how over the edge she'd been.

The loss of personal connections was viewed as a grievous injury to the Tuann. They had stories of those who'd survived the initial loss only to fade in the end.

Couple that with her repeated use of the Heaven’s Wrath, which had likely damaged her ki and its channels even further, and it was a surprise she’d survived as well as she had.

Now that he'd seen her in that state, he couldn't make himself forget. It took an insane amount of will power and discipline to drag yourself back into the land of the living. To do so without building new connections was a level of hell Graydon didn't even want to imagine.

A simple tap on the shoulder would have been enough to send her into the abyss.

He'd have never known all that she was. Graydon could have lost her before she was ever his.

*

The next morning, Kira and Finn left their temporary lodgings wearing the same thing they’d worn when they’d left the race bay. Finn looked uncomfortable in his hoodie and jeans as the city came alive around them.

Kira’s purple wig drew people’s attention away from her face. Her jacket protected her from the faint chill of the morning hours as they merged into a crowd predominantly comprised of human and Haldeel. Every once in a while, Kira caught the odd Tuann as well.

The mood was festive, food hover stalls were parked along the side streets, traders among them.

Jin trailed them from the building tops, being careful to stay out of sight.

The battle over whether he’d hide out in her or Finn’s clothes had been hard fought. The volume of the argument had ensured they’d need alternate lodging for the night.

When she'd finally conceded, Jin had crowed about his "ninja-like" stealth skills enough that Kira regretted her momentary lapse in judgment.

Although, she had to admit so far, he was doing pretty well in not drawing attention to himself.

"You hear from Odin?" Kira asked as she strolled down the sidewalk.

"Nope. I imagine Odin is doing Odin-like things."

"One of those things better be keeping an eye on Elena," Kira said, studying the crowd.

So far no one was paying undue attention to her and Finn, but it paid to be careful.

Jettie was supposed to be safe. The Haldeel were as uptight when it came to planetary security as the Tuann, but unlike the Tuann they had firsthand experience with the Tsavitee. They knew what to be on the lookout for.

That paranoia and devotion to safety precautions was one of the biggest reasons Kira had left her niece on this planet.

Granted, the current state of affairs opened a gap in their security, but with Almaluk hovering above, Kira didn't think the Haldeel would take any chances.

That still didn't stop her from being wary of a tail.

The person she was meeting today wasn't the forgiving sort. If Kira unknowingly led someone to her, she'd have Kira's head.

Kira picked a direction seemingly at random, meandering from one section of the city to the next. She strolled past water gardens and along canals, enjoying the beauty of the city.

Water and its artful manipulation were one of the most common landscape features. In the short time Kira had been on planet, it had come alive, the trees blooming with lilac-colored flowers as they draped their branches over ponds and lakes.

Kira didn't know if it was truly the time for these trees to be in bloom or if the Haldeel had tinkered with their biochemistry to spark a scene that was sure to