Threshold of Annihilation (The Firebird Chronicles #3) - T.A. White Page 0,57

instead of his synth armor was the first step. She needed to see how far he could go.

He'd stuck with her through a lot. It was why she was considering letting him peek behind the curtain.

If there was one thing she'd learned over the past few months, it was that people were precious. Once gone, they couldn't be replaced.

Raider had taught her that.

She didn't want to be on the other end of a friend looking at her like she'd betrayed them. Finn didn't have the same history, but he'd shown he could be as stalwart as any of her Curs.

"I hate to break it to you, but I've never been in need of your protection," she informed him.

"Everyone needs someone watching their back."

"True."

Finn watched her carefully, not trusting her easy agreement.

"But if you continue hovering like that, I won't answer your questions.” Kira nodded at the chair again. "You'll want to try the chai. The kid was right; it's world-changing."

Finn's hesitance was clear, but he reached for the chair anyway.

Kira took that as agreement, ordering a chai for both of them.

When she was done, she let her gaze drift over her surroundings. It always surprised her how serene and beautiful this place was. Her contact had made a good choice in designating it their meeting point.

"You know when Graydon first put you into my orbit, I thought you'd be easy to manipulate and discard," Kira revealed.

His appointment as her oshota had been as much about Graydon having a spy close to her as it was her safety.

"You surprised me. Not only were you good at your job, but you didn't reveal my secrets even when given the chance to do so." Even when her actions could be construed as a betrayal.

He'd remained steadfast, holding to the values of the oshota, even if she wasn't the sword he picked.

Kira respected loyalty.

It was all the more impressive given Finn's history with his previous sword. It didn't take a genius to know that a woman had left scars on his soul.

In his own way, he was as damaged as Kira.

She knew the cost of abandoning the things you'd built. Perhaps that's why she was acting outside the norm.

"You're leading up to something," Finn said.

A server approached, setting their cups in front of them. Kira leaned forward, cupping her hands around the mug and inhaling. The spicy, slightly sweet scent of chai wrapped around her.

She loved that smell.

Only when the server left did Kira nod. "There are some things I need to clarify."

She took a sip of the chai and closed her eyes at the taste.

When she opened them again, she nodded at the untouched mug in front of Finn. "Not going to try it?"

"I think I'll wait."

Kira shrugged. His loss. This stuff was amazing. The best beverage humans had ever made.

After another sip, Kira set the mug aside. "I need to know under what conditions you would divulge information you've learned."

Finn's expression froze before anger tightened the lines of his face. He glared. Not speaking. Not moving.

She'd expected this reaction. As someone who prided himself on his honor and devotion to duty, he would have seen her question as an insult.

"That you ask that shows how little you understand us," he said in a carefully controlled voice.

"The waters I wade in can't afford such things as easy trust. There can be no misconceptions between us. Your life and many others depend on it," Kira confided, not allowing his affront to shake her. "Before you answer, think carefully. Everyone has a line they won't cross. People they'll protect at the expense of all others. I need to know where your lines are."

Kira didn't have the luxury of trusting blindly. The secrets she held were too important to too many people.

Finn shoved down the anger in a display of discipline that was impressive. Not many would have remained seated after having the very core of who they were questioned in this manner. Most would have already walked away. Probably after ending any relationship they might have had with the person insulting them.

"For an oshota, there is no one higher in our loyalties than our sword. Not a lover, not a parent, not a child. When you pledge yourself as a shield, your sword comes first. Always."

Kira didn't believe that. The Tuann placed a high premium on the emotional bonds they developed. It was a necessity that kept them from going mad.

Most of Kira's current issues derived from the extreme isolation she'd inflicted on herself after