Threshold of Annihilation (The Firebird Chronicles #3) - T.A. White Page 0,75
people talked sense—especially when her skin itched for a good fight and right now there was someone willing to give it to her.
Graydon didn't give her time to argue, addressing his oshota. "Escort Kira to the villa.”
Reluctantly, Kira let Finn herd her away, allowing herself one last look at Yukina. "Bummer. It could have been fun."
Amusement touched Yukina's features. "Perhaps another time then."
Amila stepped forward then, indicating for Kira to follow. Carrying Jin in her arms, Kira complied. Finn and Noor fell in behind her as they set off along the avenue. They didn't walk far before Amila headed toward an arch.
They stepped off the water road and onto stone similar to that of the white-gray archways. At this time of the afternoon, the city was busy. Despite the crowded streets, pedestrians moved out of the way when they saw Kira's trio of oshota.
A groggy voice came from her arms. "Why is it the first thing I hear when I wake up is you starting a fight? Can't you play nice for even a few minutes?"
To Kira's surprise, Jin sounded lucid, if a tad sleepy.
She'd felt his mind stirring shortly before Graydon and Finn had intervened, but she'd been afraid to let herself hope in the event she was wrong.
"What? You're not going to answer my question?"
Kira's snort was waterlogged as she forced down the riptide of emotions the sound of his voice engendered.
Jin was her constant.
The ancients of old Earth would have called him her north star. Without him, Kira would have been someone quite different. Someone much darker and more violent. She didn't know if she would have won against her own internal demons if he hadn't been there forcing her to confront her flaws and accept the times she'd failed.
He was ridiculous and temperamental. Childish on occasion. But he was hers, and no one would harm him.
"Aw, you missed me. I knew you would," Jin teased.
"You wish," Kira retorted.
Jin tried to lift out of her arms. He made it only an inch before settling more firmly against her.
"Are you okay?" Kira asked.
"Yeah, I just need a moment to get my bearings." A smacking sound came. "Why does my mouth taste like metal?"
Kira rolled her eyes. Same old Jin. "You don't actually have a mouth so it’s probably your imagination."
"Are you sure?" Jin asked as the oshota led Kira across a street.
"No."
They reached the edge of the refugee quarter, its warmth and coziness evaporating as they moved into a more elite part of the city.
This was where the upper crust Haldeel lived and where esteemed visitors to the planet were given a place to reside.
It would be interesting to know whether the Consortium's representatives were ensconced near here or if they'd been relegated to the refugee quarter.
"What did I miss?" Jin asked.
"Not much." If one didn't count the negotiation between Graydon and Kira or the Haldeel using honorifics they had no business using.
Kira brought none of that up. There were too many big ears that might overhear something she wanted kept private. When they were alone, Kira would fill him in.
"Liar."
"Those who let themselves be knocked out are in no position to complain," Kira told him.
"And who's the one who told me to power down?"
Kira glared at him. "Maybe if you'd done an adequate job of shielding your power signature this wouldn't have happened."
"You say that like we weren't dealing with the Haldeel. The same tricks that work on humans aren't going to work on them."
Any response Kira had planned died as Amila stopped in front of a circular gate, its heavy ornate doors spread wide. A narrow waterway framed by leafy fronds led to a second gate. The pathway across was formed by stone blocks jutting above the water’s surface.
A pergola with thick vines draping over its wooden slats shaded the water. Through it, Kira caught the barest glimpse of a three-story building, terraces and balconies jutting from its sides.
Seconds later a pair of Tuann blocked her view as they regarded her with flat stares, only a slight flicker in their eyes betraying their uneasiness when they saw the oshota guarding her.
One was a broad-shouldered woman, her face blocky and her hair pulled into a tight tail. The other was male. He was short and stocky and had a pronounced brow.
Neither wore synth armor Kira recognized. It was a deep red with black accents.
"State your business," the woman demanded in Tuann.
Kira glanced at Amila. "Are you sure we're in the right place?"