Threshold of Annihilation (The Firebird Chronicles #3) - T.A. White Page 0,81

him, he had never been one to allow anything to mar his perfection.

Auralyn didn't argue with him as she raised her arm, pressing her fingers near the crook of her elbow. A map slowly formed over her arm.

She pointed to a section that included several rooms. "This is where we are residing." She moved her finger and pointed to a room in the middle. "This is Kira's room. You may go there if you'd like a shower."

Auralyn held the map for a second longer before it faded. "Do you need me to show you again?"

"Nope. I got it." Jin shot toward the ceiling.

"One thing," Auralyn called before he disappeared to the next floor. "I'd advise staying out of the territory of other Houses. If they find you, they won't be as kind."

Jin paused, shifting until his "eye" was focused on Kira in question.

Kira had known Auralyn was dangerous, but her words showed she was also smart.

Her seemingly harmless advice disguised a warning. What’s more, she demonstrated how well she understood Kira and Jin, cutting off Jin’s investigations of the rest of the dwelling.

Now, if he were caught, he wouldn’t have the excuse that he didn’t know. It was Auralyn’s way of saying obey the rules or there would be consequences.

Kira shook her head once at Jin, telling him without words to give up on exploring. Better not to tip their hand.

If Elena was here, she was under Graydon’s care. He wouldn’t let anything happen to her niece.

"Understood." Jin disappeared around the corner in the next instant.

Auralyn directed a bored look at Kira. "Shall we continue now that there are no other distractions?"

By all means, Kira thought.

A faint smile touched Auralyn's features as she walked past Kira. "Your seon'yer is expecting you. I'm sure you two have much to talk about."

Kira grimaced. That’s what she was afraid of.

Maksym clapped her on the shoulder. "Don't worry, little junior. His punishments only hurt your soul and body for a little while."

"Somehow, that’s not as reassuring as you might think," Kira said dryly.

"You'll get used to it."

*

Their destination turned out to be a gym.

Like the rest of the house, it had a distinct lack of frills, instead making use of clean lines in its designs.

Kira frowned when she saw it. Despite the presence of weights and other equipment, something was missing. There was none of the scent of sweat and blood that inevitably lingered long after a hard training session.

Either the space was a new addition or it had been re-purposed specifically for its guests to work out their natural aggression.

The Tuann walked a treacherous edge. Physical activity helped them maintain a balance that kept them from lashing out in new and unexpected ways.

It was one of the reasons Kira had done so well in the war.

Let her be inactive too long, and she got this itch under her skin. Violence or the adrenaline that came from danger were the only ways to work it out again. Without them, she had to exhaust her body to keep from tearing people's heads off when they irritated her.

She'd always thought those urges meant she was broken inside. It was only recently that she realized it was a normal facet of her species.

Mats lined the floor with simulators on one side for those who desired a more strenuous workout. Any opponent you wished was available along with a wide variety of difficulty levels.

Floor to ceiling windows occupied one entire wall, offering a clear view of the garden and pond outside. Something told Kira if someone wished those windows could easily become a mirror to allow the user to perfect their form.

"Where's Wren? I don't see him," Kira asked as Auralyn ignored her, walking away.

Kira frowned after her. She thought the whole purpose of this jaunt was so Wren could take her to task.

Yet, Auralyn was abandoning her without even vague instructions about where to go next.

Maybe this was all a trap, Kira thought as the other two trailed in Auralyn’s wake, leaving Finn and Kira on their own.

"Are they always like this?" Kira asked Finn.

She'd expected many things out of this encounter. Politely being shown to the them before they went their merry way wasn’t one of them. Where was the lecture? The threats?

"They've always had their own way of doing things," Finn said carefully.

Kira shot him a look. Wren had always struck her as a rule follower. Someone who basked in tradition.

Kira, on the other hand, was not. Her way of doing things was considered a