Threshold of Annihilation (The Firebird Chronicles #3) - T.A. White Page 0,91

well. You're dismissed."

Kira stood there for several seconds as she debated the merits of returning to their previous conversation.

He’d never given her a satisfactory answer.

Reluctantly, Kira moved toward the door.

"Kira," Wren said abruptly.

Kira stopped but didn't turn around.

"Thank you for protecting her for so long. The debt I owe you can never be repaid. I'll take over from here."

FIFTEEN

KIRA LET HERSELF out of Wren's room, in time to find Graydon prowling toward her. He was alone—or at least that was how it would seem to outsiders. A man as important as Graydon never went unaccompanied in potentially dangerous territory.

Graydon looked from Kira to the door she'd exited, amusement touching his features. "How did it go?"

There was something in how he asked that and the knowing look on his face that made Kira realize something.

"You knew."

Cunning man. She would never have expected him to put Elena together with Wren. He'd probably known their relation all the way back on Ta Sa'Riel—which meant Harlow was likely aware as well.

"How?"

Graydon stopped in front of her, his expression faintly mocking. "It's true the child doesn't much resemble Wren." Graydon paused, his sly smile widening. "But she looks very similar to Wren's deceased wife."

Kira didn't say anything. She looked away and closed her eyes as she kicked herself for not considering that possibility.

But then, who could blame her? It wasn't as if the concept of parents and lineage was a familiar one. Until her encounter with the Tuann she'd always thought she was a test tube baby designed in a lab.

She and the rest hadn't exactly spared a lot of consideration to where they came from. Surviving had taken up all of their focus in the early days, and later it hadn't seemed important. They'd been more than willing to bury any questions about their origins.

Rooky mistake, Kira.

"I'm impressed you could tell," Graydon said.

It had been difficult. There was a resemblance in their eyes and jaw, but it wasn't until hearing his history and seeing him fight in the uhva na that she'd been sure.

Wren and Elise’s ki felt similar. Nearly identical if she was honest.

From there, she’d gambled that the two were linked.

Kira started down the hall again, Graydon keeping pace. She wasn't surprised when Finn moved out of the shadows, smoothly gliding after them.

As they walked, Kira sent Graydon a sidelong look. "Done with your pretty companion?"

He quirked an eyebrow at her. "Is that jealousy I detect?"

Kira eyed a doorway and then him.

His gaze turned questioning.

Kira smiled at him. "Just measuring to see if your inflated ego would fit through the opening."

Next to Finn, Amila choked on a laugh before hiding her amusement behind her typically stoic expression.

Kira didn't know when the other woman had joined them, but that wasn't odd. Graydon's oshota were among the best. Kira had given up on guessing all they could do.

Graydon didn't react to her words the way she expected. Remaining unaffected, his expression was teasing as he watched her with the focus of a cat that had spotted a particularly interesting mouse.

Kira braced, resisting the urge to slide away. Every time he looked at her that way, she usually ended up the loser in their exchanges.

"Have you spoken to Raider yet?"

Direct hit.

Graydon made a masculine sound that almost reminded Kira of a purr. "Let me know if you need my help dealing with him. My inflated ego and I will be more than happy to run to the rescue."

Kira had had enough of this conversation.

She lengthened her stride, hoping to leave him behind. As was always the case with Graydon, he moved to match her, keeping up easily.

Defeated, Kira resigned herself to having to deal with Graydon for a bit.

"Your exhibition with your niece was quite interesting," Graydon said.

His statement was slow to register, but when it did, Kira sent him a searching look. "You weren't there."

She would have known. Graydon carried this almost raw magnetism that was nearly impossible to miss. If he'd been in the training room, she would have picked up on it. She wouldn't have been able to help it.

Graydon regarded her steadily, his thoughts unreadable. "I have my ways."

Kira's eyes narrowed as she considered him. His ways, her ass. "You’re having me watched."

She glanced around, her eyes lingering on Finn before she dismissed him as a possibility. The past weeks had convinced her of his loyalty. If he ever betrayed her, it would be because he considered her a danger to the Tuann’s survival and the universe in general. He wouldn't