She was an outsider, and outsiders couldn’t be trusted with some information.
She stared into his eyes. "I can only ask the same of you."
It was as close to an admission of what she was hiding as she could get. If it was just her, she might risk it, but there were others counting on her. Their secrets weren't hers to tell.
Graydon stared at her, his gaze penetrating as he tried to find the things she hid. "I understand."
She thought he might.
His thumb brushed the side of her neck in a caress. He nodded abruptly before striding away.
Blue joined them seconds later.
"How was your patrol?" Blue asked.
"Eventful," Raider said.
Kira studied Blue with narrowed eyes. To her surprise, the other woman didn’t seem particularly put out about not being on the list for the trial.
Blue was every bit as competitive as Raider and Kira. Being left out should have had an effect on her, yet she seemed almost chipper.
It only took a minute for Kira to understand why. Blue not being able to compete in the trial meant her time with the Tuann—and their technology—would be extended. If she knew anything about her friend, it was how attractive that possibility would be.
Blue met Kira’s gaze, a note of apology gleamed before her attention flitted away as Blake and Rheya approached. Blake looked his normal grumpy, reclusive self while Rheya's steps dragged, her face making it clear she'd rather be anywhere else.
"Do it," Blake rumbled.
Rheya's shoulders bowed before her chin came up, her gaze meeting Kira's.
"I wanted to apologize for my actions the yesterday," Rheya said.
Kira waited. When Rheya offered nothing else, she asked, "Which actions might those be?"
"For my part in bringing up the battle for Rothchild," Rheya said stiffly. "I didn't realize you were in that battle. If I had, I would never have done what I did."
"Why did you?" Kira asked.
Rheya's gaze left hers, wandering over to where Aeron goofed off with a couple of his fellow initiates, causing them to laugh and shove each other. Loudon lingered behind them, monitoring their actions closely as he listened to an oshota.
"I listened to someone I shouldn't have," Rheya said finally. "It was wrong of me. Please forgive me."
Kira studied the younger woman for several seconds.
"Both of our parents lost children during the Sorrowing," Blake informed her. "We've grown up under the shadow of their loss. You could say we let that affect our actions."
Kira thought she understood a little better now. It would be difficult to lose a child under any circumstance. The effects of it would spill into your everyday life for a long time after. These two had likely grown up being compared, on purpose or not, to their siblings. It would likely have made them competitive and out to prove something.
Then came Kira. A reminder of the very people they had probably resented and wished for their entire lives.
Kira rubbed her chin, catching Blue and Raider paying careful attention. She scowled at them. Neither hid their eavesdropping.
Kira shook her head in resignation and looked at Rheya. "There's nothing to forgive. You did what they asked and found a battle you thought illustrated your point. I probably overreacted. I have a reputation for that."
Rheya’s expression turned uncertain but hopeful. "Thank you."
"Why weren't your names called?" Kira asked. The two were obviously qualified. Their skills set them apart from the rest.
"We've already passed the trial," Blake supplied.
"Then why are you participating in this training?" Raider asked.
He shrugged. "We're waiting for our apprenticeship to be announced. Until then, the Overlord insists we continue improving our skills."
"Also, this is a rare chance," Rheya said. "Wren and Maida are here to prepare you for the uhva na, but they’re also here to look everyone over and decide who they want as an apprentice. An apprenticeship with either one would be considered a coup."
Devon strode past them with his head held high; his posture almost brittle. There was a raucous laugh from Aeron and the other initiates. Joule looked unhappy as they made a gesture at Devon's back.
"What's that about?" Kira asked.
"I'm not sure," Rheya supplied. "If I had to guess, it’s because Dethos is a small House who is under Danai's umbrella. As a child of Danai, Devon is likely being targeted for his affiliation with them."
Raider whistled as they watched the rest.
Devon's transformation to primus probably didn't help matters. The rest were jealous and afraid and had latched onto this new information as an excuse.
"They're fools," Blake said, heat in his tone. "Devon would already be gone if the Overlord considered him a threat. Their actions only reflect on them at this point."
"What happens if he decides to leave?" Blue asked.
"He won't," Rheya assured them. "Finding another House to join for training would be difficult at this stage."
Aeron, Kira was coming to realize, was much different than she'd first assumed. That smiling face he’d presented in the beginning was a façade—a clever one, meant to lure the unwary into trusting him. Now, she saw his true colors. Kira was beginning to see he shared many qualities of a bully. He bore watching.
For the moment, she put Devon and Aeron out of her mind as she waved at Joule, catching his attention. As concerning as the other two were, they weren’t her problem.
Joule's face lit up, and he started toward her.
"Look at the orphan, running to the mad heir’s side. I wonder what that says about you?" Aeron said in a voice he no doubt intended to be heard only by Joule.
Unfortunately for him, Jin didn't miss much—and what he knew, Kira knew as well.
A wall slammed over Joule's expression as his pace slowed, his back ramrod straight. His hands clenched at his side. He kept walking toward Kira, his jaw tight, unable to hide the anger shaking him.
His struggle to ignore the other boy was almost painful to watch.
Blake murmured something to Rheya, and she nodded, not looking any happier.
"Remember what we discussed before," Kira called. "I care little for the opinion of blowhards who haven't even earned the blade they wield. Nor should you."
There was an infinitesimal loosening around Joule's shoulders, and his stride smoothed out, so he was walking instead of stomping.
"Real subtle, Kira." Jin's voice echoed in her comms. "Didn't you tell the boy not to pick fights? Then why are you always starting them?"
Because she had a habit of winning her fights.
The cold, calculating look in Aeron's eyes caught Kira's attention. The emotions seemed out of place in the younger boy.
He blinked, the coldness vanishing, but not before Kira's suspicions were aroused. Aeron's gaze dropped to Joule. This time, he didn't bother trying to hide what he said. "I'd be more careful picking your friends, orphan. You never know when you might take a knife in the back that was meant for them."
Kira stepped forward, unable to keep herself from reacting to the not so subtle threat.
"Kira," Raider rumbled. "Not worth it."