Quiet filled the room, a range of emotion flitting across their expressions at this admission.
Graydon didn't say anything in defense of Kira. This was her battle to fight. Right now, some of them saw her as a fragile and breakable doll. They'd soon find out otherwise. Roake was nothing if not clear-sighted. Once she'd earned her place among them, they would hold onto the brilliance that was her with both hands.
Harlow waited a beat before returning to the previous topic. "Now, I want to know how a second-rate House like Dethos slipped through our defenses."
Maida tapped several floating icons. "We still don't know. The moment they crossed into our waters, we should have been notified, but there's nothing."
Caius was the one to say it. "There’s a traitor among us."
That seemed to break through Loudon's thoughts as he looked up. "We don't know that."
"It gets worse," Graydon said, his arms crossing over his massive chest. "Kira has indicated there's a connection between our enemy of old and the Tsavitee."
"Impossible," Loudon scoffed. "They're extinct."
"My conversations with her and current events have led me to believe otherwise," Graydon said.
Harlow nodded. "I'm inclined to agree. It fits something I've long suspected."
Harlow paused as he met each of their eyes. "Caius is right. There is a traitor among us. This person worked with our enemy to orchestrate the Sorrowing, and they entered our defense codes so Dethos could slip past unremarked."
"None of us would work with them," Loudon said in a subdued voice. "There has to be another explanation."
"They knew too much about how to breach our security," Harlow said. "That knowledge could only have come from one place."
"Us," Caius supplied.
Harlow dipped his chin in agreement. "Us."
It was also likely the traitor was in the highest echelons of their House.
Graydon stirred. "The emperor has been apprised of the situation. His forces are on standby. They will step in if necessary."
Hopefully, it wouldn't come to that.
Harlow shook his head. "We can't count on him. In many ways, his hands are tied, and what he can do is limited. If there is a traitor in my House, it stands to reason there are traitors in other Houses. Ours wasn't the only one affected by the Sorrowing. He will not be able to hunt them down without risking losing support from the Overlords."
"And yet if we do not find a way to stop this, our enemy of old may come out the winner in this millennia-long game," Graydon said.
That wasn't an option.
"Kira seems to be at the crux of this," Silas said. "The generals at Ta Da'an seemed to recognize her. She spoke their language. I find it interesting they almost seemed to fear her. They ran instead of fighting when they lost control. That's not like them."
Graydon agreed. "Of us all, she probably knows this newest evolution of our enemy best."
Caius shifted. "You have such faith in her. Are you sure your judgment isn't clouded, Little Storm?"
Graydon fixed him with a neutral stare. Not many would dare make such an insinuation. But this was family; sometimes you made allowances. "I have never let my personal feelings affect my judgment. Perhaps your considerable age has blinded you to reality."
Of course, making allowances didn't mean being stepped on.
Graydon had earned his place. Caius would remember that or Graydon would remind him with fist or blade.
"My, how the Storm has grown."
Graydon inclined in a half bow. "I was taught by the best."
Since Caius had been one of those teachers, there was no way he could argue.
Harlow watched the Nexus for several seconds before nodding once. "We will watch and wait. If there is a new plot by the enemy of old, we need to see what it is. The sacrifices of those who have gone before will not be forgotten."
The others nodded. "Never forgotten."
"Dismissed," Harlow ordered.
Graydon lingered as the others filed out. Only when they were gone did Harlow release a sigh and shake his head. "What is it you're not telling me?"
"Many things. You'll have to be more specific."
Once, the look Harlow leveled on Graydon would have been intimidating. Graydon would have spilled everything to his pseudo father. Unfortunately for Harlow, that time had gone.
"Don't play games with me, Little Storm." Anger flashed in Harlow's eyes. There and gone in a second. "I'm the one who taught you the rules."
"I remember," Graydon said with a lazy amusement. "You should know by now how committed I am to our people. I don't play favorites, and I don't bow to anyone's demands. Even yours."
"That's what scares me," Harlow said. "Will you sacrifice her too?"
Graydon's nostrils flared as he kept himself from striking out at the man who'd partially raised him. "I won't have to. We both know she'll do it before I can stop her."
Harlow's expression stilled. "It seems we're at an impasse. Perhaps tomorrow while we wait to see if she passes the trial, we can settle this matter with sparring. It'll be like it used to be."
Graydon's chuckle was dark. "I thought you'd never ask."
TWENTY-FOUR
Kira fiddled with the high collar of her jacket, still unsatisfied as she frowned at the reflection in the mirror. The outfit she'd found on her bed last night with a message instructing her to wear it for the trial resembled her old cadet's uniform—if her old uniform one had been considerably nicer and tailormade for her.
Like most things of Roake design, the jacket and pants weren't given to frills. Straight lines and simple details made the fit surprisingly flattering.
Even Kira had to admit she looked striking in the colors of Roake—black coupled with accents of deep blue and silver.
The best part of the uniform was the addition of a thermal regulator, allowing the fabric to warm around her body—keeping her at a perfect temperature. The uniform would provide better protection against the elements than her previous clothes.
Too bad she hadn't been wearing it for her dip in the ocean. It would have made for a much less chilly ride home.
Whoever had commissioned it had spent a pretty penny on its construction. These weren't the sort of garments you'd find just anyone wearing. Their quality spoke of wealth and privilege. The sort most couldn't even fathom.
Kira smoothed an admiring hand on the front of the jacket, trying to puzzle out how she'd come to be in possession of something so nice.
Jin, taking advantage of her distraction, launched a rock at her shoulder. Kira barely felt the high-speed projectile as it bounced off the fabric, a slight shimmer marking the area where it had hit.
Seconds later, the shimmer disappeared, leaving the dark black of the uniform behind.
"It has anti-ballistic properties," Jin observed, drifting closer for a better look. "I've never seen a bulletproof fabric that was this thin or flexible. You'd better keep this out of Blue's hands."
"Do you think it would take a bullet?" Kira asked, twisting and turning as she tested the way the fabric moved with her. It was surprisingly comfortable if you discounted the choke collar.