CHAPTER ELEVEN
A hushed shock filled the air.
After several surprised seconds while Kira blinked dumbly at Liara, she asked, "What sort of cousin?"
“Cousin” was a broad term. It didn't necessarily mean they were closely related.
Liara's mask cracked for the first time, the smallest glimmer of an emotion Kira couldn't place, flickering before it was hidden again. "You’re the daughter of my mother's sister."
“Ah, that sort of cousin,” Kira said blandly.
For some reason, Kira had assumed these people were loosely related to her in a distant sort of way—not people who shared a direct bloodline with her. Not individuals who may have actually known her parents at some point.
It should have occurred to her. It was an obvious conclusion, but she felt completely taken off guard.
Questions brewed in her mind, but Kira hesitated to voice them. It felt like she’d be giving too much power to these people, here, in this moment, to ask anything. She’d wait for a better opportunity, one where she didn’t feel like a poor relation begging for crumbs.
Liara didn't address Kira's ridiculous statement, instead turning her attention to Graydon. "You've delivered a child we thought lost to us. We thank you; it’s a debt we can never repay. You may be assured she and those of our branch House will be looked after. We won't keep you any longer. I'm sure the emperor will appreciate your presence once again."
It was a clear dismissal.
"Thank you, Overlord. However, I'm afraid we won't be on our way just yet."
"Oh?" she said sharply.
Graydon's smile was aggressive, daring those assembled to try to thwart him.
"The children’s futures are not set. Until they and their household are pledged to you, or the oldest has won the mantle of Overlord, I have an obligation to them. I will see it carried out, " Graydon said, the pleasantness of his voice at odds with the steely resolve in his face.
"Of course, they will be absorbed into one of our branch Houses," Alma argued.
"No, we won't. Joule's going to take the adva ka and become the head of our House!" Ziva shouted.
The woman's eyes got wide as she sputtered.
The man looked at Graydon. "What have you been filling their heads with?"
Graydon started to answer.
Ziva got there first. "We're not going to let you take our House. We're House Maxiim. We’ll always be Maxiim. Kira's going to help train Joule."
Kira choked in surprise as all eyes turned her way. That wasn't exactly what she'd said.
Graydon seemed amused at the predicament she found herself in. Alma’s mouth snapped shut and her spine straightened as she stared at the three. That was easy for him. He was no longer on the firing line.
"You'll see. Joule will become Overlord and we'll stay House Maxiim," Ziva proclaimed.
"Quiet, child," Alma snapped. "You should be grateful we're taking you in at all."
"Seneschal," Liara said in soft rebuke.
Alma bit her tongue, but her narrowed eyes gave away her thoughts. If she'd had her way, she would have had plenty more to say on that subject.
Liara turned on her heel and strode off, the rest of those on the steps following. Roderick and a squad of his men were left behind.
"We will show you to your quarters," Roderick said with a dour expression.
Kira waited for the rest to catch up with her on the stairs. Graydon was the first to reach her.
"Your attempt to procure your release was nice and subtle. I commend you," he said.
"It wasn’t good enough," Kira said as they walked up the stairs together into the Citadel.
"The House won't give up their claim so easily," he told her. "If you want freedom from their influence, you'll have to take it."
She gave him a dark look. It was good advice, but it left the question of why he’d offered it. He'd made it clear where he thought she belonged, and it wasn't with humans.
Kira turned slightly to make sure Jace and the rest of his team were following. They brought up the rear, not bothering to hide their gawking as they looked around at their surroundings.
She saw Blue subtly aiming a small device at the carvings near her. A camera probably. It confirmed one of her suspicions. Jace and the rest weren't here just for her and the ships Himoto wanted. They were here to gather intelligence.
The Consortium might desperately want the ships, but Kira suspected they were just the start. Their primary goal lay in a different direction—to learn all they could about the Tuann and what they were capable of.
Oh, Himoto would gladly accept any ships she could negotiate for on his behalf, but he was also desperate to understand what made the Tuann’s technology so superior.
"They're certainly not the most welcoming of hosts.” Jin aimed his eye at Kira. "I'm beginning to see a resemblance."
Kira stuck her tongue out at him as Graydon made a sound of agreement. "The first meeting could have gone better.”
"Oh, I don't know. It's not the worst greeting Kira's ever gotten," Jace drawled from behind her.
He'd caught up sometime in the past few minutes.
"True. There was no bloodshed, and everyone is still breathing," Jin added.
The Luathans around them paused, peering at Kira with suspicion. She smiled sweetly at them. They didn't seem to know how to interpret her expression, eventually returning to treating her and the rest with disinterest.
She found it interesting none of Graydon's warriors reacted to the statement beyond signs of amusement.
"Thanks, you two. It means a lot to know your opinion of me," Kira said, watching Graydon's warriors.
Sneaky. They used the fact most saw them as part of the furniture, to watch and listen. No doubt they understood more of the hidden undercurrents and saw more secrets than most visitors to a House. She'd have to keep that in mind. They'd make excellent sources of intelligence and gossip.
"You're welcome," the two said in tandem.
Kira shook her head. She'd forgotten how those two tended to gang up on her, given half the chance.
The amusement fell from Jace's face as he gave her a sidelong look, his expression grave. "I thought we agreed you were going to get to know these people."
It was a thinly veiled criticism, meant to say, “Don't go getting any bright ideas until you complete your side of the bargain.”
She gave him a sharp smile. "Why would I want to spend time with people who make it clear they don't wish to know me?"
His expression tightened as he read between the lines. Why would she bother with getting Himoto what he wanted when she could just as easily gain her freedom?
"I forgot. You always have to be the first to leave." The words held a snap to them.
Kira fought her flinch, her mouth already opening to fire another salvo.
"Children, enough," Graydon rumbled.
The look on Jace's face startled a bark of laughter out of Kira before she stifled it.
"That word suddenly doesn't seem quite so funny now, I'm betting," Kira murmured to Jace.
"I'm not a child," he responded.