Liara's expression shuttered, the brief flash of emotion gone as she withdrew into herself. She inclined her head, once more the proper Overlord. "Sleep well, cousin."
"You too," Kira said.
Their group was quiet as they headed to their section of the Citadel, accompanied by the escort Liara had sent with them. Kira had a feeling a perimeter would be set up around the guest wing as soon as they arrived.
They reached Graydon's wing easily. He led her inside, ushering her through the sitting room where Jace and Raider were talking.
Their heads lifted, alarm and curiosity in their gazes as Graydon opened a door and gestured inside.
"You'll stay here for tonight," he said.
He didn't wait for her response, giving her a curt nod before striding off without a backward glance. Guess he had better things to do than answer her questions.
She was tempted to hurry after him anyway and badger him with requests.
"He's focused on determining how the attackers got so close without detection," Finn said. "It's doubtful he'd welcome any distractions."
In other words, stay put or risk angering her only ally.
She sighed and shook her head, turning to her new bedroom. Might as well get some sleep while she could. This would all still be here in the morning.
She took several steps toward her bed but stopped when she realized Finn was shadowing her. "Do you mind?"
"Not at all," he said.
She took another step and shook her head when he moved with her. "Are you planning to watch me sleep?"
"Yes."
She frowned at him. "No."
"It is not your decision," he told her politely. Or that's what it should have been. Instead, it came off as sounding more like “Fuck you.”
Kira should know. She'd pulled the same trick on more than one commanding officer. Strange to have it turned around on her.
Jace and Raider barreled into the room.
Finn's en-blade cleared its scabbard as he crouched. He sprang at them seconds later, clearing the distance with two steps.
"Wait," she shouted, dashing after him.
Jace drew his side pistol in a smooth movement.
Finn knocked the barrel away with the edge of his sword, grabbing Jace with the other hand and pinning him against the wall.
The room hovered on the edge of calamity.
"Holster your weapons," Kira ordered.
She approached Finn and set her hand on his shoulder. "You too."
He shot her a hard glance, his reluctance to listen clear.
"Let him go and put away your sword." Kira enunciated each word, sinking her will into them.
They stared at each other for several seconds. Neither one willing to back down.
For a moment, she thought he was going to refuse. She tensed, prepared to act if he became a threat. They'd already tangled once. He'd be difficult to neutralize, but it was doable.
If he pushed her, she'd show him exactly how she earned the name Phoenix so many years ago.
With a grunt, he loosened his hold on Jace, not moving away from the other man, but no longer strangling him.
"Who's this?" Jace asked, rubbing his throat.
Since Finn wouldn't move, Jace was forced to slide around him until he could back away, unwilling to turn his back on the warrior.
"A new fuck buddy?" Jace asked.
Raider choked and stepped away
Finn snarled, rage descending as his muscles locked.
"No," Kira shouted, moving between the two men.
"He's a little touchier than your normal sort," Jace observed.
"Shut up and stop talking out of your ass," Kira snapped. Jace’s pride was insulted and he was lashing out at her. She didn't have time for this stupid posturing.
He shrugged at her. "What are we supposed to think when you show up with him this late at night while looking like you've been rolling around on the ground?"
She narrowed her eyes, grinding her teeth as she said slowly, "Someone tried to kill me tonight. I don't have the patience for your games. Say what you need to say then get out."
Jace stiffened. "What are you talking about?"
Kira sighed, already resigned to not sleeping anytime soon.
"Earlier tonight someone tried to kill me. He is the Tuann's response," Kira said, gesturing at Finn.
Raider let out a low whistle. "They've assigned you your own personal protection? Guess it pays to be related to the overlord."
Jace folded his arms over his chest as his face creased in thought. He didn't look happy at the news. "Is the assassination attempt where you got that?" he asked, pointing at her forehead.
"Not exactly," Kira said sourly, unable to help her glance at Finn.
His expression didn't shift, no sign of regret or discomfort there.
Jace studied the two of them. His intelligent eyes noted the cut on Finn’s forehead and the presence of dried blood.
"You've gotten rusty if he scored a hit like that," Jace said in Japanese. "How long were you on that ship for?"
Kira looked away.
He made a hmphing sound. "Must have been a lot longer than we thought to degrade your skills this much. It's not like riding a bike. The longer you avoid training, the worse off you'll be, especially if there are now assassins after you."
"I'm fine," Kira said, shame making the words come out harsher than she intended. The skin around Jace's eyes tightened slightly but he didn't lash out.
"What are you guys doing here anyway?" she asked in standard.
There was a long pause as the other two conferred silently, their interactions having the same ease and familiarity of people who'd spent countless hours together, risking their lives for one another in impossible situations.
Kira had been a part of that once. Seeing it now reinforced how much of an outsider she'd become since.
"We came to check on you since I thought you were staying in a different wing," Jace said. "Also, there was some action earlier, but no one will tell us anything."
He sounded accusing.
In other words, he thought she was the reason for the commotion, and he wanted to ensure she hadn't done anything to derail the mission.
"You came to make sure I hadn't done something stupid," she said flatly.
"You do have a history," Raider quipped.
Kira gritted her teeth. "As you can see, I'm fine. You can leave now."
"Wait, we're not going to talk about this?" Jace asked.
"What's there to talk about? Someone tried to kill me. They failed. It won't be the first time, and now it looks like it won't be the last," Kira said.
Jace shook his head at her, his frustration clear.
Kira relented. "Don't worry too much, the guard they saddled me with seems to be halfway competent, as you just saw."
Jace wasn't convinced. "I want one of us watching you tonight. Two are better than one."
"I'll be fine, Jace. I don't need another babysitter," Kira said. If she could have banned Finn, she would have.
Amila and Baran had been bad enough on the ship, but at least they had had the decency to stay outside her private quarters.
"I'm not giving you a choice, Kira. This is my mission and you're my primary. It's my job to make sure you survive," Jace said.