Not unless the Consortium had extremely advanced technology Kira didn't know about. A waveboard might work, but you could only carry one person at a time on those and there'd be no way to get enough waveboards to the surface of the planet without risking detection.
"Anything else?" Kira asked, knowing there was more.
"The Nexus is the one place in the Citadel with the starmaps."
"Can we get in?"
"It'll be difficult."
"But not impossible?"
He hesitated. "I'm not sure the risk would be worth the reward."
Kira nodded. She understood his reservations. If she were caught trying to infiltrate that area, or worse, stealing the data inside, she would likely be treated as a traitor. Any protection that came from being one of their lost children would disappear. They'd take it as evidence of human subterfuge and likely kill the rest before ending the alliance.
No pressure or anything.
Her head tilted as she squeezed the railing in front of her. She'd waited too long to give up now. Those starmaps could be the answer to everything.
"I'll be careful," she promised.
Jin was quiet, his silence carrying weight to it. "Perhaps it's time to let this go. It's been long enough."
"No, I won't do that," Kira said forcefully. "I can't. You know why."
Jin's sigh was sad. "You know they wouldn't want this. They'd want you to move on with your life."
"Maybe, but I can't give up," Kira said. "Just like you wouldn’t if the situation was reversed."
Jin made a soft sound.
"What about Tsavitee presence?" Kira asked.
His silence this time was filled with stubbornness, but eventually he gave in. He'd try again at a more opportune time, Kira knew. Her friend had her best interests at heart. It was too bad she couldn't listen.
"You were right. Signs of their influence are all over the place if you know where to look."
"Anything to be concerned about?"
"From your description of your attack and my own readings, I’d say there’s at least one telepath among their number," Jin said.
Not good. That spoke to a concentrated effort on their part, a big mission.
"Any generals?"
The generals were a highly dangerous form of Tsavitee Kira would do almost anything to avoid running into again. If one was here, the whole planet was at risk.
"Not that I've detected yet," he said.
"So much for no Tsavitee incursion," Kira muttered.
"Yes, our hosts have been quite arrogant."
"They have to be working with someone." Exactly the way they had during the war.
"I agree, but I doubt you'll be able to convince the Tuann of that unless someone stood up and waved their hand to admit they were the mole," Jin said. "They're even more arrogant about their incorruptibility than humans."
Kira sighed. "Good work, Jin. I couldn't do this without you."
The sound he made was rude. "I know. You'd be running around in a circle like a chicken with its head cut off going 'whatever shall I do?'"
Kira snickered at his impression of her as he headed inside.
"Lord Graydon," Jin said in greeting.
Kira's mirth cut off as she looked up to find Graydon standing silhouetted against the lights of the suite. He gave Jin a respectful nod as he passed, leaving the two of them alone out on the terrace.
"I'm surprised to find you out here given what happened last night," Graydon said in a light voice.
"I've never been one to live my life according to what's safe," Kira said as she turned to stare into the soft shadows.
Graydon came up to stand beside her, his warm presence wrapping around her like a soft blanket. She was painfully aware of him beside her, like he was a magnet exerting an almost physical pull.
"I didn't see your friend for most of today," Graydon observed.
"He was tired and needed to charge."
"Strange he would need another energy boost so soon after last night. I had thought human technology more advanced than that," Graydon said, his jab as subtle as a knife thrust. She got the sense, despite the shadows, he could read every thought and emotion to cross her face.
"What can I say? He likes his downtime," Kira said.
"Hmm." Graydon's shoulder brushed hers as he shifted. "I'm tempted to ask if he found what he was looking for, but I suspect you wouldn't tell me the truth."
Kira's lips curved at the thread of lazy amusement in his voice.
"I have no idea what you're talking about. I'm a fount of information. Ask anyone," Kira said.
Graydon let out a masculine rumble of amusement, the gravelly sound brushing against her senses. He moved closer, one hand going around her to rest on the railing. He was careful not to let any part of him touch as he caged her in. Not that it mattered given the almost painful awareness she had of him.
She stiffened for a moment and then relaxed. She could easily escape his hold if needed. She suspected he knew as much, which made the game all the more fun.
"Dancing," he said unexpectedly.
"What about it?"
"I didn't run through any with you today," he said.
"And you're not going to do so now." Her muscles ached and she'd crammed all the knowledge into her head she planned to.
"Tired?" he said with a teasing lilt.
Kira snorted. "I'd say nearly getting eaten by a dragon's primordial piscine cousin after surviving an assassination attempt is enough excitement for me."
His expression sobered. "My oshota are working on finding who lured the lu-ong so close to the Citadel."
There was a dark promise in his voice. Those responsible would beg for a mercy he didn't have.
In that moment, he was the embodiment of a predator, dark and dangerous. Easily able to conquer his enemies so he could crush them beneath his boot so they might never rise again.
It should have scared Kira. He could very easily turn that dark intent her way. Probably would if he ever learned all her secrets.
It failed to do any of that. She understood him. The person who had put the Tsavitee control collar on the lu-ong and led it to the obstacle course had endangered not only her life but the lives of everyone there.
The protector in Graydon wouldn't allow such an action to stand. He'd hunt down and punish them with all the rage and fury he was capable of.
Kira would do the same. In that, they were alike.
"What brings you out here?" Kira asked, changing the subject.
He settled closer, the heat of his body wrapping around her, warming her against the cooler night. "What? Do you have a monopoly on this terrace? I'll have to inform the Overlord."
Kira looked at him. "You don't strike me as the type to enjoy a quiet night under the stars."
No, he was more apt to find a warm companion to tantalize and tease in bed, driving them mad with passion before leaving them in the morning.
Kira had seen the force of his presence on those around him. Even the Luathan women eyed him with desire when they thought no one was watching.
He was handsome and seductive, likely growing bored almost as fast as he fell into lust. But for a night or a week, he would be insatiable.