Trials of Conviction (The Firebird Chronicles, #5)

"This is your only warning. Stand in my way again—and I'll treat you the way I would an enemy."

The forty three had fallen silent by the time Kira finished her threat. She moved her gaze over the stands, her primus allowing her to pinpoint the positions of her siblings.

She let them see her seriousness. For the sake of their shared history, she hoped they paid attention.





Graydon


No one spoke as Kira took her leave, stalking out of the room, seeming to take all of the oxygen with her. The hot splash of her anger receded with her absence. Like the ocean at low tide. It swept out to sea, but you knew it would return. As mighty and powerful as always.

The J1N followed her. A silent accompaniment that almost went unnoticed in the wake of her overpowering presence.

"Ahh, there she goes again," someone drawled.

"Should we drag her back? There's enough of us. We could probably do it."

Graydon shot them a patronizing smile. "I would advise against that."

Their confidence was simply adorable. Even if they managed to get past his coli, and they might since she was a sentimental sort who would hesitate to use her full strength against them, there was still him. They were delusional if they thought he'd let them have their way.

The moment they sought to lay a hand on Kira, he'd cut that hand, and the arm attached to it, off.

"Protective," a woman observed. "I didn't think it possible of a Face. I expected the emperor's puppets to only be capable of that emotion when it came to him."

Graydon gave the shadows where that statement originated from a mocking bow. "There's many things about me you’ll find different than you’d expect."

There was silence. Graydon got the sense they were studying him as carefully as they had Kira a few moments ago.

"As amusing as this has been, I suggest you get on with it while you still have my attention," Graydon suggested.

"Aren't you supposed to be ingratiating yourself with us so you can convince us to return to the fold?" Thea drawled. "You're awfully combative for someone who should be begging for our attention."

A humorless chuckle left Graydon as he looked the woman over. "I don't beg."

Were the forty three really so arrogant? To assume Graydon and the Tuann would do anything for their return?

"You did it for her," someone pointed out.

"You're not her."

Kira had shown she was worth any effort. These others couldn't claim the same.

"The Tuann have no intentions of forcing your compliance. Return—or don't." Graydon shook his head. "It's up to you."

"And yet that's exactly how you treated Kira. By backing her into a corner and forcing her hand."

The undercurrent of anger in that statement made Graydon tilt his head. So, they did care. At least a little. Enough to be indignant on her behalf.

"Kira's situation was unique."

Truthfully speaking, Graydon had never planned to strong arm her into House Roake. That was until he'd learned the extent of her ki poisoning. Until that point, he'd intended to let her return to her ship. He'd planned to arrange several 'chance' encounters that would highlight what she was missing by ignoring her people. He'd had no doubt she'd eventually come around to his way of thinking. He'd even looked forward to the challenge.

Her ki poisoning had changed things. There wasn't time to gradually sway her to reason. He'd faced a choice. Circumventing her will or allowing her to die.

For Graydon, the choice was easy.

"You're not dying—and even if you were, you're still not her."

His coli was a force of nature. Both hurricane and a soft summer rain all wrapped into one package. The capacity for destruction existed side-by-side with a protective nature that took Graydon's breath away.

"You love her," Selene guessed with a sense of discovery.

Someone in the shadows scoffed. "How useless."

"Not useless," Selene declared, her back straightening. "Simply an emotion we're not overly familiar with."

Alexander shifted, glancing out of the corner of his eye at the woman beside him.

"I support Kira's endeavors. It is my opinion we do not intervene at this junction and allow Kira room to work," Selene said, speaking loud enough that those at the back of the stands could hear.

"Surprise, surprise," Thea said snidely. "Selene siding with the prodigal daughter. Just like always."

"Kira made a valid point," Selene defended. "Elena is Elise's daughter. That makes her ours."

"Elise is a traitor. We owe her nothing," someone called.

Selene inclined her head. "Elise, yes. Whatever her mother has done, Elena is innocent."

"Says the woman who helped Kira hide the girl's existence from us. We still haven't settled the account for that or the way you allowed the Tuann to discover you."

Selene maintained her poise at the threat. "The forty three aren't here to control each other. What I do in my free time is my own choice. That includes establishing contact with my birth people."

"You endangered us all."

"How so? Elena was safe until Ryan interfered by sending her to Kira and the Tuann to pass along his little message. As for the Tuann, I told them nothing about us."

"Your actions dragged Alexander into matters."

Alexander stirred, shooting a cold look at the person responsible for that statement. "My choices are my own. You will not hold Selene responsible for them."

Thea cocked her head. "Maybe Selene isn't the only one we should be thinking of punishing."

Alexander gave her a sharp smile. "You're welcome to try."

The forty three quieted. Having seen replays of Alexander's battle with the face changer, Graydon understood their caution. The man was a worthy foe that would have made for an interesting opponent.

"Pallas, how did Kira perform during your duel today?" Ryan asked, his quiet voice interrupting the growing discontent.

Pallas cracked an eye from where he was sitting with his chin on his hand. "Passable—but barely."

Selene's scoff held derision. "You were evenly matched."

"And your partiality toward our youngest sister has always been obvious," Pallas returned.

Selene looked like she would have dearly loved to argue before thinking better of it.

"Explain," Ryan ordered.

Pallas lifted his chin off his fist, dropping his hand as he straightened. "Her reflexes are better, but her stamina is still shit. It's not what it was at her peak. However, she is better with her soul's breath. More adaptive. Less clumsy. Her time with the Tuann has benefited her. She's no longer so reliant on her physical characteristics."

Graydon looked at the other man, impressed in spite of himself. Pallas's analysis matched his own of Kira's skills, pointing to the fact that there was more to him than just the deranged persona he presented.

"Would she survive?" one of those in a mask asked.

Pallas's gaze turned inward, his face thoughtful. "Debatable."

The news was met with silence.

Graydon had to admit, the forty three's control was admirable. They displayed a depth of discipline similar to those who occupied a position in their House's higher ranks.