by T. A. White
"Our ship is out there as well," the cloaked stranger attending Liara said.
There was a long silence as they considered the gravity of that situation.
"Can you order them away?" Kira asked.
"The field blocks our communications," Silas said.
"My ship wouldn't leave anyway," Graydon said. "Not while we're here."
Kira frowned in thought.
"None of that matters while we're trapped in this cage," she said. "Liara's subterfuge works in our favor, but they'll figure it out eventually. Then they'll find a way to bring it down."
"The net can't be brought down," Roderick sneered.
"Only an Overlord's authorization will disarm the net," Liara said around a pained breath. "I'll never give it to them. Not even under threat of death."
Kira's smile was humorless, never touching her eyes. "What about the death of everyone else in the Citadel?"
The Luathan looked at her with horror. None had considered that possibility.
"They'll work their way through every single person they can get their hands on until they find your breaking point," Kira said. "Can you watch child after child be put to death? Your friends?"
Liara didn't speak, but Kira saw the answer in her face. No, she couldn't. Eventually the Tsavitee would find the one person Liara couldn't bear to see die, and they'd have her.
Everyone had a breaking point. It was just a matter of finding it.
"We have my men out there," Roderick said. "They'll stop the Tsavitee."
"You're assuming they're alive," Silas said. "One of your own betrayed you. The Tsavitee know how you operate. They'll know your evacuation routes."
"Either way, they don't need to take all of the Citadel, just some of it," Kira said. She looked at Liara "Am I right in thinking Ayela served as your personal aide? She'd know those closest to you?"
Liara closed her eyes, a wordless assent.
Kira turned to Roderick. The fight had run out of him, her words hitting home. Still, she needed to be sure he wasn't going to be a problem later on.
"You're going to cooperate, or the next time we have a little chat like this, you will be neutralized." Her hand squeezed the soft part on either side of his trachea, leaving no doubt how she intended to accomplish that.
His nod was grudging, but it was enough.
She released him and stood, carefully backing away in case he changed his mind and attacked.
Roderick's people helped him stand, pulling him away.
"That was nicely done," Silas said, his eyes on the Luathan marshal.
Kira grunted.
"I agree," Graydon said. "Where did you learn to take command like that?"
One side of her lips twitched up. She answered where she would have ignored Silas. "I was a squad leader by the end of my second year." Promotions happen fast when the people above you kept dying. "I looked like a teenager and most under my command thought they were older than me. The only way to get them to listen was to appeal to their better nature."
Graydon quirked an eyebrow at her. "Meaning you beat your authority into them."
Kira grinned at him. "Humans can be hardheaded at times."
"As can Tuann," Silas murmured.
Kira made a sound of agreement before moving off. She approached her cousin and kneeled beside her, watching the second cloaked stranger as he carefully treated Liara’s wound.
"How bad is it?" Kira asked.
"She will live. The wound didn't hit anything vital," the stranger told her. To Liara, he said, "You should take the primus form. It'll help you heal."
Liara's head moved, her gaze aimed at the floor.
She was hiding something. Kira wasn't the only one to notice either.
"I can stop you from attacking anyone if that is your worry," he offered.
Liara curled further in on herself.
"Primus form?" Kira asked, taking pity on her cousin and directing the man's attention away from her.
"It is the most powerful form our soul's breath takes. Most overlords of the major Houses have one. They have more capacity to harbor and harness the soul’s breath. It's one of the reasons why they are overlords," he said simply. "Others in the House might have a primus form if the House is blessed. The number of members in a House who can achieve primus form is a sign of the House’s power."
"Roake's overlord doesn't have a second form," Roderick pointed out. "Nor any in his House."
"Their situation is unique. He is the acting overlord and holds the position for another," the stranger said mildly.
"House Roake makes up for the lack in other ways," Silas said.
Kira ignored the hidden undercurrents in the exchange, sensing there was more to it than she understood. Now wasn't the time, the talk of primus forms, while interesting, especially in light of her own inner monster, wasn't relevant to their current situation.
Liara's face was slightly shamed as she confessed, "My primus form has not yet presented itself."
"How is that possible?" Graydon asked, undisguised shock on his face.
"There is no rule that the Overlord must have a second form," Alma said, defending Liara.
"It is greatly encouraged," Graydon said. "How does the emperor, at least, not know of her lack?"
Alma lifted her chin, the line of her jaw stubborn.
"We lied," Liara said, her gaze resting on her former adviser. "Another House was trying to merge with ours. Alma and Rayan could not hold it for much longer. I had to ascend to the position or we would have lost many things."
"If the Tsavitee knew of this, it might be why they decided Luatha was a good target," the stranger said. "They may have seen the lack as something they could exploit."
"No one in our House knew except my advisers," Liara said firmly.
Alma flinched the slightest bit.
Roderick rounded on her. "How else did you betray this House, Mother?"
"It was not my intention. You know that," Alma said, her expression pleading.
"Mother?" Kira muttered.
It explained some things, including how Roderick got his position.
"Roderick's father was the former marshal," Liara said quietly. "When I ascended, Alma asked that I make him the next marshal. She said it would look good, like the next generation was taking up the mantle."
"And it never bothered you his loyalties would always be to her first?" Kira asked.
Liara grimaced. "I didn't have many choices. Many of the oshota owed much to his father and his family. I saw him as the lesser evil."
Kira made a hmm as the drama before them unfolded.
"How could you do this?" Roderick shouted, his expression devastated.
"This wasn't how it was supposed to be," Alma cried. "You were supposed to fight them, retake the Citadel and strengthen our position. Not this."
"Our people would have still died," he roared.
"But your title would have been secured and our Overlord would have been known as the one who defeated the tsavitee," Alma said.
Kira winced as Alma admitted to not caring about what happened to the rest of them. Roderick and the rest of his people shook their heads, their expressions a mix of shocked dismay and disgust.
As imperfect as Roderick was, he and his people fulfilled the role of protector for the Luathans. To hear one of their own sought to exploit that would carry the harsh sting of betrayal.
With a muttered curse, the stranger attending Liara stood and took several steps toward where Roderick and his mother squared off.
Kira lowered herself to sitting beside Liara. They were as alone as they were going to get.
"The tsavitee will try to sacrifice some of your people to make you give up the codes," Kira said softly.
Liara jerked to look at her.
Kira hesitated, not liking this next task but not having much choice. It made her feel dirty to contemplate. It was emotional manipulation of the worse sort.
The situation was dire, and not just he
re. She had to take any advantage and use it, no matter how slimy it might make her feel.
"I can stop this," Kira said.
Hope shown on Liara's face.
Kira looked at her carefully. "But I'll need something from you first."
Liara's expression dimmed. "What do you want?"
Now or never, Kira told herself.
"Ten ships for the Consortium," she said in a rush. "And you rescind your House's claim."
In front of them, the stranger's head turned slightly. Kira narrowed her eyes at him. Could he hear her?
"I can't do that," Liara said. "I would be doing you an unimaginable disservice."
Kira gave her a crooked smile. "You seem to think I want a part of all this. I don't. This is a good deal. You lose nothing but a few ships."
Liara was quiet for several seconds. Kira let her think, knowing pushing wouldn't garner her the results she wanted.
"You might not be one of us now, because you don't understand who we are, but one day that might change," Liara said.
"Maybe, but it won't be today," Kira said.
The arched doors burst open and several Tsavitee strode inside, dragging small figures with them. They dumped their cargo in front of the cages.
Kira's heart gave a painful thump at the sight of Ziva and Joule, their faces terrified as they scrambled to their feet.
"It seems your Overlord was smarter than we gave her credit for," the general said, addressing those inside the cage. "We've brought incentive for her to give us the codes."
He gestured at the six children. Only Ziva and Joule had gained their feet, facing the Tsavitee with determined expressions.
"Your window is quickly shrinking, Liara," Kira murmured, her gaze locked on Ziva and Joule.
Their bodies were coiled tight.
Don't do it, she mentally warned them. Blend with the others.
Her words didn't reach them. Joule stepped in front of a Tsavitee when it would have reached for a child where she cowered on the floor.
Damn it, Kira cursed. He was brave. As the oldest, he'd feel it was his place to stand before the rest. At least he had that part of being an oshota down.
She wished he'd had a little less backbone in this moment.
"A volunteer," the general said silkily as he watched Joule. "Very well. Bring him."
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
The Tsavitee grabbed Joule and hauled him over to the general.
"Let him go," Ziva screamed, throwing herself at the Tsavitee.
She became a dervish, furiously attacking with no regard to her safety. Kira thought she recognized some of the moves as ones Kira and Graydon had taught her. What Ziva lacked in skill and precision was made up for by enthusiasm.
Kid had a gift, if she lived long enough to cultivate it.
One of the Tsavitee swiped at her, his large paw sending her crashing to her knees, her screams abruptly silenced.
Something in Kira broke. She stood. "Lothos, I am hurt you didn't recognize me."
The Tsavitee words rolled off her tongue. She hadn't spoken the language in over a dozen years, but her work on their ships had kept it fresh in her mind.
The Tuann in the cage turned incredulous expressions on her, all but Graydon and the two cloaked strangers drawing back as if they sensed a snake in their mist.
Kira didn't let their doubt affect her, remaining focused on the true enemy.
The Tsavitee around the cage peered closer at her before hisses of dismay rose. There were screams and screeches of fury as recognition spread.
The general had gone still.
"Perhaps I have not killed enough of your kind to make a true impression," Kira said. "I will be sure to correct that oversight today."
"What are you doing?" Graydon asked.
Her eyes flicked to him and she gave a slight shake to her head. He needed to let her do this and not interfere.
His lips flattened and his eyes narrowed to slits. She had a feeling he wasn't going to let her walk out of here. This could be a problem.
Graydon based his entire notion of self-worth on protecting those around him. He was a leader in every sense of the word. If he knew how she planned to sacrifice herself, he'd try to stop her.
He might ruin her plans—possibly even get himself killed. Neither option was one she could allow.
She tensed, prepared to drop him.
He flicked his fingers as if to say he was waiting.
She released a breath when he moved a half-step away, not far, but enough to show he was trusting her. For now.
"The scourge," Lothos said in human standard. There was little emotion in his voice. "We thought you were dead."
Kira tilted her head and waved her hands. "Surprise."
He stared at her thoughtfully, taking in the rest of the group then looking at the children.
Kira stiffened.
No, don't look at them. Look at her. She was the real threat. The children meant nothing.
"Leave them and bring her," he said in Tsavitee.
Kira's breath whooshed from her. Good. He'd taken the bait.
Liara grabbed her leg. "Protect all Tuann here, including yourself, and you have a deal."
Kira looked at her cousin. Liara's face held understanding. Of all those in the cage, she understood what Kira meant to do.
Funny how her cousin knew the inner workings of her mind the best. Maybe there was something to this family thing after all.
"Would you really deny them the ships if I die?" she asked.
Liara's licked her lips, her gaze going to the Tsavitee then to Kira. "I wouldn't put my goodwill to the test."
Kira's small smile touched her eyes. "Then I guess I'd better stay alive."
Kira's warm expression disappeared as she faced the cage again. She stepped forward, Graydon moving beside her.
To her surprise, he didn't try to stop her. It seemed she'd underestimated him.
"I do not like this," he informed her.
"That gets me right here." She pointed at her heart. "Really."
The look he bent on her was unamused. "I will be most disappointed if you die."
"As will I."
He stopped her before she could reach the edge of the cage where the Tsavitee were massing in front of it. All of them eager to be the one responsible for bringing the Phoenix to her knees before death.
This was going to be bad.
Warm lips pressed against hers, distracting her from the madness she was about to face. Tingles skated across her skin as the kiss ended almost before it began. He drew back from her, his gaze full of thunderclouds. He gave her a cocky smile. "To give you something to live for."
"Arrogant man," Kira murmured.
He winked at her. "Coli, live and I'll show you I'm worth every bit of my arrogance."
"Hold onto that thought," Kira said as the light dropped to form a small doorway.
She squeezed Graydon's hand where he held hers. The joking distracted her from the gravity of what was about to happen, but it didn't quell the shaking in her hands or the knowledge she might soon be dead.
"Give them hell," he said. A second later, "That is the right phrase, correct? Human slang is so confusing."
Kira stepped forward, looking over her shoulder at him for one final glimpse, wishing things had been different and they'd met earlier. "It gets easier with time."
His eyes held shadows as the light formed, cutting her off from the rest.
She faced the Tsavitee again, taking a deep breath. Here we go.
She didn't fight when the Tsavitee caught both arms and dragged her toward the general.
"What are you doing?" Ayela paced next to the general. "The children are a better bargaining chip. The Overlord will never give up the codes for the mongrel."
"The Phoenix's presence necessitates a change of plans. She's too dangerous to be left alive. Once she's taken care of, we may proceed," Lothos said, more diffidently than Kira had ever heard from a Tsavitee general class.
She frowned at Lothos. It was almost like he was submitting to Ayela’s will, like she controlled him. That couldn't be. No one controlled the generals but the rulers.
"I'm ordering you to forget this nonsense," Ayela demanded. "You will listen to me. That was the deal we struck."
The general's face reflected irritation.
Kira wondered if this was why Ayela thought she could control the Tsavitee, because of a deal. It was possible. The Tsavitee kept any bargains they made. It was a weird dichotomy in such a backstabbing race.
Maybe because Tsavitee bargains never really worked out for anyone but the Tsavitee in the end. They were tricksters. You had to be very careful in the wording of your bargain or they'd drive a battlecruiser right through it.
"I have orders that supersede yours. Any Tsavitee who catches the Phoenix knows what they have to do. It doesn't matter what bargain you struck," the general said with forced patience.
Kira thought this might be the first time he'd had to explain himself. Their own kind didn't second-guess a general. They accepted his word and authority as the highest form of law. That he did now was darkly amusing.
"This woman is the single biggest threat on this planet. The capture and execution of the Phoenix is more important than anything else."
Ayela’s expression was incredulous as she glanced at Kira. "Her? An untrained mongrel who hasn't gone through her majority?"
"Many Tsavitee have underestimated the Phoenix," Lothos said mildly. "They have all lived to regret it. I will not make the same mistake."
Ayela snorted, the sound inelegant and out of character for the diffident servant Kira had known. "Perhaps your kind are not as fearsome as I was led to believe."
The general bared a carnivore’s sharp teeth at her. "I'd be careful, Tuann. We’re not your pets. Push too far and you might find yourself dropped into a cage with your former comrades. I'm sure their justice will be swift and brutal."
Ayela's face paled slightly as Lothos stalked away.
Kira leaned as close to Ayela as the tight grip of the two Tsavitee holding her would allow. "Guess you're not quite as in control as you thought you were."
A sharp crack split the air and Kira's face turned slightly from the force of the smack.
She dabbed her tongue at her lip where a spot of blood welled. "I can see why they didn't let you advance in your training. You're weaker than the children. Should have used a fist. It would have hurt more."
