Age of Deception (The Firebird Chronicles Book 2)

by T. A. White

  Reluctantly, Kira reached for the first glass. "We're nowhere close to Rothchild's anniversary."

  Raider downed his first shot. Kira followed suit, warmth spreading through her veins.

  "Who do you want to start with?" Raider asked, slamming the shot onto the table.

  SEVENTEEN

  "You know I always hated Bates," Raider said hours later, slamming his latest shot. Outside, the world had deepened to a golden hue tinged with blush and azure. "He was a pretentious know it all. Always telling us about the origin of a word or term. Used to drive me crazy."

  "I don't think you were the only one," Kira said.

  "Elise always called him Brainy Bates," Raider confessed, startling a laugh out of Kira.

  "She didn't."

  Raider nodded. "She did."

  "I didn't know that," Kira said, her laugh fading. "That name used to drive him crazy, and I never could figure out where it came from."

  This time Raider's grin was cagey as he swayed in his seat. "She was always proud she was able to keep that tidbit from you. Thought it was a game."

  Kira snorted, not surprised in the least. Elise had taken great joy in her pranks. She and Jin had had a long-standing prank war that had made Kira the unsuspecting victim too many times.

  "He died a hero though," Raider said in a soft voice.

  Kira's nod was slight. "That he did. Drew that eel even knowing there was no way he'd outrun it. Saved a lot of lives in the process."

  Raider's eyes were shiny as he raised his glass. "At least it was quick. More than I can say for Ranger and Park."

  Kira hid her sadness. Ranger and Park had had the misfortune of living through the battle for Paxus, only to waste away from substandard care, as toxins ate away their nervous systems. The two had been bright and funny. Sometimes when Kira dreamed, she could hear the jokes they used to tell each other.

  Kira played with her glass as Odin’s advice rumbled through her mind. There was something she needed to tell Raider. Something that was long overdue.

  Maybe if she hadn’t split from the remaining Curs and hidden herself and her secrets for the last few years, this would be a non-issue. Only she had and it was.

  “Did you ever think about having kids?” she asked instead of what she’d planned to say.

  Raider froze in the act of picking up another shot. “What the hell brought that on?”

  Kira lifted a shoulder. “Just a question.”

  He studied her. “Is this that whole fear I’m going to die alone again?”

  Kira rolled her eyes, knowing he was referencing the conversation they’d had when she’d been high on one of the things Luatha’s doctor had given her after she’d been injured.

  Evidently it had made her very talkative. Raider and Jace told her she’d shared a whole bunch of interesting factoids—including that she thought Raider was going to die alone as a grumpy old man.

  “Never mind, it was a stupid question,” she said.

  He grunted in agreement before downing his shot. He set the glass down. “No, I didn’t.”

  Kira frowned. “Not even with Elise.”

  “It was war. You know what our lives were like. Nothing was safe,” he said. “Why would I bring a child into that?”

  She did know. It was why she’d kept Blue close to her after she’d found her in a dumpster. The kid had lost everyone and everything. Kira had pulled major strings to keep her on her ship. It helped Blue had been useful when it came to repairing things.

  “Besides, Elise didn’t want kids. She was adamant about it,” Raider said.

  Kira took a sip of her drink. She did know that. Any child Elise had would have been hunted. The child would never have been safe. Same with any child Kira had.

  “You could have one now,” Kira pointed out.

  Raider considered her words for half a second before shaking his head. “I’m a lifer at this point. I don’t plan on changing that.”

  They sat in silence for several moments.

  “And you? Do you want kids?” Raider asked.

  “Jin is enough of a child.” Kira shook her head. “I haven’t thought about it. Until recently, I didn’t know how long I had left.”

  Raider tipped his glass at her. “Whole new future for you.”

  Blue appeared beside them in the next instant, cutting off any response Kira might have made.

  "I finally found you," Blue said in exasperation.

  Raider lifted his head slowly, a dull surprise flitting across his face. "Little Blue, there you are."

  Blue scowled at him. "Don't give me that, old man. I've been looking for the two of you for hours."

  Raider swept his arm out, indicating the table strewn with empty glasses. "Here we are."

  "I can see that," Blue said, dropping the scowl and eyeing the table with consternation. "What are you doing?"

  Kira lifted her glass. "Toasting the fallen."

  Blue's expression softened. "You know you need more than two people for that."

  She wasn't lying. With as many dead as Kira and Raider had between them, they needed an entire squad. Even then, they'd likely end up regretting it in the morning.

  "That has become very clear." Kira aimed a significant look at where Raider swayed.

  Blue hooked her foot on a chair at the next table and pulled it over. She snatched a glass from the table and downed it in a single gulp. "Who is next?"

  Raider raised his arms and cheered.

  Kira sighed. "Bayside, right?"

  Raider’s nod was careful, as if the copious amounts of alcohol he'd consumed might escape if he moved too quickly.

  A sound of surprise left Blue, her glass lowering as she shot the two of them a disconcerted look. "How long have you been here?"

  Raider and Kira shared a look, saying at the same time. "Long enough."

  Shaking her head, Blue threw the shot back, grimacing at the taste. "The thing I remember most about Bayside was that he hated peppers. Used to complain anytime he got them in an MRE. Said they were an offense to food everywhere."

  "Oh yeah, didn't he also have a habit of trading them for the cheese?" Raider asked.

  Kira nodded. "Used to drive me crazy because he always came after mine first and then would pout if I didn't give them to him."

  Blue’s laugh was bright. "He didn't even like the cheese in the MREs."

  Kira scowled. "Yes, he did. Used to get them from everyone."

  Blue shook her head. "He always gave them to me because he knew they were my favorite. He said that if he couldn't have what he wanted, he didn't plan on letting you lot have it either."

  Kira gaped. "That asshole."

  Blue burst out laughing. “How did he even get that name anyway? Bayside? He never would tell me.”

  Raider was the one who answered. “He showed up wanting to be called the Butcher. Thought it was badass. Elise found out he was from a coastal city and started calling him Bayside. It stuck.”

  Kira snorted. “Like we were ever going to call him the Butcher.”

  Blue’s face sobered. "We had a good family."

  Raider clinked his glass against hers. "That we did."

  "I miss them," Blue confessed.

  Raider's eyes met Kira's, sadness there.

  "We all do," Kira said, ignoring the prickling at the back of her eyes.

  Finn's gaze caught hers from where he still sat at the bar. Kira ignored the understanding reflected there as she focused on her friends.

  Shaking off the sadness, Raider reached for another glass only to have his hand knocked away as Blue got there first. She held up a hand at his protest. "Stow it, old man. I have some catching up to do."

  With a harrumph, Raider sat and folded his arms.

  Kira's response was forestalled as newcomers entered the bar. They lingered in the entrance as they looked around with cool, almost derisive glances. Only one of those present wore synth armor, fiery flames of orange emblazoned on his chest, accents of the color woven th
roughout.

  The rest wore simpler versions of the synth armor, declaring them as initiates from well-to-do families, much like Rheya and Devon.

  The group headed toward the bar as Talon moved to meet them, the same surliness she'd seen on their first meeting present. His movements were rough and abrupt as he served them, something in his manner saying the newcomers weren't exactly welcome. A fact Kira had picked up on when the rest of the patrons quieted, the looks being cast at the newcomers not exactly hostile, but definitely not friendly either.

  Raider and Blue argued as she studied the Tuann, wishing Joule was here for a lesson.

  One of the strangers glanced their way, nudging his companion before several of them made their way toward Kira and her group.

  "Hostiles incoming," she muttered into the glass.

  Raider and Blue quieted as they watched the three approach.

  Raider squinted at them with a fierce frown that might have been more effective if he wasn't actively swaying in his seat. Blue sipped her tequila, her eyes meeting Kira's as one of her hands lowered under the table to clasp the weapon Kira suspected was hidden along her thigh.

  Kira aimed a grin at the floor, proud of the person Blue had become. She was someone to trust at your back.

  The three had already dismissed Blue and Raider as nonthreats, focusing entirely on Kira.

  "What do we have here?" the first asked with an arrogant twist of his lips, looking like he smelled something nasty.

  "It looks like a pair of humans and a human lover," the woman behind him answered.

  Blue scooted her chair back a hair, angling it so she could stand easily.

  Kira flicked her fingers at Finn, signaling for him to stay put. "This is a private moment among friends. I'd appreciate it if you three took yourselves away."

  There—diplomacy designed to deescalate the situation.

  Raider made an impressed sound as he gave her a small clap.

  The look she sent him was irritated. He wasn't helping matters.

  "I think I recognize her," another of the three said. "She's House Roake's mad heir." He leaned into Kira's space. "They say you have to be insane. No Tuann could have survived so far from home, or brethren, for so long."

  Kira stared into the man's eyes. She waited, holding his gaze, not speaking, watching as uncertainty filled his expression. "Are you done?"

  He drew back slightly, glancing at the man Kira pegged as being in charge.

  Kira's smile was hard. "As I said before, this is a private party. We'd appreciate you leaving."

  The leader settled a heavy hand on Kira's shoulder. "How about you be the one to leave?"

  "Uh oh," Raider said, alarm snaking through his expression.

  He had a right to be concerned. Kira had a thing about uninvited touching, and this Tuann had crossed her invisible bubble in a big way.

  "If I were you, I'd take your hand off my shoulder before I break it." Kira was no longer as concerned with playing diplomat. Quickly she calculated the possible consequences of starting a fight, for once wishing Jin would chime in with his thoughts and opinions. He'd studied Tuann law. He'd likely know the possible repercussions.

  Quiet fell, spreading throughout the bar as the patrons focused on the unexpected drama. Kira spotted Rheya and Devon among those present and stuffed down the part of her that would like nothing more than to start a bar fight.

  "I'd watch your mouth, mongrel. You and your humans are a travesty. They should have put the lot of you down. It would be a mercy." He raised his voice so the rest could hear. "I question Roake's strength if they accept one such as you within their ranks."

  Tension filled the air as no one moved.

  Kira's lips quirked. "Raider, do you hear yapping?"

  He stuck one finger in his ear and jiggled it around. "Yeah, it's kind of high pitched. Sounds like one of those little toy dogs—or maybe a puppy. It's hard to be sure."

  Blue's shoulders shook with an inappropriate laugh she couldn't quite hide. She wasn't the only one as those around them followed suit.

  It was not the reaction the Tuann in front of her were expecting if the flush that tinged their cheeks was any indication.

  Kira picked up another shot glass, dismissing the three. "Now, where were we?"

  A sharp crack rent the air. Pain bloomed on Kira's cheekbone and jaw as her face turned with the force of the blow.

  Raider and Blue were on their feet, their chairs screeching across the floor as Kira touched the painful spot.

  "You try to be nice," she muttered to herself, dropping her hand.

  Kira studied the other three, her gaze assessing. These idiots weren't the ones she was worried about. It was the man in the synth armor still standing at the bar and the four beside him.

  "Last chance to walk away," she warned them.

  The first man sneered. "You're a disgrace."

  "I'll consider that a no."

  Pity.

  "You'll be the one leaving," he told her as he reached for her. His fingers were bruising where he grabbed her shoulder.

  "Mistake one," she whispered.

  Her other arm swept up, breaking his hold. She rose, yanking him forward and slamming his face into the table. Glasses jolted, several falling to the floor with a crash.

  Raider and Blue threw themselves forward, blocking the others. Raider rammed the chair he'd been using into one, pinning him against a wall.

  Blue withdrew a marble and squeezed it before tossing it at his companion. It touched the armor, and the woman jerked, her eyes rolling up before she hit the floor.

  Kira easily held her quarry against the table as he struggled to rise. "Underestimating us was your second mistake."

  She leveraged his forearm higher, hearing the joint stretch and pop.

  She glanced over her shoulder to find Devon and Rheya, their backs to her as they faced four of the man's fellow initiates as they stepped away from the bar.

  The two's show of support was surprising, a fact Kira forced herself to ignore as the Tuann clad in orange accented synth armor stepped forward.

  Finn was quick to meet him, casually inserting himself between the oshota and Kira.

  "Move," the oshota ordered.

  "The day I accept orders from House Dethos is the day I hang up my blade," Finn said mildly.

  The other man's lip curled. "If you can't control your mongrel, I’ll be forced to do it for you."

  Kira snorted from where she still held her prey against the table. She'd like to see him try.

  The oshota's cold, furious eyes found hers. She was sure it was meant to be impressive. Unfortunately, the effect was lost on her. She'd never learned to fear people who sent the inexperienced to do their work for them.

  "I will break his arm," Kira warned him.

  It wasn't personal, though she'd be lying if she said she wouldn't get a certain amount of satisfaction from the act. It was simply smart business—incapacitate an enemy so she could move onto the next.

  Maybe it would make the oshota rethink this course of events. Probably not, but Kira still had to try.

  "Dethos, you know what to do," he rumbled.

  Resolve snapped into the four facing Devon and Rheya. Seconds later, they surged forward. Devon and Rheya braced to meet them.

  Blue whooped and charged forward. "Show them the gristmill! Show them hell!"

  Kira cursed, yanking on the man's arm. His shoulder joint popped amid an agonized cry. She lifted his head and smashed it into the table, stepping away as he slumped to the ground, unconscious.

  Raider whipped the chair he was holding back before crashing it over his assailant's head. The man's eyes rolled up in his head before he hit the ground with a thump.

  Raider plunged past Kira with a wild grin. "Just like old times."

  Kira didn't let herself linger on the truth of that statement, following on his heels as he darted into the fray.

  A woman in the training armor of Dethos stepped into her path, a da
ngerous glint in her eyes. She swung, and Kira ducked, nearly getting a knee to the face. She twisted, stepping into the woman's space and hammered an uppercut into her stomach. Air left the woman in a rush as she staggered.

  Kira grimaced and shook out her hand. For training armor, that stuff was surprisingly sturdy.

  The woman's lips twisted in a snarl, her hands coming up in a stance Kira recognized as the air bubbled and a rune started to take shape.

  "No, you don't," Kira muttered. One hand swept up, knocking the woman's hand away so she couldn't finish what she'd started. Unused ki crackled, nipping at Kira's skin and lifting her hair away from her head.

  Kira thrust with her palm, hitting the woman's chest and catching her off guard. A grunt left her as she swayed, tripping and falling to the ground at Graydon's feet.

  He regarded the woman with an amused twist to his lips before his gaze rose to find Kira's. "I didn't know we were at the gift-giving stage of our courtship. I confess I didn't get you anything."

  Kira leveled an unamused stare on him.

  "Or perhaps this is your way of inviting me to take part in another practice bout." He bent in the barest of bows. "I accept."

  Kira ignored him, focusing on the woman at his feet. "Ki only works if you're faster than your opponent."

  Unfortunately for the woman, Kira was used to people far quicker—one of which was currently standing over the woman.

  There was a snarl on the woman's face as she struggled to rise. Graydon got there first, pressing a hand into her shoulder and pushing her down. "She's right. You're not prepared to go up against someone like her. You should stay down."

  The woman twisted, a retort already on her lips before she caught sight of Graydon. Her eyes widened, and a gasp left her instead of the harsh words she'd planned.

  Her shock had a ripple effect, Graydon and Wren's presence causing the fight to peter out as the rest became aware of the two.

  Graydon straightened, flicking a coolly entertained gaze over those assembled. Rheya and Devon disengaged, panting as they snapped to attention.

  Both looked disheveled but happy, their expressions caught between pride and chagrin. Rheya was sporting a red mark around her eye that hadn't been there before the fight. No doubt it would be black by the time morning rolled around. The skin around Devon's knuckles was bruised and busted, his opponent carrying the evidence of how they got that way.