Kira stopped in mid step, suddenly aware of the danger she'd strayed into.
When Brie warned her of traps, she hadn't quite figured on them making use of military grade weapons. That was her bad. She really should have. This was Odin they were talking about, after all.
"Your friend has been busy." Pallas tapped a wall as he glanced around. "It makes one wonder what they’ve hidden down there. It must be important given the level of defense."
"Odin's secrets are his own," Kira said in a flat voice.
"Are you sure about that, little sister?"
Kira held his stare for a second longer before shaking her head and striding back the way she'd come.
Pallas joined her. "You always were a fan of dangerous games."
"Those are the only types I know how to play."
Pallas prowled beside her, making Kira feel like she was keeping company with a wild animal. There were no safeguards in place to keep that beast from devouring her whole either.
"I'm disappointed in lover boy. I didn't think he'd be stupid enough to let you meet the Sye on your own."
"Graydon isn't my keeper."
"Does he know that?"
Kira exhaled a low laugh. "Why are you trying to get under my skin?"
"Because I find it fun."
Kira finally stopped to face the other man. "I need to borrow your ship."
If he wanted to play, she'd be happy to indulge him.
"My ship?"
"There's something on the Wanderer that Odin needs to complete his task. They should have been here before us. I want to go check on them."
This was a test for Pallas. To see if he was ever planning to be helpful.
Pallas rubbed his jaw. "That's going to be a problem."
Guess that answered that question.
Her eyebrows twitched downward in the beginnings of a scowl. "Why?"
"Reasons."
A one word answer and a careless shrug was all he gave her.
Kira stared at him for a beat, anger beginning to rise. "What is the forty three's interest in the lenacht?"
Pallas's features tightened. "I thought we were done with that topic."
"We were. Now, we aren't."
If Pallas and the forty three interfered in her matters, they couldn't blame her for doing the same with theirs.
She'd originally planned to leave this alone. One, because she didn't have the space to care. And two, because ignorance was always preferable when dealing with the forty three.
Pallas's continued assholery made her revisit that decision.
"A moment ago, you were trying to keep the peace. Now, you're suddenly confrontational,” Pallas said.
"You know me. Anger makes me feisty."
"Reckless too."
That was also true.
For the most part, Kira had reasonably sound judgment when dealing with intense situations. She wasn't fearless by any means, possessing a healthy amount of self-preservation. Case in point—the care with which she treated Pallas, an inherently dangerous individual.
But prick her temper, put her back against the wall, and that rationality went out the window.
Pallas flashed her a smile that failed to reach his eyes. "You always assume our intentions are nefarious."
Perhaps because the forty three had a history of getting in Kira's way.
"The lenacht isn't a newborn in need of saving. If it chose Lathan, it means it agrees with our agenda."
Kira's eyes narrowed. "So, I was right. The forty three are trying to establish their own stronghold."
Pallas cast his gaze to the ceiling, as if asking for patience. "Not just the forty three."
"You plan to fold the wanderers into your ranks,” Kira guessed.
It made perfect sense. The forty three could use the wanderers as cover. They'd be able to form their own force without anyone the wiser.
"Clever, isn't it?" Pallas leaned forward with a sly expression. "The Tuann emperor even agrees with us. Lathan never would have made it off Ta Sa'Riel, otherwise."
No, Kira imagined he wouldn't have.
For all the Tuann's lip service of trusting the Mea'Ave, there was no doubt they'd take action if they felt threatened. The emperor might not oppose directly, but she could guarantee he had a way to influence events if he so chose.
The very fact he'd allowed Lathan into the adva ka in the first place supported that argument.
"Torvald Elden is a smart man. He understands—like we do—that the wanderers are an armed bomb waiting to explode. If he doesn't do something before it goes off, it'll be far too late."