Tears welled in her eyes a second before Kira threw herself at him.
Graydon barely had time to open his arms before her body collided with his. The force knocked him back a step.
"I was so afraid you weren’t okay," she sobbed into his chest.
Graydon clutched her to him with relief as he reminded himself not to hold her too tight. He pressed his cheek to the top of her head, closing his eyes and absorbing the feel of her in his arms.
That piece of him that had been missing finally felt filled.
Graydon rocked Kira back and forth, crooning wordless sounds of comfort as her agony put a knot in his throat. Her pain felt like a white hot poker jammed between his ribs, digging deeper with every second.
"We'll get them back," Graydon promised.
Kira pulled away, looking up at him with a tear stained face.
He brushed a thumb down her cheek. "I'll do everything in my power to see Elena and Jin home."
Kira pushed herself fully out of his arms.
Graydon let her despite the ache her absence left.
"What are you doing here?" she asked.
"It would seem—helping you with a prison break."
Kira
"You can't do that."
Graydon looked at her like he thought she was adorable. "And why is that?"
For a moment, Kira let herself be distracted by the brutal beauty of his features. The sharp angles that looked like they'd been chiseled from granite. The thin slash of lips that Kira knew from experience were as soft as silk. The way his dark hair fell over his forehead.
If Graydon ever settled in human territory, he'd be plagued by endless requests to star in the holo-vids humanity was so obsessed with.
It wasn't just that he possessed an attractive face. His body was a work of art. With wide shoulders that tapered into a narrow waist and powerful biceps and thighs that showcased the sheer power contained in his form that even synth armor couldn't hide.
His gaze caught Kira's, making her forget what they were arguing about for a second. The color of his eyes reminded her of storm clouds. Heavy with rain. The kind you just knew would lash the world with a savage fury.
Like a storm, Graydon was a force of nature. The emperor's youngest Face and one of the most talented warriors in their empire.
Which was why his statement was absolutely ridiculous.
"You're the emperor's Face. You can't commit treason."
She wouldn't let him.
It was one thing for Kira, someone who hadn't grown up within Tuann society, to stage a prison break. She could be forgiven. Her actions brushed off as her not knowing better. If Graydon did the same, it would be considered an immense betrayal.
Forget exile. They'd execute him.
A teasing look warmed Graydon's eyes. "I could always arrest you instead."
Raider’s harsh sound of objection reminded Kira of their audience.
The man standing beside Raider was the reason they'd taken this chance. A course that even she would concede was reckless.
Aeron was remarkably unassuming. He certainly didn't look like a general, a class of Tsavitee known for their brutality. His skin wasn't the color of the void of space and he had no horns. The red symbols that marked his other form were also missing. His hair flopped over his forehead, making him seem even younger.
The cautious expression on his face reminded her of a survivor. His gaze guarded as it met Kira's.
"Are those my only options?" Kira asked Graydon.
He pretended to think over his answer. "I would say so."
Restless energy poured off Raider. "I'm not letting him arrest me."
Kira ignored that statement as she blew out an impatient breath. "I should have figured on your presence when I saw Amila."
That was an oversight on her part. Then again, not much would have changed even if she'd realized. She still would have jumped feet first into this situation.
"Yes, you really should have," Graydon agreed with a faint curve to his lips.
He waited for her to make her decision, his warm gaze locked on her as if the outcome was pre-determined.
"Fuck. Fine. Betray your emperor and be hunted for the rest of your life. See if I care."
"Think of it this way, coli. As long as the general remains in my custody, he won't meet the definition of a fugitive, and I can't be considered a traitor."
He was splitting hairs, but Kira was too tired to argue with him.
"Good. I'm glad that's settled," Raider snapped. "How are we getting out of here?"
"Are the oshota outside yours?" Kira asked Graydon.
If they were, he could order them to look the other way no questions asked.