Rules of Redemption (The Firebird Chronicles, #1)

by T.A. White

He didn't say anything else, moving past her to help Finn as they both worked to guide the kids through the moves, showing them easy modifications when Ziva and Joule struggled. The children were like flowers in their care, blossoming under the men's instruction.

her smile dying as loneliness surged up to grab hold.

"Fine, what do I need to know." His smile was slow in dawning. "So very much."

Tuann society was filled with nuances wrapped in nuances, and then tied with a bow of more nuances.

Governed by tradition and rules, their restrictions were meant to clearly outline expectations of personal conduct. Since duels and personal combat were an accepted form of settling grievances, she’d learned it was important to guard your interactions to prevent inadvertent offense. No, when they planned to kill each other, they wanted it to be because they were good and infuriated with their opponent.

"You left Phoenix behind when you made the Wanderer your home," he said. She had. She'd tried to bury the parts of her that had made the Phoenix such an effective weapon. "You sound like you miss her," Kira said, feeling vulnerable. When she'd chosen not to return to the Curs, she'd never considered how Jin might feel, taking his presence for granted. He was the one constant in her life. Perhaps she should have made more of an effort to figure out what he wanted. "I do sometimes," he admitted. Seeing her expression fall, he rushed to add, "I know why you left her behind. You had to keep your promise to Elise. You had to." She nodded. Yes, she had, but perhaps she could have found a better way.

"That life was killing you, slowly but surely. Everyone could see it," he told her. "They might not have wanted to admit it, even to themselves, but they did." By the end of the war, she was a walking shell of her former self. Her light and humor gone, leaving nothing behind but a vicious animal—dangerous to everyone, including herself.

Elise had been a Cur, her best friend, her sister, and the woman Raider loved more than life itself. Before she'd gone, she'd made Kira promise to survive, to live for all those who hadn't. So, Kira had, even when some days it felt like she was abrading her skin with volcanic ash as she struggled through one hour after another. Eventually, it got easier. She started to feel again. She recla...

The Phoenix had been glaringly bright, a shining beacon whose light attracted everyone to her until it flickered and went out. Kira knew the Phoenix was her, but some days she couldn't even remember what it felt like to be that person. "She's not dead, you know," Jin said. "I've seen echoes of her through the years. Here, I've seen more of her than I have in a long time."

"Perhaps it's time to let this go. It's been long enough." "No, I won't do that," Kira said forcefully. "I can't. You know why." Jin's sigh was sad. "You know they wouldn't want this. They'd want you to move on with your life." "Maybe, but I can't give up," Kira said. "Just like you wouldn’t if the situation was reversed."

Signs of their influence are all over the place if you know where to look."

The generals were a highly dangerous form of Tsavitee

"I've never been one to live my life according to what's safe,"

Graydon let out a masculine rumble of amusement, the gravelly sound brushing against her senses. He moved closer, one hand going around her to rest on the railing. He was careful not to let any part of him touch as he caged her in.

In that moment, he was the embodiment of a predator, dark and dangerous. Easily able to conquer his enemies so he could crush them beneath his boot so they might never rise again. It should have scared Kira. He could very easily turn that dark intent her way. Probably would if he ever learned all her secrets. It failed to do any of that. She understood him.

The protector in Graydon wouldn't allow such an action to stand. He'd hunt down and punish them with all the rage and fury he was capable of. Kira would do the same. In that, they were alike.

"I am full of surprises. I'd be happy to show you."

"You can handle me, coli. I promise."

Part of her wanted to take him up on the offer, if only to see if they'd burn as hot and bright as she suspected.

"I understand what they're going through. I was in much the same situation when I was their age." "Did your parents die in the Sorrowing?" There was a strained silence, Graydon's gaze growing distant as painful memories surfaced. "No, they died much earlier."

"My mother was soft-spoken, quiet. She let my father lead, unless something threatened me, then she was a fierce foe." "They were both warriors?" Kira asked. This was a different side of Graydon, softer, more inviting. "Yes. They were oshota, the overlord's personal warriors,"

"They died protecting their overlord during an assassination attempt. The overlord and many others survived. They did not,"

She'd never had parents to miss. In the compound where she’d been held, such things didn't exist. By the time she was rescued by Himoto, the concept of parents and family seemed more fairy tale than anything else.

"I was luckier than Joule and Ziva, the overlord’s brother was a friend of my father. He took me in, trained me as my father would have,"

“Kinder than you’d expect. He was an overlord, but he didn’t let that turn him cruel. He was playful, but when he was mad, he was scarier than even a lu-ong mother protecting her unhatched eggs.”

the emperor noticed me during my adva ka and gave me a new path. It is a good one."

“The emperor cannot be everywhere at once. This is especially true after the Sorrowing because his travel now carries an element of risk to it. And yet, being fully absent would invite strife.”

There are several Faces. I’m just one of them. A Face acts in the emperor’s stead. They forsake their birth House in favor of the emperor’s. For all intents and purposes, they are his face and if needed, they can guide or punish with the full authority of his name and might. They are both generals and mediators. Diplomats and warriors.”

“I’m one of five current Faces.” “Why accept a position as dangerous as that?” Kira asked. “Our people have begun to let House loyalties divide them. It might one day lead to our downfall.”

“I don’t need to spend a century to learn all I need to know.” Kira crossed her arms, her spine pressing against his arm. “Enlighten me, oh knowledgeable one.” He took the touch as an invitation, brushing her cheek with his fingers.

“Your loyalty, once earned isn’t easily lost. It’s the bedrock of your foundation.

You’re lonely, but you’ve given up on ever finding your place. Sorrow clings to you like a shroud, but you haven’t let it turn you bitter.”

“You need purpose or else you will eventually wither and die. I don’t know what drove you into exile, but you’ve begun to heal. When you do, you will be ready to take risks again,”

“I forgot how beautiful nighttime is,” she said. The moons were high overhead, full and round as they dominated the sky. They looked close enough to touch.

a small furry face peered out of the branches of a tree, green stripes glowing on its fur as it wound its way through the canopy, searching out blooms Kira realized were now unfolding. “Moon’s glove,” Graydon said. “It only blooms at night. The ooril is drawn to their scent.”

"Fuck it," Graydon murmured, closing the distance. His lips touched hers, barely there as they brushed against hers in question. In answer, she rose to her toes, fitting herself against the hard length of him. He made a guttural sound but remained still, not closing his arms around her. He was letting her take the lead. That decided her, making her bold as she explored his mouth, the warm pressure sending tingles quaking through her. It was sweet and gentle, until suddenly it wasn't. Desire engulfed them as they crashed together, fury and need rising.

"This was a mistake," she said. For so many reasons that she couldn't afford to name. "One I fully intend to repeat again and again."

"Never. He usually lets them pursue him," Solal said. "He is very particular." Kira didn't respond, prowling toward the door. "And I've never heard him share even the barest details of his past with any of them," Finn murmured.

"They need the danger to burn off their excess energy. Better this than pointless duels because everyone is irritable." Kira turned to look at him. He arched an eyebrow. "There are consequences to our gifts. I suspect you already know what I'm talking about."

"That would explain so much about you." Kira glared at her friend. "If we'd known that, maybe you wouldn't have decided to tangle with the strigmor eels and razor ash and we'd still have a working ship," he said, ignoring the signals she was giving him to shut up. "I'm beginning to see why you keep leaving your drone behind," Graydon said dryly.

She slowed as she noticed Graydon and several of his warriors waiting for them. Graydon looked up. He froze, his expression arrested at the sight of her. Kira felt a feminine thrill of satisfaction at seeing the impact she had on him. "Someone likes the way you look," Jin teased. "Hush." He made kissing sounds.

"We weren't created for peace. We were created for war."

"They rely on us for protection but prefer our presence from a safe distance," Graydon said. There was no bitterness in his voice, just a statement of facts. Kira looked around at their guards, their expressions neutral masks as if the topic had no relevance to them. She looked at her glass, feeling empathy for them. She knew what it was to be sought after but held at a distance because of what you could do.

Being revered didn't make the nights and days any less lonely if those you'd lay down your life to protect wouldn't let you close enough to have a conversation.

Graydon’s oshota stiffened as they took umbrage at the slight. Their expressions didn't shift from their normal remoteness, but the air crackled with intensity. The pressure felt like the sky before a thunderstorm, the potential for destruction there. It surprised Kira. She hadn't thought they felt such empathy for her.

Respect was earned, not given.

"I'm interested to see how your game will end," he said. "Or when they'll realize the mouse is actually a lu-ong," Finn said acerbically.

"But sometimes you need to make your own path despite what anyone else tells you." Their expressions brightened. Kira straightened. "One test does not decide your fate."

Everyone has a place in our society. It’s not so easy to buck tradition."

"Take Jin. He is one of the most advanced pieces of technology humans have ever created. He can analyze a million different problems at once, track hundreds of data streams while problem-solving. His purpose should have been to serve as the AI of one of the space stations." Graydon gave her friend a skeptical look. "He's also responsible for saving nearly three million souls," Kira stated. "If he'd performed the function he'd been designed for, those people would be dead, as would I. He didn't and because of that, the universe is a better place."