Page 158 of Seasons of War
Kira spoke before Adelle left. “I love you.”
Her smile brightened her eyes like the stars in the sky. Adelle had a way of speaking where each word sounded so intentional. “I love you too, Kira darling.” Then her gaze drifted beyond Kira to the Pixi Dust for several seconds, the smile not fading, but her lips tightening slightly. “Be prepared for everything this will change.”
Kira's heart skipped a beat and then hammered her ribs. Adelle watched her for several seconds before giving her one last smile and walking inside.
What if Kira and her allies made everything worse? And for what? Some words that would fade in a few hours?
CHAPTER 37
Zayne
The Capital
Kallum, Ciondo
833 P.C. [Post-Collapse]
The PXI glowed through the window of his father's car, casting its haze on hardened frowns. Zayne's was only for show, however.
Kira Stiles did it again.
This time, she wrote in so many skies that they awaited the final tally. Over one hundred and counting, as of now.
From the number of drones she built and the uranium she stole over the years, he expected a bigger show than the first time, but nothing like this.
She was incredible.
The Phaedra must have been fuming right now.
When they reached his study in the tower, their father said only one thing. “Stay out of my way in there.”
The brothers nodded. Zayne knew not to interfere, so for Father to mention it implieddanger.
Darkness filled the Phaedra's study, but the red glow illuminated shattered glass strewn about the floor. Broken furniture littered the room—a desk flipped on its edge, couch cushions torn, multiple chairs lying in pieces.
His father groaned and walked ahead of them down the hall toward the light.
“Phaedra,” he said.
A throaty roar erupted from the room. Normally, the Phaedra never lost his composure. In the rare times he did, Zayne never saw him destroy a room.
“Whatever you do, stay quiet,” Luke said. “I've seen this once. Even if he asks you a question, lower your head.”
That sounded like genuine concern.
“Get in here.” The Phaedra roared again. “All of you.”
The two brothers walked through the broken glass into the planetarium where the Phaedra stood over a raging red sun.
“Three hundred eighty-one skies.” Spittle flew from his mouth. His eyes looked wild. “Millions of people saw my power undermined.”
The self-control required to lower his head, to hold back his triumphant laughter, impressed even him. The last time Kira did this, the Phaedra ranted about it for weeks. Now she screamed her rebellion for all Ciondo to hear. She destroyed the Phaedra's study through his own hand and buried herself in his mind.
What would she do with her freedom in the territories? That was worth dying for.
Kira was worth dying for.
“From now on, I personally approve any course of study that could be used for PXI,” the Phaedra said.
