Tiny Glimpse

Here’s a tiny glimpse of the current work in progress. And I do mean tiny.

Also for those who will ask–yes, I’m working on the next book in the Firebird series.

As always, I make no promises that the content will make it into the final draft. Things are still very much in flux.

Excerpt

Kira touched her shoulder. “Just a reminder—and this is very important, maybe the most important instruction I will ever give you—nothing you see or hear when you’re in my company is to ever be repeated elsewhere. Not to Joule. Not to anyone. There are lives are at stake if you do.”

Ziva’s nod this time was a little less reluctant, her face as serious as Kira had ever seen it. “Understood, seon’yer.”

“Good.”

Maybe this whole seon’yer/yer’se thing wouldn’t be so bad after all.

The door behind the oshota creaked open and Elena peeked her head around the corner. “I thought I heard voices out here.”

Yawning, Kira’s niece pushed the door open a little further, just enough for her to slip through without giving a glimpse of what lay inside. Rubbing her head and messing up the short locks, Elena covered her mouth on another yawn before blinking owlishly at the girl by Kira’s side. “Ziva? What are you doing here?”

Kira’s niece had lost weight in the weeks since her return. Her manner a little more subdued than usual in the aftermath of her abduction by the tsavitee.

Kira never thought she’d say it but she missed the rambunctious rascal who had more courage than sense. The fearless girl who leapt without thinking, trusting everything to somehow work itself out by the time she landed.

It was difficult to see the dark circles under Elena’s eyes that hinted at the nightmares that had likely caused more than one sleepless night.

Kira made a note to talk to Harlow about getting help for her niece. Humans had councilors and therapist. There had to be a Tuann equivalent. Kira knew first hand how long trauma could linger. She didn’t want this experience to rule the rest of Elena’s life. Not when there was someone who could maybe help.

“My seon’yer has finally accepted me. This is my first task,” Ziva exclaimed, beaming with pride.

There was confusion on Elena’s face as she looked from the girl to Kira. “What task is that?”

Ziva preened as she snapped to attention. “I’m to guard the door.”

Kira rolled her eyes up to the ceiling. “That’s not what I said at all.”

Her yer’se had a habit of taking her words and turning them into something entirely else.

Just like another young girl Kira knew.

The sight of the tiny smile gracing Elena’s face distracted Kira from her exasperation. The mirth that danced in her eyes that had been sadly lacking over the last few weeks.

“I don’t know, Auntie,” Elena drawled, lounging against the door frame. “Ziva seems pretty convincing to me.”

“Then maybe you should join her in guard duty,” Kira said, leveling an arch look on her niece.

Elena’s smile grew into a full fledged smirk as she stepped away from the door. “You’re right. Maybe I should do just that.”

Kira’s niece flung an arm around Ziva’s shoulder to steer her down the hallway. “Come on, little sister. Why don’t you regale me with stories about how you won Auntie over.”

Ziva stared up at Elena with a look of adoration. “It wasn’t easy, I tell you. My seon’yer is exceptionally picky when it comes to her yer’se’s. I had to be canny and patient to win her approval.”

“You realize it’s difficult to guard a door when you’re not anywhere near its vicinity, right?” Kira called after the pair.

For all the good it did.

Neither of the girls acknowledged Kira’s statement as they continued down the hall.

“I’m feeling a little bit peckish. How about you?” Elena asked.

Ziva nodded. “I could eat.”

The rest of what was said was lost as the two turned the corner a second later.

“It looks like your yer’se is going to be good for her,” Zoella noted.

“Don’t you start too,” Kira instructed as as Tavas placed his palm against the shut door, waiting a second for the security system to read his bio signature before it unsealed.

Zoella ducked her head to hide a smile as Kira headed inside. “Of course, youngest. I’ll be sure to notify you when I get a hold of xxx Overlord.”

“I appreciate it.”