Kiera's Moon

"I know of her intellect," he said. "She's bested my best battle planners with her mind. But she is a poor nishani."

"She is a perfect nishani," she returned. "Brilliant and beautiful? Can you find fault with that?"

"Her behavior."

"You've not spent even a moment with her, and you complain of her behavior?" Evelyn shook her head and rose. She crossed to the boxes she had stacked in the corner and covered with a square of cloth. Romas had discarded most of Kiera's things after her disappearance, but Evelyn managed to salvage two boxes and keep them hidden. She dug through one and withdrew a thick pad of paper and pack of pencils.

"If you take the time to know her, you won't find fault in her behavior," she said to him, and held out the items in her hand. "Give these to her."

He took them, eyeing them as if they'd bite him.

"And … someday …" She trailed off. Even if this man agreed to bring Kiera back for a visit, Romas and his clan would deny permission. "Tell her she'll be an aunt soon. When will you see her again?"

"Tomorrow."

"Good. Tell her I miss her, too."

He gave a curt nod. Her Kiera was well and raising hell. There was nothing else she could want. Evelyn knew she didn't deserve to feel at peace after the mess she dragged Kiera into, but she did feel it, and it made her genuinely content for the first time since she'd kidnapped her best friend.

* * *

Kiera tugged at the moon on her necklace as she walked down the hall toward the video game room. She'd dreamt of Evelyn last night and awoke missing her friend. And then both Gage and Talal had cornered her that morning with news that made her wish she was more like Evelyn. She wasn't good at handling drama; Evelyn had always been like a perfect older sister, capable of patience and listening. Kiera just freaked out with bad news. She wished hard she could talk to Evelyn as she had in her dream last night and ask her what to do.

Voices came from the conference room, whose door was open. She stopped a few feet from the entrance, debating whether she should just leave, until she heard A'Ran's name. She didn't recognize the first man's voice, but the second she did.

"A'Ran hasn't returned?"

"He took a detour and is on his return trip, Father," Ne'Rin said. "Have you been successful?"