Drowning in Fire by Hanna Martine Page B

in a different way. Griffin couldn’t pinpoint exactly how.
    “She must answer for her actions outside of Chimeran law,” said the premier to Aya. “Will you allow us to go after her?”
    After several long moments, Aya ripped her eyes from Griffin to consider the premier, and though there was no wind among the trees, her leaf cloak and spider-webbed hair undulated. “I could return to my people Within now, tell them what’s happened, and give the order to hunt.”
    Griffin wanted to object again, every muscle in his body straining forward.
    “But a thousand years ago,” Aya continued, “there was no Senatus. No cooperation between our races. I’d hate to erase something we’ve built so determinedly without careful consideration. Can I trust you, Premier, to find Kekona before she reaches the Source and give her suitable punishment?”
    “You can, Daughter. Absolutely.”
    “Wait—” Bane started.
    Aya nodded, ignoring the Chimeran general. “If you don’t succeed, if Kekona reaches the Source, she is ours and there will be no compromise. Agreed?”
    The premier shoved his hands in his coat pockets. “Agreed.”
    “You don’t want a war with us,” Aya added with a glance at the earth under her feet. “We will swallow you.”
    Bane growled, a lick of flame passing from eye to eye. Why wasn’t the chief saying anything? Why was he just standing there, looking like he’d been bound and gagged?
    The premier raised his voice. “Kekona will be found and stopped. I’ll immediately appoint a search team to get to Hawaii, and Chief can assign a Chimeran scout as a guide.”
    The chief ground fingers into his temple. “Let me think about this—”
    “There is no ‘thinking,’” the premier began, and the two men devolved into an argument over how exactly to go about the search. Griffin might have been mistaken, but it seemed as though the chief was actually trying to steer the premier away from going after Keko.
    Damn his culture. Damn the rules of status.
    Griffin stood there, a cold that had nothing to do with the weather seeping into his bones. They were going about the search in the wrong way. They weren’t properly taking into consideration their quarry. They were forgetting about Keko’s determination, her drive. Her spirit.
    “Wait. Stop.” Griffin grabbed the premier’s arm and spun him around. A dangerous move since he still wasn’t part of the Senatus, but he wouldn’t be ignored. Not now.
    The premier looked at Griffin’s hand upon his arm, then slowly raised his eyes. “Things sure have gotten more complicated since you showed up, Ofarian.”
    Griffin released him but refused to look away, refused to back down. Yeah, maybe a lot of shit that had happened recently could be traced back to him, but if they were going to blame him for starting it, then he should be the one to bring it to an end.
    “Keko will not be hunted and trapped like an animal,” he said. “Being chased by strangers who are intent on stopping her will only feed her purpose. Don’t you get it? She will fight and fight and fight until she gets what she wants, and she won’t stop running until she gets to the Source, if only to prove herself. Bane?”
    The Chimeran general nodded haltingly. “He’s right.”
    “What are you suggesting?” the premier asked.
    Griffin licked his lips, stood tall. “Let me go after her. Alone.”
    “Why you? Because she was your lover?” The premier sneered at that last word. “How do I know you won’t help her?”
    “Because the Senatus means more to me.” He nodded at Aya. “And the protection of the Source, the earth itself. I want Keko brought in as much as you do. Let me prove my loyalty.”
    Keko’s life meant most of all, but he couldn’t say that. Not when the premier eyed him so warily. Let the Senatus leader think Griffin wanted revenge for her trying to start a war. Let them all think whatever the hell they wanted, as long as it would allow him to get to her