Chapter 8 · Guardian Fail File

Kira didn't look at me. Just stood there in the middle of my living room, hands loose at her sides like she was waiting for something to hit her.

"So?"

She flinched. Barely. But I saw it.

"Your mom hired me," she said. Voice flat. "Three years ago. Bureau contract. Standard protection detail."

I crossed my arms. "And?"

"And I failed."

The words came out clipped. Like she'd rehearsed them a thousand times and still couldn't get them right.

I waited. My heart was doing that thing where it felt too big for my chest, but I kept my face blank. I wasn't gonna make this easier for her.

Kira finally looked up. Her eyes were wrong. Not the usual sharp gray that made me think of knives and bad decisions. Now they just looked tired. Old.

"Your mom knew about the rift," she said. "She'd been tracking shadow activity for months before she called us. She didn't tell you because—" Kira stopped. Swallowed. "Because she thought if you didn't know, you'd be safer."

"Great plan," I said. My voice came out harder than I meant. "Really worked out."

Kira's jaw tightened. "Yeah. It didn't."

She moved then.