by L A Warren
“Hm, I’m interested, but I have a condition.”
“No conditions, that’s the bet.”
“I have a condition, luv.”
“Fine,” she said. “What?”
“When I come to New Terra, I want to stay in my old quarters.”
“Those are my quarters.”
Gregor winked. “I don’t mind sharing.”
“There’s only one bed.”
“I don’t find that to be a problem. Which brings up another point?”
“What?”
“Where are you staying on Segra?”
“I’m staying in my quarters back on New Terra. It’s a simple commute . . . for me.”
“Hm,” he said, “that’s a shame, because I have a lovely cottage on a secluded island. It’s private. Besides, Jeena said you were supposed to be on vacation. I don’t think you’re supposed to commute back and forth.”
“And how many bedrooms does your cottage have?” She poked his chest, enjoying the light banter. For the first time, she didn’t feel threatened by Gregor and could enjoy being near him without risk of intimidation.
“Only one, but the bed is really big.”
“Ah, then I accept.”
His eyes lit, reflecting silver pools of delight.
Elise giggled, she wasn’t done with him. “So, where will you be staying?”
Gregor’s eyebrows dropped in disappointment, but he laughed. “Wherever fate draws me, I suppose. I’ve waited ten years, Elise. I can wait until after the jump-jet competition. If you win, I will hold you to your side of the bet.”
“Will you throw the competition, then, to get what you want?”
“No, because if I win . . . I’ll give you the c-fleet, but you and I will spend two cycles in that cottage together afterwards. I never throw a race, Elise. You can have my cottage for the duration of the jump-jet competition. I have quarters here I can use. Now, how about that drink? I plan on a highly unfair seduction of the woman I love.”
“A drink sounds good.” Elise crossed her arms and looked into the face of the man who held her heart. “But, seduction is the woman’s job.”
“My heart is already yours. I plan on convincing you to give me yours.”
“We live in different worlds, Gregor, and you cannot live in mine. I can’t give what you’re asking.”
“I’ll take whatever I can get, but I intend on having your love. You can’t escape from me.”
“I feel like running already.”
“You’ve run long enough, Elise. It’s time to come home. Loving me will not diminish you. I’ll show you the truth. We belong together, despite our beginnings, despite everything I did, we’re bound—not by the WOR-skill, but by something greater. I love you with all my heart, and I intend to spend the rest of my life showing you just how much you mean to me.”
Gregor’s intensity scared her, but she didn’t run. He captivated her completely. “Could we start with a drink?”
He laughed. “Absolutely. I’ll give you the worlds . . . later.”
New Terra
Carek turned to Alice. His eyes narrowed. “You didn’t tell her.”
“No,” Alice said. “When she returns—”
“If she returns,” he interrupted.
Alice blinked. “When Elise returns, we’ll tell her. Let’s allow her to have a little fun before we burden her with new problems.”
“Was it wise to tell him she was coming?” Carek asked.
“We discussed it,” Jeena defended. “Elise is slipping away and we need her now more than ever. Emperor vlor’Malita is the only person I know who might pull her back from the darkness. Madness stirs in her mind, and I’m not at all convinced she’s still in charge within that head of hers. I don’t know which one of her sisters I’m speaking to at any given time, and it scares me to death.”
“He’ll destroy her,” Carek said.
“I don’t think so, cuz,” Dove said. “He loves her.”
“How can that be? He destroyed her, fractured her mind and left her broken.” Carek clenched his teeth. “She hates him.”
“She hates what he did to her,” Alice interjected, “but she understands why it had to be done. The Emperor had to save the Vendel and that meant he had to . . .”
“The ends justified the means? Is that what you’re trying to say?” Carek’s lips twisted into a sneer. “All of you suffered because of him. Chandra, don’t you hate them for what they did to you?”
“I don’t anymore,” she answered. “I wouldn’t have found you, and we wouldn’t be starting a family together. I have a lot of things to be thankful for because of the Vendel.”
“I agree with Alice and Chandra,” Aomi added. “Elise needs something more than this constant vigilance against the Clan. The Emperor might just give her a reason to live again. We had to do something.”
Alice braced her hands on the table in front of her. “When Elise comes back, we’ll tell her. Until then, she’s in the Emperor’s hands. Let’s pray he heals her. We need her whole for the fight to come.”
Epilogue
New Terra Histories
In the ten years since our liberation from the Vendel, I haven’t seen or spoken to Gregor. He’s not a part of my world, even if he inhabits my dreams through the long nights and lingers at the edges of my thoughts every day.
The sad truth is I miss him.
I miss our connection.
Without him, my world is empty and a profound loneliness infests my life.
Hate, he told me, is but a breath away from love. One merges into the other when we least expect it.
I hated Gregor, or rather, what he did to me, to my family, my friends, and my world, yet, I’m grateful for what he brought into my life. I have new friends, people who have become my family. It doesn’t stop the ache, the dreams, or the constant restlessness I feel, but it fills me with contentment.
This story could have been anyone’s to tell. It’s not unique to me.
I hated the Vendel.
I wanted nothing but revenge.
But in the end, this is what I’ve learned.
Hatred is impossible to sustain when love tugs at your heart.
I love my friends, and in the depths of my heart, I love the Vendel. I may even love Gregor.
He is not my enemy.
He never was.
My grandfather’s words return to me. “Elise,” he said, “to understand your enemies, you must first let go of your hatred. Only then may you forgive. Only then may you understand.”
I understand what Gregor did and why. I accept it was necessary. I’ve let go of my hatred and I’ve forgiven both Gregor and the Vendel. The Vendel were our saviors, but we also became theirs.
My path has been lined with incredible pain. Never think otherwise. The day the Vendel invaded my world will never leave me.
I lived that day. I died that day.
I was defeated, broken, and the very person I was, my beliefs and faith, were destroyed.
I had every reason to hate the Vendel, but I have clarity now. I understand the terrible choices Gregor had to make. I may have made them myself if I had been in his shoes.
No longer does hate pull at me. I am free of that burden.
I love the Vendel, and I fight to keep them safe every day. I will continue to do so until I take my last breath.
They took everything from me, but what they gave me in return is something I never imagined possible.
I have found my peace.
This has been my story . . . at least for now.
END
Thank you for reading this series and I hope you enjoyed Elise’s struggle with the Vendel.
L.A. Warren cut her teeth on Azimov, Pohl, Heinlein, and many other science fiction greats. Not once did she think she would become a writer, but life has a way of seeing dreams come true you never knew you had. Now, L.A. is writing the science fiction and fantasy stories she loves to read.
Website
> https://jem-publishing.com/la_warren/
L.A. Warren is the science fiction pen name of romance author Ellie Masters. If you’re a romance fan, you may enjoy her other titles. You can check them out here.
www.ellliemasters.com/books
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VENDEL RISING Series
Vendel Rising: a serialized novel
Volume 1: It Begins With the End
Volume 2: Women of Rank
Volume 3: The Price of Power
Volume 4: It Ends With a Beginning
About the Author
L.A. Warren cut her teeth on Azimov, Pohl, Heinlein, and many other science fiction greats. Not once did she think she would become a writer, but life has a way of seeing dreams come true you never knew you had. Now, L.A. is writing the science fiction and fantasy stories she loves to read.
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L.A. Warren is the science fiction pen name of romance author Ellie Masters. If you’re a romance fan, you may enjoy her other titles. You can check them out here.
www.ellliemasters.com/books
Connect with L.A. Warren
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THE END