Hope and Vengeance: Saa Thalarr, book 1

by Connie Suttle

  "He needs to stay far away from her," Merrill hissed, his eyes going red.

  "There's nothing to stop us from using conventional means to get there, or even hopping there."

  Merrill pulled his cell phone from a pocket and dialed a number. "Have the jet ready in three hours," he said before ending the call. "Franklin do you wish to come?"

  "No. I'll stay here. It's Greg's birthday."

  "Yes. Of course. Extend my best wishes. Griffin and I will travel tonight, after dinner."

  "Stay in touch. I don't like this, Father," Franklin said, turning his attention back to the lasagna preparations.

  "Neither do I, but I refuse to allow that ill-bred snake near her."

  "Then be safe."

  "As always, child."

  * * *

  "Pheligar made arrangements to buy it for me, that's how," Kiarra shook her head at me as we walked into a huge home located on Mustang Island, just south of Port Aransas. More than ten thousand square feet on three levels, it had additional guest quarters over a large garage and a walkway to the beach. "He said he only wanted to shield one space, so we'll all be here," she added.

  "The Dallas Packmaster has a vacation home nearby," Daniel observed as he studied the interior of the house. "This is nearly twice as big."

  "It's not a contest," Lion clapped Daniel on the back. "We needed this much room, or we'd be sitting on one another's laps."

  "You're right."

  "Two more coming," Dragon sighed.

  "Who?" Kiarra turned to ask.

  "Griffin and Merrill are on their way. They have news."

  "I hope it's good news," Kiarra muttered before walking toward the expanse of glass covering the back of the house. The view of the beach was stunning, and I appreciated the play of the afternoon sun on the water.

  "My heart," I stepped behind her and wrapped my arms about her shoulders, pulling her against me.

  Adam, I'm worried, she sent. This is far outside the norm. Something's wrong here, and we don't have any clues. We're going at this blind, and that's a terrible position to be in.

  We're together, I reminded her. That counts for something, doesn't it?

  I suppose it does.

  We have sex to take our minds off our troubles, you know.

  Adam, I, she began before cutting off the mental conversation.

  "What?" I said aloud, leaning down to kiss her neck.

  "We have so much to do, and no idea where to start."

  * * *

  Griffin and Merrill arrived after midnight. Kiarra stayed up to greet them, therefore, so did I. I'd noticed Griffin's slight limp before, but never commented, as I had no idea if it were chronic.

  "You seem better," Lion remarked as Griffin and Merrill walked through the front door.

  "I feel better," Griffin agreed. "Amara says I'm pushing things, but this is important."

  Injured during his last assignment, Kiarra explained through mindspeech. His leg was nearly cut off by the tail spikes of an enemy.

  Tail spikes? I almost yelped the mental words.

  Yeah. See, maybe you made the wrong choice after all.

  No, I made the right choice. I just need to know what I might be facing, that's all. Tail spikes and serpents don't usually come in combinations.

  Also spikes on the head. Lots of teeth. Scales are deadly, too.

  Are you trying to frighten me?

  If you're not, you should be.

  I'm afraid I may need comfort, now.

  Seriously? Where's that stiff British vampire's upper lip, or whatever?

  That's not what's stiff, and I'll use any excuse to get you in bed. Come on, we've greeted our guests. Time for us, now.

  Kiarra said goodnight, and I quickly herded her toward our second-floor suite. I only kept her awake for another hour—she was tired.

  * * *

  "Russell? I don't recall summoning you." Wlodek didn't bother to look up from the papers he was reading, his dark eyes scanning reports from one of his assassins.

  "You didn't summon me. I explained to Charles what the difficulty is, and he saw fit to admit me."

  "Then I will speak to Charles later," Wlodek looked up, his gaze unblinking as he studied Russell. "Tell me quickly and be done with it."

  "It's about Xavier. And the Seer."

  "What about them? Xavier is your sire, as I recall."

  "And I believe the Seer intends to see him dead." Wlodek's fingers toyed with a gold pen for a moment before stilling.

  "Tell me why you believe this," Wlodek commanded, compulsion thick in his voice.

  "Because I overheard the Seer saying it," Russell replied, his eyes clouded with Wlodek's command.

  "Where is he now—your sire?" the question was soft. Deadly.

  "On his way to the U.S. He believes he can capture the woman in the video shown at the last Council meeting. He intends to turn her."

  "I did not give that command. The Council has not made that decision as yet." Wlodek resumed toying with his pen.

  "The Seer gave the command."

  "Where is the Seer? I will speak with him."

  "With Xavier. I followed them to the airport, Honored One. Xavier's jet was ready and waiting."

  "What persuaded you to follow?"

  "I am concerned for my sire."

  "I am concerned for your sire as well," Wlodek lifted his cell phone and dialed a number. "Is there anything else I should know?"

  "The Seer wants Adam dead, too."

  * * *

  "Coffee." Lion placed a steaming mug in front of me the following morning. Merrill settled on the barstool next to mine and received a mug as well. He sipped his readily. I was more reluctant.

  "Want pancakes?" Kiarra walked in, tying her hair back with a stretchy band. I'd left her sleeping in our bed moments earlier. I must have wakened her, going out the door.

  "Pancakes would be great," Lion grinned. "I'll do bacon if you'll do pancakes and eggs."

  "Done," she agreed. Merrill's cell phone rang as I watched her put pancake batter together.

  "Wlodek?" Merrill sounded surprised. I listened shamelessly to the conversation.

  "The Seer has gone rogue, and he's taken Xavier with him," Wlodek growled. "I know you warned me."

  "I hear he may be planning a takeover," Merrill responded.

  "Of what?"

  "Your seat at the center of the Council, that's what. He wants what is here, first, before he returns to England to take what is yours."

  "How do you know this?"

  "You should know better than to ask that question."

  "I despise that source, as you know. I do not question its veracity, however."

  "Then I advise you to place your known allies on alert. You may come under attack, and I am not in the country to offer assistance."

  "Where are you?"

  "In Texas. I must do what I can to prevent catastrophe. I believe the Seer is allied in some way with these rogue werewolves, and those must be dealt with, in addition to the other threats we face. Have you spoken with the Grand Master?"

  "Yes. Most evenings. Information has come to him from several Packmasters, listing wolves that have disappeared. He fears they are rogue or dead."

  "I believe the rogues may be collecting in this area," Merrill confirmed. "Gathering and lying in wait for some prearrange signal—likely from the Seer."

  "Do you need assistance to deal with this?"

  "I would not refuse your offer."

  "I will send Russell, Radomir, Will and Brock," Wlodek said. "Utilize those two from the area as well. Do you know where Adam is? His life is in danger. The Seer wants him dead, for some reason, and as Xavier appears to be under the Seer's command, Xavier may be instructed to destroy his child."

  "Adam is here with me," Merrill said.

  "Then he is safe for the moment. Will you advise him of this new development?"

  "Of course."

  "We must also consider the Seer's replacement, when this situati
on is resolved."

  "Let us see this through, first, before we dwell on future events."

  "I'll consider it. Keep me advised." Wlodek ended the call.

  "You heard?" Merrill turned to me.

  "Yes." I was seething. It failed to surprise me, however, that my own sire might attempt to take my life. It would require little coaxing from the Seer, in my estimation.

  "He comes near you, he'll get a surprise," Kiarra hissed. I hadn't considered that she'd heard the conversation, too.

  "You're no longer bound to obey your sire," Lion said, dropping strips of bacon into a heated skillet. "He can't command you to stand still while he murders you. Not after getting Kee's blood."

  "He's not bound to obey any vampire," Kiarra angrily whisked ingredients together in a bowl. "Compulsion won't work, Adam. You're free of that, now."

  "You received her blood?" Merrill asked. He sounded upset.

  "Can we not discuss this?" Kiarra poured batter into a skillet while Lion turned the bacon. "We have rogues to hunt, spawn to kill, a kapirus to find and who knows what else waiting for us. A discussion about blood can wait."

  "He just wants a taste. Merrill, that is," Griffin took a seat next to Merrill and lifted an eyebrow at Kiarra.

  "I fail to understand why."

  "Just humor me. It won't hurt to be connected to more than one or two, now will it? And since I've already given permission for blood, you won't have to do that part."

  "Connected?"

  "You'll feel her—if she's in trouble or gets hurt, just as Joey will," Lion explained, setting a platter of bacon on the island. "It can't hurt to have more connections. Karzac is connected to all of us, except for Kee."

  "I'll get Karzac connected," Kiarra muttered, setting a platter of pancakes beside the bacon. "If somebody will get plates and forks, I'll make eggs."

  "It'll only take a nip," Griffin coaxed. "Come here."

  "No. I know what happens," she said. I blinked—I should have been roaring my jealousy. I didn't feel a thing.

  "Then come to the back deck with us," Griffin said.

  "No. I want to make sure she isn't hurt," I said.

  "You think I'd hurt her?" Merrill's piercing blue eyes bored into mine.

  "Stop arguing. Is this necessary?" Kiarra turned to Griffin.

  "From what I can see, yes."

  "Fine. Let's get it over with." She stepped around the end of the island.

  "Sit here." I rose to offer her my seat. Merrill rose as well. Stepping back, I allowed him to stand next to her. He kissed her. Griffin tapped me on the shoulder when I thought to curtail prolonged contact.

  Then, his head lowered, he placed a kiss on her throat. "I will never harm you," he promised softly before delivering the bite. She gasped and writhed against him. Her head was in the palm of one hand, her body gripped tightly against his with the other as he drank.

  "Enough," Griffin said. Merrill reluctantly disengaged. Kiarra was already unconscious from the climax; Merrill lifted her easily and followed Griffin from the kitchen. I trailed behind them, feeling angry and confused.

  * * *

  "I'll do this," I pushed Merrill aside after he'd laid Kiarra on our bed. Griffin pulled Merrill out of the room while I patted her cheek, attempting to wake her.

  * * *

  "This is as much as I can do," Griffin hissed as Merrill's eyes went red in anger. "Don't push her. Give her time to adjust. Your day will come."

  "I grow tired of waiting." Merrill stalked away, leaving Griffin standing in the hall not far from Kiarra's bedroom door.

  * * *

  "If vampires were for sale, every woman on the planet would have one," Kiarra mumbled when she opened her eyes.

  "Like those climaxes, do you?" I teased gently.

  "I guess I do. Not that it isn't fucking embarrassing or anything."

  "There is nothing shameful about sex. It is as natural as breathing; it just doesn't occur as often."

  "I don't think I could handle it as often as that," she said.

  "Sex can be draining, although I've heard it's excellent exercise. Gets your heart rate up."

  "I've noticed—at least when I'm conscious, I've noticed."

  "Come downstairs; we haven't had breakfast yet," I pointed out. "Have to keep your strength up, you know."

  We walked downstairs together, while I kept a steadying hand on her elbow. Donating blood—even a cupful, can make the donor feel tired. Joey and Bearcat served our breakfast when we got back to the island, and Joey, grinning, pushed a protein drink in Kiarra's direction.

  Griffin, who once again sat beside Merrill at the island, flipped on the television hanging below a kitchen counter opposite the island. Kiarra's fork clattered to her plate and she gasped—Rita's photograph was displayed on the screen, as the journalist described how she and her brother Rick had been found murdered at a home on the western edge of Corpus Christi.

  Chapter 12

  "This is the way to get her attention," Saxom snapped at Xavier.

  "We risk drawing the attention of Wlodek and the Council," Xavier growled. "I have no care that I killed the woman and her brother, but I don't wish to jeopardize my position as a trusted advisor to the Council, and I certainly have no desire to be branded a rogue and face Gavin if he comes."

  "We have the attention of Wlodek and the Council," Saxom laughed. "You're a rogue already. Let me worry about Gavin Montegue and the others, if they come."

  * * *

  "This is a way for the enemy to draw you out," Dragon said. Kiarra sat alone on a chair, arms crossed tightly over her chest and refusing to speak to any of us. "You know what the stakes are, and what their game plan is. If we befriend anyone, they can become a target. It couldn't be helped this time. You know that."

  "She has children," Kiarra muttered, refusing to look Dragon in the eye.

  "I know. I hear Rita's mother has them, now."

  "Is there a way to ensure their safety?"

  "I have wolves patrolling the neighborhood," Daniel offered. "With Shirley's blessing. She knows you're willing to help with the rogue problem, so this is her way of saying thanks."

  "I have an assignment for you, Griffin," Kiarra stood and turned in his direction.

  "Anything," he agreed with a shrug.

  "Let me know if that household goes blank. I want to be alone for a while."

  Stay here. Dragon's hand landed heavily on my shoulder.

  "What does she mean—if that household goes blank?" Joey asked.

  "When—or if—I can't see it by Looking," Griffin explained. "I'm the most talented in that area," he shrugged. "And it's something I can do while I'm nursing an injury."

  "Like the other blank spots?" I asked. I still wanted to go after Kiarra. Dragon's hand remained on my shoulder.

  "Yes. The ones that shouldn't be there," Griffin agreed. "If that house or the people in it go blank, it's a good indication that the enemy may be there, with or without the kapirus and whatever is causing these blank spots."

  "How was she and her brother murdered—do we know?" Joey asked. The journalist had little information to offer regarding how Rick and Rita died—only that the authorities were withholding the information.

  "Throats slashed," Griffin sighed. "They want us to know a vampire did this."

  "The Seer is behind this," Merrill said.

  "Correct," Griffin agreed. "While he may not have done it himself, he ordered it done."

  "Xavier," I growled.

  "Likely," Griffin said.

  Are we going to tell her? Griffin sent mindspeech.

  I want to hold back—she's upset enough as it is, Lion responded.

  Adam, stay out of this conversation, Dragon ordered. We can shield our mindspeech. You haven't learned, yet. I turned from Griffin to Lion and then Dragon. Something was going on; I just didn't know what it was. Yet.

  * * *

  "Bearcat won't tell me," Joey said later. I'd waited until we were alone to ask. I had no idea w
hy the others were keeping something from Kiarra—it made no sense. "What I do know is this, though," Joey sighed.

  "What's that?"

  We sat on the third-floor deck, just outside Joey and Bearcat's shared bedroom. The afternoon was bright and hot, with a breeze coming off the gulf waters and ruffling our hair as we spoke. "They don't go to every world to challenge the Ra'Ak when they attack," Joey said. He sounded uncomfortable, for some reason.

  "How do they pick and choose, then?" I asked. Yes, I'd been curious ever since I'd heard that reference before.

  "Planets are rated," Joey explained with a heavy sigh. "From one to six."

  "What does that mean?"

  "The highest rating is one, and they'll save those first. Those worlds are the ones that are peaceful and living generally in accord. The ones with a single government, no matter how many continents are involved. The ones rated two through four may have more than one government spread across the continents, but are generally at peace, and are worth saving in most cases, but the fours are studied carefully, to make sure things aren't deteriorating. Fives and sixes, well, those are considered not worth saving and they don't bother with them."

  "How are we rated?" I asked. We had to fall somewhere in the three or four categories, I felt.

  "Adam, we're a six," Joey said.

  * * *

  "I'm not complaining, but what the hell are you doing here?" I demanded. I'd found Lion in the media room, sorting through a collection of videos.

  "Sit down," Lion said. "I'll try to explain so it'll make sense."

  "Please," I responded, my voice gruff and demanding. It angered me enough that Earth was considered past saving, but why the hell did they come?

  "At times," Lion began as he took a seat nearby, settling his large frame on the leather chair and making himself comfortable, "when a world is considered by the Liaison and his superior to be not worth saving, one of us can volunteer to go anyway. But there are generally rules concerning those expeditions."

  "All right, explain that," I said. I still wasn't happy, and it showed in my voice and demeanor.

  "The rules are that you go alone, with no assistance from the Liaison or anyone else, and you're pretty much on your own. You win, you get out and leave things as they are, hoping the world manages to correct its course. You lose, you either die or get the hell out before the Ra'Ak takes over or destroys the planet outright."