Ketrick released her a moment later, a smile cracking his own lips. He took another long swig of the coffee. “Listen, I know we talked about waiting, but after the meeting, I’d like to take you out on our first official romantic getaway.”
“Ketrick, we’re in a war zone,” Riot said, stealing the coffee mug from his hand and downing a long swig of the hot liquid. “And we’re going on our second day of no sleep.”
“Tomorrow may be too late.” Ketrick walked to the door and looked back with a smile. “Let’s make the most of this lull in the battle.”
“All right”—Riot took another gulp of coffee—“but something quick. We’re going to need to sleep if we’re going to face the Karnayer forces.”
“Agreed, Sorceress,” Ketrick said, closing the door behind him.
Riot busied herself getting ready. Her weary hands buttoned her uniform while she guzzled the strong coffee in between preparing for the meeting. When she exited her room a few minutes later, Killa was coming down the hall to collect her.
“You look tired,” Killa said to Riot with a worried sideways glance.
“Thanks, thanks for that.” Riot rubbed at her eyes. “It’s because I am. We fought through the night. Has there been any word on Karnayer movement since they landed?”
“None,” Killa said, motioning for Riot to follow her down the halls of the Trilord pyramid. “It would worry me, but there can only be one logical explanation.”
“And that would be?” Riot asked trying to keep pace with the long-legged female general.
Killa led Riot to the end of the hall and down a series of stairs to the main floor. Her silence was strange. Riot knew she had heard her question and it wasn’t like the Trilord to be rude.
Finally, she answered. Her voice was full of worry. “They’re waiting for something. The only thing that it could be is for the remaining forces from Earth to arrive.”
“Wait, that doesn’t make any sense,” Riot said, thinking out the strategy behind her scrunched brow. “Wouldn’t they want to attack now while our forces are divided. Unless…”
Riot and Killa stopped by a set of tall doors leading into a side chamber. Killa turned to Riot, nodding. “Keep talking. You’re right in what you suspect.”
“Unless they are so sure of victory, they want to kill us all at once. They don’t want to be engaged with us on this front, only to have General Armon drop out of hyperspace and attack them from the rear,” Riot said out loud, although at this point, she was speaking more to herself than to the Trilord leader. “Alveric’s one cocky son of a gun.”
“There may be more to his plan, but I suspect you are correct in your assumption.” Killa placed a large hand on the door handle and swung the door open. “After you.”
Riot entered the room where Queen Revna, Colonel Harlan, and Admiral Tricon stood talking on the other side of the chamber. As far as the rooms in the pyramid went, this was more of a mid-sized boardroom. On the bottom level, it was located somewhere on the left side of the pyramid. Long windows along the left wall allowed late morning light to splay inside the room. The area was bare, with only a few chairs wreathing a long, oval table.
Queen Revna turned with a smile. “You’re right on time. My son, on the other hand, is late. He should be arriving soon, shouldn’t he?”
“I, uh, I mean, why would you ask me? How would I know?” Riot said, the words tumbling out of her mouth like a high school-aged student caught playing hooky. “I was bathing and dressing in my room.”
The queen gave Riot a look that said, I know exactly what happened, but let’s move on.
“Good to see you whole,” Colonel Harlan said from his spot next to the Grovothe admiral. He and Riot traded salutes. “When I saw the Valkyrie go down, my first instinct was to go after you. The thrusters in the Titan were gone, though. We were barely staying off the ground.”
“I understand,” Riot said, joining the group, with Killa at her side. “We made it back in one piece.”
Riot turned to salute Admiral Tricon next. The shorter, bearded Grovothe looked dashing as always in his pristine uniform. He replied with a salute of his own.
“Thank you for coming,” Riot said to the newest member of their alliance. “I know the Trilords aren’t technically approved allies of the Grovothe yet. You could have stood down if you wanted to and just looked the other way.”
“Others may have.” Admiral Tricon nodded along with Riot’s words. “But we share a common enemy, and we are stronger united. I have it on good authority that the Trilords will be listed as our allies soon. It took a small act from the Allfather to get Earth acknowledged as allies so quickly. I suspect more than a few on our homeworld see the wisdom in a united front.”
The doors to the meeting room banged open, and Ketrick ran in. His long, black hair was still wet. He wore the traditional Trilord clothing of long pants and boots, greaves, and no shirt.
If there had ever been a gathering of more different beings in the universe, Riot would love to see them.
“Admiral, Colonel, Mother,” Ketrick said to the heads of the alliance before turning to Killa and Riot with a grin.
“Good to see you once more,” Admiral Tricon cracked through a thin smile. “I just arrived and have already heard about your winged attack on the Karnayer Scarabs. That took courage.”
“Thank you, Admiral,” Ketrick returned the nod. His smile soon faded into a frown. “It had to be done. Two winged brothers gave their lives to buy us the time we needed.”
“I understand.” The admiral sighed heavily. “I’m afraid victory against Alveric and the rogue House of Karn will entail more sacrifice from all of us.”
The room grew quiet as everyone took a moment to consider how true the admiral’s words really were.
“Shall we begin?” Queen Revna motioned for the group to gather around the oval table in the center of the room. “It’s time to plan the greatest war this planet has ever seen.”
90
My mech squads should take front positions on the walls when they come.” Admiral Tricon looked down at the table where Killa had spread a cream-colored map. “I’ll leave them here under Major Rippa’s command and take the fight to the Karnayer destroyer orbiting the planet.”
Riot’s eyes raced over the map, tracking the admiral’s words along with what she was seeing in front of her. The Trilord capital was on a hill with the dense jungle extending to the south and west. To the east was flat, then rolling lands that led to the Brute faction, while the north extended miles through rough terrain before a massive mountain range marked the end of the map.
“I wish I could join you, but the Titan is out of the fight.” Colonel Harlan looked down at the map, shaking his head. “The Valkyrie is out, as well. Until General Armon gets here with our space force from Earth, you and Ketrick’s dragons are our only weapons in the sky.”
“We’ll hold them until your general arrives.” Admiral Tricon stroked his grey beard. “We’ll play defense until then. Once the force from Earth arrives, we can concentrate on blowing that destroyer out of the air.”
“We have a great chance of ending the Karnayers here.” Ketrick crossed his arms over his massive chest. “We can’t let them escape.”
While the others were discussing the placement of troops and strategy, memories of the conversation Riot had just had with Killa played back in her mind. She looked over to the Trilord commander, and the two shared a troubled glance.
“We should anticipate we’re doing everything they want us to do,” Riot said, bringing all eyes around the table up to her. “They have creatures fighting for them from every corner of the universe. Creatures they’ve captured and bent to their will. We’ve come up against a few of them already. Who knows what Alveric unloaded in the jungle?”
“You think he wanted all of this to happen?” Queen Revna asked.
“It would seem that he wants us all here together, humans included, in order to kill us in one fell swoop,” Command
er Killa said, nodding to Riot. “We should be prepared for anything.”
A moment of silence passed over the room as each of the minds in the chamber thought on Riot’s and Killa’s words.
“Admiral Tricon has the most experience of fighting the Karnayers, and the tactics the Karnayers use,” Queen Revna said, looking over to the shorter Grovothe. “I’m willing to have you take the lead on this conflict.”
“Thank you,” Admiral Tricon said as he looked over at the others around the table. “We keep the plan simple and play defense until the rest of the force from Earth arrives. Then we reassess. If the Karnayers have still not attacked, then we take the fight to them, with myself and General Armon attacking through the air. The Trilords and my mech units will take the ground forces through the jungle. I can even afford to send some Grovothe shock troops with you, as well.”
“The War Wolves aren’t going to sit by,” Riot said, looking over to Colonel Harlan. “I don’t think any Marine plans on doing that.”
“You bet your ass.” Colonel Harlan grinned at Riot. “If and when it comes down to an attack, we’ll be there, leading the charge. Tip of the spear.”
“Then it’s decided.” Ketrick rubbed at his weary eyes. Naturally red, it was hard to tell how tired he really was. “Defense, until it is time to go on the offensive.”
“Let’s get what rest we can,” Queen Revna said, dismissing the room. “I think the next time we have a lull in the fight, we’ll either be the victors or have much larger issues to deal with.”
The room emptied, with Admiral Tricon talking with Colonel Harlan about troop strength and what forces General Armon would be bringing with him. Killa and Queen Revna stayed behind in the room, talking in low tones about their own troops and placement of the city defenses.
But fatigue was muddling Riot’s thought process. She knew she should be thinking of a hundred other things at the moment, but right now, only three things could occupy her mind: the state of her team, sleep, and the mischievous grin Ketrick had plastered across his face.
“Before you pass into a sleeping coma”—Ketrick motioned for Riot to follow him—“I have something to show you.”
“Will do.” Riot stifled a yawn and rubbed at her eyes. “Sorry, I’m still up for our date. Let me just check in on the rest of the squad. I’ll follow you.”
Ketrick nodded along with Riot’s words as he led her through the pyramid and to a stairwell located in the corner of the structure. The pyramid was empty for the most part, with servants turned into soldiers and more than likely guarding the walls or preparing for another attack.
“Evonne, can you patch me through to Vet?” Riot asked the AI via the nanites that connected her to everyone else.
“Right away,” Evonne responded at once. “You are now connected.”
“Thanks,” Riot huffed as she followed Ketrick up multiple flights of stairs. Trying to keep pace with the Trilord prince was nearly impossible. Wherever he was going, he was excited to get there. “Vet, can you hear me?”
“But I want to wear the pretty dress tonight,” Vet responded in a mumbled tone.
Riot scrunched her brow, trying to figure out what was happening. “Vet? Vet, can you hear me?”
“You promised I could be the ballerina tonight.”
“Vet, wake up!” Riot said, finally understanding what she was listening to. “You can be the ballerina when we get back to Earth. Today you’re a Marine!”
“What! Who? Riot?”
“Vet, pull yourself together, man,” Riot said, holding in a chuckle. “What’s your status?”
“Oh, right, sorry,” Vet said with a yawn. “Rizzo, Wang, and I are bunked up. Doc wanted to get a few reports in. Evonne is taking care of repairs on our armor and weapons. Rippa went to speak with the admiral and make repairs on her mech.”
“Roger that,” Riot said, nearly tripping on another step. She looked down at the army of switchback stairs she had just climbed. She was about halfway to the top of the pyramid. “Get as much sleep and food in you as you can handle. One way or another, this fight is going to end soon. We’re on notice to get back into the action when the Karnayers attack, and if they don’t, we’ll be mounting our own offense when General Armon and the rest of the fleet arrive.”
“Copy,” Vet said over the nanites. “We’ll be ready to roll when the time comes.”
“I know you will,” Riot said. “Now get back to your dreams of being a ballerina.”
“What?” Vet sounded half-panicked, half-ignorant to what she was talking about. “I don’t want to be a ballerina.”
“Hey, man, we all have our secrets,” Riot said as Ketrick looked back at her with a wide grin of his own. “I’m not judging you.”
“Dance is a highly respected art and takes years of training,” Vet said, catching himself close to admitting something. “If … if I wanted to be on Broadway, which I don’t.”
“Whatever you say, Twinkle Toes.” Riot didn’t say anything else. There was a silence on the other end, signaling Vet had signed off and was going back to sleep.
Riot’s brow was beginning to perspire as she and Ketrick crested the last set of stairs leading to a hatch-like entrance placed into the top of the pyramid.
Ketrick reached up and opened the latch. The final floor of the stairwell was located directly in the middle of the pyramid.
Riot had to look back at how far they had come to understand that the stairwell they climbed actually sent them on a diagonal path from the corner bottom floor of the pyramid to the center top of the structure.
When Ketrick opened the hatch, a brilliant light made Riot wince. She looked at Ketrick through tired eyes, managing to raise an eyebrow in his direction. “Look, Muscles, this is cute and all, but a girl’s got to get her sleep if she’s going to take on the bulk of the Karnayer army soon.”
“Trust me,” Ketrick said as he winked. He climbed up the few ladder rungs set into the wall and hoisted himself out of sight.
A moment later, Riot followed, grabbing onto the rungs as she pulled herself to the rooftop. What she saw took her breath away.
Ketrick stood at her side as the two looked out on the Trilord city and the surrounding landscape of Hoydren. They were on the very top of the square pyramid, more than a hundred feet in the air. The square landing pad they stood on was no more than a twenty-by-twenty block of brick. Scorch marks and pockets of debris marked the area like acne on a teenager.
This was the place where Rippa had made her stand inside her mech when the Karnayers made their run on the city.
Twin suns beat down warm rays on Riot, but this high up, a cool breeze ran past her body and played with her short, dark hair.
While Riot was still taking in the scene Ketrick was busy unpacking a large basket of what looked like pillows and blankets.
“I’m not much of a cuddler,” Riot said, moving over to help. “Where did all of this stuff come from, anyway?”
“Perks of being a prince is that you can ask servants to do strange things, like arrange for there to be a canopy and a pile of blankets and pillows on top of the capitol building, and they run to fulfill your request,” Ketrick said as he erected a square awning with white metal poles and a blue fabric top. “And you’re in luck. I’m not a cuddler, either.”
“If we make it out of this thing alive,” Riot said, grabbing a handful of blankets and pillows to place under the shade, “you’re in trouble.”
“When we make it out, you mean.” Ketrick plopped himself down onto the makeshift sleeping area. “You mean when we make it out, and I happen to like trouble.”
Riot lowered her guard, something that was becoming slightly easier with practice. She took a spot next to Ketrick, her left shoulder and arm rested against his right. The blankets underneath her and the pillows against her head nearly swaddled her in an embrace of sleep.
“You did good, kid,” Riot said to Ketrick as she placed her hand in his. “I can’t remember the last time I held
hands with anyone. I feel a little like an awkward teenager right now. Ketrick? Uh, Ketrick?”
Riot looked over to see the Trilord prince fast asleep his mouth wide open and a line of drool rolling out from the corner of his left lip.
Riot couldn’t help grinning to herself. She gave his hand a squeeze, then rolled over onto her side. Sleep came for her instantly, a nightmare only a half-step behind.
91
Riot had a feeling there had been more to her dream leading up to this point, but whatever it had been wasn’t making itself known. All there was now was a nightmare she had relived over and over and over again since it had taken place in college.
It was the moment that had begun her descent into true alcoholism, the moment that had set her on a course that would lead her into the Marines.
She and the man she thought she loved had been drinking. Through his inebriation, it had come out that he had cheated on her. An argument was about to take place, one where Riot would find herself on the ground, stars bursting across her vision after he’d struck her.
Unlike previous nightmares, Riot was actually herself in this dream. He was standing in front of her, spewing out reasons why she wasn’t good enough, calling her names.
It was about to happen.
“Well, I’m done with you,” Riot said as her eyes swam with tears. “We’re over.”
The strike came like it had come a million times before. In her dreams or in her waking memories, it was always the same. A right cross connecting with the left side of her chin. Riot was powerless to do anything to help her former self besides sit in her own body and watch it happen.
She fell backwards, the tang of metallic touching her taste buds as though it were an old friend.
As Riot fell backwards she struck her head on the hard wooden floor of his apartment.
She lay there stunned. She knew what was coming—a thousand apologies and tears from the man she didn’t even really know. He would beg her to take him back, blame the strike on an accident, then the alcohol, and then beg some more.
War Wolves: Boxset 1-3 Page 46