Twist of Fate (Veredian Chronicles Book 4)

by Regine Abel

  “What?” Kamala and Jezaya both exclaimed.

  “Long story,” I said. “Her sire should be somewhere here. Have all Guldan corpses and prisoners removed. We're on our way to the command center. While the bastard was abusive to her, she still doesn’t need to see him like that.”

  “Acknowledged,” they both answered.

  “Kamala, what’s the deal with the Korlethean?”

  “She doesn’t want to come with us and demands to remain here to await retrieval by her people.”

  “Khel will want to talk to her.”

  “She’s aware but flat-out refused,” Kamala responded, sounding frustrated. “She says another will assist with the Titans.”

  “The what?”

  Kamala chuckled. “Yeah, get here. You’ll want to hear this.”

  I groaned in annoyance. “Fine. How are the Xelixians, Jez?”

  “Same as last time. Those who can walk are already on their way to the shuttles. The others, we’re preparing for transport.”

  “Good. Let me know if there are any problems. Lee out.”

  I terminated the communication as we entered the last stretch to the command center. The door slid open on our approach. My eyes zeroed in on the Korlethean. I had never seen a female before. Tall, lithe, pointy chin and ears, long, straight hair down to her waist, she reminded me of the elves of the Terran folklore. Well, she would if not for a golden-brown skin a couple of shades darker than my own.

  She wore the typical light beige slave dress that barely covered her thighs. Memories of the itchy fabric against my skin knotted my stomach. Her forest green gaze lingered on Ghan and Lenora before settling on me. Its intensity unsettled me. I couldn’t tell if her smile was amused or mocking. Either way, she seemed pleased with herself.

  “Admiral Lee,” she said, “my name is Venya Solius. I am pleased to finally meet Maheva’s powerful, youngest daughter.”

  My brain froze. My Tuurean and Xelixian allies also stiffened at her word.

  How in Gharah’s name does she know?

  Stalling for time to gather my thoughts, I played dumb.

  “What did you say?” I asked.

  Her expression hardened, and she leveled me with a cold stare.

  “Let’s not play games, Aleina Fein. I’m a Korlethean Oracle. I saw this future and the alternate outcomes over a decade ago when your Sisters first rescued you.” She brushed her long hair over her shoulder with the back of her hand before looking at my fellow Tuureans. “The Quorum knew about the real identity of the Tuureans within weeks of the birth of Eryon Valis’ daughter. She wasn’t supposed to live. Her father stopped the royal assassin.”

  Ghan’s threatening growl echoed the one wanting to rise from my own throat. Venya cast a superior glance at my mate, seemingly unimpressed.

  “Calm down, Xelixian. She lives, does she not? The window for that has passed. The Fates have spoken, and she’s already birthed Titans.”

  What?

  This female made no sense.

  “What in Gharah’s name are you talking about? What Titans? And why would the Korlethean government wish harm to Amalia?” I asked.

  “The Titans are the abominations she gave birth to. Especially that boy,” she said through gritted teeth. “They should have been put down.”

  Blind fury swept over me. I pulled out my sword, burning with the need to wipe that obnoxious expression off that wretch’s face. How dare she threaten my niece’s offspring?

  Kamala and Sohr held me back. Ghan put down Lorena and pushed her behind him before taking a menacing step toward the Korlethean.

  Heedless of how her words affected us, she pushed on relentlessly.

  “You have no idea what those children are capable of. The destruction they could bring about. But the damage is done. The day Xevius chose to let your sister live to birth Amalia changed the course of history. For all of our sakes, I hope you all make the right decisions while raising those children and the other hundreds like them to come.”

  My mind reeled at the implications of her words. Both Amalia and Khel had expressed concerns about the violent nature of their oldest child. What made the Korletheans so afraid that they’d tried to assassinate my sister?

  “So why not share what you know?” Ghan growled. “We’ve tried in vain to reach out to your people. If…”

  “We will not,” Venya interrupted, her tone final. “The Korlethean Empire is on the verge of civil war over the Praghan children and now the Dervhens.”

  Flabbergasted, we all exchanged disbelieving looks. As Amalia would say, what the actual fuck was going on?

  Venya heaved a loud sigh and lost her aggressive stance.

  “Look, I do not hate you, or Amalia’s offspring. I just hate that things have come to this. Be grateful that no Korlethean has accepted your invitation. The children wouldn’t be safe, especially the boy.”

  “But why him?” I asked, confused and frustrated.

  “He’s the apex alpha. The power he will yield…”

  She shuddered, a haunted look on her face.

  “The boy is already building his army. See that you guide him well. Three paths I have foreseen. If you lead him down the right path, then Eryon Valis’ bloodline will rectify all the wrongs that brought our three species to their knees. Let the boy follow one of the other two paths and the world as we know it will cease to exist.”

  I knew better than to challenge the visions of an Oracle. At least, with the female Korlethean seers, the future wasn’t set in stone. They saw possible futures and our choices determined which one would come to pass. But with male Korlethean seers, usually called Fates, whatever future they saw was unavoidable. Eryon Valis, Amalia’s father, was one of the Fates.

  “Be patient. Aid will arrive soon enough. Do not seek out Korletheans, let them come to you. The trustworthy ones will be easy to recognize. In the meantime, you should ask Amalia to take a second look at Gruuk’s medallion.”

  My stomach dropped. I still struggled with the notion that Varrek’s father, our former master, might have loved my mother and my niece. Yet, the image on the medallion of both of them seemed to support that theory, not to mention the privileged treatment they’d received. That thought made me nauseous. Gruuk was a monster. I didn’t want to hear anything to the contrary.

  “Why? Varrek deleted anything of value from it.”

  “Are you sure?” she asked, smirking.

  “Enough with the mind games,” Ghan snapped. “If you have something to say, spill it.”

  “I have spoken my piece. Take another look at the medallion or don’t. It’s your future after all,” she said with a haughty look.

  That female seriously rubbed me the wrong way, and I was ready to be rid of her presence.

  “Now, if you would be so kind, I would appreciate it if you would send out a signal to my people to come and fetch me.”

  I turned toward Ghan. His barely perceptible nod confirmed he didn’t wish to detain her. Considering the hostility she expressed toward the children, the Praghans wouldn’t want her anywhere near their offspring. I gestured at Kamala to let her know she could proceed.

  While my younger sibling executed my orders, Sohr informed us that they had downloaded all the relevant information from the Guldans’ systems.

  “Farewell then, Oracle,” I told Venya once Kamala confirmed the distress call had been sent out and received. “I trust you won’t mind waiting on your own.”

  “Not in the least, Admiral,” she said with that smugness that set my teeth on edge. “One last thing, you will soon have a most unexpected encounter. When you do, it might be wise to remember the Veredian motto.”

  “And what would that be?” I asked, intrigued.

  “Unconditional love and devotion between sisters.”

  Although she couldn’t see me blinking, her taunting smile broadened.

  Goddess, give me the patience…

  “Goodbye Admiral. Until next we meet.”

  CHAP
TER 10

  Ghan

  The twenty-minute flight back to the Tempest was unusually tense. As soon as we boarded the shuttle, Lee sent a secured message to Amalia about the medallion. It would take at least an hour for the message to reach her from such a distance. Neither Kamala nor Lee lowered their armor. They settled instead into a frigid silence. Sohr cast a number of confused looks at Kamala who ignored him. I had a pretty good idea of the source of their anger and dreaded the confrontation that would follow.

  Lee requested an all-hands meeting onboard the Tempest of both Xelixian and Tuurean warriors which reinforced my suspicions.

  I distracted myself from the impending unpleasantness by entertaining Lenora. Such a lovely little girl. My protective instincts had surged, roaring to the fore the moment I saw her standing fearfully near the door. Her visible trauma at being a hybrid resonated with me on a deep level. I understood too well feeling like a freak, not belonging with the others. She was unique and beautiful, like my little Zhara. When I offered myself as her protector, I meant it. While she would be put with the other Veredian girls, I would request permission to visit her frequently. At her age, I would have given anything to have someone who cared for me as I was and not just because it was their duty.

  Lenora’s distress when I handed her over to one of the caregivers prompted me to give her a personal com so she could reach me any time she felt in danger or simply needed to talk to me.

  With the three Guldan survivors properly tucked away in the brig, the freed Xelixian captives spread between the Xelixian and Tuurean ships for medical care, and the Veredians under observation on the Tempest, we made our way to the meeting hall. A few Tuureans remained near the newly arrived Veredians in case some of them proved to be conditioned drones while waiting to be examined. So far, there were no indications any of them had been brainwashed.

  A wave of pride surged through me as I entered the meeting room. Bare of any furniture, aside from the dais and podium at the far end of the room, the large space almost appeared small, filled with the tight ranks of the First Division warriors on the right side of the aisle, and the Tuureans on the left. Despite the recent battle, our troops looked polished, disciplined, and like Amalia loved to say, totally badass.

  Without sparing me a word or a glance, Lee climbed the dais and stood at the podium. Kamala stood next to the dais, in front of the Tuurean troops. Imitating her, Sohr and I didn’t climb the dais, but stayed beside it, in front of our Xelixian warriors. Lee and Kamala finally dropped their armor. Seconds later, the rest of the Tuureans followed suit.

  Sohr cracked his neck and rolled his shoulders before frowning at Kamala, whose eyes were throwing daggers at him.

  I groaned inwardly as Lee began to speak.

  “In the past three years, the alliance between Xelixians and Tuureans has made us the most powerful military force in the known galaxy.” She faced the First Division, her gaze roaming over my warriors. “In that time, you have not only been our closest and most loyal allies, you have become our friends, our brothers,” she glanced at me, “our mates.”

  My chest swelled to be thus claimed. It surprised me that I should take such pride in the furtive, envious, or awed glances of my warriors.

  “But if you ever again pull the shit you pulled today, I will personally fuck you up.”

  All eyes snapped back to Aleina, mouths gaped, and a couple of gasps rose from the ranks. My own jaw dropped, staring at my mate. Lee didn’t curse. In fact, the only time I’d ever heard her say ‘fuck’ was in Varrek’s lab when Amalia’s attempt to disable the self-destruct sequence had accelerated it instead.

  “Since the beginning of this alliance, we have fought side by side as equal partners, perfect teamwork that has guaranteed minimal injuries and casualties among our ranks. Today, you all went into some ridiculous protector mode,” she snapped, slamming her hand on top of the podium’s surface. “What you did endangered us, endangered you, and especially endangered the whole mission.”

  I barely repressed a flinch. The truth of her words couldn’t be denied. Every time I’d seen a Guldan charge my mate, my protective instincts had demanded I eliminate the threat. The way I stepped in front of her without warning, she could have badly hurt me instead. Had a warrior behaved with me the way I did with her, I’d have beaten him to a pulp to teach him better.

  Cheeks and ears burning with shame, I forced a neutral expression on my face.

  “I realize you’re still reeling from discovering the Tuureans aren’t machines and are all females of flesh and blood, but that knowledge doesn’t suddenly transform us into helpless creatures.” She pointed an angry finger at her sister. “Kamala has kicked every last one of your asses for months teaching you our combat techniques. Not a single one of you managed to defeat her in a fair fight. Not. One.”

  She gripped the edges of the podium and leveled the First Division with a hard glare.

  “You may be bigger and stronger but having a cock doesn’t make you better.”

  This time, I couldn’t help cringing. My warriors shifted uncomfortably, unable to withstand Lee’s angry gaze.

  “Before our alliance, you wouldn’t have dared to face off against the Tuurean army because you knew you couldn’t win. In the past three years, we’ve only gotten stronger. Even without their celesium armor, my girls can mop the floor with you. Skill has nothing to do with brute force, so don’t you dare disrespect us like that again.”

  Lee straightened and walked around the podium to stand before it. Hands clasped behind her back, she lifted a chin defiantly at the First Division. I forced my gaze to remain locked on her face, rather than let it wander down to the tight black breast band flattening her chest, the naked flesh of her muscular stomach I had explored at length last night with my tongue, or her long legs made even longer by the skin-tight shorts that fell mid-thigh.

  “Get your shit together. As much as we value your presence, if you can’t keep your protective instincts in check, then we’ll do without you, like we did before.”

  Without another word, or even a glance my way, Lee stormed out, Kamala on her heels, then the rest of the Tuureans following in their wake. All eyes of the First Division turned towards me.

  Sohr cracked his neck again. “Wow. I haven’t gotten spanked so hard since I was a teenager. That’s going to sting for a while.”

  “How are we supposed to just turn off our protective nature when our females are in danger?” Yhul asked.

  Our females…

  That was indeed how Xelixians, and especially the First Division, had come to think of Veredians. Our females to protect whether as sisters, mothers, daughters, and maybe even one day as mates.

  “It’s been ingrained in us since birth,” Phil added. “Even you couldn’t help it!”

  I pursed my lips, not needing a reminder of my own failure.

  Sohr chuckled. “No kidding! You too?”

  I gave him a sideways glance, not feeling amused in the least.

  His grin broadened. “Oh, you’re going to have fun tonight!”

  Giving him a haughty sniff, I turned towards my warriors and gave them a hard stare.

  “You’ve heard the Admiral. You’ve got your marching orders so see that you get it done. Fuck up this alliance and be ready to face Khel’s wrath.”

  The warriors squirmed, an uneasy expression on their faces.

  I’m right there with you all.

  But I couldn’t show that.

  “Dismissed,” I said, heading toward the door to catch up with my mate.

  I found Kamala in Aleina’s quarters. To my surprise, and relief, although expectant, their eyes held no aggression. Kamala rose from the seat in the reading area, hugged her sister, and gave me a nod on her way out.

  Aleina and I stared at each other in silence for a couple of minutes after the door closed behind Kamala. I hated that we were already having a fight. Especially one of my own making.

  “I meant no disrespect,” I said a
t last.

  Her features softened. “I know.”

  A heavy sigh escaped me.

  She smiled and extended a hand toward me. “Come.”

  I grabbed her hand and let her lead me to one of the armchairs of the reading nook. Not happy about the distance that would put between us, I bit back the argument rising on my tongue and sat down. Rather than take the chair across from me, Aleina settled on my lap. Despite the absence of playfulness on her expression, that she chose such physical proximity between us reassured me that she, too, wanted a peaceful resolution.

  My fingers combed through her light brown hair while I gathered my thoughts. Aleina didn’t lean into the touch but also didn’t pull away from it.

  “My head understands and agrees with everything you said, but my heart and my instincts scream for me to do the exact opposite.”

  “Then you will need to keep them in check.”

  I sighed. “It’s not that easy, Aleina.”

  “I didn’t say it was, but you still need to do it.”

  The finality of her tone tore an aggravated groan out of me.

  “Don’t you growl at me, Ghan Delphin.”

  “Then don’t make me growl, female.”

  She raised an eyebrow at me, daring me to push her. I backed down, knowing when to pick my battles.

  “Things aren’t black-and-white, Aleina. You need to meet us halfway.”

  “This isn’t negotiable,” she argued, her tone hardening.

  “I understand, but you can’t expect us to just flip a switch and change things overnight.”

  “You and your males changed things overnight. Our collaboration was just fine before.”

  “No, my love. YOU changed everything. Your Sisters and you spent the past three years convincing us you were one thing. Now that we’ve found out it was all a lie, you need to give us time to adjust to the new reality.”

  She pinched her lips, reflecting on my words before answering. I loved that about my female. No matter how emotionally invested she was in a situation, she could take a step back and rationalize it, no matter how unpleasant the outcome. Valena challenging Haven had been the first instance I had truly witnessed Lee struggle between personal desires and hard facts.