by Theresa Kay
“So askari is the name of your enhancement, not a title?”
“It is both,” she says simply.
I go back over my altercation with the two soldiers in the woods. I’d always thought my more than decent fighting capabilities were more instinct than anything, but now I have a sneaking suspicion I can add yet another E’rikon enhancement to my already extensive list of them. It would certainly explain a lot.
And we’re back to silence. Maybe I should have sent Miri to cover our tracks instead of Kai.
“The female,” says Miri in perhaps the softest voice I’ve ever heard from her. “She was your friend. I am sorry.”
“Thanks.” This is not what I wanted to talk about.
“She died with honor.”
“Um, I guess.” The whole E’rikon honor thing and their weird customs and formalities are still confusing to me. I don’t know if I’ll ever understand all the intricacies—and I don’t know if I want to. But what if I don’t have a choice? I don’t see Lir voluntarily stepping away from his… chosen? appointed?… role with the E’rikon. Not if he can help it.
And that’s another thing I don’t want to think about right now. The silence was better, but it’s too late. Now she won’t shut up.
“I apologize for my treatment of you before. It is clear you care a great deal for your people, your friends. I—”
“Can we not do this right now? I appreciate your apology, but I need to work on either figuring out what’s next or ignoring all the awful crap that just happened. Or both.” I sigh. “Sorry. It’s all…” I trail off, shaking my head.
“I understand.”
We spend the rest of the walk in a silence that’s at least comfortable, if not companionable.
When at last we get back to the factory where the others are holed up, we find two of Gavin’s men leaning against the wall near the back door. Before either of them can say anything, Lir and Rym run out of the building.
Lir rushes right to me and pulls me into a hug. I let myself bury my face in the crook of his neck and bask in his closeness and his steadiness for a second before looking over his shoulder at Rym.
Alarm is flashing over Rym’s face as he takes in me, Miri, and the glaring absence of Kai.
“He’s not far behind,” I say quickly. “Just covering our tracks.”
Lir releases me, steps back, and runs a hand over my cheek. “Are you injured?”
I shake my head. “The blood’s not mine. I—”
Gavin’s two men suddenly run past me, and I spin on my heel to follow their path. Two forms are limping out of the woods. Stu and Harrison. Harrison has blood on his temple and is leaning heavily on Stu for support, but they’re both upright. And alive.
As they draw closer, Stu’s eyes zero in on me, and a crease forms between his brows. “Emily hasn’t made it yet?” He shakes his head softly. “No, she wouldn’t have. She has Ethan with her. He probably slowed her down. We might want to head back out and…” His voice trails off as he takes in my expression. “Jax?”
I take a deep breath and step forward to place a hand on his arm. “Emily’s…” My face turns to the ground. “She’s gone.”
Stu staggers back a step, taking Harrison with him. “Gone? What do you mean, ‘gone’? And where the hell is Ethan?”
Gavin’s men sling Harrison’s arms around their shoulders, taking the burden away from Stu.
“Carter and his soldiers caught up with them. Emily… one of the soldiers…” I shake my head and look away.
Lir’s steady presence beside me, his hand on the small on my back, and the gentle wash of empathy flowing from the bond are the only things keeping the tears away, but the rest of the words are a lump of glue in my throat, refusing to exit.
Stu gets it anyway. The color drains from his face, and he swallows audibly. “And Ethan?” he asks in a hoarse voice, hope and anguish lining his words.
“Jastren.”
The muscles in his jaw twitch, and rage washes away the glassiness in his eyes. “What’s the plan?”
I shoot him a grim smile as Rym steps up beside me. “We get him back.”
A curt nod from Stu. “Just tell me what you need from me.”
I drag a hand over my face. I’ve been awake for something like twenty-four hours, and the magnitude of everything I’m facing is wearing away what’s left of my ability to think straight. What do I need from him? What is my plan? Hell, where are we supposed to be going? Bridgelake? The city? Back to the base? The majority of Jastren’s plans are still a mystery to me, including where his next stop is going to be.
You’re not alone in this. Lir wraps an arm around my waist, pulls me into his side, and presses his lips to my temple. We’ll figure it out.
My eyes slide closed of their own accord, and I lean into him. Let’s go in, get everyone together, and figure out what it is we’re doing.
He leads me into the building, and the others follow behind.
Gavin’s sitting against the wall inside the doorway. He hops to his feet as we enter, his eyes scanning over the faces filing in behind me and Lir. Stark relief washes over his features when Patrick walks in with a limping Harrison hanging off his shoulders. His relief is short-lived, though, as he scans our group again. “Miss Fletcher? The child?”
No words at all are coming to me this time, so I shake my head and let him think what he will for right now.
“Emily’s… dead,” says Stu in a flat but hesitant voice—as if he’s trying out the words to see if they fit. “The erk bastard took Ethan.”
Gavin’s eyes go wide for a second, then he shuts it down and wipes his face clean of any emotion at all. He’s back into efficient commander mode. “Set Holmes down over here so his injuries can be assessed, then gather the rest of the men. We should get started on a retrieval plan.”
“Wait a second,” I say. “We don’t know where Jastren is taking Ethan. Or where he’s stashed the E’rikon children. How can we make a plan without knowing where to go?”
“We gather as much information as possible and make deductions from there,” Gavin says. “If we can figure out the why of Jastren’s actions, we may be able to figure out what his next move will be. It’s the best we can do.”
“I will fetch my father,” says Rym, tension filling his voice. “He could be useful since he… worked for Jastren for a while.” He disappears into the shadows across the room.
Gavin turns to Lir. “From what I’ve heard, I’m not certain how much I trust Vitrad. I’m depending on you to point out anything he says that may be… biased toward his interests rather than the E’rikon as a whole.”
“I’m happy to help however necessary,” Lir replies. He pauses. “Perhaps we could—”
“Lir, Jax, I need you to come with me,” says Rym in a frantic voice as he runs up next to his cousin. “Trel’s in labor and my father is acting a bit… irrational about it. Maybe one of you could talk some sense into him?”
LIR AND I FOLLOW RYM across the building to a small office tucked into the corner. Vitrad, Kai, and Miri are all standing outside the door. Vitrad’s agitation is obvious, and the Vi’askari have assumed a protective stance in front of the doorway.
Rym gives his father a side-eyed glance and looks back at me with exasperation. He won’t let anyone in there.
I study Vitrad’s face. His expression is flat, but there’s a raging terror in his eyes, and his hands are curled into fists. The two Vi’askari flanking him are darting glances around the room as if daring anyone to try to get past them.
“Uncle, you need to allow others in to help her. She—”
Vitrad springs forward, grabbing my upper arms. “You. You help her. Help my daughter.” Why in the world would he ask this of me? I have never seen him this… frantic. I don’t have a chance to respond before his voice drops into a pleading whisper. “Please. Please help her. I cannot lose her too.”
I gently tug out of his hold and place one of my hands on his shoulder. “I
don’t know how to help Trel, but there are people here who do. You need to let them by.”
His upper lip curls. “They are humans.”
I fight the urge to roll my eyes. He’s only lashing out because he’s scared for Trel. Antagonizing him will only make it worse, so placating him it is. I speak slowly and carefully. “Yes, they are humans, but I will vouch for them. I will make sure nothing happens to Trel.”
He nods absentmindedly. “Yes. You can keep her safe.”
“Rym, go gather… the people who would be experienced in this kind of thing,” I say, still looking at Vitrad.
And who exactly would that be? Rym asks.
Good question. Ask Gavin. He’ll know. And get my dad. He’s not… this kind of doctor, but he knows biology.
Rym gives me a mock salute with two fingers and heads back toward Gavin while I continue to try to calm Vitrad. “Why don’t we go see how things are coming along?” I glance back at Lir and tilt my head toward the office. You too.
Some of the fear has left Vitrad, but none of the suspicion, and now it’s morphing into anger. He glares at Lir. “You deserted her when she most needed you. What makes you think I would let you anywhere near her for this?”
Lir stiffens, and when he speaks his voice is flat and cold. “It is not your decision. I have made my amends with Trel. I do not need to make them with you.”
Vitrad puffs out his chest, and a familiar arrogant set returns to his shoulders. He doesn’t say anything, but as he disappears through the doorway into the office, the two Vi’askari move to block Lir from following.
Really? Vitrad’s going to pull this macho crap now? Irritation simmers in my stomach. It only gets worse when I hear a pained noise from inside the office.
“Move. Aside,” I say in a low voice.
Kai averts his eyes, and Miri simply raises her chin. And here I thought she and I had a sort of bonding moment back there in the woods.
“Look, I understand you two have made some sort of oath, and—”
Lir interrupts before I can finish my thought. And if I thought his voice was cold before, it’s nothing compared to this. “They are his pets,” he says with a sneer. “They follow orders. No matter what those orders may be.” He stalks forward until he’s standing directly in front of Kai. “They are too weak to disobey, choosing to look away instead.”
I angle myself between Lir and Kai, turning my gaze to meet Lir’s. I know you’re angry, and you have every right to be, but taking your anger at your uncle out on—
“My anger at my uncle? Oh, no, this is more than that.” He curls his hands into fists. “After everything they let him do, every black eye, every bloody nose, now they keep me from my best friend, my family? It—”
“Lir. Stop.” Rym’s voice. “He did what he could.”
Who’s he talking about? Kai?
Lir’s face is blank, but his composure is beginning to crack, a pained rage lurking behind his eyes. “You would defend him? He stood by and did nothing when your father beat me.” His eyes track to Miri. “They all did.”
“He didn’t have a choice!” Rym yells. “You know the Vi’askari cannot violate the blood oath. You know what could happen.”
Lir spins on his cousin. “And that’s supposed to make it acceptable? That’s supposed to—”
“He told me, you bloody bastard!” Rym’s nostrils flare. “Kai is how I knew where you were, how I knew I needed to come and get you out of that place. I’m sorry I couldn’t do more. I’m sorry I couldn’t stop him. I’m sorry, okay?” His chest is rising and falling as he stares at Lir with gritted teeth. He closes his eyes and turns his face away. “I’m sorry.” Softer this time.
Eyes wide, Lir stands there without saying anything. Turmoil is flowing through him, but none of it shows on his face. He opens his mouth, then presses his lips together. His anger is warring with his guilt, and uncertainty rolls across the bond.
I’m pretty conflicted myself. On one hand, Lir is my bondmate, and I love him. On the other… Rym has been a friend to me, and I know about the history between them. He doesn’t deserve Lir’s anger. At all.
“Stop.” I place a hand on Lir’s arm. “Rym is your family too, and he’s been through enough.”
Those wide green-gold eyes turn to me, filled with shock… and hurt. And I have not?
I meet his gaze. That’s not fair and you know it. This isn’t a competition over who’s had it worse or who’s screwed up the most. You don’t know the whole story. I do, and I’m telling you to back off a little.
Rym steps between us. “I don’t want to cause any arguments. It’s fine.”
“No,” I say, my eyes still firmly focused on Lir. “It’s not. He’s being unreasonable, and he knows it.”
Lir holds my gaze for a second, and I can feel it when guilt wins, when the pride he holds on to so tightly falters, when he acknowledges I’m right.
“Sorry,” he says, running a hand over his face. “Things are…” He sighs and glances at Rym. “I am under a lot of stress, and I should not have taken it out on you.” He nods toward the Vi’askari. “Any of you.”
Miri jerks up her chin, but Kai’s gaze is still directed at the ground. “If there had been anything…” He shakes his head.
Rym grasps his upper arm. “You did all you could.”
Golden eyes meet pale blue in an intense look, one that prevents any further conversation on the subject. My heart hurts for the two of them, separated by idiocy and elitism, but still forced to be around one another.
A throat clears, and Gavin walks up with Bree beside him.
“Has he consented to letting someone in to help?” Gavin asks.
“You’ll be let in,” I say, eyeing Kai and Miri. “Right, guys?”
The two Vi’askari give curt nods and step aside. Miri motions for us to enter with a sweep of her hand.
Bree walks past without giving the Vi’askari a second glance, carrying an armload of blankets and towels. I walk in behind her, not caring to leave her to face Vitrad alone. Not in the state he’s currently in. Gavin, Lir, and Rym follow.
Trel’s propped up on a pallet of blankets. A strained smile lines her face. Vitrad is kneeling beside her holding her hand; he appears to have calmed down a bit. From their facial expressions, it looks like they’re having a mental chat. They both look up in surprise as Bree and I move closer.
Bree stops a few feet away and raises an eyebrow at me.
“Trel, this is Bree,” I say. “Bree, this is Trel.”
The slight narrowing of Trel’s eyes is the only outward sign of her wariness. “Hello,” she says.
“It’s nice to meet you,” says Bree. “I… uh… I’m not a doctor, but I’ve helped out at the infirmary for a few years now and, well…” She gestures at her own stomach. “I can understand what you’re going through.”
Trel’s face is impassive, but her lips twitch upward.
Gavin steps up beside me and inclines his head toward Trel and her father. “I have had extensive emergency medical training, but I thought you might prefer a female attendant. I’ll be here in case…”
Vitrad goes pale, and that crazed look creeps into his eyes again. I move toward him quickly and pat him on the shoulder. “Everything’s going to be fine.”
He unexpectedly places a hand over mine and squeezes gently. “Thank you.” It takes all my willpower not to yank my hand away.
Rym drops to the floor on the other side of his sister. He waggles his eyebrows. “You ready to make me an uncle?”
Trel smiles, but doesn’t laugh. She goes still when Lir steps closer, her eyes darting from him to her father. She finally tilts her head toward Rym, and Lir walks to that side of her. He kneels and gives her a sad half smile.
“He would have appreciated your presence,” Trel says softly. “Just as I do.”
Lir lowers his chin to his chest and takes a deep breath. “Thank you.”
Bree claps her hands. “Okay, all non-essentials ne
ed to get out of here.” She looks at Trel. “I’m gonna need room, and so will you. How about you pick one person to stay with you?”
A stricken expression crosses Trel’s face, and I can see the indecision there. Of the three men around her, she has no idea who to pick: her brother, her father, or her best friend.
Vitrad should stay. I hate to say it, but he needs something to keep him occupied.
I mean for the message to go to both Lir and Rym, but only Lir looks up. He grips his cousin by the arm and tilts his head toward the tunnel. Rym’s eyes slide to his father for a second, then he nods and the two boys shuffle out of the chamber.
Vitrad’s attention never leaves his daughter’s face.
“You’re looking a little pale there, Jax.” Gavin leans against the wall near me as Bree approaches Trel. “You know you don’t have to stay. Nothing’s going to happen here for a while, and I can help Bree if she needs it.”
“Oh thank God,” I mutter.
Gavin snorts. “Go on, get out of here. We’ve got it under control. Your dad’s on standby. You can go wait with him and Lir.”
He doesn’t need to say it twice. I scurry out the door as Trel lets out another pained moan.
SOMETHING NUDGES MY LEG, AND I jerk out of an exhausted half-asleep state. Lir’s chest is warm against my back, his arms draped loosely around my waist, and he hasn’t so much as twitched. I crack my eyes open to find Bree standing over us.
“She’s here. A healthy baby girl… E’rikon… whatever.” Bree smiles and lifts her chin toward Lir. “Mom’s asking for him.”
“Yeah. Sure,” I say. “Be there in a sec.”
She returns to the office, and I blink my eyes a few times and stretch my arms over my head before gently shaking Lir’s shoulder. “Hey… Trel’s asking for you. The baby’s here.”
He blinks open sleep-fogged eyes. His eyebrow arches upward. “Healthy?” he asks in a raspy voice.
I nod.
He releases a breath. “Thank the stars.”
We both maneuver to our feet, him wincing and arching his back for a few seconds once he’s up. The eyebrow rises again, and he holds a hand out to me. “Are you coming?”