BloodLust (Rise of the Iliri Book 1)

by Auryn Hadley

  "Thank you," a mother said. "Oh thank you. I didn't think an iliri would understand."

  Sal tried not to be offended. "I need to go save my brothers, now. I'll be back, but it may take a bit. Stay inside and keep the kids quiet until either myself or another CFC soldier is back."

  When they nodded, Sal grabbed her staff, heading to the door. She looked at the dead men in the street and sighed. Nothing she could do about that now, but a hostage would have been useful.

  Chapter 49

  Sal closed the door carefully behind her and jogged across the street, making for the smaller house. She never crossed in direct sight of the building, well aware that there should be a couple of snipers waiting to pick her off. She wished she'd brought her armor, knowing leather and cloth would do her little good against four men, but she had enough weapons to make up for it. Her bloodlust begged her for another death.

  Slipping beside the next building, her eyes and ears searched for a sign the enemy realized they were under attack. Only a small gap lay between her and her destination. Sal's mind whirled, trying to think of a way to insure her success. Reaching the door would be easy; it was what came afterward that would be the problem. Breathing deeply, she checked her weapons and knelt, rubbing her hands in the dirt to absorb any sweat that could cause her grip to slip. She started to move when she heard the door.

  Sal threw herself around the corner, pressing against the white wall, her ear swiveling to follow the sounds. A man walked out and stood on the hollow porch, his steps thudding clearly. He stepped again, away from her, and she dared to peek around the edge.

  A shrill whistle pierced the air and the Terran looked up. A dark man waved from the ridgeline. She paused in shock. Dressed in black, a uniform nearly identical to that of the Black Widow Company, with the sun at his back, Zep was begging the man to see him.

  The Terran stared, unable to make out the person, and Sal wasted no more time. She rushed the last steps, pulling her steel blade as she went, and hit him from behind. The staff pressed against his chest, the dagger in her other hand along his neck.

  "Do not struggle," she told him. "Let's go inside, and if you're lucky, you'll live through this."

  "Fuck you, bitch," he said – then struggled.

  Sal growled and jabbed the dagger into his thigh. The point hit bone. "I mean it. I kinda like torturing your kind, but my commander says I shouldn't. I'm trying real hard to obey, get me?"

  He nodded. When Sal pushed him to the door, he limped in the direction she desired.

  "Open it."

  He reached forward and yanked the door open. Sal, pressed tight behind his bulk, forced him inside. Three men waited, armed and ready.

  "Looks like it's a stand-off," the man in the middle said. Sal glanced to his shoulder. He was a Sergeant, so probably the leader.

  She tilted her head. "Yeah, kinda seems that way."

  "So what do we do now? There's four of us against just you."

  "You could give me back my brothers. I mean, if you haven't managed to kill them yet."

  "Na yet," Cyno said softly.

  "Ya feeling it, killer?" she asked, unwilling to take her eyes from the men before her.

  "Yeh, a bit. Arctic's out cold. Still breathin', though."

  "Gotcha." She flicked her eyes across the men before her. "Here's the thing. We're pretty evenly matched right now, right?"

  The Sergeant chuckled. "Sure, if you say so."

  "I mean, I already took out, what... eight of you? I think it was eight. Give or take."

  "Fuck," the man on her right whispered.

  "Yeah." She tossed the staff on the ground and watched it roll against the wall toward Cyno's voice. Then, she grabbed another blade from her waist. "You're pretty good though. I give you credit for that."

  She pressed the dagger into the man's ribs on the other side and shoved her steel blade into the belt at her waist, trading it for another ceramic one.

  "Well, you got balls coming in here," the Sergeant told her.

  Sal chuckled. "I just got lonely back at home. Killer?"

  "I'm watchin."

  "I don't know what it is you think you're up to, bitch, but you make me too nervous and we won't care what happens to poor Lanis."

  Sal chuckled. "See, that's why we're better than you. You know that, right?" She glanced quickly toward Jase and saw him tied to a support beam. His hands were bound together, waist high.

  "Why?" asked the man she held, sounding nervous.

  "Because we'd die to protect our own. We're a family. I'm sorry you never got to know that."

  She shoved him away from her, flicked the ceramic blade toward Jase's waist – careful to make it a slow and predictable arc – and rushed the man to her left. Jase caught the blade as Sal ran the man through. Reaching for her steel blade, she slashed wildly, snarling as she spun. Flesh tore. Unfortunately, it was her own. The Sergeant slashed at her hip and his sword cut deep.

  Jase cut himself free and rushed the man before him, burying the blade deep in his back. He rolled for the staff Sal had tossed to the floor. The blades whirled, cutting the legs out from under her former hostage, then Jase turned to the only man still standing. The Sergeant grinned at the little assassin.

  "It's a strange trade-off you beasts make," he said, tilting his head at Sal's crumpled body.

  She snarled, her anger pushing the pain away, but her damned body wouldn't listen. "He's worth it."

  She and Cyno moved at the same time. Sal surged up from the floor and buried her steel knife in the man's stomach, while Cyno sliced at his chest. They both struck true. The Terran's face looked shocked. His blood smelled so sweet, spilling across the wood floor. Sal sank back to the ground, exhausted, wishing she could just lick it.

  "Fuck, Sal, how bad is it?" Jase asked, rushing to her side.

  "I can't walk." She tried to shrug it off. "The guys are on the ridge. I saw Zep up there."

  He nodded and darted out the door. She heard a shrill whistle, then a long pause. "I got two down. Widows are done," he yelled, then stepped back inside. "They're coming, kitten."

  "K. How's Arctic?"

  "Stoned. He's fine, he just does na know it yet. They were usin' us as bait."

  "K. Then help me sit up."

  Jase grabbed her shoulders, dragging her back toward the wall. "Ya were na supposed ta come fer us, Sal."

  "I couldn't leave you." She looked up at his eyes.

  He glanced down quickly. "Yeh. Did na really expect ta make it outta this one, ya know?" He blushed slightly and shook his head. "Prolly woulda been a bit more careful of what I sent ya."

  "Hey." She waited until he looked at her before she continued. "Fair's fair. You get enough shit off me each time you touch me, right?"

  "Yeh, but I try na ta look too hard."

  Sal nodded and grabbed his hand. "I know. I tried not to look too hard, either. I cleaned it up before I passed it on, too."

  "Thanks." He paused as the sound of horses drifted through the door. "Can we talk about this later?"

  "Yeah," Sal said. "But you should know, I kinda quit the Blades."

  "Is that why yer here?"

  "Was the only way to get Blaec to let me come. He'll probably court-martial me when we get back."

  "Still rough tween ya?"

  "Yeah." Sal looked up as the Black Blades stormed into the little farm house. Blaec entered first, sword drawn, and paused when he saw Cyno sitting so close to her.

  "You both good?"

  "Yeh," Cyno said. Sal just nodded.

  "We lose Arctic?" he asked, his voice too calm.

  Cyno shook his head. "Nah, you woulda felt it, even with the link down. He just needs Shift. They drugged him up pretty good. They're sure he's got somethan to do with how we organize."

  The tension drained from Blaec's body. He wiped at his eyes, but couldn't say anything. The smell of relief wafted from him.

  Shift pushed past the Lieutenant and grabbed Sal. Without a warning, she f
elt her world spin and closed her eyes. Breathing deeply, she waited until the vertigo passed. When she opened them again, Zep knelt before her.

  "You made a mess out there, kid." He was grinning. "Where's your gear?"

  "With Arden, southwest of here, in a cluster of trees."

  "Ok. We found a few bodies up there, too. How many did you take out?"

  "Twelve," Jase said.

  "Ten," Sal corrected. "Jase got two."

  Zep chuckled and patted his friend's shoulder. "She's showing you up, man. Gimme a location when Arctic's up, babe, and I'll find your mare."

  "Thanks, big brother."

  Her wounds gone, she stood and pulled off the weapons belts, then passed them back to their owners. She looked at the faces of each Black Blade around her before walking out of the little house, onto the porch. The small town was still too quiet. She'd remember this place for a long time. Her last mission as a Black Blade. She'd won, but in the end, she'd lost it all.

  "We need to talk, Sal," Blaec said, walking up behind her.

  "You court-martialing me?"

  "No. Never." He leaned beside her. "I'm also not accepting your resignation or approving your transfer."

  "It won't work, Blaec. I can't be a human. I'm no good as a human!"

  "I know."

  "I don't think you do." She turned to face him. "I killed ten men today because I did it my way."

  He nodded. "Jakentron to snipe three, pretty nice ambush for three, and the four in there. That's good work for a Blade."

  "Two in there, two more in the large house, with the civilians. I got the kids out."

  "Doesn't sound very beastly, saving kids."

  "I tried to paint the walls with blood."

  Blaec tried to hide his grin, but failed. "Ok, that's better."

  "I'm serious, Blaec. I won't stop being iliri. I can't. I can't make you happy, no matter how hard I try, so I'm done."

  "No." He turned to her and caught her eyes. "You're not."

  Sal held his gaze, unwilling to look away. He tilted his head slightly, and she set her jaw.

  "Finish it," Jase said, from the door. "Just fucking finish it."

  "I won't back down, Sal," Blaec told her.

  She said nothing. Her resentment from the last few weeks suddenly surged inside her, enhanced by the bloodlust she had yet to slake. Her ears slowly tilted back, moving closer and tighter to her skull until they were pinned. A deep growl rumbled from Blaec and Sal's higher pitched one matched it.

  "They gonna finish it this time?" Arctic asked, staggering to the door.

  "Yeh," Jase said. "Sal's not backing down."

  "She will," Blaec assured them.

  "Make me," she snarled back.

  "Fine."

  For all that Blaec had urged them to be more human, he held the most rage. He rushed at Sal, expecting her to back off. Instead, she lunged at him. Snarling and snapping, he threw her over the porch railing, but she pulled him with her. Together, they crashed into the dirt, hard. Blaec tried to pin her to the ground, but she writhed and slipped from his grasp, only to come at him again.

  She sank her teeth into his shoulder, trying to hold him, but he was stronger. Blaec threw her off, her teeth tearing gouges in his flesh, the sound of his shirt tearing audible even over their snarls. She tried again. Blaec grabbed her shoulders and shoved her to the ground, pinning her beneath him. Sal snapped at him but he held her too well. Her teeth found nothing. Unable to do anything else, she stared at his eyes, growling.

  "Finish it," Arctic said softly. Beside him, the entire pack watched. This could change their future.

  With his hands holding her, unable to move them without releasing her, Blaec only had one option left. He darted forward, avoiding her bites, and pressed his teeth against the side of Sal's neck, constantly increasing the pressure. She struggled again and tried to throw him off, but he only bit harder. When his teeth broke her skin, her growl stopped and a soft moan escaped. Sal closed her eyes and sucked in a long deep breath.

  "I submit," she whispered.

  Blaec kissed her neck gently, his way of easing the damage he'd done, then said, "You're not leaving the Blades, Sal."

  "I understand."

  "You're not leaving me, either," he told her. Leaning back, he watched her reaction.

  Her eyes widened and met his for a second, before dropping to his mouth. She nodded. "Fine, but I won't be your human."

  "No. You can't be, love. I may outrank you, but that doesn't mean I was right, ok?"

  She nodded again.

  "I told them, Sal. I told Command that the Black Blades are all iliri. I fucked up back in the caverns, and you were right, but I'm still in charge."

  A smile made its way to her mouth. "We gonna show them what it means to be iliri?"

  "Yeah. I think you kinda just did. We good?"

  Sal nodded. "Yes, sir. We're good."

  "I do love you, Sal."

  Behind him, Jase slipped back into the house. He couldn't bear to hear the words she said next.

  "I know, Blaec. I will never stop loving you. I can't."

  "Iliri never do," Jase whispered.

  Epilogue

  Blaec tapped softly at General Sturmgren's door. He glanced down at his chest and brushed away a few specks of dust while he listened to the footsteps cross the room inside. The handle turned and the door opened. Ran Sturmgren waited on the other side, his face stoic.

  "My orders were to report when the mission was complete, sir?"

  "Yeah," Ran said. "Come in, Lieutenant."

  He opened the door wider, and Blaec walked in proudly, well aware of the mess he'd left for the General to clean up.

  "Take a seat." Ran gestured at a pair of chairs before his large wooden desk.

  "Thank you, sir."

  The General walked behind him, moving to the shelf at the side. He grabbed two glasses and a bottle of dark amber liquid before easing himself into the padded chair behind the desk. Without a word, he pulled the stopper, and poured.

  "Casualties?" he asked.

  "No, sir. Both of my men were recovered with minimal injuries."

  "Happens a lot to the Blades, doesn't it." Ran didn't give Blaec time to answer before continuing. "You caused a stir before you left, Lieutenant."

  "Yes, sir."

  "We couldn't get the units together, either. We're going to miss the delivery."

  Blaec smiled. "We brought back a prisoner, sir. Pretty sure we can figure out the route it'll be taking."

  Ran smiled. "Yeah, that'll get you out of a lot of shit. How long will it take?"

  "Couple of days at most."

  "K," Ran said nodding. "Do it."

  "Yes, sir," Blaec answered, reaching out for Arctic. We got the go. Find out everything that fucker knows.

  "So..." The General sighed, pushing the glass across the desk to rest beside Blaec's hand. "All of them?"

  "Iliri? Zep's human."

  He chuckled and nodded his head. "And it's pretty well known that he's an iliri lover. What about you, Blaec?"

  "Sir?"

  Ran waved that away. "I said Blaec, so you say Ran. That's how this works between us, remember?"

  "Yeah. I don't understand your question, though."

  "You an iliri lover, too?"

  Blaec grinned and shook his head. "Take off the lover part and you got it, Ran."

  Ran's eyebrows shot up. "Iliri? Really? But your coloring is normal."

  "Yeah, half. My amma was pure."

  "Never would have guessed."

  "Most don't, that's how we pulled it off so long. I immigrated from Unav when I was sixteen, when the war started."

  "So now that the secret's out, what are we going to do about it?"

  Blaec took a long sip and sighed at the taste of the quality whiskey. "Not a damned thing."

  "It's gonna spread pretty damned fast. You know that, right?"

  "Yeah. I'm counting on it."

  "So why now? After nine years, w
hy'd you decide to tell us now?" The General lifted his own glass and took a swallow, then a second, before looking back at his friend.

  "Because I have the right group. I thought we were good before, but now? Nothing can stop us. It's time the iliri start to get a little respect, and I've got the soldiers to do it."

  "Ah." He leaned back toward the table. "It's the girl, isn't it."

  "Corporal Salryc Luxx," Blaec corrected. "She's not just 'the girl.'"

  "Yeah. I think you normally call her Sal?"

  Blaec nodded, wondering where Ran was going with this. The General was rarely curious without a good reason. "Yeah. She's my newest."

  "Changed things up having a pure-bred around?"

  "A bit."

  "You gonna be able to control her?"

  Blaec couldn't hide the smile. Sal had submitted to him completely in Yager's Crossing and then again when they made it back. Visions of her pale form sprawled in his bed came to mind when he thought of it, but all he said was, "I can control her."

  "You know about the females, I assume? I hear they get pretty headstrong."

  "They do."

  "You sleeping with her?" Ran pointed at the drink in Blaec's hand.

  Blaec tilted his head and met his eyes. "You do realize that would be a breach of military protocol, right, General?"

  "I do. Do you, Lieutenant?"

  "Oh, I'm well aware of it."

  Ran took another drink, this time a long one. "Just so we're on the same page, then. We both know that's the story that's going to start spreading."

  "It started as soon as she was promoted, actually."

  "Wait." Ran looked at Blaec with confusion on his face. "Which are we talking about, this time?"

  "Just the rumours," Blaec said, laughing. "You're slacking, you realize that, right?"

  "Yeah. Comes with the age. That, and I always had trouble keeping up with the way iliri minds work. Everything makes a lot more sense now, though. I wish you'd told me sooner, but I get it."

  "I was worried we'd end up disbanded if it got out, truth be told."

  "So what changed?"

  Blaec tossed back the last of his drink and rested his elbows on the table. "The girl."