Blood Love (God Wars, #4)

by Connie Suttle

"Can Larentii see gates—similar to the ones the Elemaiya used to travel through?" Hank asked.

  "Of course, but they are such an inelegant method of traveling," Kal said. "We knew where all of them were located—Nefrigar had them mapped for the archives. The gates are seldom used, now, so the information is for historical reference only."

  "Can we get to this information—those maps?" Hank asked.

  "Yes," Kal said cautiously. "Why?"

  "Because a gate has been located on Frithia, and it's open for anyone to walk through," Ashe said. "We believe the enemy's agents may be waiting on the other end of it, to ensnare or kill the ones who accidentally stumble into it. We want to know if it's a new gate or if the enemy warped an existing gate."

  "Nefrigar?" Kalenegar said to empty air. I blinked when another Larentii appeared. This one was mated to Reah. I knew that when I read him.

  "Ah. I never thought to see two at once," Nefrigar nodded respectfully to me and to Ashe.

  "May we borrow copies of the old maps to the Elemaiyan gates?" Kal said.

  "Of course—I have several copies," Nefrigar said. "Which format?"

  "Paper will do," Kal said dryly.

  "As you wish it." Nefrigar held out a large, blue hand and a huge book appeared there. "These are written in Alliance common, so those from this planet will not be able to decipher them."

  "Good enough," Ashe accepted the book from Nefrigar. "Thank you. I'll send this back when we're done."

  "Even if you cannot return it, it is nothing but a copy. We have the originals still in the archives."

  "Is Frithia in here?" Ashe asked, opening the huge book. The cover was thick, rigid cloth, in black with a gold spine. The language on the spine was in the Larentii language, and the title proclaimed the book Maps of Elemaiyan Gates, a Pictorial Reference, with Illustrations and References in Alliance Common.

  "Here," Nefrigar held out a hand and pages flipped until they fell open in one particular place.

  "Do we know where the gate was found?" I asked, rising to look at the map, which indicated two gates.

  "Merrill said here, in the capital city," Ashe replied, placing a finger over a portion of the map. Neither of the previous gates was in that place; that was easy enough to see.

  "They're creating new ones instead of changing old ones, then," Kal said. "That requires a great deal of power. Even the Larentii do not do this."

  "Kifirin borrowed power from his parent, one of the Al'Riyu, to create the Dark Realm and everything in it, including the gates from world to world," Hank breathed smoke. "It was not discovered until later that the gates connecting the Light Realm to the Dark were also created. That means it requires the power of the Al'Riyu or above to create gates."

  "Well, I know what I stared down, and he was definitely stronger than that," I huffed.

  "Very true," Ashe agreed.

  "Are there any Larentii willing to help the ASD and CSD?" I asked Nefrigar.

  "Only if one or more of the Three ask or command," Nefrigar inclined his head to me.

  "I'm asking some of the Elemaiya to cooperate, so we should only need a few. Do I ask you or should I approach Ferrigar?"

  "You may ask me," Nefrigar smiled. "I am connected with Ferrigar at this moment, so your message will be transferred to him through me."

  "How many should we ask for?" Ashe turned to me.

  "Let's ask for five volunteers," I said.

  "Sounds good," Ashe agreed.

  "Ferrigar says that he will call for volunteers, but he is likely to get many more than five," Nefrigar's smile widened.

  "Tell him we'll keep the extras in reserve, in case they're needed," Ashe said. "And thank you. Very much. This will make our work easier."

  "Ferrigar says he is happy to accommodate the Three."

  * * *

  Le-Ath Veronis—present

  Lissa's Journal

  Reemagar and Connegar appeared in my study together. "We have news," Connegar began.

  "Ferrigar has given permission for a few Larentii to assist the ASD and CSD in recognizing gates during their investigations. Ashe is also approaching some of the Elemaiya to do the same."

  "How many?" I stood—this was almost unprecedented—that the Larentii might help in mundane, humanoid affairs. Well, almost mundane. Anything that might involve the God Wars was certainly not so mundane.

  "Ashe asked for five to start," Connegar said. "Ferrigar asked for five volunteers. He received many more than that, but he chose those who have the most experience dealing with humanoids."

  "Do I know any of them?" I asked.

  "I am one," Reemagar smiled broadly. "Lenigar is another, as is Jerigar. Nefrigar's oldest sons have also been chosen—Serrigar and Valegar."

  "Does Norian know yet?" I asked.

  "Ferrigar requests that you pass this news to him. Ashe will let you know which of the Elemaiya have volunteered."

  Norian? I sent mindspeech immediately.

  Breah-mul? He sounded surprised to hear from me.

  Nori, the Larentii and a few Elemaiya will be helping your investigation teams—they'll be able to recognize the gates so your agents don't fall into them, I said.

  Deah-mul, what if we send something through the gate we found already? Norian responded. I've been studying this. Wouldn't it be prudent to try to send a sensor or spybot through?

  Let me ask Reemagar if we can borrow some of their technology. They're famous for their microscopic cameras, and none of them ever shows up on anybody's radar.

  Are you joking? You think they might do that? Norian's mindspeech sounded breathless with excitement.

  "Reemagar," I said to my Larentii mate.

  "I have already sent the message to Ferrigar," he smiled brightly. "Ferrigar gives his permission, provided the Larentii remain in charge of their technology."

  "Suits me, I'll just tell Norian that," I smiled back.

  Norian, they say as long as the Larentii volunteers have control over their technology, we can use it.

  Cheah-mul, that is outstanding! Norian crowed in mindspeech.

  Nori, you don't order the Larentii. Keep that in mind. You ask, and ask politely. Okay?

  I know; he deflated just a little. How many do I get, and how many does Jett Riffler get?

  Jett Riffler was Director of the CSD, and he'd have to be brought into the loop as well. Jett was Avendoran, and I had a feeling that Ashe had been instrumental in getting him hired as the Director. He'd been in charge of the Avendoran CSD office for five years before his promotion after his predecessor retired.

  I'm hoping that Ashe can come up with five as well, so you'll have some Larentii and some Elemaiya. I'll ask your five to meet you here, and I'll contact Teeg to inform Jett. It irked me whenever I was forced to refer to Tybus as Teeg, but there was no other way around it. To everyone else, he was Teeg.

  Let me know when you've spoken with Teeg. I'll contact Jett, too, Norian said. We need to coordinate teams. He sounded worried after I told him to look for unusual disappearances.

  Nori, we're all worried. I don't have any knowledge of how these gates are created to begin with, or whether they have to be in the appropriate place to create one. I sure as hell don't want one in the middle of my palace.

  I never thought about that, he replied, his sending thoughtful. Keep me informed; I have to talk to Lendill about this.

  I shut down our mental conversation with a sigh and turned back to Connegar and Reemagar. "We have to visit Tybus and Jett Riffler," I sighed.

  * * *

  Tybus smiled when I walked into his private study flanked by two Larentii. Jett was there, waiting with him.

  "Queen Lissa, how are you?" Tybus rose and offered his hand. I took it and managed to control most of my trembling. Daughter, do not be afraid, he sent mindspeech. "I hear you have welcome news for us," he continued aloud and released my hand. "Please, sit. Is there anything we might offer you? Food or drink?"

  Yes, I'd been informed that he was my fat
her in his previous life. I did and didn't find that comforting. Honestly, Tybus seemed more at ease with the concept than I did.

  "Wine?" I asked. It was almost the dinner hour, and a little wine might not hurt. Connegar was transporting me home, after all.

  In less than five minutes, I had a glass of chilled white wine in my hand while I explained, with help from my Larentii, what the plan was.

  "I'm putting teams together now. It appears that we need five. Norian is researching unusual disappearances, as well as any new religions. I'll ask my agents to question their priests and leaders," Jett said. "If our volunteers can see these invisible gates, I will be most grateful for their help."

  Jett was perhaps six feet tall, with dark skin and a black ink tattoo covering the left side of his face. It resembled images of animals, leaves and vines, marking him as a member of the Southern indigenous race of Avendor—the Fi'Gu.

  Much like the Falchani, the more elaborate the tattoo on a Fi'Gu, the more important the man or woman. Jett had an extremely elaborate tattoo, which likely ran down the entire left side of his body. The tattoo indicated the respect due the person wearing it. The right side was never tattooed—they left it bare in deference to their gods.

  "The Larentii will be pleased to work with you, Ku'Ri," Connegar nodded to Jett.

  "I should have known the Larentii would recognize me as such," Jett smiled.

  Ku'Ri is Warrior Chief to the Fi'Gu, Reemagar silently supplied.

  He's the Chief of the Fi'Gu? I responded in surprise.

  There are two. The Ku'Ri and the Ku'La. The Ku'La is the Chief of Law for the Fi'Gu. You should see her—she is amazing.

  I'll bet she is, I acknowledged.

  "How soon will your teams be placed in the field?" Tybus asked Jett.

  "Tomorrow. I've already briefed them. There will be two of my agents, plus a volunteer on each team. We're going through potential targets now, so we'll have a plan in place by tomorrow morning."

  "We will be most pleased to work with you," Serrigar and Valegar appeared inside Tybus' study and nodded respectfully to Jett.

  "You know where my office is?" Jett grinned.

  "We do."

  "Meet me there at eight bells, local time, then."

  "We will." Serrigar and Valegar disappeared as easily as they'd appeared.

  "This will be an amazing and welcome experiment," Jett observed.

  * * *

  Avendor—present

  Breanne's Journal

  Ashe bent time to find out whether any Elemaiya might be willing to work with the ASD and CSD. The ones who answered his call didn't surprise me in the least.

  Macy, Luanne, Keith, Philip and Elizabeth waited for us inside Ashe's massive study. Philip and Elizabeth were still ghosts, but that was about to change—provided I had the strength to do it.

  "Elizabeth, are you willing? Philip, what about you?" I turned to the ghostly mountain lion.

  "I am," Elizabeth replied.

  I certainly am ready, Philip's words were accompanied by a growl. Ashe has explained the God Wars to us in the past. I wish to serve with him.

  "Ashe?" I turned to him.

  "Do it, but let me get Traje and Bill in here, first. If you fall, they'll catch you."

  * * *

  Kay's Journal

  Ashe left me in the kitchen, where one of the shapeshifter women worked to prepare lunch. I knew this was an unusual occurrence but Bill, who normally cooked for everyone inside the big house, was doing research with Trajan for Ashe. I wasn't sure what research it was and didn't want to pry.

  After all, I was seeing plenty back on Earth, and that's where we'd return once Bree and Ashe finished their errand here.

  At least Kalia's fear of women no longer held sway as I watched Adele Evans prepare lasagna. "I didn't know what Ashe was—who he was—when he was born," Adele said abruptly.

  "You're his mother?" I was amazed my voice didn't tremble or squeak when I spoke.

  "Yes. For the most part. You'll have to ask him about the rest—it's very confusing."

  "You think he'll answer my questions?" I watched as she placed a layer of cooked lasagna noodles in the bottom of the large pan before ladling sauce over them.

  "I think he'll do just about anything you ask, including moving the planet," Adele replied.

  "He can do that?"

  "Hon, Ashe is one of the Three. I don't know what might be beyond them."

  * * *

  Breanne's Journal

  Ashe had already assured me that his shield would block my energy pattern if I Changed What Was at SouthStar. I figured the attempt would drain me, but it needed to be done.

  The half-Elemaiya waited expectantly while I considered what I had to do for them. "I'll try to restore your immortality, while I'm at it," I nodded to Macy, Luanne and Keith. "You'll be like you were before, if I can pull this off."

  The same goes for you, I sent to Elizabeth and Philip, whose ghosts also waited. This was a test—to see whether they deserved to keep physical bodies. Ashe had spoken with them already about it.

  "Don't worry," Ashe held out a hand, "Nothing will happen to you if she's not successful; you'll just remain as you are."

  "You ready?" I nodded to Trajan and Bill, who stood on either side of me.

  "Yeah," Trajan said.

  "Same here," Bill agreed. I pulled as much power as I could to me and began.

  * * *

  Ashe's Journal

  I'd only seen her like this once before, and that's when she'd kept me from joining the rogue gods. She shone so brightly inside my study I had to shield the eyes of everyone else present. They might have been blinded, otherwise.

  I felt grateful, too, that she didn't collapse until she finished. Without even Looking, I knew she'd been successful. I stared at the physical bodies of Philip and Elizabeth, corporeal again for the first time in centuries.

  Bree was unconscious in Trajan's arms, while Bill washed her face with a cold, wet cloth, attempting to wake her. Kevis appeared and checked her vitals while I rose from my chair and walked toward Elizabeth and Philip. Philip hadn't been humanoid in a very long time.

  "Is this real?" he held out his arms and stared at his feet—both of which were bare. Actually, all of him was bare, but like most shifters, he didn't seem to care. Without a word, I Pulled clothing in and tossed it his way.

  "What do you think?" I asked as he snagged the pants with one hand.

  "I think this is awesome," he grinned at me. Macy giggled while Philip shoved legs into trousers and fastened them with hands that shook with excitement.

  "Are we?" Keith began.

  "You are. You sure as hell are," I said, grinning like a lunatic. "You're immortal. Breanne did it."

  "She's the one who brought us through," Luanne breathed.

  "Yeah. Only it hasn't happened yet," I attempted to explain.

  "What?" Elizabeth stared at me.

  "Never mind. Nothing to worry about. Trajan, how is she?"

  "She's drained, but that's no surprise," Kevis answered instead. "I suggest you let her sleep for a while and then bend time to get her back. Remember what I said about heavy lifting?"

  "I remember," I sighed. "Luanne, are you in charge?"

  "I guess," she shrugged.

  "Then Trajan will get all of you to Le-Ath Veronis tomorrow. Queen Lissa will see that you get to your respective assignments after that. You all have mindspeech; send to her, Trajan or me if there are problems or you find anything. I especially want to know if you find any rogue-engineered gates. Okay?"

  "We will," Luanne nodded. "Tell her—Breanne—thank you. From all of us."

  "I'll tell her," I said.

  * * *

  "Wisdom," the Ear nodded to the Mighty Mind.

  "Where are the others?" Wisdom asked.

  "Coming. Even the Mouth is coming," the Ear replied.

  "Good."

  "Is the time near?" the Ear asked.

  "Yes and no," Wisdo
m replied.

  * * *

  Le-Ath Veronis—present

  Lissa's Journal

  "Nori, you'll have Reemagar, Lenigar and Jerigar, plus Keith Caldwell and Macy Hill," I said. "Jett is getting Serrigar, Valegar, Luanne Jansen, Elizabeth Frasier and Philip Raymond." Norian had folded to my study when I informed him that I had the information he needed on the volunteers.

  "I'm heading one of the teams, just as Jett is manning one of his. Which of those five do you suggest I work with?"

  "Norian, at times I think Reemagar believes you're nuts, so that's probably not an option."

  "Well, that means all Larentii probably feel the same way. I'll take what was her name again?"

  "Macy Hill. Don't push her, Nori, or I swear I'll smack you myself."

  "I'll let Kooper have Reemagar, if that's all right, and Lendill can take Lenigar. I'll figure out the other two before tomorrow. Who's bringing the volunteers to my office?"

  "Ashe asked me to take the Elemaiya where they need to go, so I'll bring them. The Larentii can get themselves around."

  "Isn't it rather ironic, that he asked you to transport the Elemaiya?"

  "These were never affected by my edict. At least not by much. They were at SouthStar all this time," I huffed. "Besides, I'm a quarter Elemaiyan, or have you forgotten?"

  "I haven't forgotten," Norian grumped. "Breah-mul, are we ever going to be together again?"

  "Norian, tell me again why we're not together now," I snapped.

  * * *

  Breanne's Journal

  Kevis was leaning over me when I woke. Wearily I slapped a hand over my face. "How long?" I mumbled.

  "Seven hours. Not bad," he grinned. "Mom asked how you were. She wants you to visit again when there aren't so many around."

  "Kevis, I'd love to visit your mother." I removed my hand and blinked at him. "I have so much crap to do," I shook my head at him.

  "I know," he soothed. "I sent a message to Grae and Barry, too. They asked to be updated."

  "Does he mind if you call him Grae?"

  "No. Barry doesn't mind, either." Kevis' green-gold eyes held laughter. "If you speak their name sincerely, that's all they're concerned about."

  "Okaaay," I said.

  "Come on, you can trust me, I'm a doctor," Kevis snickered. Yeah, that made me laugh.

  * * *