by Auryn Hadley
"What do you know?" Zep asked.
"We staked out Syhar for two weeks waiting for you. Captain Vitus said you'd come this way. We've been hypnotizing soldiers and telling them to surrender, hoping one would make it through to sedate the girl. The Emperor said her abilities are amazing, and he wants control of them."
"He has no idea what he's playing with," Zep said softly. "If they hurt Blaec, she'll go feral."
Jase nodded. "And make them all pay."
"She can do that?" the man gasped.
Shift chuckled, the sound cruel. "And more. My little sister could make you beg to cut off your own balls just to please her. She's a nasty little bitch. Trust me, we've got nothing on her."
"Why are you hitting the Conglomerate?" Zep asked.
"The Star Fall." He looked up at Jase, his eyes pleading. "It's in Fort Landing. Nebula II is almost empty, and the Emperor needs more steel."
"Where's all the metal going?" Jase asked.
"I don't know," the man said softly.
Jase gave a feral smile. "Good."
He reached down and grabbed the man's testicles in one hand, slowly cutting with the other. The soldier screamed louder than before, his back arching away from the table. "No, please no! Stop!" he begged.
Jase stopped, the blade partway through. "Where's the metal going?"
"I don't know! We don't have steel weapons. We don't have steel armor. I don't know where it's going!"
Jase began cutting again. "Guess," he said.
"The treasury? He's buying food from Namisa and building something in Terran City!"
The blade stopped. "Building what?"
"A temple," the man sobbed. "He said he'll return to the gods with it."
"Heal him." Jase tossed the knife on the table and looked at Zep. "Where would they take her?"
"Sal would know," Zep almost whined. "He's building a temple to the founders, trying to steal the abilities of the Kaisae..."
"Which means he must have control of an iliri," Shift said.
Jase turned back to the man on the table. "Heal him, and leave him there," he told Shift. "Tyr and Ryek can play with him until we need more."
Shift nodded, and the cessivi left the room, Zep trailing behind Jase. They stormed into the main dining area of the inn to find nothing but friendly faces. Laern and his wife stood at the side looking grim. Rragri, Nya, and a handful of grauori lay around the floor. Dominik sat at the back with Rayna at his side. Every face showed exhaustion and worry.
"We closed the building to only Anglia," Sahni, Learn's mate told them. "The White Stone is at your disposal, Ahnor."
"Thank ya, kaisae." Jase turned to the soldiers. "Rragri, we need ta continue the push ta Ryass. Nya, I need ya ta collect an army of maargra. Pig, ya will lead them. Rais, I'm giving the 112th command of the Devil Dogs. Take them back ta the Conglomerate. Head through Issevi, see if ya can reach the rebellion. Update Teseri and Viraenova while yer there."
Sahni sucked in a quick breath and, with her eyes wide, she looked around the room. "We're not supposed to speak of it before humans, Ahnor."
"We already know," Zep assured her. "We've known about the rebellion for two years. It's time to put it into action."
Shade took a small step forward, drawing all eyes to her. "How do we find Sal?" she asked, her voice shaking.
Zep rested his hand gently on Jase's shoulder, and the two men shared a look. "We do na stop looking," Jase swore. "Until we find them, we do na stop looking."
Razor snarled and slammed his fist into the back of a chair. "I'm fucking mute," he growled. "I can't even sense the table in front of me!"
"It'll come back," Arctic assured him.
"But we need it now!"
"Hey." Geo clasped his friend's shoulder. "They planned this. Those two will hold out until we can get to them. They're Blades, brother. Trust in them."
"She's somewhere around the Nebula II," Zep said. "Not sure how close, but Issevi, Rok, Lennig - that area. It's too easy for them to run to Escea from where they are."
"I'm going with the Shields to Issevi," Dom said, finally speaking up.
"No," Rayna cut him off.
He patted her knee gently. "Yes, Ray, I am. I need to reassure the people that we're here for them, not to replace Terric. They won't trust a handful of human soldiers to speak for me."
"He's right," Ilija said. "Pig? Can I take Rayna?"
Pig gestured dismissively. "She's more yours than mine lately. Her place is at Dom's side. I'll need to find a replacement for her eventually."
"Ok!" Arctic said, standing. "At dawn, we move. Jarl will come with us. Nya, follow when you have the maargra ready. Rragri, the iliri are yours."
Thank you, she said. And I will make sure Aroora and your pups make it to Issevi.
Arctic nodded. "Thanks. The kids can't move fast enough, yet. I owe you, Orassae."
Rragri just twitched her head, dismissing that. You have bigger things to worry about, and the maargra will feel like they're helping.
My unit will catch you by the evening, Nya promised, looking up to Jarl.
The boy chuckled. "I know. Guess you get to be Orassae pro-tem, huh?"
Basically, she agreed, then looked to her dam. I will do this, amma.
Rragri just nodded.
"We'll split in Issevi," Arctic continued. "The 112th, Devil Dogs, and maargra will head south. The rest of us will spread out. Viraenova will likely offer us as much help as we need. We are not alone, and they can't hide from all of us."
The soldiers began to disperse, slowly making their way to their rooms to prepare to leave. The First Officer watched them go, his gaze locked on the glass before him, one last swallow of green liquid sitting in the bottom. He wiped at an eye and touched both it and the tumbler next to it. They were the last things Blaec and Sal had used.
"I don't want to lead the Blades," he said softly as Jase sank into the chair across from him.
"I know," Zep assured him, moving to his side. "You'd be a great kaisor, though."
Arctic shook his head. "Raewar. I will never be a kaisor. Blaec is the only king the iliri will ever have."
Jase dropped his head into his hands. "Ya know that each day that passes, Zep and I will lose more and more control."
Arctic nodded. "But you're the only link we have to them."
"I won't let him go feral," Zep promised.
Arctic raised his white eyes until they met Zep's nearly black ones. "You know how much it hurts. When one of our pack dies, it's more pain than we can handle."
"I know," Zep said. "I remember Circ."
"I can't cut Sal from the link, Zep. No matter how hard I try, I cannot do it. If they kill her..."
"Then Zep and I are already dead." Jase grabbed his big brother's arm. "Blaec, too. If Sal dies, the Blades will lose four. We all know it."
"What about the rest of them?" Arctic gestured to the stairs. "She's linked with them all. Will it cripple the army?"
"No." Jase gestured for him to relax. "She's only in our family. She's linked ta the rest through hubs, so they will na feel it. They may know when it happens - if it happens - but they will na feel it. Humans also do na link the same way."
Zep chuckled wryly at that. "So Tilso might be ok?"
"I do na know," Jase admitted. "He's been with us too long and too often. I do na know how much he's changed."
"What I'm worried about is Shade," Arctic said. "If she frenzies, what can she do?"
"Fuck," Zep breathed. "You need to stay with her."
Arctic nodded. "She burns. I don't like what that implies."
"Me either," Zep agreed.
"Do we tell the humans?" Arctic asked, his eyes on Jase.
"We have to," Zep said. "If the worst happens, they'll need to understand. Otherwise they'll try to help."
"And we'd kill them all." Arctic touched the glasses again, his hand closing around the taller. With a snarl he slung it across the room, shattering it against the wall. "I will
make them pay," he growled, shoving at the chairs. "Terric will not win. If they take my pack, we will fight harder. The Blades will win!"
Jase looked at Zep, their faces serious. With or without us, he promised his cessivi, we will win this. They will remember ya as iliri.
I'm not dead yet, Zep told his brother. Neither are you. Let's make the most of the time we have.
Jase climbed to his feet, nodding his head to the stairs. Slowly, the three of them made their way up. None of them said another word, but their anger was simmering.
Chapter 18
Sal woke, confused and disoriented, to a tan light and the feeling of drowning. She jerked her eyes open and took a shallow breath, turning her head slowly. Wheels creaked beneath her, and she bounced against the wooden floor, the sensations pulling at her memories. She was in a wagon, covered with canvas, and she smelled Blaec beside her.
Blaec? she begged, hoping he was ok.
She couldn't feel his mind. He lay next to her as still as a corpse, but his presence in her link was still there. Narnx's words about the toxin trickled into her head. She knew it was fatal to pure iliri, but it was considered an effective sedative for part-breds. What most humans didn't know was that it smothered their abilities for days.
She shifted closer to Blaec. Her arms were bound behind her back and her legs tied securely. She could free herself, but without knowing her situation, that would likely cause more problems. She needed to check on Blaec first.
She pressed her face against his, their skin meeting. Closing her eyes, she tried to remember how Shift had healed. She looked for the well of life and the source pooling into Blaec's body. It was tainted and foul, the poison coursing through his blood. Raast said they did it wrong, but no matter how hard Sal looked, she couldn't think of a better way to purge the toxin from his system. Instead, she forced his body to metabolize it. He groaned softly as she worked, drugged, but slowly pulling himself back to consciousness.
Love? she begged.
I can hear you, he replied, but it sounded as if he was speaking from far away.
They drugged us, and I don't know where we are. It's andromedotoxin. I can't purge it. I can only speed up your body's ability to heal.
His head turned to her. Did they give it to you? She could feel the worry in his mind.
No, she assured him. The iliri gave me chloroform, but I think the rest assume he did. He made sure to tell me it wasn't the toxin.
Then don't give them a reason to drug you again. I can take this all day long. He smiled at her weakly and pressed his lips to hers before calling out, "You boys want me to piss all over this wagon?"
"He's already awake?" one of the Terrans muttered.
"Pull him out of there and check on the bitch. The Emperor wants her in one piece."
Jase? Zep? Sal called, hoping she could still reach them.
Oh, Sal, Zep responded, his relief washing over her. I just got Jase to sleep. Where are you?
She listened to the soldier dismount beside the wagon and followed his footsteps closer. No idea. Blaec's with me. Black Widows got us.
I know. Sal, Razor's out of commission. Did they give you the same thing?
No. There's an iliri here, and he used something else. They don't know I'm awake, but Blaec is checking the situation.
You've been silent for almost three days, Zep told her. I don't know how much longer we're going to be able to reach you.
The cover was yanked back violently, and Sal held herself still as if she was unconscious. Bright light hammered against her lids and she fought the urge to squint. The scent of humans surrounded her, increasing when they leaned in to grab Blaec. He was pulled from the wagon before it even stopped moving.
"Ya gonna give me the use of my hands, or you wanna hold my dick?" Blaec taunted.
"Don't trust you scrubbers," a man sneered. Sal heard the rustle of cloth and the men laughed. "Lean over or piss yourself like an animal."
"Typically," Blaec said around a sigh, "animals are notoriously fastidious. Especially predators." The stream of liquid ended and Blaec chuckled. "Wanna give that a shake for me?"
The Terran shoved his fist into Blaec, the sound of flesh meeting flesh carrying to Sal's ears, then she heard them fussing with his clothes again. "You gonna ride quiet now, or we need to drug you and that bitch again?"
"I'll ride quiet enough. It's an iliri thing," Blaec promised, hinting at their ability to speak in their minds.
The scent of another iliri drifted to her just before the shadow crossed over Sal's closed eyes. "She's still out," he said before taking a long deep breath. "That shit's going to knock her for a loop."
"Sayin' you want some, Narnx?" the first man teased.
"No," Narnx told him. "You've already smothered her mind. You'll be lucky if you don't kill her with that shit."
"What are you talking about?"
It was Blaec who answered. "Andromedotoxin is lethal to purebloods. At least when ingested."
Sal? Zep asked, wondering why she'd gone silent.
Hang on. Something's happening, and I'm not sure what. Before you worry, it's not dangerous, yet.
"What else do we have?" the Terran asked.
"Chloroform," Narnx said. "Will give her one hell of a headache but she'll live to get there."
"K. Use that on her from now on. Obviously, she's not dead."
"Yet," Blaec muttered.
"Nah," the man laughed. "She's about to be a very special guest. The Emperor wants to show his army what happens to those who try to oppose him."
I get to meet the Emperor, she told Zep, trying to make a joke of it.
He didn't see the humor. She felt his worry and knew he was waking Jase. Did they say where? he asked.
No. I can feel that you're southwest of me, but that's all.
Issevi? Jase asked, his mind joining them.
Middle of nowhere, she explained. I'll ask Blaec if he can see the mountains.
We need ta move, Jase told Zep. Three days by wagon is two by horse. We can catch them.
There's at least twenty men here, she warned them. Black Widows - and they have guards mounted around the wagon carrying us.
The voice of the leader came again. "Wake the bitch up, and let's empty her out, too. Don't want the stink of them in the cart."
Rough hands grabbed her, and Sal slowly cracked her eyes, pretending to force herself awake. My turn to piss, she told her mates, her eyes scanning the landscape. I can just make out the mountains, but no landmarks are familiar. There's a herd of cattle if that helps any?
"Don't touch her skin," Narnx warned them.
Damn it! Zep raged, and she felt him throw something in his anger.
Send the grauori, Jase suggested. I do na know what else ta do, kitten. I will find ya. I swear it.
I know, she told her mates while the men half carried her to the side of the road. I love you both. I'll survive this. Help the 112th. We need to protect the CFC or Terric will get behind our line.
Not real worried about that right now, Zep thought.
Well, you should be. Sal swallowed, trying to keep her face stoic. We can't lose the war because Terric got two of us.
Four, Jase reminded her. We lose you, we lose us.
I know. We'll get through this.
"Thought that shit took away her powers?"
Narnx laughed. "It should, but do you want to test it? She's a Kaisae. They don't play by the same rules."
"What can she do?" This voice sounded younger.
"Kill you," Narnx said coldly, "with just a touch. She can seduce you with a thought, or control your body and make you attack the rest of us. Each Kaisae gets her own powers, but those are the most common."
"Those are myths!" the young soldier said.
Narnx chuckled at his tone. "So are the other things iliri do. You really want to be the one to test it? Don't worry. Just touch cloth and you're ok."
Sal turned her face to the pale man, shocked to find him waiting. His
green eyes stared into hers for a long moment before he glanced away, a hint of a smile teasing the corner of his mouth. He pulled a bottle from his pocket and shook it gently before pouring a bit onto a cloth.
The men holding her yanked at her breeches, pulling them to her knees but they refused to release the bonds on either her ankles or wrists. "Now's the time to piss little bitch," the older one said.
She flicked an ear at him and shifted her position, urinating without shame before them. She'd been the only woman in a camp full of men for too long to find it degrading. When the man bent to pull her trousers back up, she lifted her lip in a snarl, intending to strike quickly.
"Don't," Narnx warned her. "Don't even try that."
Sal lifted her chin. "You won't kill me."
"No," he agreed. "They'll kill your mate."
She felt her ears sink against the side of her head. "You know what that does to us?"
Narnx shrugged. "They don't believe me. They think you'd cry your little eyes out."
"I can't cry." She glanced to the men beside her and saw the confusion in their eyes. "I'm not human. I can't cry."
The iliri smiled at her cruelly and sucked at his teeth. "Then let's not try to push your luck. You kill one of ours, and we'll kill one of yours."
"You're playing for the wrong team," she snarled. "When they're done with me, they won't need you anymore."
Narnx laughed. "Am I? Looks like I'm the one in charge right now, Salryc Luxx. I'll keep you alive until Makiel Geirr is done with you. After that? He promised to make you my plaything. Trust me, you're going to be useful for a very long time."
Sal met his eyes and smiled. "I can work with that."
He shook his head. "Your tricks won't work on me, little beast. We all know you can't affect other iliri."
She licked her lips and nodded. "And that's why they let you live, isn't it."
"I'm useful." His green eyes were intense. Every time she thought he was challenging her, he dropped his eyes slightly, his mannerisms keeping her confused. "The Emperor has been pleased by my results."
There's an iliri here, and I think he's trying to tell me something, she told her mates. He's playing it too close for me to be sure, and his scent isn't giving me a damned hint.