Sword of Mercy

by Sydney Addae

  “Your mam. I’m fairly certain that’s you in the portrait.”

  She nodded and glanced over her shoulder at the picture. “Okay, she seemed happy with me, so that’s a good thing.” Asia faced him. “Any mention of my sire?”

  “Lord Barticus, he was from another pack, but there were a lot of suspicions about his origins. Your mam didn’t want anything to do with him, he scared her. But her father beat her and… Barticus raped her.”

  Asia’s eyes widened and she dropped her forehead to his as he repeated the tale of her mam’s ordeal. When he mentioned Lyrill, her head snapped up.

  “I’ve been there, met the princess and her father the Prime Minister. There was no king, at least I don’t think so. Damn, I can’t remember.” She shook her head. “Raped? Does Barticus still live? Or his kin?”

  The gleam in her eyes said she’d like to pay them a visit and somehow return the favor. His bitch never failed to surprise him with her ability to bounce back.

  “Don’t know, we can check now that we have names. One thing confuses me…”

  “What?”

  “Why did she leave here? Where did she go? How did you wind up with the Liege? Is she dead?” He paused and released a breath. “That’s more than one, but this isn’t adding up. She was safe here. This room was hidden and somehow tied to the covenant, what did that have to do with her? Or you? Konstantin knew you, at least when you were a babe, did he make special arrangements or did he die before that?”

  “Good questions. Was she involved with, them? Nikolas or Konastantin or both?” She asked.

  “There is little mention of the two men other than they took her in and helped her survive. She sounds grateful not like a woman in love.”

  Neither of them spoke.

  Asia gazed at her mam’s portrait and then looked at him. “I don’t know if we will ever find the answers about her and these two men, but we can find answers about my mam and sire. Someone remembers her and the feud between Lyrill and her homeland.” She ran her fingertip across his lip. “Just as you know the truth about your sire, I would like to know mine.”

  He nipped her fingertip and then sucked it in his mouth for a second. “Understood. What will we do with Damian? Does he go with us or do we send him to La Patron with Angus?”

  “The holidays are coming. I’m not sure what Mistress has planned so we should take him with us, but we’ll discuss it with Mistress and La Patron. What about your second pup, Gordon thought Lancaster will try and kill her.”

  Hawke’s palm ran up and down her back in a soothing motion. “True, we will discuss that with La Patron as well. It may be that we go rescue her and return here or he may send someone to her rescue.”

  Asia nodded and sunk against his chest.

  Hawke waited for her to say what bothered her.

  “Her father beat her and gave her away, how old was she?”

  He closed his eyes and swallowed, hoping she wouldn’t ask. “According to her journal, Barticus took her when she was ten and four, just after… well she could, you know.”

  Asia stiffened. “Took her? You mean she lived with him and he just… took her whenever he wanted?”

  Hearing his mate’s horrified whisper made it worse for him. Barticus should be hung out to dry for what he’d done to Amynta, but that behavior was common during those times. Rather than give the answer a voice, he nodded.

  “Goddess, what kind of sire does that to his daughters? I cannot imagine Renee or Jackie being given away or raped by anyone. La Patron would kill anyone who thought such a thing, so would Mistress, or Rese, or Rone, or Cam, or Angus or–”

  “Or you,” Hawke said, placing a kiss on her forehead. “That is not something done often today. But if her father was at war with the king of Lyrill and needed allies, then he would do whatever he thought was necessary to save his pack. Alpha’s think pack first, den second.”

  “Not La Patron.”

  He smiled at the certainty in her voice. “No, but he has a special relationship with the Goddess, not all Alphas have that.”

  “Even without, he wouldn’t give up his pups. When you know him better you’ll see how he protects his den. They may not always appreciate it, but keeping his pup safe is his number one priority, all sires should feel that way.”

  Thinking of his sire and everything that happened, Hawke agreed.

  Asia couldn’t believe she had the name of her mam and sire. She offered a prayer of thanksgiving to the Goddess and peeked at the portrait again. Amynta’s simple beauty was masterfully captured on the canvas, she couldn’t believe their resemblance. One day soon she would read all of the journals after Hawke placed the translations in the computer and hear her mam’s thoughts on life and family. Just knowing a little of her history, despite the violent beginnings, settled her.

  “Mistress?”

  “Asia, how are you? I’ve been worried, so much is happening so fast, are you okay?”

  “Yes, Ma’am. Hawke finished the translations, and even though I haven’t read them yet he has told me quite a bit of my history.”

  “Oh, Asia I am so happy for you. Tell me about it, do I need Silas?”

  “It would be easier to tell you both, it’s not all pretty, but that’s how life falls.” She then whispered to Hawke. “Listen in on this link while I talk to Mistress and La Patron.”

  He nodded, tightened his hold on her waist and entered the link.

  “Silas is here. Go ahead,” Jasmine said.

  Asia and Hawke explained what they’d found and her plans to seek out more information on her mam and sire.

  “I understand and you have my blessings,” Jasmine spoke first and Asia smiled. No doubt La Patron wouldn’t have given her a blank check to go on a personal mission now that they were in offense mode against the Liege. With the covenant broken these men would eventually die out unless they came up with new tricks. At least they no longer had access to pack lands and wouldn’t be able to take pups from dens.

  “Yes, I agree,” La Patron said slower. “As far as your pup, I have already sent men to every location you and Angus told me about from Gordon and Lancaster. We are seeing results and have rescued some pups, not as many as I hoped but we have them on the run. The equipment we’ve taken and the personnel that have been arrested will set them back financially for a while. Unfortunately, I haven’t gotten any of the Lords, but they’ve gotten the message to leave this continent, I’ve been very clear.”

  Asia wished she could be a part of the cleaning crew at some of those raids, but she understood the Alpha of the state would handle those jobs personally.

  “Once we find her, I’ll contact you and then she can stay with us until you come home,” Jasmine said.

  Touched, Asia met Hawke’s surprised gaze and smiled. “Thank you, Mistress. I am not sure how all of this will work out. Damian is so much older and she is a small child, but I believe the Goddess is aware of everything, we will take it one day at a time.”

  “Of course, that is the best way to look at it. When will you leave for Lyrill?”

  Asia looked at Hawke. He shrugged.

  “Within the next day or so. There is no reason to delay things. We will search the internet first, and then map our course. I want to know as much as possible about both of them before we begin.”

  “That’s good. Have you made peace with your brother, Hawke?” Jasmine asked.

  “Yes, I sent him the code to correct his neck brace and he seems to be okay.”

  “Good.”

  “Any sign of Lancaster?” Asia asked.

  “Not yet. I don’t think he returned to the States, I have people looking for him,” La Patron said. “Angus will be returning for the holidays unless you need him.”

  Asia’s heart sunk a little. She would miss his counsel and presence, but she had Damian. “We should be fine, thank you, Sir. He has a pet that is fearless.”

  “Ugly you mean?” La Patron asked and then chuckled. “He sent a picture of the
thing so I would understand why he needed a private jet. After taking a look at the thing, I agreed. Alpha Radoff and Ulric assured me they would handle any remaining Liege sympathizers and are searching for Lancaster as well.”

  “They are reconstructing a legitimate council again. My brother has been asked to be a charter member,” Hawke said.

  “So I heard and I wish them the best of luck,” La Patron said. “Asia find your answers and come home. We all miss you and want you to settle for a while.”

  His kind remarks stole her voice. Surprised, she nodded and then squeaked. “Thank you, Sir. I will.”

  Hawke hugged her tight as they disconnected. Asia gazed at the happy smile on her mam’s face as she looked down at the babe in her arms. Soon the gaps in her mind would be filled and complete. She’d know her history and the meaning of the birthmark that was stamped in every journal.

  “Tomorrow we will search for the pearls of my past.”

  Hello,

  Thank you for taking the time to read the first book in the La Patron’s Sword series. I love paranormal books and characters in general and shifter stories in particular. Throw in the romantic element, strong Alpha characters who bend beneath the power of love and I’m over the moon. Sighs…

  In her quest to learn her past, Asia bumps into her future. The Liege is stealing black wolf pups for research. Silas Knight, La Patron, has four black pups in his den and is determined to stop the Liege before they attempt to take his pups. Asia and Hawke are chosen to discover the Liege’s plans and shut it down. First Asia must learn to trust someone other than Jasmine. Next she must merge with Hawke as a cohesive unit to infiltrate and take down the Lancaster Castle which belongs to the Liege. The Liege refuses to go down without a fight. They have been operating for centuries and have no intention of stopping, even if two of their most prized products are the ones gunning for them.

  You’re invited to journey with me through all the books in this series. If you like fast paced action, suspense and great love connections like me, you won’t be disappointed. Feel free to drop me a line, SydneyAddae@msn.com or join my Facebook group, La Patron’s Den, where discussions regarding Silas and the Wolf nation abound. Also you can find me at my website, SydneyAddae.com.

  La Patron, the Alpha’s Alpha is my first paranormal series and I’d like to ask a favor. When you finish reading, please leave a review, whatever your opinion, I assure you I appreciate it.

  The following books are in the La Patron Series, enjoy!

  Thanks again

  Sydney