* * *
Corinne
I understood that I wasn't wholly awake. I heard the voice anyway. The one that told me all wasn't lost. The words were spoken by a male but softly, while a kiss brushed across my forehead. At first I panicked, worried that Val had left my side.
No, dearest, he soothed. I am here. Someone else who loves you has come. Do not be afraid.
The hum that came was that of another Larentii-Val's song was different yet no less soothing. I fell asleep again quickly.
* * *
Valegar, Second Assistant
Larentii Archives
Secured Personal Notes
I hadn't expected Kalenegar to arrive. He'd ordered the other volunteers to stay on the Larentii homeworld and he'd come himself at my request for someone to guard us during energy sex.
Instead, there'd been no pleasure, only pain at a carelessly dropped name and the obsession that activated as a result. I'd assumed Kalenegar had muted his M'Fiyah with Corinnelar.
It became obvious that he'd unmuted it. I was surprised by the concern in his eyes as he soothed Corinne. Before he was done, Breanne, his first mate, arrived to help. I could see that both were worried about Corinne. I held her tighter against me as a result.
"She is weary," Breanne shook her head. "I'm considering calling for Kay to come, but I have no idea whether she can work through two sets of Ilya's aura lines to get to the proper ones."
"Remember he has to deserve the help," Kalenegar chided.
Breanne frowned at him, which made him hold back further comments. She was the Mighty Heart, after all, and her primary concern now appeared to be Corinne instead of Ilya, and whether he deserved a place among immortals.
"I will think on this," Breanne said after several moments of silence. "Will you stay or come with me?" she asked Kalenegar.
"I will come," he nodded. Both disappeared. I breathed a heavy sigh. My poor Corinne. Her suffering would continue while those far above me made a decision.
* * *
Corinne
The rain falls on the just and the unjust alike. I frowned as I stared out a window at Rafe's newly-acquired Italian villa. Outside, the rain poured down in sheets, spattering in waves against the outside wall, as if it were fiercely determined to make its way inside.
"Not the way I imagined a homecoming would be," Rafe walked up. Not close enough to touch or even nearly so-he stayed far enough away to give me space in case he frightened me.
He'd never frightened me before. He did, now. I'd seen firsthand how quickly the obsession could activate and how violent his rage could be-against me.
Yes, a part of me knew he didn't mean it. Not the real Ilya/Rafe. He couldn't control it, however, and it terrified me. Somehow, I'd fooled myself into thinking that his love would ultimately protect me against his rages.
It hadn't been Ilya's love that saved me and I mourned that loss. Yes, I was Larentii and should be able to protect myself easily from him. My heart wept that protection was necessary.
Without a word, I folded space to the outside garden. It wasn't until I was soaked through and shivering did Val pull me back inside. Rafe had disappeared into the master suite and didn't appear again until the following morning.
* * *
Larentii don't get colds. Only one of that race can be depressed for extended periods. That one was me. Opal made breakfast for the others; I was barely able to get myself out of bed. The moment I shuffled out of the bedroom, Matt handed a cell phone to me.
"Corinne," Auggie barked. "You need to pull out of this."
"Auggie, you're not my boss anymore," I pointed out. I sounded tired, even to my own ears.
"I'm still your friend," he said. "This is scaring me. Stop scaring me, Cori. I mean it."
"Yeah."
"Come, you need sunlight," Val took the phone from my hand. "We will contact you later," he informed Auggie and ended the call.
* * *
Notes-Colonel Hunter
"Shaw, what the hell is going on there?" I barked into the phone.
"To me, it looks as if her PTSD symptoms may be waking again. Evidently, this started when Rafe attempted to attack her."
"Fuck," I muttered.
"What's wrong?" Shaw asked. Somehow, he knew something was up-probably from my level of upset and the decibels in my voice.
"Those fuckers who burned that town in Texas just fried two Corpus Christi Police officers. That's what. We need Cori's help. Fuck," I repeated while wiping a hand down my face in frustration.
"When did that happen?"
"Ten minutes ago."
"Fuck." Shaw echoed my profanity. "Val took Corinne away. I have no idea where. I can only assume he'll bring her back, although I couldn't blame him if he didn't. Rafe appeared to be doing so well, yet one mention of her name brought on a violent outburst. The family room at the beach house was destroyed-until Valegar repaired everything. I wish I possessed such power and talent."
"I think there's a reason we don't have it," I muttered dryly.
"Probably true. I'll let you know if Corinne and Val return."
"Thanks." After ending the call, I dropped my face into both hands and muttered fuck a third time.
* * *
Twenty-five Miles Northeast of Kuujjuaq
Near Rivière-Koksoak
Norde-du-Quebec Region
Canada
"Repeat after me-I am Reginald Phillips, former President of the United States."
"Who are you? You keep telling me who I am, but you never say who you are, Doctor," the patient complained.
"Ah, already you display your intelligence," the doctor beamed. "I am Merle Askins, formerly of the CIA, and now in charge of your convalescence. You have undergone surgery to restore your face-you were injured severely in an attack in Washington, D.C."
"Is this how you've always looked?" the patient asked.
"I was also injured. You must excuse my appearance," Askins replied. "I had to undergo a similar recovery, but alas, there was no surgery to restore my features."
"Why do you have a Russian accent?"
"It is nothing, merely a by-product of my injuries. My voice was also affected."
"I don't believe you."
"Ah, my dear Mr. President, why shouldn't you? Who wouldn't want to be the former President of a great nation? Why would I tell you differently if it were not true?"
"For one thing, I believe I'd have a better view out my window," the patient grumbled.
"Ah-but there are those who may still wish you harm. We must protect you any way we can, you know."
"From what?"
"From those currently posing as the government of the United States. You must save the country, Mr. President. I and my colleagues are counting on it."
"Who is that one over there-the one chained to his bed?"
"He is of no concern-he assists us when necessary, but that is all. You will direct his actions soon-when you have regained your health."
"What sort of assistance?"
"Mr. President, he is capable-when ordered, of course-of amazing things. Some might call him a wizard, in fact. Do not worry; he will obey your orders. We keep him well-fed and as happy as we can, except for the chains, of course. Those we dare not unlock, lest he find a way to escape."
"I fail to understand what keeping him will do for us."
"But you will, Mr. President. I assure you of that."
* * *
Notes-Colonel Hunter
I hoped Matt Michaels was calling to let me know Corinne had come back to the villa. That wasn't the reason for his call.
"I just got word from my team in Dublin," he said. "We have images of a man who looks enough like Zoran to be his twin brother."
"Where?" I sat straighter in my seat, as if that would better prepare me for the bad news coming.
"They lost him," Matt grumbled. "Followed him into a pub and then poof, he was gone."
"You think it's just a coincidence?"
"No."<
br />
Most people would have said perhaps, or that there might be a chance, however small. Matt blew right past those possibilities, landing a verbal punch to my already sour stomach.
"Fuck. What are they doing?" I snapped.
"No idea, but it's a cinch the ASD assholes who were sent here to track drug survivors aren't worried about the clones running the Russian Program now."
"No, they have their own brand of shit to spread," I responded. "If I could get my hands on the ones responsible for sending them here in the first place," I slapped a hand on my desk.
"Finch and his team are searching the site in Canada, but so far, there aren't any clues or trails to follow," Matt informed me. "I was planning to ask Corinne to help, but after the incident at the beach house, we may not have assistance from that quarter."
"I hope you're wrong," I said. "Without her, we're faced with two sets of enemies we can't handle."
"Understood. Look, I'll call if I hear anything new." The line went dead.
"James," I called out. "Come here." He arrived quickly. "Here," I handed my cell phone to him. "She'll know it's you calling. If she'll answer anybody's call, she'll answer yours."
* * *
Cloud Chief, Oklahoma
"There's nothing here except abandoned buildings," Brade complained.
"They were here once; our King demanded we search here if nothing was found in Star Cove," Ralvus hissed. A truce between Light and Dark Elemaiya had never occurred before, and he greatly disliked the fact that he and his brothers were the forerunners to what could become a regular alliance.
Everything hinged on the stolen crowns-and their return to the rightful owners. The one who'd taken them-the one calling himself Ir'Indicti? Nothing but an upstart, in Ralvus' opinion. He'd surely had help from some quarter, else he'd never have withstood the power of the Bright Queen and the Dark King.
"There's nothing here-see, the ring is still dull," Brade held up his hand. There, resting on his smallest finger, was a ring his Queen had lent him. In some way, the ring was connected to her crown and would shine when it was near. They'd discovered that it reacted to the echo of power, too, when they'd searched Star Cove. Stupid humans, to deny them the right to search their homes. Brade snorted at the memory.
The ring had not shone for years, otherwise. Brade was determined to undo that great mischief. His Queen had charged him with this task and he was determined not to fail her.
"Where's our dog?" Invus, youngest of the Verain brothers, asked.
"Over there," Dervus pointed toward a bare patch of grass. "Probably sniffing for a place to piss." Invus laughed at his brother's words.
Somehow, the Dark King had acquired this living tool for them. As long as it kept quiet and did its job, they held back from taunting and delivering blows.
Mostly.
Not far away, Gerrett, the mute Sirenali, had his back turned to them. Did they think him deaf as well as mute? It was better if he ignored the insults, as any rebelliousness on his part would be met with blows and curses, at the very least.
The last burns he'd gotten from Ralvus still hadn't healed completely. Better not to react, he told himself. Much, much better.
"I say we drive to the nearest town and ask questions," Invus suggested.
"Good enough," Ralvus agreed. "There's nothing here."
* * *
Corinne
"Honey, what's wrong?" I asked. The call came from Auggie's phone, but it was James placing the call.
"We, uh, have problems," James muttered.
I wanted to say you and me both, honey, but I didn't. James was upset enough as it was. I still felt shaky, but not as bad as I was before Val had gotten me away from Rafe. "Do you want me to come?" I offered instead.
"I wish you would," James sounded lost. Something else was going on beside murder and chaos.
"We will arrive shortly," Val took the phone away and spoke to James before ending the call with a thought.
Auggie's office was our destination in a blink.
* * *
The minute we arrived, I understood James' dilemma. Nathan had been called away to work with Captain Finch in Quebec. James was worried about Nathan's safety, after the massive explosion there. He didn't want Nathan anywhere near that.
"Honey, we don't always get to pick and choose where we're sent," I pulled him into a hug.
"I'm sorry, Cori," he mumbled. "I just can't help it. I'm afraid for him."
"I know."
Nearby, Auggie cleared his throat. James stepped away, looking ashamed. I leaned in to kiss his cheek. "Don't worry," I said. "Until we actually have something to worry about."
James jerked his head in a nod. "Auggie, what's going on?" I asked.
"We have two dead police officers in Corpus Christi and no idea where those ASD assholes responsible for the deaths are. Plus, we've had a sighting of Zoran's double in Dublin."
"They're making clones of him?" I went still. Val's hands dropped onto my shoulders, attempting to keep me calm. We didn't need more Zorans. After all, Auggie and I knew Zoran was merely Reginald Phillips in disguise.
"Auggie-what was the word on Phillips-after the attack in D.C.?"
"Madam President thought it best to report that he was in seclusion," Auggie mumbled before turning away.
"Great. So everybody still thinks he's alive. This is the worst possible news, you know. They can haul a clone out and present him as Phillips and we're in deep shit again."
"I realize that now," Auggie blew out a breath. "Madam President thought we could announce his death after a while, from a long, ravaging illness. She didn't want the people to mourn again so soon after so many others died."
I didn't want to get into the mistakes made by Madam President before and during that meeting; if I'd been allowed to attend, so many things could be different, now.
"So we have at least one clone of Zoran. Possibly more. Many more," I pointed out instead.
"Yes. I have a request from Matt, too. He wants you to work with Finch in Quebec."
"For how long? Finch is an insufferable prick, if I remember correctly."
"Dearest, I will be with you," Val spoke quietly behind me as his fingers massaged my shoulders. "He will be respectful or I will teach him manners."
"Manners and Captain Finch are polar opposites," I said. Val dropped his hands as I turned to face him. I didn't add that it wasn't fair that ass-hat Finch was still alive while Nick and Maye weren't.
"Matt, uh, asked Dr. Farrell to take Jennifer and Brett to Quebec-Shaw said they were getting restless and wanted something constructive to do. Both have training in explosives," Auggie said.
"Are they there, yet?"
"They're still in Port Aransas, but they're getting ready to board a plane."
"Tell them Val and I will take them," I said. "I think they need our presence more than anything else, right now. What about Leo?"
"He's flying to Quebec now to meet Finch's team."
"Good."
"Cori, what about you? What happened in Italy?" Auggie began.
"Auggie, I don't want to talk about that. It's upsetting."
"You know Leo won't leave it alone."
"Tell Leo we'll talk. Someday."
"Dr. Shaw may not understand the Larentii mind," Val supplied. "While Corinnelar has many human traits and habits remaining, she is still Larentii. I may ask my father to help her compartmentalize her grief and terror, in order to function at her best when needed."
"Be sure to explain that to Shaw," Auggie gruffed. "To me, Cori will always be one of us. I'm sorry if that offends you."
"It does not, although please understand that she belongs to the Larentii just as much or more than she ever belonged to any humans."
"Val, let's go get Jen and Brett," I said. "I wish I could make Farrell fly the conventional way, but I guess we'll haul him to Quebec, too."
Chapter 8
Corinne
"Rinnelar?" Jennifer looked up from
her packing. She had a new, military-issue duffle, in which she was placing carefully folded and rolled clothing.
"Hey, Jen," I said. "Call me Cori. I can come out of the closet now that Rafe's not here."
"I'm sort of excited to go on assignment," she grinned. "Why is it safe to call you a different name, now that Rafe isn't here?"
"Long story," I said. I didn't say what else I was thinking-that from now on, I should probably stay away from Rafe. Every cell in my body wanted to ache and protest at the same time. I shoved down the pain of seeing and not seeing him-either way I'd come out the loser.
"Will we be briefed on the assignment?" she asked.
"I think you'll understand when you see that big hole in the ground," I replied. "Captain Finch has probably been all over the robotic delivery vehicle. Not sure if he's found anything, yet."
"Finch is sort of a legend," Jen said. "Everybody hears about him. Nobody sees him," she added.
"I've seen him and let me tell you, his reputation is put to shame by the magnitude of his insolence."
"Aww, you're spoiling the dream of my future ex-boyfriend," she laughed.
"It's good to hear you laugh," I said.
"I'm happy to be alive to laugh," she agreed. "I have weird dreams and strange thoughts now and then, but I guess that's a small price to pay for my life."
"You ready?" Brett walked in, looking as if he'd lost some sleep. Considering that he'd gone out with William and Wayne Winkler on a werewolf run during the full moon the night before, it was understandable.
"She's almost ready," I turned to Brett. "Any problems last night?"
"A few. Nothing I couldn't deal with. I don't feel uncomfortable now-like I did for the past few days."
"You have to let the wolf out," I shrugged. Yeah, I'd read plenty about werewolves in the Larentii Archives.
"I can't believe-well almost can't believe-that werewolves are real," Jen shook her head and stuffed folded socks into her duffle.
"Vampires are also real, young one," Val folded into the room. "I will arrange for accommodations while we are in Canada-the weather is unforgiving at the moment."
"What he means is there's a blizzard going on," I reassured Jen, whose eyes had widened at Val's words. "Don't worry, if Val says he's taking care of us, then we'll be taken care of."
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