Humankind: Book 1 in the Invasion Day series

by LC Morgans

  “Besieger Thrayke,” he answered sternly, and Kyra was careful to remain silent while he took the call. “Yes, sir. Of course.” He listened intently to the caller, and then looked over at her with a smile. “Absolutely. I’ll send for General Millan now, and we’ll be with you in under an hour.”

  He hung up and then dialed his secretary. “I need a hovercraft ready in fifteen minutes,” he told her, and then hung up before she could ask any questions.

  “Nothing like being direct,” Kyra joked, and then jumped out of bed and into the shower before he had the chance to respond. She was in and out in less than five minutes, and was almost ready to go by the time Thrayke had done the same and came out in search of his combats. “So, we’re going to see the Chief?” she asked, tying her boots, and he nodded.

  “He wants to see what we’ve got, and he wants you to explain how you got there. This is good, so don’t be afraid,” he told her, clearly still thinking back to their conversation earlier that morning. “Chief Rasmos is scary, but only when you’re on his bad side, so stay an open book and you’ll be fine.” Kyra shook her head, and tried to ignore the somersaults going on in her stomach. “One word of advice—if you thought the Inquisitor’s were bad, he’s their master. He knows everything about every Division, so do not underestimate his knowledge for a second, and you’ll be fine.”

  “Easier said than done,” she retorted, and rolled her eyes playfully.

  ***

  Ten minutes later, Kyra and Thrayke were onboard a small hovercraft headed west to a region of skyscrapers dedicated entirely to the Chief of Defense and his team. As per normal protocol, Thrayke sat in the front of the ship while she was in the back, and Kyra hated being without him, but it also gave her a chance to go over her findings again. She was surer than ever after another look, and spent the rest of the journey watching the handful of Thrakorian guards that accompanied them. Kyra guessed they were for Thrayke’s protection, but also found herself wondering if they might also be there as supervisors of the human guest.

  When they arrived, the small team was shown to a huge meeting room, where Thrayke and Kyra were offered a seat and asked to wait for the Chief to arrive. There wasn’t another human in sight, and part of her guessed her assumptions might not have been so far fetched. They were clearly not entirely comfortable having her there, but she couldn't understand why. Perhaps they maintained a strictly non-human base for the Chief’s operations, but then why would he ask her here? Kyra forced her questions away, and remain silent and poised, and ready to meet with the infamous man.

  Ten Thrakorian soldiers of high ranks soon filed in, followed quickly by a grey-haired and incredibly hardened soldier. Kyra knew right away he must be Rasmos, the Chief of Defense. He greeted them, took his seat at the head of the table, and immediately started firing questions at Thrayke. Kyra remained silent, waiting to be spoken to or asked a question, but he never did. She sat there feeling like a spare part the entire meeting, and like a small child in comparison to all the mightily huge Thraks seated around her.

  “The theory is sound, now we need to decide how best to proceed,” Thrayke finished, and the Chief went quiet. Kyra had noticed Rasmos thought nothing of holding long silences while he made a decision, and she sat watching him while he seemed to be going over the information in his head.

  “I need to take council,” he finally answered, and looked past Kyra to the other Thraks seated around the table. “What do you suggest?”

  “Airborne missile attacks on each area at the given date and time. That’ll show those foul humans we’re onto them, and have them running back into hiding again, rather than trying to recruit from right under our noses,” one offered, and the others nodded in agreement.

  “We can send in mercenaries to pose as inductees and take them out during the meeting?” another chimed, and before long they were all discussing the best ways in which they might attack the rebels during the next gathering of potential recruits for the cause.

  The group brainstormed for hours, and not once was her opinion asked for. Kyra listened to the huge men go on and on, and all the while she waited in vain for one of them to at least offer her the chance to contribute. She soon began to wonder what she was even doing there, and was more than grateful when Chief Rasmos called a halt to the meeting.

  “We’ll meet back here in two hours,” he told them, and stood. Each of the others climbed to their feet and saluted as he left, and Kyra made sure she stood to attention until a few seconds after all but her entourage of guards had gone. Thrayke didn’t even look back as he walked away, and although she knew he was keeping their cover, anger surged from within. She felt like a child. She’d been treated like a useless accompaniment to their meeting, and all while the man who’d sworn to take care of her had let it happen.

  Suddenly feeling hot and in need of fresh air, she stormed from the room. Kyra climbed the steps to the roof and didn’t even bother to check whether her wardens had followed. She felt more like a prisoner than a guest, and tried to fathom why Chief Rasmos had even bothered insist she attend the meeting with Thrayke. None of them valued her opinion, or had even asked for it, so her journey was a waste of time and resources.

  Kyra stood looking out at the clear sky for over an hour. She pieced together all of the conversations she’d had with Thrayke regarding her findings, and what she’d heard during the Thrakorian only brainstorming session. Part of her began to wonder if he’d taken the credit for her discovery, but she couldn't understand why he too had insisted she come if that were the case.

  A loud whirring sound soon pulled Kyra from her thoughts, and she looked up to find a large hovercraft looming over the building’s peak. She and the handful of guards she’d almost forgotten about, each moved to the outer edge of the roof, and she watched as the craft slowly descended before landing smoothly.

  Chief Rasmos came out through the doorway. He stopped to stare at her and the others on his route to the craft, and she saw carefully controlled rage cross his usually so stoic features.

  “General Millan, what are you doing up here?” he bellowed, and then shook his head. Rasmos looked back at the craft and then to Kyra again. “No matter. Salute and bow to him, but keep your gaze low, and under no circumstances do you make eye contact. Know your place, soldier. Understood?” he asked, and when she nodded he quickly resumed his course to the craft’s doorway. For just a moment, Kyra wondered who might be about to step out to meet him, and it dawned on her a split-second later that it must be King Kronus who had come to meet with his Chief of Defense.

  Her heart thudded in her chest, and Kyra felt herself heat from the inside out. She watched as he and Rasmos left the craft, chatting intently. Kronus ignored each of the soldiers he passed, focusing solely on his right-hand-Thrak, and when he passed her, all Kyra saw of him was his black sneakers and blue denim jeans. He wasn’t wearing uniform, but then again she wondered why on Earth he ought to. None were above him in this entire world, and she didn’t need Rasmos’ warning to know she was incredibly far beneath him in the pecking order.

  “Everyone’s here, sire. We’re due to resume the meeting in thirty minutes, but only with your permission?” she heard Rasmos saying to King Kronus.

  “Excellent,” was all Kyra could hear of their leader’s response, and upon hearing his voice again every one of her memories came flooding back. Both the reminisced and the fantasized version of King Kronus came to the forefront of her mind, and just like he’d haunted her dreams since Invasion Day, it seemed he was now also intent on dominating her reality.

  Chapter

  Twenty Two

  Kyra was the first to take her seat back in the meeting room, and was soon joined by the rest of the Thrakorian soldiers—who continued to ignore her. Thrayke came in a few minutes later, followed quickly by Chief Rasmos and eventually, King Kronus.

  “The King has taken a look at the report, and isn’t convinced of its legitimacy. What say you?” Rasmos addressed the r
oom, and the gang who’d all been so quick to offer up their weapons, mercenaries and foot soldiers were suddenly having second thoughts by the sound of it, and Kyra wanted to scream at them for being such cowards. Her findings were right, and she wanted desperately to have her say at last. She was panting, pursing her lips in an attempt to keep quiet, but she knew it wouldn’t be long before she had to at least try. Thrayke twitched beside her, and she couldn't stop herself from looking directly into his intense gaze, where she delivered him a soundless ultimatum. Either he said something, or she would, and he immediately stood from his seat.

  “What’s left to question, King Kronus?” he asked, and bowed his head to him as he spoke. Kyra watched as he opened the files again and showed him her statement, and Kronus simply shrugged.

  “They’re recruiting, so what?” he answered with a bored sigh. Kyra wanted to look into his face and try to understand why he’d lost all the soft yet firm passion she’d seen in him so very long ago, but forced her eyes to stay on his hands. She spied a scar on the back of his right hand, and began wondering where he’d gotten it. Perhaps it was at the same time, and by the same thorns as when she’d gotten hers? When Kronus lifted his hand to his mouth, she caught a glimpse of his dark lips and chiseled chin, and watched them for a moment, wondering if he ever smiled. She suddenly became aware that his eyes were on hers, she sensed them, and before she could control her own, her gaze met his. It was just for a second, but she knew she’d remember that beautiful and scary stare for the rest of her life.

  He was the same as before, only slightly older, and much more intimidating. His dark hair extended to his stubble-covered cheeks now, and his eyes also glittered with hardness to them he hadn’t had that first time. Kyra wondered if he was bored like she’d first thought, or simply unhappy. Thrayke had been lonely when they’d first met, and it’d shown. Was he lonely too? Was there anything she could even do about it if he was? Questions buzzed around in her skull at such velocity that Kyra suddenly felt exhausted, and she forced herself to concentrate on Thrayke’s response to his superior’s offhand response.

  “I urge you, take some proper time to establish whether this could mean a real threat or not. I’m convinced of the legitimacy of General Millan’s findings, as will you be, I’m sure.”

  Kronus took a moment to think Thrayke’s plea over, and Kyra felt his gaze on her again.

  “You have one minute—convince me,” he told her, and she jumped in surprise. After having spent hours feeling invisible, suddenly all eyes were on her, and she had to swallow the lump in her throat before any sound could come out of her tight chest.

  Kyra stood and grabbed the file, where she pulled out a photograph of the symbols and her workings out. In a brave move, she pointed to the marking while staring the King directly in the eye. He was just a foot or so away, yet still towered over her like the behemoth extraterrestrial he was. Kronus seemed so much bigger than she remembered, but she didn’t back down. She held his gaze and took a deep breath.

  “If I’m, I mean we’re right, they could already have held hundreds of these summits. As word spreads, any number of new recruits could be turning up to join their cause, and now we know when and where. This is correct, not an assumption. You will have a large-scale rebellion on your hands if you don’t put a stop to it now,” she told him, and Kronus smirked. He leaned closer, never once letting his gaze drop to the photograph in her hand.

  “What makes you think I don’t welcome a rebellion? It’ll give me just the opportunity I’ve been looking for to skim away some of the excess population, and give my friends here the opportunity to hunt. I’ve been thinking how countries like India and Thailand haven’t been contributing enough, so why shouldn’t I use these gatherings as an opportunity to take the entire country off the map?” Kyra didn’t believe him for a second, and shook her head slightly.

  “If that was the case you would’ve followed the advice of these soldiers instead of questioning the credibility of my report,” she answered, and willingly let him win their staring competition by looking to her side at the dumbstruck men at the table. As she did, a lock of her dark hair fell into her face, and she instinctively tucked it back into place behind her ear, before turning to look back up at Kronus.

  “Everyone out—now,” his voice boomed in the small room, and a second passed during which no one moved in their surprise. Kyra was as shocked as any of them by his strange outburst, but quickly stepped back and started towards the doorway behind the others. “Not you, General.” She turned back and bumped straight into Thrayke. His frown let her know he was as unsure as she was, but he didn’t say a word as he left her there. Even the Thraks guarding her were ushered out by the only word that could overrule their orders from Chief Rasmos—their sovereign’s.

  “King Kronus, I didn’t mean to offend,” she began, unsure of how to approach the strange scenario. Being alone with him was making her anxious in many ways, and she wanted to forget all about her childish dreams and the memories that were still with her. She needed to be professional and knowledgeable, not flummoxed and meek. “I wanted to express my opinion, but now I wonder if I came across as rude.” She didn’t dare look at him, but when no sound came from his side of the table, Kyra was forced to look into his eyes again. The softness in them made her go weak at the knees, and she had to grip the huge chair closest to her in fear she might suddenly fall. He looked more handsome than she’d ever imagined, and she cursed herself for falling deeper into her crush.

  “A kiss on your cheek,” he murmured, staring at her. Her breath hitched in her throat, and Kyra thought she might cry.

  “From thorns that hugged me too tight,” she replied, and cried out when he shoved the table aside and stormed towards her. Kronus grabbed her by the chin and turned her face to the side so he could look at the scar.

  “Is it really you?” he asked, and she nodded. “Why are you here?”

  “Because I owe you my life, and I want to stop the rebels that wish to harm you. I’ve dedicated my life to serving you since the day you saved me from those thorns, and won’t ever stop. I believe this threat is real,” she answered from within his firm hold, and flinched when his hoarse voice found her ear.

  “Get out of here,” he said, and her heart sank. “I want you back in The Tower right away, and I never want to see you again. You’re such a fool, Kyra. Such a silly, idiotic girl, and you should be ashamed of who you’ve become. You don’t owe me a single thing, and I certainly don’t want you going anywhere near these rebels. Drop this case immediately and go back to your other work,” Kronus added, and he took one deep breath before finally letting her go. He then stormed away without another word, and all she could do was watch in shock. Her heart broke a little with each step he took, and by the time Thrayke came back inside, she was more than ready to leave this terrible meeting behind, and get as far away from King Kronus as possible.

  ***

  The end of book one in the Invasion Day series.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  LC Morgans is an author with an obsession for telling powerful stories. Not a day goes by that she doesn’t immerse herself in other worlds, and her desire to write about them came from an early age. Shutting off her imagination was never an option, so the stories came to life inside her mind, and in time they’ll all make it to the page.

  She loves hearing from her fans and you can connect with her via the following:

  www.facebook.com/LCMorgansauthor

  If you enjoyed this book, please consider sharing your thoughts by leaving a review to help promote LC Morgans’ work.

 

 

 
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