Wind Demon Triology: Book II: Evil Wind

by Charlotte Boyett-Compo

  "Considering what we learned from Major Kahmal should we not inform them who is on the DarkWind?” Maeve Lynne McGregor asked Raphaella.

  "No, I think not. It is best not to worry the Prime Reaper. He has enough on his mind as it is."

  "He became very quiet when you told him you are Khiershon's mate,” McGregor said. “I'm not sure that was wise on your part to lie to him, Raphie."

  Raphaella thought back to the odd look the Prime Reaper had given her. Had he been able to read her mind? Khiershon always could but then Khiershon had taken a drop of her blood. Did the Prime know she had not been completely honest? If Khiershon was adept at reading thoughts, how much more powerful would his bloodsire be? Would he need her blood in order to read her?

  "I don't think either Reaper was aware of the other,” Raphaella said. “If Khiershon knew there was a Reaper on the Alluvia, he wouldn't have refrained from contacting him. Likewise if the Prime knew one of his bloodsons was near he would have hailed him."

  "Perhaps not,” McGregor said. “Perhaps they know but both are being cautious, fearful of having some other ship intercept their transmission."

  "Maybe,” Raphaella said.

  "We should at least inform Khiershon and his crew what is happening,” McGregor declared. “If both he and Kahmal try to snatch the cadets at the same time, the men could be torn apart in the effort. He needs to know his bloodsire in on the Alluvia and that he is planning on turning himself over to the Daughters."

  "Aye, now see therein lies the problem!” Raphaella said. “If I tell Khiershon his bloodsire is planning on allowing the Multitude to throw him into prison, Khier will snatch the Prime Reaper off the Alluvia and there will be hell to pay. The Daughters know Kahmal is on her way to Rysalia Prime with their most wanted man. Don't think for a moment they won't throw everything they have at Khiershon to get his bloodsire back! They want the Prime more than any other Reaper. It is too dangerous for Khiershon and your brother, Iyan!"

  Maeve Lynne McGregor drew in a long, ragged breath. “Aye, I agree it will be dangerous but if both ships attempt to retrieve the cadets..."

  "We have to make sure Khiershon's attempt to transport the cadets to the DarkWind fails,” Raphaella interrupted.

  "How do we do that?"

  "We block his transport signal. I brought the schematics for the new system they installed on the DarkWind with us when we left Corinth. We've engineers on board that can jam Khier's retrieval beams,” Raphaella explained. “Once they realize the cadets have been picked up by the Alluvia and the Alluvia is speeding away, we can tell Khier about his bloodsire."

  "Then what?"

  "We transport everyone from the DarkWind to our ship and we get the hell out of Rysalia Prime airspace, blowing up anything that tries to get in our way or comes after us."

  "What about the DarkWind?” McGregor asked. “Do we just ditch it?"

  Raphaella shrugged. “Why not? It's just a Terran ship."

  "A Terran ship our men retrofitted to be a powerful warcruiser,” McGregor said. “Have you forgotten my people are still being hounded by the Rysalians?"

  "I haven't forgotten, Maeve Lynne, but in the grand scheme of things that is of less importance than making sure we save the lives of Khiershon's bloodkin. Your brother would agree on that point."

  Maeve Lynne McGregor figured her brother Iyan would have something to say about discarding a perfectly good ship and even more to say to her for being a party to Raphaella's plan. Having women in battle wasn't her brother's way and although he was many years older than her, she thought she knew him pretty well. He'd want to take the ship back to Corinth in case it was ever needed.

  "Stop worrying, Maeve Lynne,” Raphaella said. “I've got things well under control."

  McGregor watched the Amazeen stride away and not for the first time thought Raphaella had to be the most arrogant woman she'd ever had the displeasure of meeting. Not one female among the Serenians and Oceanian liked the Amazeen and few trusted her. Her single minded pursuit of Khiershon Cree was disquieting—especially now that the Reaper was legally Joined to Caitlin, a woman much admired among the rebels at Corinth. If it had not been for the fact that Khiershon had aboard the DarkWind many of their beloved menfolk, no Serenian or Oceanian woman would have agreed to crew the StarRaider for Raphaella. Few had agreed with the Amazeen when she'd first broached the subject of taking the vessel but Raphaella's barrage of insults and questioning of their courage had overridden good sense.

  "Khier's going to beat her black and blue when he catches her,” Cadyna Wynth, the Oceanian navigator of the ship Raphaella had christened the Ailith, remarked to McGregor.

  "I hope we all live long enough for him to do just that,” McGregor said, her jaw tight for she could almost feel Iyan's broad palm being applied to her own rear end.

  * * * *

  Kamerone Cree was intently staring at Aegean's monitor, watching the StarRaider that was following the Alluvia. He was uneasy, had been for some time, and thinking back on it, realized that discomfort had began while he was speaking with the one named Raphaella. Instead of fading, the feeling was growing. Whatever was causing his restlessness concerned him.

  "What's bothering you, Reaper?” Kahmal asked him as she swiveled her command chair around to face him.

  "The woman was lying,” he said, his eyes narrowed. “Why would she lie about being the mate of a Reaper?"

  "She knows Khiershon,” Kahmal said. “I can verify that."

  "And you didn't want me to know she was in contact with my bloodson?” Cree asked around a tight jaw.

  "I wanted to forestall any potential problem, Reaper, until everything was out in the open. Raphie has deep feelings for Khiershon Cree."

  "I've no doubt she does,” Cree said. “It is her falsehood about being his woman that disturbs me."

  "It is a well known fact he took her maidenhead, that they became lovers,” Kahmal said. “And she did help him to escape Amazeen. That, too, is true."

  Cree frowned. “How is it possible he had sex with her but she is not his mate?” he questioned. “Reapers mate only once in their life."

  "How do you know she isn't his mate?"

  "Because the face of another woman shifted through her mind's eye when she proclaimed herself Khiershon Cree's mate,” he answered. “The image was too quick for me to get a good look at it but the woman's face seemed familiar."

  Kahmal braced her elbows on her chair arms and steepled her fingers beneath her chin. “What do you know of Khiershon Cree?"

  "He is one of the many seedlings taken from me and planted in Terran women,” he replied. “Beyond that, I know nothing of him. I've never laid eyes on any of my bloodsons."

  "Do you know Khiershon is the bloodson who was reported killed in a crash landing on Amazeen when he was a child?"

  Cree nodded. “I remember it being mentioned in passing but back then such things meant nothing to me."

  "He would be your eldest, would he not?"

  "I believe so.” He glanced at her. “What do you know of his time on Amazeen?"

  "It was not an easy passing,” she answered truthfully. “That much I know and he was much feared. He had been kept so his seed could impregnate a new race of warrior women but we soon discovered that could not happen."

  "The parasite within us destroys all female zygotes,” Cree said.

  "So we learned. There were those who voted to eliminate him but before that could happen he used his mental powers to entrap Raphaella and she helped him to escape. Her whereabouts were unknown until this morning. His?” She shrugged. “He was arrested and taken to the Vex for questioning and subsequent execution."

  Cree shuddered. “It was his presence I felt when I became aware in the containment cell there. A Reaper had been tortured in that cell and not too long before we landed."

  "Aye, but there was no sign of him on the Vex or the Amazeen who had taken him there,” Kahmal said. “We suspect it was a Terran ship that rescued him and...
. “She stopped, her eyes going wide.

  Kamerone slowly turned to look at her. “He is on the ship that scanned us as we were speaking to the one who claims to be his mate,” he said.

  "But that ship contained nothing but women,” Kahmal stated. “We scanned it when it began scanning us."

  "Remember the captain of the Terran ship saying they'd been souped up?” Tyrian inquired. “That's what Zainabu's brother did for them. They are registering as all women but we know there is at least one male on board!"

  "He's on that ship,” Cree said. “I know it as surely as I am standing here."

  "Why did he not challenge us, then?” Kahmal asked. “He had to have discovered your presence onboard."

  "Because I wager he's one among many men on that ship and he didn't want you to know that,” the Reaper said. “My guess is he's on his way to Rysalia Prime to attempt the same thing we are."

  "Then we should contact him,” Sern said from her position at the navigational monitor.

  "To make any ship within monitoring distance aware of him and his crew?” Cree asked, shaking his head. “No, that would not be a wise thing to do."

  "And we're being monitored,” Deon said, bringing eyes to her. “There's an Amazeen ship shadowing us about five clicks to the starboard."

  "Do you know whose?” Kahmal asked.

  "It's the Areto,” Deon said quietly.

  Kahmal cursed. “Tecmessa Sorn,” she said. “What the hell is she doing tracking us?"

  "I take it she's not a bosom buddy of yours,” Cree remarked.

  "She's a bitch. Her ship's name is translated to mean unspeakable and she hates men more than any Amazeen I've ever known. She has a sister who worked in the Rysalian Behaviors Modification Units,” Kahmal replied.

  "Delyn Sorn?” Cree asked.

  "Aye, Delyn. She, too, is a bitch of the first order. Do you know of her?"

  "I had a session with the woman, aye,” Cree said, a muscle working in his lean jaw.

  "I'll wager Delyn is on Tecmessa's ship. I've heard it said they are closer than sisters should be if you get my meaning."

  "Aye, well incest is best when you keep it in the family,” Deon quipped.

  "Should we acknowledge her trailing us?” Sern asked.

  "Every Amazeen ship out there knows who we are and who we are bringing to Rysalia Prime,” Kahmal said. “No, I don't care to let that degenerate know I even give her a second thought."

  "She's been trying to probe us, but I've been running a blanket suppression of all conversation on the Alluvia as a matter of course,” Deon told Kahmal. “No one can pick up what is being said by us."

  Cree swung his attention to Deon. “Could The Areto have picked up our transmission to the Starcruiser?"

  "The Areto wasn't showing up on my screen at that time, but it could have."

  "Sorn would know all about Raphaella,” Kahmal said. “If the Areto did pick up the transmission, Sorn will know exactly where the StarRaider is heading and have alerted the Fleet on a secure channel."

  "Then I suggest you hail the Areto and test the waters, ‘Kadia,” Cree said. “Make sure you broadcast on a frequency the StarRaider can pick up. They need to know if they have been found out."

  "By the goddess I hate to speak with Sorn,” Kahmal admitted. “I always feel like I need to shower afterwards.” She sighed. “But you're right. We should be aware if Sorn knows about the StarRaider."

  "My head is killing me,” Cree said. “I'm going to sick bay to get an extra dose of Triso."

  She waited until Cree had left the bridge then nodded at Deon to open a channel.

  "LRC the Areto, this is the LRC the Alluvia,” Deon hailed the other ship.

  "Greetings, Kahmal!” The harsh face of a rail-thin woman showed on the vid-com. “I gather congratulations are in order on your promotion to captain of the Alluvia."

  Kahmal's hands were tightly clutching the arms of her command chair. “Captain Chakai has gone on to her reward, aye. Thank you, Captain Sorn."

  "So you have the Prime onboard,” Sorn said. “You are doubly blessed that you were able to follow through on your mission."

  "Aye, we have him,” Kahmal agreed.

  "As soon as I heard you were nearing Rysalia Prime, I wanted to be among your escorts. We want nothing to prevent Kamerone Cree from being executed this time."

  "There are many ships headed for Rysalia Prime,” Kahmal acknowledged. “Even a Terran vessel. Have you word of it?"

  Sorn waved a dismissive hand. “We scanned them but there is nothing there of interest to us though I would like to question them on how they found the wormhole."

  "I believe they followed us through it,” Kahmal admitted with a bored shrug.

  "You should be more careful, Kahmal,” Sorn insulted her. “Once the Terrans land, it will be necessary to impound their ship so they do not return through the anomaly to reveal what they've learned of our worlds."

  "I agree,” Kahmal said. “We need no more visitors showing up unannounced."

  "We are of a like mind in that regard,” Sorn said. “Who knew the simpleminded Terrans were capable of making their way to us?"

  "Any more vessels nearby I should be concerned with?” Kahmal asked, digging her fingernails into the chair arms.

  "There is a Serenian StarRaider but it is manned with brainless women who know nothing of how to operate such a fine machine. In trying to converse with us, their com array kept jamming the signal, losing it, the transmission garbled. Such stupidity should not be allowed to thrive in this galaxy."

  "I take it they pose no problem for us?"

  "Certainly not,” Sorn said and then laughed. “There again, once they have docked, we will confiscate the StarRaider. I will ask that it be handed over to me. That is if they do not crash the vessel in their attempt to dock!"

  "Then I'll be sure to stay well out of their way as well as that of the Terrans."

  "We will be guarding your back, Kahmal,” Sorn pronounced. “You can rest assured you will not meet with any opposition as you take the Prime Reaper to meet his fate!"

  "It is good to know we have such a conscientious shadow following in our wake,” Kahmal said, her eyes hard.

  Sorn lifted her head. “You have nothing to fear, Kahmal. I will keep you safe."

  Kahmal shook herself as the transmission ended. She felt as though something slimy had crawled down her back. She was still sitting there when the Reaper returned.

  Cree sat down in the First Officers seat beside Kahmal. “I did not sense any duplicity in her,” he said, rubbing at his temple. “Did you, ‘Lia?"

  Sern looked around. “No, all I got was her hatred of the Major."

  "And a dark desire to be rid of her,” Cree warned.

  "Nothing new there,” Kahmal quipped. “I've always known Sorn wished me dead."

  "You were right about her sister,” Cree said. “Delyn Sorn is on the ship.” His fist opened and closed on his thigh. “She is looking forward to questioning the cadets when she arrives back on Rysalia Prime."

  "To torturing them, you mean,” Dorrie spoke up. “I remember Sorn and what she did to you, Kam."

  Cree's eyes turned as cold as the snows on the crest of the Serenian Alps. “I haven't forgotten."

  "There isn't a single female on the Areto who doesn't pose a threat to you and your bloodkin, Reaper,” Sern told him. “You can be sure they will follow us when we extract the cadets."

  "And they will die in the pursuit,” Kahmal stated. “It will give me great pleasure to blow them out of the sky and rid the world of their stench."

  Cree looked at the Amazeen Major with a one brow crooked at her bloodthirsty attitude. “It wouldn't hurt my feelings if Delyn Sorn had every bone in her body broken before she meets her end,” he said.

  "What possible reason could she have to question the cadets?” Dorrie asked. “Surely she knows she'll get nothing from them."

  "It has nothing to do with what she can learn. She just likes h
urting men,” Kahmal said. “What other reason does she need?"

  "Do you think Raphaella heard the transmission between us?” Chanz asked.

  "The channel was open,” Deon said. “She heard and so did the DarkWind. I noticed their scan of us a second time."

  "Looking for the Prime,” Kahmal said with a grin.

  "But they didn't find him,” Deon said.

  Cree's lips twisted with mirth. “Oh, he found me. I made sure of it. He just doesn't know what to do now that he has."

  Chapter Eight

  Khiershon was stunned. “The Prime Reaper?” he repeated. “It is my bloodsire they have on the Alluvia! He let me sense him."

  "How can that be?” Iyan questioned. “He fled to Terra. He was safe there!"

  "Obviously the Amazeens went after him and have brought him back for execution,” Khiershon said, his eyes troubled.

  "Or they're taking him to Rysalia Prime to rescue his bloodkin,” Caitlin suggested.

  "It was him being tortured,” Khiershon whispered, running a hand over his face. “It had to be. No wonder I felt it so keenly. I have his blood flowing in my veins. I have one of his fledglings inside me."

  Caitlin could not stop the shiver that rippled through her when her husband mentioned the parasite his body hosted.

  "Those women were torturing my bloodsire,” Khiershon continued. “By the gods they'll pay for that!"

  "If that's the case, why would they be helping him now?” Iyan asked.

  "If they are helping him,” Dax put in.

  "Chakai was their captain when we first made contact with that ship. She's dead. If this Major was in league with Raphaella in helping you to escape, perhaps she's doing the same with your bloodsire,” Caitlin said. “With Chakai out of the way, Kahmal would be free to lend her aid."

  "And convinced her crew to go along?” Khiershon asked. He shook his head. “That's too much to hope for."