Immortals of Indriell- The Collection

by Melissa A. Craven

  When a casual flirtation at an anonymous Amrita event becomes not so anonymous, Tess is left with images of Dean McBrien to haunt her when she returns to life at Sterling Tower where nothing is as it seems. For the first time Tessa questions the world she lives in and is no longer able to look the other way when Soma’s actions don’t add up.

  What will happen when Tessa finally realizes her position at Soma isn’t all she dreamed it would be?

  Fans of Emerge will not want to miss the explosive ending when Allie and Tessa's stories collide.

  Get a taste of what's coming next for Allie in Emerge: The Heir, in Emerge: The Assignment, exclusive to this boxset.

  * * *

  1 {1} Rigveda 8.48.3

  EMERGE

  The Assignment

  An Immortals of Indriell Novella

  Melissa A. Craven

  Midnight Hour Studio

  Atlanta

  EMERGE: The Assignment

  Copyright © January, 2018

  By: Melissa A. Craven

  Midnight Hour Studio INC

  Atlanta, Georgia

  All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  For more information contact: Hello@Melissaacraven.com or visit the author’s website at www.melissaacraven.com

  Cover design by: Rachel Bostwick

  Edited by: Rebecca Jaycox

  Interior design by: Melissa A. Craven

  ASIN B077WSHFR3 (ebook)

  First Midnight Hour Studio Print Edition: July, 2016

  CHAPTER

  ONE

  “And our champion is … the little blond weighing in at barely a hundred pounds,” Ben announced to the thunderous applause echoing along the crumbling old subway tunnel.

  With the strength of a dozen Immortals coursing through her veins, Tessa glared daggers at him. Every time she won Amrita, Ben had something snarky to say about her size. Sure, she was petite, but with her gift, Tessa could overpower just about anyone in the right circumstances-and Amrita provided just that. Even now after fighting in the melee all evening, Tessa rode a high only a true fight in front of a crowd could give her. She was the strongest person in the arena tonight. She was the strongest person in any arena most nights. Her power fed off of the crowd's excitement and the force of the other fighters. If Ben knew what was good for him, he'd shut the hell up.

  “Nice job as usual, sweetheart.” Ben held her hand up, and the crowd roared its approval. But Tessa was busy calculating how much cash she would be adding to her Soma account. The purse was fifty-thousand dollars, but she never saw the whole take. She usually walked away with less than half after she split her winnings with Soma, and tipped the staff their customary twenty percent.

  When she signed on to work the Amrita circuit, Livia, the head of Soma, demanded she sign a minimum of a five year contract. Tessa had big plans for her future, and it didn't include working the circuit longer than necessary. In exchange for a shorter contract, Tess had agreed to return half of her winnings to Soma each month, effectively buying out her five year contract two years early. This was her last year, and it was almost over. She could see the finish line. She'd managed just fine on her take of the winnings for the last three years. But precious little was left over after she reimbursed Soma for her college tuition, her personal trainers, and sent what she could home to her mother. There were other expenses associated with being an elite member of the Soma training and education program. A small price to pay to ensure a brilliant future for a girl who had no interest in working two jobs just to get by like her single mother had.

  “Don't forget to see me before you leave,” Ben reminded her.

  “Don't worry; you'll get your money.”

  Ben was on the take wherever he could make a buck. She wasn't sure how much of the twenty percent the rest of his staff saw, but it was worth every penny to keep him happy and off her back.

  Tessa wandered through the crowd and like always, she dreaded the long evening ahead. The fighting part she was born for, but the social game of Amrita was just not something she excelled at. After a night in the arena limelight, she fully intended to take up her natural place among the wallflowers, hunker down, and wait for dawn.

  I'd rather be home binge watching Hulu in my bathrobe with a pint of mint chocolate chip ice cream and some peace and quiet.

  “Brilliant fight,” an admirer called as Tess headed for the bar. She smiled and waved at all the well wishers. Some of them were frequent Amrita guests. If they knew this whole thing was rigged for their entertainment they'd be crushed. The fights were real enough, but the winner of Amrita was always on staff, and thanks to Ben's gift, the regulars never realized they'd seen her win before.

  Amrita was a business. It was a fun atmosphere and gave the younger generations a place to blow off steam. It could also be dangerous, so Tess liked to fly under the radar as much as possible. But she wasn't completely naive. She knew the real point of Amrita was to lure in the best and brightest of her generation-and the wealthiest. It was a recruiting pool for Soma. Those lucky enough to be chosen tonight would receive the best education an Immortal could hope for. But her job was done for the night. She'd leave the recruiting to people like James who were better suited to schmoozing and socializing.

  “Newcastle, please?” Tess nodded at the bartender busy serving fancy cocktails to those uninterested in the champagne fountains.

  Training and working at Soma was difficult, but her mother had moved mountains for her to be there. Tessa had a wonderful childhood with her single mom, but Susan St. James just didn't have the resources or the time to invest in her daughter's training. So at the age of eight, Susan enrolled Tessa into the Fold-a subset of Soma for younger children-hoping they could offer her daughter the kind of life she never had. Susan had sacrificed everything for her daughter and Tess would be forever grateful for the opportunities her mother had worked so hard to provide. And some day soon, she would be the one taking care of her mother.

  Those first few years at the Fold were like day camp. But as she grew older, Tessa spent more and more time with her trainers and less time with her mother, until she finally moved into the student dorms at Sterling Tower. In the years leading up to her Awakening, Tessa worked hard to make her mother proud, moving up in the ranks of her class. Only a few elite students of the Fold earned the honor of continuing their education with Soma, and after her Awakening, Tessa was one of them. She gladly took on her own tuition payments to relieve her mom of the financial burden. She was so proud the day Livia herself invited Tessa to continue her studies at Sterling Tower.

  “This is your home, Tess,” Livia had said. “For as long as you want to stay with us.”

  Livia promised her a bright a future if she continued to perform as well as she had for the Fold. Already, at nineteen, Tessa was a top tier student and got to travel the globe on private jets, staying in the best hotels each month as she worked the Amrita circuit. The rest of the month, she lived in a posh apartment in Atlanta's Midtown and trained with world-class Soma agents. She waited anxiously for the day she would receive her first assignment and become a Soma agent herself. She would do important work for the Immortal world. And when she was able, she and her mother would get to know each other again. The distance and the years had made them strangers, but in Tessa's mind it was all part of the sacrifice to build a better future for both of them. For now, Tessa felt good about sending her mother a small stipend every month.

  “You look like you hate this as much as I do.” A deep voice brought her out of her thought
s.

  Tessa eyed the Immortal sliding into the seat beside her. The same old nerves clenching her gut. She hated small talk. Only because she was so bad at it. “You were first up?” She recognized the handsome guy as the first to fight tonight. He'd won his round and had a hell of a good time doing it, but failed to make it to the final melee.

  “You were amazing.” His vivid, white smile shone brightly against his ebony skin.

  Tessa caught herself wondering what her ivory skin would look like beside his, but quickly discarded the thought. As lonely as she was, she just didn't have time for relationships and flirtations. She'd make time for frivolous things like that once she had her first assignments behind her.

  “Thanks.” She returned his smile but shifted her eyes back to the half-peeled label of her beer bottle.

  “You won a huge prize, so why do you look so miserable?”

  “I love the fights, but I'd rather skip the party,” she admitted with a tentative smile. It really wasn't worth the massive anxiety socializing put her through. He'd be gone in a few hours, and she'd be on a private jet back to Atlanta by morning, after a blissfully quiet night in her suite at the Ritz Carleton. But she found herself turning toward him despite her reservations.

  “Can we get a couple of beers here?” he asked the bartender. “I hate champagne.”

  “Me too,” Tess said. “Makes me dizzy.”

  “Brave move.” He tapped his bottle against her fresh Newcastle.

  “What, winning?” She shot him a confused look.

  “Showing this crowd how your gift works. I can't decide if it was brave or really stupid.” He took a sip of his beer.

  “Well, thanks for the drink.” She slid off her stool to leave. And thanks for reminding me why I don't flirt.

  “Wait, no.” He grabbed her wrist to halt her retreat. “That came out really wrong. I'm an idiot like that. That was supposed to be a compliment. It's brave of you to show your gift off like that, but I'm guessing you have a whole lot more in your arsenal that we haven't seen tonight.”

  “Maybe.” Tess cast a glance up at him before she returned to her seat. “And maybe I am just that stupid.” She smiled.

  “Where's everyone going?” He nodded at the crowd surging toward the train station lobby and away from the arena.

  “The after party,” Tess said, watching how quickly the arena bar was emptying. The train lobby had been transformed into a posh nightclub and the crowd was eager for the night ahead. “I guess it's time to celebrate my big win.” This was the part Tess hated the most about her Amrita duties. The party. The aura wafting in from the dance floor was already pulling at her. She knew better than to ignore it. “Coming?” Tess held her hand out for him-her inhibitions slipping away.

  “If I must.” He slid off the bar stool and wrapped his hand around hers. She marveled at the way their skin glowed against each other's. Warmth tingled in her fingertips at his touch. She couldn't remember the last time she'd held someone's hand.

  Am I really nineteen years old and holding a boy's hand for the first time?

  She couldn't handle how pathetic that was.

  “Isn't there like a lounge for the quiet people? The introverts who'd literally rather do anything else?”

  “A room filled with puppies where people don't make eye contact or chit chat, but play with the dogs instead.” She laughed. It was unusual meeting someone who seemed to hate socializing even more than she did.

  “Yes, where's that room? I want to go there.” He smiled down at her.

  “Unfortunately, I think we have to go act like extroverts now.” The atmosphere whirled around them like an intoxicating fog. It relaxed her and opened her mind to the idea of spending a flirty night with a cute boy.

  “But … I've been doing that all night.”

  “Suck it up tough guy.” She tugged him toward the crowd moving along the tunnel. “Feel the pull?”

  “Yeah. This fog stuff is making me brave.” He leaned in, wrapping his arm around her waist. “Call me Dean.” His lips brushed against her ear, sending a shiver down her body. “Dance with me?”

  “I thought you hated parties.” She turned to face him.

  “With a fiery passion, but I love to dance. It doesn't require talking.” He backed onto the dance floor, pulling her along with him.

  The smoke and lights made the other dancers fade into the background. The bump of the bass and the rhythm of the music matched her heartbeat as they began to move together.

  In all of her time at Amrita, she'd never fully appreciated the experience. She tended to resist the intoxicating lure and allowed herself to enjoy watching from the sidelines, but she'd never truly participated before. Tonight, it was like the party was a living, breathing thing, and it could sense her mood, understanding that she and Dean didn't want to be overwhelmed by the crowd. In the midst of a roaring dance club, they were alone, and Tessa's hesitations were gone.

  “How is this possible?” She gave into the euphoria of the moment. With Dean's arms around her, swaying to the sultry beat of the music, she felt at home. Relaxed.

  “What?” Dean smiled down at her.

  “Is there really a man who gets me?” she blurted.

  “Do I?” he teased. “What's your preference. Library or concert?”

  “Uh, library for sure,” Tess replied. “Vegas or the beach?” she countered.

  “The beach and a set of headphones, no contest. Partying at the Super Bowl with strangers or a night home with your two best friends?”

  “Friends,” Tess said softly. But she didn't really know what that was like either. She didn't have any close friends.

  “I didn't want to come tonight, but my sister dragged me here. Good thing she's annoyingly persistent.” Dean nodded toward a quiet alcove under a set of arches and maneuvered them across the dance floor. “I would have missed out on this. A beautiful girl just as socially awkward as me.”

  “I don't know; you're pretty good at this. You came on to me, remember?”

  “I'm pretty sure I also accidentally insulted you when I was trying to flirt.”

  “You made a smooth recovery.”

  “Sitting alone at the bar, you looked just like I felt. I couldn't let that opportunity go.”

  “Am I that easy to read?” Tessa sat on a stone bench along the sidelines. Close enough to feel like a part of the party, but far enough to keep them in their own little world.

  “Not even a little bit.” His arm slid around her as he joined her on the bench. “I'm still trying to figure you out. Everyone else is here for a fun night out with friends. A break from the monotony of training.”

  “And me? What am I here for?” she asked.

  His beautiful smile lit his face. “You? You're here for me.”

  ~~~

  CHAPTER

  TWO

  “Do we need to have a vocabulary lesson?” Tessa rolled her eyes at Dean. “Do you not understand the meaning of anonymous?”

  Dean shrugged. “Doesn't apply.”

  She laughed at his wide-eyed, innocent look. Spending the evening with Dean had turned out to be one of the best nights she'd had in a long time. Certainly the most fun she'd ever had at Amrita.

  “What? Am I exempt from the rules?”

  “I trust you. Even if you won't tell me your real name.”

  “How do you know Tabitha isn't my real name?” She shifted back on the bench, giving him her best fake smile.

  “You look nothing like a Tabitha.”

  Tessa almost jumped out of her skin when his warm hand met the bare flesh at her back, just between the hem of her shirt and the waist of her jeans. The shock of such intimacy told her she'd spent far too long without normal human contact.

  “What do I look like?” she murmured shyly, her breath catching in her throat at the look in his eye.

  “Something I want to devour,” he whispered as his lips met hers.

  The kiss was slow and languid at first, catching her comple
tely unaware. The insanity of the moment sent off all of Tessa's warning bells. She should never get this close to anyone at Amrita but Dean was different. She should be feeling clumsy and terrified, but in his arms, she was only eager for the kiss to continue. Everything about this night was so strange. She knew she should walk away now, but in that moment, Tess wanted nothing more than to spend a fun and flirty night kissing Dean. She could walk away a happy woman after that.

  “Don't stop,” she whispered when he drew back.

  His eyes blazed with the dim light of his power as a low growl escaped his lips. His mouth crushed against hers, the desperate longing to connect lingering between them. They were the same. That's what made him so compelling. She could feel it in her bones. Dean understood her.

  Tessa arched against him, her hands running up his chest and around his neck.

  His kisses trailed down to her jaw and along the column of her throat. She titled her head back to give him better access, a blissful moan on her lips.

  They'd claimed the alcove for themselves, but other couples came and went among the shadows, reminding them they were not alone. But the steady thump of the music and pulse of the lights felt like it belonged just to them.

  “I could totally be a Tabitha.” Tessa finally pulled away to catch her breath.

  “I call bullshit.” Dean laughed. “But you don't have to give me your real name. It doesn't matter. I'll just call you Steve.” He twined his fingers with hers.

  “Don't you dare. But why did you tell me yours?” She frowned, grasping his hand with both of hers. “It's not a smart thing to do in a place like this for a powerful guy like you.” It was never a good idea to put your power out on display for the world to see. That was what made Amrita so dangerous. It was difficult not to show all your cards in a game like this. Tessa was lucky enough to have one gift that enabled her to get through the night as the winner. Her remaining gifts, she'd kept close to the belt. Others weren't so lucky and had to rely on their entire arsenal of abilities to make it to the final melee.