“That’s no longer a problem because of you,” Kage commented thoughtfully.
“Correct. I honestly believe the next time the merit-based proposal is put to the vote, it will pass.” He looked at Eza again and sighed, “I also believe that the Ayrontu will respond violently. The vast majority of my officers are Ayrontu. They will go rogue and defend their designation. Regardless of our intentions, this will come to war.”
Alternate proposal forgotten, Eza stared at him, dumbfounded and annoyed. “The Shadow Circle disagrees.” He already knew she was the rebellion’s leader. There was no reason to mince words. “We are committed to a peaceful solution.”
“Not all of you,” Malik argued. “It’s my understanding that the Shadow Circle is split. Three members believe this can be resolved peacefully. The other three know it will require bloodshed.”
“Which three?” she challenged. “And why have they brought their concerns to you rather than me?”
He ignored the first question but answered the second. “They want to exhaust every option, just like you and Sage. But they know the Ayrontu well enough to understand that war is inevitable.”
“It sounds like you and the Shadow Circle need to resolve your differences,” Kage said to Malik. “How does this concern the Outcasts?”
“All the rebels need is one more vote to flip control of the council. With me leading the military, we’re confident that will happen. The merit-based proposal is the first of many the rebel-controlled council will pass. We will have the laws on our side for the first time ever, but it will not matter. The Ayrontu have always considered themselves above the law.” Malik looked at her as if waiting for her to challenge the statement.
She didn’t, couldn’t. Most of the Ayrontu did as they pleased because no one had the resources to stop them.
When she said nothing, Malik continued. “The Ayrontu will respond in progressively more violent ways. Most of the businesses, farms, and factories are owned by the Ayrontu. They will use their wealth and power in every way imaginable, which means it falls to us to protect the lower designations.”
His vision of the future was grim and discouraging. It was also accurate. Forcing herself to think beyond the way she wanted things to be, she focused on the cruel reality of life in the world below. Everything Malik had said so far was true. She might not like it, but she needed to start thinking in terms of solutions. “We outnumber them hundreds to one,” she pointed out. “Even if your officers desert, we will control the majority of the military, covenant enforcers, and those who mitigate emergencies.”
“True, but we can’t be everywhere at once. Those most vulnerable must be evacuated.” Malik looked at Kage as he said, “That’s where the Outcasts come in. Thanks to my predecessor, it appears that you have a housing crisis.”
Kage glanced at Torak and Arton, then returned his gaze to Malik. “We’re listening.”
“The Sarronti will provide skilled craftsmen, raw materials, and as many laborers as needed to quickly construct a series of fortified outposts. These compounds can be inhabited by a combination of Sarronti and Outcasts, or we can keep the populations separate if you prefer, as long as there are an equal number of units built for each population.”
“There are approximately six thousand of us total,” Kage said. “It can’t be an even ratio if we’re going to protect everyone that needs protecting.”
Malik appeared shocked. “There are many more Sarronti at risk than Outcasts. The danger to the Niffal alone will—”
“You misunderstand my objection,” Kage cut in with a patient smile. “I agree with you. The Sarronti must take priority here. I’m suggesting a ratio of at least ten to one in your favor.”
Malik looked at her, still appearing shocked. Is he serious?
She nodded, knowing Kage would hear her thoughts, had likely heard Malik’s question.
After struggling with disbelief for another moment, Malik turned back to Kage. “I didn’t expect...I think I have greatly misjudged you.”
Kage looked at her and smiled, affection warming his dark gaze. “My mate has taught me to care about her people as much as I care about my own.”
“What about the sun?” Torak asked. “Will the villages need to be enclosed?”
“Like everything else, the Ayrontu have hoarded a variety of UV protections that have been available for centuries,” Malik told them. “It’s a form of control. Workforces are less likely to run off if they’re terrified of the world above.”
Eza looked at him askance. “What are you talking about? I know such things exist, but the ingredients needed to produce them are extremely rare.”
Malik shook his head, his expression equal parts frustration and pity. “It’s not your fault, Lady Ezalondra. You believe what you were taught to believe by one of the most corrupt bloodlines in existence.”
“We are also able to mass-produce sunblocks,” Kage said as he sent waves of reassuring warmth into Eza’s mind. “It’s long past time for the Sarronti to enjoy their entire planet.”
The statement arched Malik’s brows. “You’re admitting that the planet belongs to us?”
“I never said otherwise. All I ever asked was that we be allowed to inhabit a small section of your planet not currently in use.”
“If you help me build these refugee villages,” Malik began, “I can guarantee no further attacks by the Sarronti military for as long as I’m general. I will also reinforce your defenses should the Ayrontu strike at you again.”
Kage stood and held out his arm. “I accept.” They clasped arms and smiled. “Consider the Outcasts official supporters of the Shadowborn Rebellion.”
“MALIK IS TAKING OVER, and I don’t like it,” Eza grumbled when Kage finally returned several hours later. She’d escorted Malik off the Wheel then went to the cabin she shared with Kage expecting him to be there. Apparently, his subsequent conversation with Torak and Arton had been lengthy and intense. Kage looked tired and anxiety pulsed across their link by the time he returned.
“Does it really matter who’s piloting your ship as long as you reach your destination?” He went to the beverage dispenser and ordered a drink.
She requested a glass of wine when he asked what she wanted. “To continue your analogy, this isn’t about the destination. It’s about the type of ship we use for the voyage. The Shadow Council has always insisted on a diplomatic vessel. Malik wants to load everyone onto a warship.”
“Malik doesn’t want the warship any more than you do. He believes, and I agree that the Ayrontu won’t leave him a choice. Passing laws is the first and easiest step in this sort of transition. Once the law is passed, it must be enforced.”
“I don’t want to go to war with my family, people I’ve known my entire life,” she cried. “Not all of the Ayrontu are like my father and brother. I have cousins and...” She’d been about to say friends, but all of her so-called friends had shunned her the moment she voted to abolish the designations. There were kind and caring Ayrontu, but they were the exception, not the rule.
“Do you still believe that the designations are wrong?”
“Of course I do.” It was insulting that he would need to ask.
“I don’t need to ask, love.” He pressed his warm palm against the side of her face. “I just wanted you to focus on the real issue. You’re Ayrontu. Others in your designation will despise you for your involvement in the rebellion, and many in the other designations will mistrust you because of your privileged birth. Like it or not, Malik is in a better position to move this thing forward.”
“You’re cruel to point that out.” She raised her chin and glared at him, but her indignation fizzled. He was right, and they both knew it. When the others had seen an Ayrontu brave enough to defy her own kind, it had given them the motivation to join her cause. But now that the proverbial ball was rolling, it was time for her to move aside and trust people better suited to the fight. Even in her mind, she hesitated over the last word. Regardless
of how adamantly she opposed the idea, this would be a long and bloody fight. Meaningful change always involved some form of sacrifice.
After a long, tense pause, Kage asked, “Are you all right?”
The last thing she wanted right now was to argue with her mate. “Now that you’ve met Malik, what do you think of him?”
“He’s smart and insightful. From all indications, he’s a fierce and capable fighter. I’d allow him into the Outcasts if he applied.”
She smiled. “Well, I hope you don’t try to steal Malik from us. As you just pointed out, we need him quite badly right now.”
“Was there ever anything more than friendship between you and Malik?”
She didn’t sense jealousy, just curiosity, so she tried to explain. “I like everything about him, so I’ve often wondered why I’m not attracted to him in that way. But there is no spark, no fundamental chemistry drawing me toward Malik.” She moved closer to Kage and slid her hands up his chest. “Now, our chemistry is incendiary. I wasn’t sure it could ever be contained.”
“Why would you want to contain something so enjoyable?”
Wrapping her arms around his back, she pressed her cheek against his chest. “Because fires this hot often burn themselves out.”
He stroked the back of her hair and let her feel his aching desire. “There’s an easy way to ensure our longevity.” His already deep voice became a sensual growl.
He meant the claiming. If she allowed him to anchor their psychic link, then this relationship became permanent. Their minds, souls, and spirits would become so entwined that intentionally severing the link would damage one or both of them.
“I’ve shared everything with you,” he whispered. “There are no more secrets between us. Is there something more I can do to reassure you that this will last a lifetime?”
Though his words were hushed and hesitant, his emotions spoke loud and clear. He was still afraid she would reject him, find him unworthy because of his unique and tragic past. The last of her hesitation fell away, and all of her doubts were silenced in one perfect moment of clarity.
She eased back and tilted her head, looking deep into his eyes. “I love you, Kage Razel. And I love Seth too. I love everyone you have ever been because they led to the man who stands before me now. You are my mate, and the only thing holding me back is my overwhelming sense of responsibility. I’ve taken on the entire Shadowborn Rebellion, but you and Malik have made it glaringly obvious that my misery is self-inflicted. Not only do I not need to shoulder the entire burden, but I might actually be a liability, not an asset.”
Kage sighed, moving his hands to her shoulders. “I never said that, and it’s not at all how I feel. You have a crucial role to play, but—”
“I need to let go and allow others to play their parts?”
He started to reinforce his denial, then took a deep breath and admitted, “Yes. Good leaders know when and how to delegate. Malik understands his role. He’s a skilled warrior as well as a wise leader. You need to trust him.”
“His friends call him Slayer.” She shivered, remembering the consuming brutality with which he’d fought. “He’s definitely better suited for war than I am.”
“That’s not a bad thing,” Kage said firmly. “If we all had the same qualities, the universe would be dreadfully dull.” She smiled at him, so he added, “You’re a shrewd negotiator, and you have a way of motivating others to be their best. You make those around you brave enough to push themselves. It’s a rare and valuable skill.”
“Thank you.” His praise embarrassed, yet pleased her, so she finally shifted focus. “As soon as I let you claim me, I will not only be a traitor to the Ayrontu, I’ll be the overlord’s bonded mate, undeniably part of the world above.” She stated the fact firmly, emphatically. “Change doesn’t get any more dramatic than that.”
After searching her gaze for a moment, he asked, “Why doesn’t that upset you?”
She shrugged. “I’ve felt like an outsider ever since my mother transitioned to the next realm of consciousness. I briefly reconnected when I met Lorton, but his family cast me out, made damn sure I understood that I no longer belonged. I never really thought about it in these terms, but I’ve been an Outcast most of my life. I guess that’s why I feel like I’ve finally found a home.”
He reached down and kissed her tenderly, welcoming her home with love and affection. “I obviously want you as part of my world, but that doesn’t mean you must abandon yours. The Shadowborn Rebellion still needs you. You offer a perspective no other rebel possesses. You know the inner workings of the elite, and that will be a real advantage once the battles begin. Others are clearly ready to take a more active role, but they still need you.”
She smiled. “If I couldn’t sense your emotions, I’d think you were simply telling me what I need to here.”
“You know that’s not true. My rebel elf is an amazing female. Once you set your mind to something, there is nothing you can’t do.” He dilated their connection and filled her mind with affirmation, then bent for another lingering kiss. “Are you finally ready to tell me what I need to hear?”
A slow smile parted her lips, and she whispered back, “I thought I already did. If you recall, I didn’t say if you claim me, I said when.”
He cupped her butt with both hands and slid her up his body until their faces were on a level. She quickly wrapped her legs around his waist and looped her arms around his neck.
“And when will that be?” His gaze bore into hers, green quickly burning through the black.
“How fast can you get naked?” She covered his mouth with hers as he rushed toward the bedroom. He tossed her onto the bed and ripped off her shoes. She laughed and playfully kicked at him. “I asked how fast you could get naked, not get me naked.” Happy to oblige her, he tugged off his boots and stripped out of his uniform so fast she heard fabric ripping. He put one knee on the bed, but she planted her foot in the middle of his chest. “Let me look at you for a moment. I need to see my mate.”
He paused, caressing her upraised leg as her gaze moved slowly over his naked body. “Are you going to return the favor once I get you out of this dress?”
“Maybe,” she murmured with another heated smile. He pulled her to her knees and explored her mouth with his lips and tongue as he skillfully unfastened the back of her dress. He started to pull the garment down her arms, but she shook her head and pulled it upwards instead. “It’s easier this way.” She tossed the billowy dress off to one side, not caring where it landed. Her undergarments quickly followed until she was as naked as he.
He stood beside the bed, and she tried to press against him. He held her at arms’ length and looked her over as thoroughly as she had studied him. “Perfect,” he whispered. And she echoed the word with a welcoming smile. Then their mouths sealed and their bodies pressed, sliding and rocking as they struggled to get closer.
Still kissing her, he crawled onto the bed and urged her over onto her back. She quickly swung her legs around then parted her thighs, making room for his big body. He knelt between her legs, arching over her as they kissed.
She felt him scanning her mind, checking for doubts or hesitations. I want this, love. She assured him. I’m ready to make it real. Unsure why he still hesitated, she focused on his emotions.
It’s already real. This will make it permanent. He reminded, still shocked that she would even consider bonding with him.
My traumas were much less frequent than yours, but I’ve known heartache too. We are both flawed, damaged. That’s what makes us perfect for each other.
He eased back and looked at her, his gaze incandescent green. “I will continue to live as Kage Razel. The persona protects everyone, and I honestly believe in what we’re trying to do here on Sarronti Prime. Still, I want nothing fake between us. I’d like to claim you as Seth.”
She grinned, thrilled by his decision. “Does this mean I finally get to see the real you?”
He cringed. “Kage f
eels more real to me than Seth. I’ve worn this face for so long, sometimes it’s hard to remember what Seth looks like.”
“Show me,” she encouraged. “I adore Kage and am more than proud to be the overlord’s mate, but I’m dying for a glimpse behind the mask.”
He rocked back onto his knees and released the illusion, watching closely as she reacted.
She pushed to her forearms, angling her torso so she could see all of him. He didn’t look all that different. His face was narrower, the angles a bit sharper. His eyes were an even brighter shade of green, but the shape and expressiveness were the same. His body was sleeker, leaner, more like a Sarronti. The realization made her smile. All of his markings, his tattoos, were real, though they appeared even more dramatic against his lighter-toned skin. The only shocking difference was his hair. The sleek golden brown strands flowed over his torso and along his legs, pooling on the bed. He’d told her his hair was longer, but she hadn’t expected this.
At first, she thought it was just another similarity to the Sarronti, then she remembered what Drakkin told her about Vee’s intricately woven hair. Her eyes widened, and she hesitantly reached out to touch Seth’s hair. “I thought your disguise was a psychic illusion. You’re a shapeshifter.” The soft strands curled around her fingers and she gasped, instinctively snatching her hand back.
Seth laughed. “I can reshape my face and body. Why does it surprise you that I can control my hair?”
“I’ve known Sarronti skinwalkers, but they can’t do that.”
“I’m not Sarronti,” he reminded with a familiar smile. His voice lacked the menacing growl he often used as Kage, but the timbre was basically the same.
Knowing what to expect now, she slowly pushed her hand back into his hair and left it there as he gently caressed her. “Wow.” She shivered. “That’s surprisingly erotic.”
“Then let’s see how you like this.” He eased her back and kissed her mouth as his hair slid all over her body, teasing her nipples and swirling over her belly and thighs.
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