by Auryn Hadley
"No way there's nothing between you two," one of the Dogs said. "It's all good, we're not gonna spill shit about our newest brother, Sal."
"Doesn't work like that. Which one are you?" she asked.
"Tritain Ojai."
She acknowledged that and said, "My men are good with what I do. Not their place to say otherwise. We don't keep secrets really well, you know."
"Man, we need to train our girls better," Deron joked. "Ain't enough of em to go around as it is."
"You have no idea, man," Zep chuckled.
"Rayna's all over your shit," Tyr said, "and you're the one with the arm around Sal. Don't act like you're suffering any."
"Nah, man. I'm not suffering. Can't do humans, though. That's what I mean." He looked down at Sal's head. The men smiled at the affection on his face but said nothing as Zep pushed a lock of hair under her ear. "Look, you spend time around them, and you get sucked in, that's all I'm saying. That, and there's only one Sal. Ain't another in Anglia or the Conglomerate."
"No shit, man. Ain't another Tyr either."
"I mean female iliri, you fuck," Zep retorted.
"Hey, Sal?" Ryekir asked.
"Yeah?"
"Since you're all talking about this shit now, can I ask what happens if you do sleep with him? How's that work?"
"Well, you put tab A into - " Tyr started, and Deron tossed his shirt at him.
"Not that part, you ass," Ryek said. "I mean, you're in each other's heads all the time, right? How's that work?"
Sal giggled. "Not all the time; not with everyone. It's like a two-way conversation. I can reach out and ask for someone, but they have to answer, or I'm listening to nothing. We can scream at the unit, too, but that's more like an officer walking down the hall yelling. We aren't just always in each other's minds. Not really."
"Ok. But rumor has it you're Cyno's girl."
She laughed. "No. Cyno's mine. You got it backwards. That has nothing to do with anything, though."
"So, forgive me for being crude and all, but you fuck Valcor here, and Cyno won't kill him?"
"Nope. Unless we're in maast, and that's different. Well, unless he's in maast. He loses a bit of control at those times, and he'll kill just about anyone because it's fun."
"Damn. Gotcha," Ryek said. "I'm just asking because we've been giving Valcor shit for a few days now. He's not the kind to point out when someone's gone too far, but I figured you'd let us know."
"Zep knows what's up. I need someone at my back right now, and he's the man that's always taken care of me. No problems between the Blades about it."
Ryekir looked at her a long moment. "I think I understand, Sal." Then he looked at Zep. "You're a fucking idiot, you know that, man?"
Zep shrugged and nodded. "At times, yeah. I can be taught."
Ryek shook his head and started to walk away before turning back. "Oh, Sal?"
"Yeah?"
"I got called in Pig's office tonight. You know about that?"
She smiled. "No, but I might have an idea. How'd it go?"
"Thanks. Means a lot to me, coming from you."
Sal nodded in understanding. "Was news to me you weren't. Hope it works out."
"Hey, none of that covert shit, man," Tyr said. "Valcor already got his shit. Start talking, man, or it's you next."
Ryek chuckled, dropping his head to hide the smile. "I got a new position, bro. They're keeping me in bravo squad but training me for assassinations."
"Fuck yeah, bout time!" Tyr said.
Ryek's face was getting darker. "Pig talked to Sal. She said she thought I already was working kills."
Deron reached up to slap his leg. "Doesn't get much better than that. Damn, you on top of the world right now?"
"Yeah man. Pretty much. Fucking got a compliment from Death herself."
Tyr looked over at her. "You know that's what the latest round of stories calls you, Sal? Lady Death, or just Death. They always have a picture of you in this black hood and shit."
Zep said, "That's because she usually wears one. Tight leathers and a deep hood to hide all that white."
"I can't believe they broke up the Blades," Ryek muttered. "Best damned unit in the Conglomerate. Not the way we wanted to rank first."
Sal shrugged. "From what I can see, you all aren't that far behind us. We just had more tricks to call on."
"Speaking of that..." Tyr lowered his voice. "We have any intel, Sal? Pig told me that story, and we're not up till late tomorrow, so a few of us are throwing a dice game."
"Three maybe four," she told him. "One will not have a longsword, and he lives. He'll walk heavy."
"The rest die?"
Sal cocked her head to the side and flicked her ears up. "Or whatever. Problem is the two floors above us, ya know?"
"Fuck," Ryekir breathed. "That's not gonna look real good for us."
"Yeah. And they'll sleep as lightly as I do." She groaned. "And unlike the rest of you, my morning will probably be pretty early."
"Playing politics?" Zep asked.
"Yeah," Sal told him. "Conglomerate, Anglia, and now Viraenova all are going to be screaming to have me there. Seems Ilirian isn't a common language. Oh, shit, Zep, I forgot to tell you!"
"Don't make me guess, kid."
"Rhyx. She read by touch today and passed the burning."
"What the fuck does that mean?" Tyr asked.
Zep looked up at him, beaming. "Our pup. She got a vision of things from touching someone, then she managed to package it up - and that isn't easy - and pass it to Sal. So she's like Cyno?"
Sal nodded emphatically. "Seems like it. It was a clean package too. She had more problems with the push. That's how I got intel on Raj."
"Ah, ok, so we can trust it, then."
Sal nodded, grinning.
"Ayati, the girls are growing up too fast."
The Dogs chuckled. "You sound like a dad, Valcor," Deron teased.
"I am. Two of the cutest girls you've ever seen. Sharp teeth, stubby little tails, and the tiniest little claws that pinch like a bitch when they try to crawl in your lap. Don't take them in the nuts, trust me."
Sal clamped her hands over her mouth and laughed. "Rhyx?" she managed to get out.
"No, Raast! Worst part? She nailed me one and then asked if she should make it better."
Sal leaned her head against his chest and giggled. "What'd you tell her?"
"I told her dava would be fine in a second, but to move her damned claws."
Sal fell into another fit of giggles. Across from her, Tyr watched the couple smiling.
"Think we can ever get that?" he asked Devon.
"Dunno man. No reason why not, I guess."
"How'd they do it?" Tyr asked as Sal gripped Zep's arm against her. The big man wiped tears from his eyes, and whispered something else in her ear, making her laugh harder.
Rayna plopped beside Tyr, grinning at Sal. "See the white tattoos?" she asked.
"Yeah," Tyr said. "She's covered in them."
"They're stories of love. Brotherly love, family love, romantic love - doesn't matter. Red is pain, black is death, purple is hope, pink is fear, green is life, blue is faith. There's more, I can't remember them all, but I read up on them."
"K?" Tyr asked, wondering how this mattered.
"She's an assassin who was born a slave. She's been beaten, probably raped, nearly killed a few times, and slaughtered more people than we can count, right?"
"Yeah?"
Rayna nodded at her again. "And her body is covered in stories of love. Above all else, they focus on that because it's what keeps them going. You see the look on Valcor's face when he talks about her?"
"Yeah. That's what I mean. How do we get that?"
Rayna patted Tyr's leg. "We learn to love like they do, man. Watching them together, I see what Sal means. I never had a chance with him."
"You trying for Valcor?"
Rayna shrugged. "I was. Not now. There's a trust between them we don't have. We'll nev
er be like that until we get it."
She looked back at the couple. Zep was talking to Ryekir and Sal rested her cheek on his forearm, but her pale eyes watched Rayna, one ear pointing in her direction.
"We good?" she mouthed.
Rayna smiled. "Yeah, Sal. We're good. I get it."
Sal glanced at Zep, aware he was deep in some debate about weapons. "You know how it starts, right?"
Tyr shook his head. "I guess you heard us?"
"It starts with a secret."
She stood up, and Zep kissed her hand before he released it. Sal made her way over and sank to the ground beside Rayna. Tyr leaned over, and Deron scooted beside her, all of them listening intently.
"It starts with a secret," she explained. "Something so big you can't tell anyone else, and you want to protect it. Something that affects all of you, and matters so much that you're scared to even admit you know it. You learn to protect it, and you learn to protect each other. One secret, and then it turns to two. Then someone else adds one, and then another, and soon you're all a part of a whole, and nothing can divide you."
Rayna smiled at her and nodded. "First, we need a secret, then. I'm jealous of you two, Sal. And he's just your brother. I can't even imagine what you have with Cyno."
"He's my other half." Sal looked up at the men around her. "You sure you all want this?" She gestured to Zep. The men nodded, and Sal took a long, deep breath, smiling. "Pig knows we're defecting, and he's going to order you to cover our retreat. It's treason."
Rayna gasped, "You're defecting?"
Sal met her eyes and nodded. "All of the Blades."
Tyr let out a heavy breath. "Anglia?"
"Why?" Rayna asked, then paused. "That's a stupid question, but which why did you choose?"
Sal looked at her for a long moment before answering. "I am Kaisae. I'm the only Kaisae, and Anglia is filled with people like you. There's no scrubbers, no hate. They aren't perfect, but they're trying."
Tyr brushed his hand lightly against her shoulder. "The three kingdoms. Human, iliri, grauori. King, Kaisae, Orassae. Pig knows?"
Sal bit her lips together and nodded. "He's keeping it from you because he doesn't want shit to come down on his men. If you're caught? Bare minimum, he hangs. Worst case, all of you. Tell him you know."
"Fuck," Deron said. "What happens if things go to shit? Parliament will declare war on the Blades. Hell, maybe even on Anglia. We'll end up across the line, Sal."
Sal just looked at him. "And all of you will live. I owe you. You won't win, but you'll live. I swear it."
Chapter 25
Tyr chuckled to break the tension. Talking about this in the middle of the military barracks wasn't the smartest thing, but the only people around were Devil Dogs. Sal wasn't worried. None of these men would cause problems.
"How can you be so sure you'll beat us?" he asked.
She decided it was time to lay out the facts. "One grauori can take about ten humans. Usually one to two elites. Seeing the way the Devil Dogs work, I'd say you can each hold one. The Conglomerate can field about thirty thousand troops at most. There's only forty thousand on the rolls, and some of those aren't combat ready. Anglia has about fifty thousand combat-ready humans. Well, we lost about two hundred from that, but the last time I checked the rolls it was around fifty-four thousand."
"So we're outnumbered," Tyr said. "Conglomerate's more experienced, though, and has better tactics."
Sal held up a finger. "That's the humans, Tyr. Iliri only have about two hundred total troops, and most are Terran defections without training, but don't forget the grauori."
"Fuck," Rayna whispered.
Sal nodded. "Rragri brought an expeditionary force of a thousand. I know it looks like a show of force, but it's not. That's just the mutts that wanted to come see what's on the other side of the mountains. Someone declares war on Anglia? There's a lot more."
"How many?" Tyr asked.
"Nine million. You won't win. But there's nothing saying you have to stand across the line if things come to that."
Rayna and Tyr looked at each other, and Deron sucked in a breath.
"And you can guarantee that?" Rayna asked softly.
Sal nodded.
"We're humans, Sal. Not iliri. Anglia's got plenty of our kind."
Sal grinned. "You met Ilija yet?"
"No." Rayna drug the word out.
"Stop by and see him tomorrow. Tell him you're a soldier, like him, just better."
Rayna raised her eyebrow. "And he's not going to throw me out of the camp?"
Sal slowly shook her head, a smirk on her lips. "No. Not if you tell him that. Talk to him, then talk to Pig." Sal patted Rayna's knee and stood up. Giving the small group a stern look, she added, "And don't give Zep shit tomorrow, guys."
Tyr leaned closer to keep his voice down. "Nah, Sal. It's all good. We all saw that fresh bite on him and none of us said shit. I've known him a long time - been whoring with him a few, too. He ain't touchin' ya because he's too damned honorable. That's why we made you spell it out for us. Have your way with him. We'll watch your back."
"Thanks, Tyr," she said, resting her hand on his arm.
He looked down at her bare skin touching his. "That's twice in one night, Sal. Keep it up and I'll start thinking I have a chance."
Rayna smacked him. "In your dreams, boy."
"Pretty much. So, I got a dice game tonight, Ray," he said as he glanced at Sal then back at Rayna. "You in? Have to bring your weapons."
Rayna laughed. "I'm in."
The Dogs stood and began moving their chairs into Tyr's room across the hall from Zep's. Sal thanked them again, aware the area was slowly emptying. Not all of them were heading to Tyr's supposed dice game. Others were making their way to their own beds. Zep sat quietly on the floor, watching her. She caught his eyes and tilted her head at the room.
"Go on, I'll catch up," he said.
With a shrug, she stepped inside. She'd already lit the lantern, and it glowed softly in the corner. In the hall, she could hear Zep pull himself up and thump against the wall. She could only guess how much of her conversation with Rayna he'd heard, but it didn't matter. She'd already admitted she was interested in him. Now, the decision was his. If he said no, he was still her big brother, and she'd love him the way she always had.
Setting her steel knives on the table, she made her way to the far side of the room. The space was meant for one, not a couple, but she had to be presentable in the morning. Sal pulled out a fresh uniform for the morning and hung it from the back of the chair to allow the wrinkles to fall out overnight. Not as good as a wardrobe, but better than living out of packs. Behind her, the door opened, and Zep entered, closing it softly behind him. She straightened the pants and turned around slowly.
"We good?" she asked.
"Yeah, demon." He pulled off his shirt, tossing it in the corner, then sat on the bed to remove his boots.
Sal watched his dark skin move in the warm light and waited. She couldn't even use his scent to give her an idea of what he was thinking. Zep had learned long ago to control that when he wanted to. Deliberately, he set his boots beside the wall, tossed his socks on the pile, and sighed. She eased herself onto the bed, allowing Zep to follow the sounds of her movements even as he avoided looking at her.
"You sure we're good?" she asked softly. "I just need a place to sleep and a friend at my back. That's all, Zep. I'm not trying to make you feel uncomfortable."
That's when he finally turned to look at her. She watched his throat bob as he swallowed. His face, however, stayed perfectly calm. "I'm scared to death, Sal." Dropping his eyes, he chuckled. "I feel like a damned virgin trying to impress a girl, ya know?"
Sal scooted closer but stayed just out of reach. "You forget about those memories you gave me?"
He shrugged that off. "Whores. It's not the same."
"Ok. Just don't tell me you always sleep dressed, though. I know better."
He took a deep breath and loo
ked at the far wall. "Only when I'm trying really hard to show how much of a gentleman I am."
She scooted toward him a little more, her weight barely shifting the bed beneath her. She was close enough to wrap her arms around him, but instead she asked, "Did you hear about Trax?"
"No, what did you do?"
Sal chuckled. "He made Rek and me go through stances. I tossed Rek in a link," she traced the line of muscles down his back, "and showed them what iliri can do. Trax got pissed and backhanded me." Gently, she rested her head against his shoulder and wrapped one arm around his waist, still tracing his muscles with her other hand. "I got a bit upset and grounded him. He never even dodged."
Zep laughed. "That's my girl. I guess that's what the thing was this morning?"
"Yeah," Sal said as Zep covered her hand on his stomach with his. She snuggled her cheek into his shoulder. "The rest you caught most of. Tseri is going to be a good ally, too." When she ran her other hand up his neck, Zep sighed.
"Mm, keep talking."
That was the encouragement she needed. Sal pulled herself against his back, pressing into his solid muscles, and his fingers twined with hers. "She's not pleased with the humans but understands that the enemy of her enemy should be her friend for now. I actually used that phrase. It amused her."
"So she's good for an alliance?" He pulled her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles.
"Yeah. She should be. She's fine with Anglia, and gets why she needs Myrosica and the Conglomerate." Sal pressed her lips against his back, and Zep sucked in a small breath. "Pig knows our plan, too."
Zep chuckled, his voice resonating against her cheek. "LT put him in that spot. They've been friends a long time."
