Daughter Of Ethos: Deadly Betrayal Book 5

by L M Lacee

  ‘Perhaps.’ Darby said with a sniff. ‘I think it is just the Draygons. My Reeve is not like that.’

  ‘I am not. I am an Elite.’ Stated Reeve with a superior smile.

  ‘Chickenshit!’ Coughed Peyton into her hand.

  ‘What now?’ Growled both Darby and Reeve.

  ‘I am right here.’ Coraan stated as Reeve and Darby eyed a smirking Peyton.

  Zenerra asked. ‘What point are you trying to make brother?’

  Which made everyone laugh again. Netta asked Melody and Coraan. ‘Can I ask a question, if it is not too sensitive?’

  Melody told her. ‘Go for it.’ As she ignored brother and sister who were staring at each other.

  ‘How is a Warmaster created, are they birthed genetically from father to son? If Coraan does not have his own son, will we never have another Warmaster birthed?’

  ‘So that was more than one question.’ Melody quipped.

  Netta grinned. ‘Ahh yeah, I was saving them up.’

  Peyton and Darby gave each other a quick look, then looked away. Avana and Heather did not look at anyone as they stayed quiet.

  Coraan raised his eyes to Peyton as he answered with a knowing look in his eyes. ‘Although our grandfather was a Warmaster. The selection of a Warmaster rarely follows a family line. We were taught a Draygon was born with certain markers which determined they would develop into a Warmaster. We were told the divine decided the selection of a chosen egg. I suppose that referred to the Star Child, although we were never taught that.’

  Zenerra said. ‘And I am sure if it was a divine thing. We would have had at least one female Warmistress by now. Now that would have been so much fun.’

  Coraan nodded. ‘My sister is correct, we were always led to believe there has only ever been Warmasters, and it has always been so. Now we can never believe that again.’

  Startled Heddro and Zenerra looked at Coraan, Zenerra asked quietly. ‘What are you saying, brother?’

  ‘Only that I have not long discovered that our histories are incorrect. The truth we were taught and believed has not always been the truth. I have come to learn that when the Draygonissia were new to Draygann. There were Warmasters of either gender.’

  Zenerra scratched her head. ‘I don’t understand are you saying there is a Warmistress alive now.’

  ‘Yes, is that not so Madam?’

  Everyone but Darby, Heather and Avana looked at Peyton, who asked. ‘How did you find out?’

  His smile was not slow in coming. ‘Once my head was clear of survival and other concerns. I could feel her needar calling to mine. I then researched our histories. The extended version that Darby and Jax obtained for us.’

  ‘Oh, her needar called to you. I did not know that would happen.’

  ‘A new Warmaster calls at emergence and will do so until the call is answered. If it is never answered, they call for a lifetime. Unfortunately, it would be a short lifetime.’

  ‘You answered her call?’

  ‘I had no choice. I am a Warmaster.’

  ‘Ranarra does not know?’

  ‘He would never have heard the call as I did on his emergence or hatching. He will know there was something that haunted his needar. I will explain it to him.’

  ‘You never said anything!’

  ‘What difference would it make? She is what she is, and there is nothing I or anyone can do to change that. She is unique, and Ranarra and I will protect her with our lives and the lives of our sons.’

  ‘Oh, Coraan, no wonder you are a Warmaster.’

  ‘I thought I was to be a Commander.’

  ‘No dearle Draygon, you are my Warmaster. You always will be. Will you train her when it comes time?’

  He inclined his head. ‘It will be my honor.’

  ‘Thank you, Warmaster.’

  ‘Okay, what the hayda is this all about?’ Netta asked as Heddro abruptly stood, his wings vibrating in his agitation.

  ‘Do we have a problem?’ Reeve asked as he stood too.

  Coraan placed his hand on Reeve’s arm. ‘No, my friend, Heddro has never seen a Warmistress before, he is stunned, are you not Healer?’

  ‘I am more than stunned. You knew and did not tell us; we could have helped her, taken...’

  The room chilled instantly as Heddro dropped to a knee. No one spoke as they all looked toward Peyton, who was staring at Reeve.

  Reeve leaned down and stared at the male Draygon. Danger pulsed in the room as he asked again. ‘Do we have a problem here Healer, because unlike my family I will kill you where you kneel if you finish that sentence?’

  Keylan woke and felt the tension in the room and screamed loudly, which woke Koana, who also screamed right along with her. Instantly Carrick was in the room, armed and bristling with power. He demanded in a voice no one had ever heard before. ‘Who dares to threaten my chargers?’

  ‘Oh, now I get it.’ Darby said as everyone looked at him in shock.

  Reeve released the cold as Keylan screamed again and Koana sobbed into her mother’s chest.

  ‘Hush little ones. Carrick is here.’ His voice soothed the babies.

  Suddenly Prowlers and Warriors appeared in the room, armed and morphed into combat mode.

  ‘Seriously, we are at home.’ Peyton said to Marlo and Larson, who nodded and stated. ‘Good, response time.’

  Reeve said. ‘I am impressed.’

  ‘Not as fast as him, though?’ Kate said of Carrick, she then whispered. ‘Good Stars, he is amazing.’

  Carrick looked from the babies to see who it was that was praising him, and when his eyes beheld his living goddess. He dropped to the floor.

  ‘What the furin hayda is wrong, who killed my man?’ Kate yelled as she jumped from her chair and raced around the room. Sliding on her knees to a stop by the crumpled Carrick.

  Warriors and Prowlers both snarled as the males at the table rose, sword and blasters in their hands. Everyone else looked at one another with bemused expressions.

  Avana looked down at Carrick and Kate and said. ‘See, I never saw that one either. I am not good at matchmaking.’

  They all looked at Melody, who declared. ‘I was getting to it. That was why we came here, but I got side tracked. Motherhood will do that, you know.’

  ‘Oh my stars, did she just throw her babies under the bus?’ Darby asked the room at large.

  Peyton and Avana nodded their heads. ‘So sad.’ Avana said.

  ‘You’ve been an egg mother for five mins, really sad sister.’ Peyton sniffed in what she hoped was disdain, but thought it did not quite have the right tone. Then she felt him coming. ‘Uh-oh!’

  ‘What uh-oh.’ Darby asked, then she whispered, ‘Never mind.’ When Hawk entered the room.

  Netta murmured. ‘Oh boy, shits gonna hit the fan now.’

  TWENTY-THREE:

  Hawk strode from the transfer circle with Dinas and Kerol by his side and bellowed. ‘Enough, explain yourselves!’

  ‘Well…’

  ‘Not you, Madam.’

  ‘Okay.’ She mouthed, grumpy to the others, who grinned and ducked their heads.

  Hawk looked around the room and spying Marlo demanded. ‘Commander Marlo, report and make it quick!’

  Marlo eased his blaster off and sheathed his sword. It had been a long… a very long time since he had been addressed so. He took one look at the First Commander and knew he was not amused, so in precise detail, he gave his report.

  Hawk said. ‘Thank you. Heather, is he able to be moved?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Warriors take Carrick to the…’

  Brenda interrupted him by saying. ‘There is an empty lounge along the hall. Take him there, Kate, go with him dearle.’

  Heather said. ‘I will go as well, come on Kate.’ She helped her stand as Kate said. ‘I am mated.’

  ‘Yes hon, you are.’

  ‘But I don’t know him.’

  ‘It happens.’ Darby said. ‘My advice, roll with it.’

&nb
sp; ‘But why did he not do that earlier, we were together then?’

  ‘Did you know?’ Heather asked her as she led her to the door.

  ‘No, not until now.’

  ‘And so it is like that for him.’

  Hawk told her in a gentle voice. ‘Kate dearle, he was chosen for you. Go with Heather, Carrick will need you when he wakes.’

  ‘Okay, Hawk.’ Still dazed, she let Heather lead her from the room as eight Warriors carried the unconscious Carrick behind them. They could hear Kate saying. ‘But I don’t understand how we didn’t know earlier, what will Kitolin say?’

  Keylan let out another scream. Hawk looked at her and raised an eyebrow admonishing. ‘Enough young lady. I will not tolerate that noise, cease it immediately.’

  She snapped her mouth closed and tears ran down her cheeks as she held her hands up for him. He took her from Peyton and held her as he spoke to the Warriors and Prowlers. ‘As I was saying, you are all excused. Thank you for your quick response. Go with our thanks.’

  The room emptied quickly. Hawk sat and looked at the others. Dinas and Kerol made themselves comfortable as Brenda and Helen bustled around handing out sandwiches and refilling tea cups and coffee for Peyton.

  Helen handed Hawk a bottle for Keylan. She sat on his knee and babbled at him, he nodded. ‘I see, well I will fix it.’

  She touched his face with her little hands and smiled as he placed her bottle in her mouth. Closing her eyes, she leaned back against his broad chest and made sucking noises. Koana cried until Hawk said. ‘Yours is coming.’

  Just then Brenda brought a bottle to her. She grabbed it and babbled at Brenda, who took it as a thank you and kissed her cheek before saying. ‘You are welcome, Bee-Bee.’

  ‘See!’ Avana said to Peyton. ‘She is named that now. This is all your fault.’

  Unrepentant Peyton smiled. ‘Looks that way.’ Then she asked Hawk. ‘So what is Keylan upset about?’

  ‘She does not understand where Hope, Rayvan and Draykin are. Jax, if you could have the little ones returned to the Hex, with someone to watch over them, we need some time please.’

  Certainly Commander Hawk.

  ‘How does he know what she said?’ Wondered Darby, who had a twinkle in her eyes.

  ‘He has skills.’ Netta told her amused at the question, and the suspicious look Darby gave Hawk as she said. ‘I bet he does.’

  ‘Mind thoughts, he can read minds.’ Melody stated as her eyes laughed at Darby.

  Peyton mumbled. ‘Cyborg, I keep saying it, but you keep saying no.’

  Darby’s head whipped around to her and then back to Hawk as her eyes narrowed in thought.

  He sighed as he said. ‘I cannot, it was an educated guess.’

  He ignored Peyton’s comment. ‘Yeah, that’s what they all say, they are probably told to.’

  Darby’s eyes narrowed further as she asked Helen. ‘Do we have foil?’

  ‘For what?’ Heddro, unable to help himself, asked.

  ‘It stops the thoughts being read.’ Replied a straight faced Netta.

  ‘Eggs.’ Marlo snarled. ‘Now!’

  Helen told Heddro. ‘They are being silly. I will explain it later.’

  He nodded. ‘Thank you.’

  Peyton asked Marlo. ‘What now?’

  ‘Eggs.’

  ‘You’re gonna have to give me more, come on, you can do it.’

  ‘I will take you outside and spank you.’

  She blinked three times, then she and the others, even Helen and Brenda, laughed.

  He asked the males. ‘Why is that funny?’

  Hawk shrugged. ‘I do not know, they did the same when I threatened to spank them.’

  Again, peals of laughter rolled around the room. Netta and Zenerra were holding their stomach’s as tears poured from their eyes.

  Avana begged. ‘Please... please stop.’

  Reeve watched the laughing females and said, ‘This is why talking to them is so much better. I can make them cry.’

  Silence met his words and every female there looked at Darby, who asked mildly. ‘Do you wish to rephrase that mate, before I kick your ass?’

  Reeve smirked. ‘I am an Elite. I do not fear you, little female.’

  Helen declared, ‘Ouch that kind of talk will get you the couch.’

  Netta agreed. ‘So will.’

  Reeve growled. ‘I am an Elite, I do not sleep on a couch in my home.’

  Peyton said. ‘Funny how he knew what that meant though, a hundred says he does.’

  ‘I’ll take some of that.’ Helen said never one to pass up a bet and before anyone could say anymore, the betting was on.

  Heddro sighed quietly and Coraan said. ‘Are you well, Heddro?’

  He smiled and nodded. ‘I was worried for a min. I apologize Coraan, at my age one would assume I would have more mastery over my tongue.’

  Coraan smiled sympathetically at the healer. ‘I understand.’

  ‘As do I Heddro.’ Hawk assured the healer. ‘All I can say is my brother loves deeply and not always with reason, as you saw. But believe me when I say Madam would not have allowed harm to come to you.’

  Heddro stared at him, wishing to believe what he said, but found it hard to do. It had felt like death creeping up on him when Reeve had stared at him with his cold, dark eyes. ‘If you say so, Commander.’

  ‘I do, she likes you, admires you more.’

  ‘I did not know that!’

  ‘She does not like to advertise the fact.’

  ‘What is that?’

  Hawk shrugged. ‘No idea, it is just something she says.’

  Heddro had rarely spoken to the Commander but had heard much about him. Especially his devotion to the Star Daughter. Some said it bordered on fanaticism. Although as he spoke with him, he thought that description was incorrect. What he felt from the Commander was a deeply respectful love and no more. The Commander knew the Star Daughter was more than the vessel for the Star Child. She was a Terran with all their quirks and flaws. Heddro concluded their relationship was a healthy one but to test his theory, he asked Hawk.

  ‘You love her greatly?’

  Hawk looked around the table at the people present and told Heddro. ‘She has done this, brought us all to this point. So we can distribute eggs to people who truly never thought they could be parents. She is worthy of my love.’

  ‘I see.’

  Hawk noted the male’s thoughtful look and murmured. ‘I think you do.’

  Jax interrupted to say. Commander Hawk, Lady Amelia and Lady Karen are bringing the young ones back and will watch over them.

  Hope holding Rayvan and Draykin’s hands arrived with Karen and Amelia. Who swooped in and took the babies from Hawk and Avana.

  ‘We will be in the playroom.’ Amelia told them.

  Hawk said. ‘Thank you ladies.’

  Peyton grinned as Karen mouthed. You in trouble?

  She nodded yes, and Karen made a face. When Hawk looked her way, she smiled, kissed his cheek and told him. ‘Just going.’

  She scampered away as Hawk took a drink of his tea, then asked. ‘So where did we get too?’

  ‘Reeve was threatening Healer Heddro.’

  ‘Thank you, Netta. Healer Heddro, what is your concern about our Keylan being a potential Warmistress?’

  Peyton asked. ‘Hey, you don’t seem very surprised!’

  He let loose one of his rare smiles. ‘Peyton, my sister. As if I would not know about my niece.’

  Which when she thought on it later was no answer at all. He asked again. ‘Healer?’

  ‘I apologize if it sounded like I was threatening her. I was not. I should have chosen my words more carefully, and truthfully I forgot whose child she was and whose care she was in. If today showed me anything, it is that she is in the best place possible. So please forgive my rash comments.’

  Peyton said. ‘Of course we do. I knew you would never jeopardize my baby and you are right. She is in the right place. But now I thin
k on it, I should have advised you, she may develop differently and you would not have known why. So please forgive my paranoia, Heddro. And I apologize to you, Coraan, and you as well Zenerra. You two and Ranarra should have been informed, if for no other reason than by not speaking to you of Keylan, it showed a lack of trust.’

  Coraan held his hand up. ‘She is your daughter, which means one of your responsibilities is to make sure she is protected. There is no wrong in not telling anyone. In fact, I think it may be better if her status is not spoken about.’

  Heddro was nodding as he told her. ‘Madam, you have nothing to apologize for. Your paranoia is warranted. She will be a target if it is known what she is. Coraan and Zenerra will tell you, her existence goes against all the teachings of Draygann.’

  ‘You are both probably right, so I will be guided by you and trust you three and Ran with this precious information.’