Instinctual (Rise of the Iliri Book 2)

by Auryn Hadley

  "A pair?"

  Cyno nodded. "Gonna have ta hit least two at once. I'd rather she has a weapon she's used ta."

  "You know it's a classified weapon, right?"

  Cyno shrugged. "I'm ranked fer it. So's she. They listed the job, and it's easy enough ta hide."

  "Murtadem?" the Major asked, reading down the list. "What the hell are you two doing?"

  "Our job," Sal told him. "Bysno has a family history of heart conditions."

  "You got all this last night?" He was shocked.

  Cyno just grinned like a pleased animal. "That was the first hour. This is gonna work out. That little Marquis? His whole world's about ta change."

  "You don't think there's going to be a problem with nobility dropping dead as soon as Conglomerate ambassadors arrive?"

  "No," Sal said, "since they'll be dropping before we manage to make it to Bysno, officially."

  Blaec just waved it all away. "I shouldn't ask. I have the best damned assassins in the CFC. I should know not to ask."

  "Ya should, but yer too curious," Cyno said, smiling deviously. "Ya'd be good at it if ya ever let yerself try."

  "I do better where I am, man, but thanks for the vote of confidence. I'm also glad she finally asked you, just so you know."

  Cyno looked away to hide his embarrassment. He smiled, then glanced back as he said, "Thanks. Feels pretty good. The rest know?"

  "Sal told Arctic, so if they don't yet, they will."

  "One day," she muttered, "I'll understand my own culture."

  "You just raised his rank with the men," Blaec explained. "A lot."

  "What does that mean?" she asked.

  "I'm the general, you're the major, he's now a captain."

  "Where does Arctic fit in?"

  "Mm." Blaec chewed his lip as he thought.

  Cyno answered instead. "He's yer equal, Sal, because ya let him be."

  "So, how does the rank change?" She looked between them both, trying to wrap her mind around the delicate balance between their pack and their unit structure.

  "You're at the top," Blaec explained. "For the rest of us, it's a mixture of where you put us and who we dominate."

  "I feel like I'm not playing by the same rules as the rest of you."

  "You aren't," he assured her. "If we had other females, you'd compete with them, but we're a bit short on available women."

  "Ya'd win too," Cyno said, reaching up to brush her hair back. "Ya could na help it."

  "I try to keep our official rank pretty equivalent to our social," Blaec said, gesturing to Cyno's chevrons. "That's why he got the promotion. He earned it a year ago, but never took it."

  "So you just have those sitting around?" The insignia they'd all received lately was anything but standard-issue.

  "General Sturmgren brought them. The new boys will get theirs when they reach Corporal. I'll promote them as soon as they do anything worthwhile."

  "You started me as a Corporal, though. Why?"

  Cyno chuckled. "Ya were a bit more impressive than they were, kitten. Ya have na slowed down none, either."

  Blaec just nodded. "Your final trial? You nailed it. I didn't realize how at the time, which is actually more impressive, but yeah. Arctic and Zep basically told me that if I didn't make you a Corporal, they would."

  "Can they do that?"

  "Technically, but it causes a few issues."

  Cyno sucked back the last of his coffee, shoved a bit of cheese in his mouth, then stood. Swallowing quickly, he told them, "I need ta get a few things taken care of b'fore the rest return. Keep an eye on her, LT."

  "Can do. I need to check out the new guys on their horses. I'll drag her with me."

  Cyno nodded, then bent and kissed her neck, causing Sal to look up at him shocked.

  "I can do that now," he said softly. "And it sure will na hurt for people ta see me do it in front of LT." He grabbed her hand and squeezed it quickly, then left, moving as silently as he'd entered.

  Blaec sucked back the last of his own coffee, gesturing to hers. Sal followed suit, then grabbed both cups along with her plate, and set them in the designated tray while her commanding officer waited for her at the door. She smiled, realizing how full the mess had become while she'd eaten. Quite a few eyes followed her as she moved across the room.

  "Ok, sir. My ass is moving."

  "You want to check on that stallion since it's on the way?" he asked.

  She nodded. Things should have been awkward between them when she told him about Cyno, but instead, the opposite had happened. She felt more at ease with both of them. Sal knew better than to question it. If she'd learned anything during her time with the Blades, it was that acting iliri just felt right.

  Chapter 33

  Rax was doing well. Not surprising, since he'd been healed by Shift, but Tilso had been unable to find a single thing wrong with him. He moved easily and showed no muscle soreness anywhere. The Stablemaster, now that he was aware of the tricks the iliri had been using, had done his best to cover the horse's miraculous recovery. Rax had been massaged and worked in hand as well as on the lunge. Tilso's skill made it appear as if the horse had blossomed with the care rather than simply being fine all along.

  "Two days," Sal said to him. "Not bad."

  Tilso just shrugged. "Shift's got the knack," he said with a wry grin. "Just hoping Arden comes back as sound as she went out."

  "Me too," she agreed, thinking of her mare. "It's the 112th, though. If she took a wound, it wouldn't be from lack of care."

  "And you can let them near the horses," LT added. "Pull out Scorch if they ask for it."

  "You selling breedings?" Tilso asked.

  "Officially, no. It's frowned on to run a breeding operation, but it's not like we get a lot of quality horses any other way. Unofficially, we do a lot of favors between units. Captain Tolan's made comments and we need to kit out a pair of assassins."

  "Can do, sir," Tilso said, understanding. "The 112th has a lot of light gear designed specifically for them. Get one of their tents and I can get it dyed black."

  "I think I can do better than that. Tilso, you think you can get eleven of them dyed?"

  "Eleven?"

  LT just nodded.

  "Yeah. A spare?"

  "Yours," Sal said.

  Tilso chuckled but shook his head. "I appreciate it, sir, but I sleep where Risk is."

  "Not with the full army. I don't care if it stands empty, I'm not giving anyone a reason to cause us grief."

  The boy shrugged. "Yes, I can get eleven of them dyed. I run a hard deal too, sir."

  "Then I think you just got a new job. I don't work with Azure or Star Fall, though."

  "Understood. So what did you think of the new horses?"

  "Headed there now, actually," Sal told him. "Want to show me what you got?"

  "Yep!" Tilso led the way through the barn, toward the arena.

  Audgan and Geoni sat astride their horses, Zep in the center of the ring. Both men had their hands crossed, guiding the horses with their legs, and Geoni seemed a bit worried about it.

  "Take a break," Zep called to them. "Two laps, and work out the muscles. You'll be showing off in a second." The boys sighed gratefully, and Zep motioned his officers toward him. "Tilso did good."

  "They Terran?" Sal asked, meaning the horses.

  "Not sure, but they are experienced. Little mare is a hellion, but Audgan has her in hand nicely. The gelding is a bit lazy, but he knows when to work and when he can goof off. Wanna try one, Sal?"

  "No," she said, "But I want to see LT on the mare."

  "Audgan!" Blaec bellowed.

  "Yes, sir?"

  "Come here, I want your horse."

  "Yes, sir!" The pale little man trotted his mare over to dismount.

  He offered the reins to the Major and, with little more than a glance, adjusted the stirrups. Blaec dipped his head in acknowledgment, an impressed look on his face, then stepped into the saddle. The mare's head went up immediately and
she locked her ears back.

  "Try it," Blaec growled.

  The horse skittered, then moved into his aids, walking stiffly along the rail. Halfway around the arena, she tried to bolt. LT put his legs on her, urging her forward, pushing the spunky mare into a gallop. Her trick didn't work, so she decided to try another, this time letting out an impressive kick without slowing her forward motion. It didn't bother her rider, so the next stride, she began to buck.

  Blaec pulled her head to his knee and sat deep, moving her forward. They made three tight circles before the mare stopped, ears still pinned, blowing hard. Blaec just reached down, patted her neck, and asked her to move out again. This time, the horse's ears flicked forward and she obeyed. In moments, she was half-passing across the width of the arena, engaging her body and moving nicely. Patting the mare's shoulder, Blaec asked her to halt and dismounted.

  "She's going to be nice with some hours, Audgan," he said. "How are your hands?"

  "Light," Tilso answered for him. "That's why he got the mare. She doesn't like a solid aid at all."

  "Mr. Tilso is a genius with the horses, sir," Audgan said. "Showed me how to keep her happy, and we've been doing pretty good. She doesn't feel like the other horses I've ridden, sir, but I have no complaints."

  "Park horses," Tilso muttered. "No, she won't feel like that at all. The Geo guy, he's a bit ham-fisted on the bit still."

  "Geo guy?" Sal asked.

  Tilso just shrugged. "It's Geo something, and I can never remember what."

  "I'll answer to Geo," the man in question said as he rode by. "Zep, Sal, Cyno, Geo. Yeah, it's close enough."

  "He's a smart-ass," Zep said, but he didn't look as if he minded.

  "Geo it is," Blaec agreed. "Makes it easier to scream at you when you get out of line. Now pick up a right lead canter, Geo!"

  The dark haired man stopped grinning and concentrated, squeezing the horse gently. The gelding hesitated, but managed to find the proper lead and move into the canter. LT walked around the ring after him, calling out more orders, and Zep pulled Sal aside.

  "Someone said something this morning," he whispered.

  "I asked him, Zep," Sal said. "It's true."

  "You ok with this?"

  She nodded. "More than I thought. It just feels right, you know?"

  "You love him?"

  "I dunno," she said softly. "Maybe?"

  "You want him to be one of your men, but you aren't sure if you love him?"

  "I don't want to share him," she said lifting her chin, daring him to contradict her.

  He did. "I don't believe for a moment that's the only reason, demon. You're scared of it, aren't you?"

  "I'm fine, Zep."

  "Bullshit. Those two are about the best things you could ask for, and you know it as much as the rest of us. So why are you holding back if it isn't fear?"

  "Why do you care?"

  He tapped her nose and smiled. "Because you’re all three my friends."

  Sal glanced over at LT and sighed. Tilting her head, she indicated Zep should move farther away with her. When they were well outside anything an iliri could hear, she turned back to him.

  "It's different with Jase, ok?"

  "How?"

  "If I knew that, I wouldn't be avoiding the answers, Zep!"

  "Fair enough. So explain the difference."

  She nodded, thinking about it. "Blaec makes me happy. Things between us are safe, predictable, and exactly what makes me comfortable. Jase? He's never what I expect. He goes from one extreme to the next. Submissive to dominant, playful to deadly..."

  "Loving to...?" Zep asked.

  "That's the only thing he seems to be consistent about," she admitted.

  "And you're about as unpredictable as he is," Zep pointed out. "So what's the problem?"

  "Me. I'm working it out, Zep. He knows that. No one seemed this concerned when things started between Blaec and I."

  "LT can handle his own shit. Cyno?" Zep dragged a hand over his mouth. "Shit, Sal, he's never loved a woman in his life. Never. He and I've been through a lot of shit, and we had way too much time to talk. When he was training you, back when you were new, he asked me what to do. He couldn't stop thinking of you but he knew all about that trick you played on LT. Every time the two of you sparred, you hit him with it."

  "Is it possible to do anything about that?" Sal asked. "I mean, every time I touch him, he's getting reads from me."

  "No," Zep told her. "It's why readers are always a bit off, or so they tell me. Cyno's a damned strong reader too. Don't ever try to hide anything from him."

  She looked at him, confused. "Why would I?"

  Zep just shrugged. "Why would anyone? He's an open book, Sal. You just have to ask. He's not going to lie to you or hide things from you. It's just how he is."

  "It's like," Sal paused, but a look from Zep encouraged her. "Zep, he's like the other part of my mind. I feel so comfortable with him. From the first time we met, I've always felt at ease with him. Remember when you took me to the pub after our spar?"

  "The red outfit. How could I forget that?"

  "Do you remember when I danced with him?" Zep shook his head, so she continued, "I rested my head on his shoulder. I barely knew him, but it just felt like it was ok. I don't do that, Zep."

  "I know. You avoided touching me for weeks if you could help it." He nodded, thinking, then said, "Sometimes I worry that you're going to rip him up and spit him out a broken man. He'd let you, too. You wouldn't mean to, but I still worry about it."

  "Don't let me?" Sal begged. "Maast, don't let me do that."

  Zep just shrugged. "This one's on you, demon. You're going to be too far away for me to step in. Just stop playing the hard bitch when you're alone with him, and let him in your head a bit, ok?"

  "I do," she said softly. "It's not my head that's the problem."

  "The rest will come. Damn, I'm going to miss the two of you." He hugged her close. "I really am. You're both the closest friends I've had. Just make sure he doesn't kill any humans he isn't supposed to, and bring him back safe, ok?"

  She grinned. "Ok. You going to tell him the same thing?"

  "Nah," Zep said, blowing that off. "Don't need to. But good luck getting him to handle Anglian court. I don't envy you that."

  "It won't be that much easier for me," she told him. "I don't have the first clue how to deal with human nobles."

  "Just act like LT," Zep told her. "Pompous, arrogant, and like you know more than them. You do, you know."

  "Yeah," Sal said. "I know."

  Chapter 34

  Sal sat in the shade of a tree in the courtyard, a book about Anglian nobility on her lap, a pad of paper beside her. She made careful notes about questions that came up as she read. Anglia was a strange country, with an archaic government system that had evolved over the years. Rule of the country was inherited, but the public demanded a council of lords, yet the king could add or replace members of it at his whim. It sounded completely inefficient.

  The military in Anglia was worse. Tradition demanded that their combat be honorable, and from everything she could read, that meant lining up across a field, waiting to die. Infiltration, specialized units, and guerrilla warfare were things that Anglia shunned as distasteful. Their cavalry was extensive, but only terrifying because of the number of soldiers the country could field. Anglia's military was the largest on the continent. She bent to make another note and paused mid-sentence. She smelled well-worked horses.

  We have returning soldiers, she warned her unit.

  Quickly putting her things away, Sal removed the evidence of her research. She didn't want to make it well-known that her classified mission was related to her sudden interest in Anglia. Then she returned to the courtyard. The rest of the Black Blades were trickling into the area. A few of the 97th Pikemen noticed, and soon the courtyard began to fill, soldiers hoping the units returning would bring good news.

  A pair of horses entered the compound gates, large crates s
lung between them, smiles on the rider's faces. Behind them came another pair, and another after that, five crates in total. Sal saw a flash of spots and leaned, trying to catch a glimpse of her mare, but the soldiers crowding the space prevented her from getting a clear view. She could easily see the men of Star Fall dragging in behind the 112th, though.

  "C'mon, give us some room," Captain Tolan yelled. "This shit ain't light."

  "Over here," Blaec yelled, lifting his hand to be seen in the mess of bodies.

  "Five hundred kilos of steel, as ordered," Captain Tolan said proudly. "Star Fall did a damned good job of getting us to it. Shit's heavy as a bitch."

  "Yeah, just stack it up. We'll have it moved as soon as your horses are cared for," General Sturmgren ordered from the balcony above. "Good work, men."

  Soldiers yelled their congratulations and the weary elites thanked them, dropping exhausted from their horses. Sal pushed through the crowd, making her way to the spotted hide. Before she could reach them, Blaz Eason called her name.

  "Sal!" he said. "Let her though, guys."

  She pushed between the last of the men and was surprised to see him grinning at her.

  "Arden's amazing, Sal. Was still fresh when I caught up and didn't even flick an ear the entire mission. Gonna have to find me something like her."

  "Rax isn't good enough?" she asked.

  His mouth fell open in surprise. "You saved him?"

  "He's completely sound, Blaz. He's fine. Annoyed at being stalled, but fine. Tilso does good work."

  He grabbed her, wrapping his arms around her tightly, and lifted her feet from the ground in his excitement. "You're as solid as the damned steel, Sal," he laughed, setting her down.

  "You calling me fat?" she teased him.

  "Oh, girl," he sighed, then leaned close, his lips nearly caressing her ear. "The Blades going to kill me?"

  "No," she said, looking up into his eyes.

  Blaz smiled at her sweetly and cupped the side of her face in his palm. "I owe you, Sal. For both horses. You've been too good to me."

  Then he leaned over and kissed her. In front of the entire Prin encampment, Blaz had found the perfect way to put the rumors about her love life to rest. She returned the kiss, all too aware of how sweet he smelled being so close.