Knights of Black Swan, Books 7-9 (Knights of Black Swan Box Set Book 3)

by Victoria Danann

“Oh.”

  I had no’ intended my compliment to dampen the mood. I was in the process of tryin’ to learn to read her and, if I was guessin’ right, references to the home she’d involuntarily left behind were on the taboo list. ‘Twas time for a shift of topic.

  “So, where are you off to?” I asked. We started toward the elevator, but I was gratified to see that she was in no bigger hurry than I was.

  “The Hub. Coffee bar. Only I’m not getting coffee.”

  “Let me guess.”

  She did a little thing with her hand that I took to mean something like, “Go ahead and try.”

  “Judgin’ by the way you devoured the Black Forest cake last night which, by the way, was quite something to see and hear, I’m thinkin’ you’ll be after more chocolate.”

  She grinned in a way that let me know I was right. “Hot chocolate. It comes in liquid form. I discovered it at breakfast this morning and am thinking about forming a Cult of Chocolate.”

  “It also comes in cold liquid form as chocolate milk. Humans are addicted before they have teeth.”

  “Good to know.” She said it seriously as if she meant that she was actually glad for the information.

  “So you were already out for breakfast earlier?”

  “Yes. Storm took me on a tour.”

  I felt every muscle in my body tense so that the best I could manage was a stupid, “Oh?”

  She’d had breakfast with stick-up-the-butt and learned all about hot chocolate from him.

  I was schemin’ up ways to get him out of the picture, when she asked, “Where are you, um, headed?”

  “Something no’ nearly so fun as chocolate.” The elevator doors opened and my mood turned sour in spite of Elora’s presence. “A discussion about replacin’ Lan with a new fourth team member.”

  “Oh. Storm said something about a meeting. Sounds dreadful. For all of you.”

  “That about sums it up.” I did no’ want to leave our chance encounter like that, so I coughed up a bit of man-on-the-street philosophy. “Life goes on, right?”

  I managed to say that out loud, but it felt like it landed at my feet with a leaden thud.

  She nodded, but looked sympathetic. Lovin’ the fact that she seemed to have a compassionate nature, I said, “I’m goin’ down another floor. You know your way? How to get there and back?”

  “Oh yes, I’ve known how to get to the Hub ever since the day of my hearing.” She stepped out and turned to give me a little smile and a chest-high wave with her right hand that was adorable as kittens.

  I nodded goodbye but held the elevator for a few more seconds for the pure pleasure of watchin’ her walk away. I knew I’d never get enough of that so long as I lived. My thoughts were consumed with images of Elora Laiken comin’ and goin’, when I remembered that she’d said something about a ‘hearing’. As soon as the dadblasted meetin’ was over, I was goin’ to the library for a copy.

  CHAPTER 9

  Ram

  When I got off the elevator on sublevel two and started toward Sol’s office, my thoughts turned to the reason why I was there and my feet immediately started feelin’ heavy. I pushed on, slowly, wishin’ I’d got up early enough to have coffee first. Wishin’ I was any place in the world except a few steps away from a discussion about replacin’ my partner. Everything about that felt wrong. As if it was no’ hard enough buryin’ Lan, now we were tryin’ to erase his memory altogether by puttin’ some fucker in his place.

  My teammates were already there, lookin’ grim, which was appropriate. Lan was more than a friend to the two of them as well.

  I grabbed a coffee in the outer office, then took a seat on the couch next to the wall. I was glad that seat was still available because I wanted to be in the furthest possible place away from the proceedin’. That was an empty desire because Sol’s office was no’ that big. Still, I could detach a little.

  Sol watched with an unspoken reprimand on his face as I sat down. Paddy. I was only three minutes late. Kay sat at the other end of the couch nearest the exit. Storm closed the office door and stood with his back against the wall facin’ the desk that represented the seat of power at Jefferson Unit.

  After clearin’ his throat, Sol said, “You know the purpose of this meeting.” I slouched down into the couch to register my disdain for the purpose of the meetin’. The sovereign’s eyes tracked the movement and he looked at me pointedly. “I’m not unsympathetic to your feelings. Like I told you before, I’ve been in your shoes. But the fact remains that a patrol team is four members, not three. There are centuries-old reasons for that. Good ones. So let’s strap on our character and get on with it.”

  I snorted and looked out the window. People often overlook the merits of a good snort. Nothin’ else matches its derisive qualities. I first began to pursue the snort as an art form in response to outrageous modes of conformity expressed by my father and brother.

  I wondered if Sol’s function as sovereign made me prickly because it was far too close to the authority expressed by kings and king wannabes.

  O’ course he was right. About all of it. Plus, he had a job to do and it was unfair of me to make him the scapegoat for my feelin’s, but puttin’ things in a more mature perspective did no’ make my heart any more interested in discussin’ another partner.

  Like the professional he was, Sol continued, refusin’ to take the bait of my rebellious antics, which was a shame because I’d have much rather talked about my lack of character than replacin’ Lan.

  “I’ve got a short list, but of course the three of you have final say about your fourth.”

  After a few beats Storm crossed his arms and jerked his chin toward the paper sitting on Sol’s desk. “Who are you thinking?”

  “First is Ghost, naturally.”

  An involuntary chuff was forced from my lungs. I mean, I’m fairly easy goin’, but I did no’ like that guy. ‘Twas no’ just his looks either, although ‘twas hard to look at his albino pink rimmed eyes. There was something about him that went beyond creep and my instincts told me I’d never trust him to have my back. My initial reaction was to say I’d quit The Order before I partnered with him.

  Sol gave me a look and then read the other three. “Finnemore. Sanction. Blytheson.”

  I looked out the window, which was no’ a real window since we were in sublevel two. It was actually a monitor showing a camera view of the courtpark two floors above us. Still, it was more interestin’ than anything goin’ on in the room where I sat.

  The only sound in the room was a big sigh from Kay. Storm was either lookin’ at his feet or the carpet. I glanced at Sol with a look of malice I did no’ feel towards him, just the situation. I knew it was immature as hel, but if Lan was replaced, I’d have to face the fact once and for all that he was gone and no’ comin’ back.

  I had turned back to studyin’ the camera view of the courtpark, when I heard Storm say, “Let us have a day to mull it over. Sleep on it maybe.”

  Sol answered without hesitation. “Sure. Same time tomorrow.”

  I was out the door and headed toward the elevator when I heard Storm call from behind. “Where you going, Ram? We’ve got to talk about this.”

  I kept goin’, pushed the button, but waited for Storm and Kay. When they caught up, I said, “I’m thinkin’ we can talk just as easily with six tablespoonfuls of fine Irish Whiskey poured over ice.”

  Nothin’ more was said until after we were sittin’ in the plump corner chairs next to the gas fire. The day was overcast, which seemed fittin’ somehow. The lounge was deserted except for us. And the bartender.

  “What’ll it be, gentlemen?” The barkeep’s eyebrows were raised, probably because it was early in the day for drinkin’ and he had no’ expected to be workin’. But spirits were invented to give balance to a sober occasion like that one.

  We sat in silence, each with his own thoughts, until after drinks were served. Kay thanked the bartender and said, “Keep ‘em coming.”

  Af
ter a couple of minutes, Storm said, “Okay. Let’s come up with ground rules. I say that, if all three of us say no to somebody on the list, we draw a line through his name.” Kay nodded. I let Storm pretend to be ‘leader’ more often than no’ because I was too lazy to care about callin’ the shots. I figured if he wanted responsibility, let him have it. “Finnemore. Yes or no.”

  “Finnemore is a wanker,” I said. Actually Finnemore was a likable guy and a worthy knight. I had nothin’ against him except that he was no’ Lan.

  Storm gave me a look callin’ me out on the petulance, but I did no’ own it as I should have. I gave him a defiant stare-down like an adolescent. He responded by treatin’ me like I was one.

  “Yes. Or. No.”

  I raised my eyebrows in challenge and mocked the fake patience. I might have been actin’ like a fool, but I was still a knight. “That. Would. Be. A. No.”

  Kay glanced at me and nodded, “I agree. It’s a no. But, look, Sol’s right. This is no fun for any of us. Also, it’s time somebody said it out loud. Lan’s death was nobody’s fault. Not his. Not ours. We all wish there was somebody to blame so that we could....” He paused and sighed. “Well, so we could blame them. But there isn’t. Let’s put a lid on the tempers and move on.”

  Storm looked at Kay for a moment and then said, “Unanimous. Finnemore is out. That leaves three.”

  After also eliminating Sanction and Blytheson, that left Ghost, who also was considered, theoretically, to be next in line for the job.

  Storm read right off the sheet. “Gauthier Nibelung, a.k.a. Ghost. Age thirty. Field active eight years.” Storm set the paper down, rather than read the rest of the resume. “He’s in line. He’ll be expecting to be called up. And he probably deserves it.” Storm ran a hand through his hair and sighed. “What do you think?”

  “I think this fuckin’ stinks,” I said.

  “Sol agreed to give us the night to think about it. Why don’t you meet me at my place in the morning? I’ll have coffee. Get egg sandwiches or something sent up. We’ll have another chance to talk it over before we give Sol our decision.”

  Kay nodded. “Okay.”

  I looked ‘round the room and said, “I’m goin’ for a workout.”

  “That’s a good idea,” Storm said. “Clear your head. And, Ram…” I looked up at him. “We don’t like this either. If they’d let us patrol as three, Kay and I would agree to it, even knowing it’s risky.”

  Why’d he have to go and say that?

  I felt my eyes fill up. I jerked my head away. I mean, those two guys were my teammates, but that did no’ mean I wanted them to see me cry. I was strugglin’ to keep tears from fallin’ when I felt them spill down my cheeks. I swiped the sleeve of my shirt over my eyes, hatin’ my body for betrayin’ me so. “Gotta get out of here.” I practically ran for the elevator, keepin’ my head down and hopin’ my face had no’ gone girlie pink. Great Paddy. I was losin’ it.

  Jefferson Unit prided itself on its fitness center and rightfully so. It was huge, took up the lion’s share of sublevel three.

  I grabbed three guys out of the weight room to have a spar with me. The distraction of hittin’ a willin’ body was just what I needed to take the edge off.

  On the way down to the spar room with the fancy suspended floor, Paltrorn said, “So you had dinner with the new arrival last night.”

  “New arrival?”

  “Don’t play dumber than you are, Hawking. I’m talking about the gorgeous babe.”

  “Oh, aye. I did have dinner with her.” I stopped in front of the closed door and faced him. “If the next words out of your mouth are disrespectful in any way, this spar is goin’ to leave you needin’ sheet time.”

  I punctuated that with a warnin’ look as I grabbed the door handle and pulled it open with a swoosh. Message delivered and received. And who should be sittin’ in the middle of a mat doin’ stretches, wearin’ clothing fit so snug that no curve or attribute was left to imagination? ‘Twas the devil herself. My mate.

  Baglio whistled under his breath and got the same look I’d just given Paltrorn.

  I walked straight to the mat, took the eighteen-inch hop without effort and crawled through the braided wire.

  “Hey,” I said.

  “Hey,” she replied in kind. Glancin’ at the men behind me, she said, “I was just going.”

  “No need. We were just goin’ to spar a little. Stay and watch.”

  “Um. Alright. Maybe for a minute.”

  The four of us laced on gloves, paired up, and engaged each other Swan-style martial arts. Elora was a distraction, no doubt about it. I could no’ help but glance her way to see if she was appropriately impressed. After a few minutes, she came to the ropes and seemed to be tryin’ to get my attention. My sparrin’ partner looked at me like, “What the hel?” So I put him down with a punch, and turned to her with a smile.

  “What can I do for you, darlin’?”

  “Might I try this?”

  I could no’ have been more confused if she’d asked to take her tights down and pee in the middle of the mat. Honestly, my thoughts were such a scramble, I could no’ immediately think of a response.

  O’ course I did no’ want to say no to her. Ever. So I decided the only thing to do was to let her take a turn and control the situation so she did no’ get hurt. I could no’ help but grin. It was sort of cute that she wanted to try fightin’. Go figure.

  “Sure,” I said, “if you promise to go easy on me. I’m a workin’ lad.” I nodded toward Baglio. “Give her your gloves, will you, mate?”

  Baglio looked at me like I was standin’ at the gate of the looney bin askin’ for a half day leave, but he shook his head and began pullin’ on the laces with his teeth.

  While he helped her get into the gloves, she said, “What are the rules?”

  “The rules?” I inquired stupidly.

  With a little smile, she said, “No rules. Okay. What’s the goal of the exercise?”

  “The goal?” Great Paddy. I was gettin’ stupider by the second. “Um, to keep us in fightin’ shape?”

  Since women were never on the exercise level at the same time as knights, that alone was an oddity. But if you add to that a woman sparrin’ with a knight, you can imagine the significance of the event.

  “Okay. The rules. Easy. Simple. No bitin’. Vampire hunters have a thing about teeth. And keep it above the belt.” I grinned in spite of the seriousness of my declaration. “I need the boys in workin’ order.”

  “The boys?”

  I walked close and leaned into her so that only she would hear. To her credit, she did no’ back away. “Cock and balls.”

  She jerked her face up to me and reddened slightly. Paddy, that spark in her eyes made her so beautiful, it was everything I could do to keep from draggin’ her into me and kissin’ her into belief. I was gettin’ the feelin’ that there was a lot more about this girl to be discovered.

  When the gloves were secure, she first dropped her hands to her sides. My first hint that I was out of my depth was when I saw the fire light behind her eyes. That smile told me that maybe I’d been played.

  She raised her hands and took on the demeanor of a seasoned fighter just before she began to circle me. Instinctively, I moved when she did, mirrorin’ every step. If I stopped, she angled her body away defensively. ‘Twas clear she’d had some trainin’. Keepin’ her from gettin’ hurt could prove harder than I thought.

  The look of concentration on her face would have been alarmin’ if she’d no’ been female.

  I heard a blast of cursin’ behind me comin’ from someone doin’ a damn good imitation of Storm. It could no’ be Storm because he held swearin’ in about the same esteem as the sovereign, meanin’ he did no’ approve. There were also a few real words thrown into the tirade like reckless, stupid, immature, and punk.

  Glancin’ over I saw that it was indeed Storm standin’ off to the side with Kay and, apparently, they’d brought a crowd with the
m. Seemed like a good time to wind things down.

  I thought I’d reach out and give her a little tap on the outer left bicep. No’ enough to bruise, just enough to be a good excuse to quit. I faked goin’ left then stepped in for a baby jab.

  It never landed.

  Actually I was no’ sure what did happen until I watched the video days later, when I could breathe again. All I knew was that one second I was in the process of deliverin’ a playful jab. The next I was in the air fallin’ backward on the way to bein’ slammed into the mat.

  The air was forcibly evacuated from my body and was refusin’ to return. I thought I was goin’ to die, but entertained the surreal thought that at least I’d die lookin’ at her. She was bendin’ over me, lookin’ scared, like she had no idea she was capable of doin’ damage.

  When my lungs recovered from the shock enough to start workin’ again, I sucked in a tanker full of air, but it hurt like the dickens. Knowin’ I was no’ goin’ to die was something of a relief, but the pain that accompanied that breath was anything but comfortin’. I’ve had the air knocked out of me before and know what to expect. This was no’ it.

  I tried to sit up, but the zinger punched a yell out of my mouth that startled even me. I lay back, Elora was still bendin’ over me with a worried look.

  “Bloody Paddy’s Day, woman! I told you to go easy on me. I think you broke a fuckin’ rib!”

  Her mouth worked silently for a minute before she got out, “Ram, I’m...oh, gods... I’m so sorry. This is not.... I’ve executed that move a thousand times and I’ve never injured anybody. What can I do?” She started tuggin’ at the glove laces with her teeth, but then Storm came into view, standin’ behind her.

  “Stay still, Ram,” he said in that calm, okay-everybody-I’m-in-charge way of his. “Med’s coming. Let them take a look before you move.”

  If you’ve never had a broken rib, there’s no point tryin’ to explain, past sayin’ it hurts. The new wrinkle was that ‘twas just as bad seein’ those turquoise eyes droppin’ tears on my chest.