Setting a bowl of soup that hadn't been burned on the tray, I was out the kitchen door before the cook could call me back.
* * *
Karathia—Past
Zaria
It was late before the kitchen was clean and Helsa sent off to her bedroom. While she hadn't said the food was bad, she'd made a fuss about it anyway, only taking two or three bites of what was set in front of her before flinging dishes at the servers.
Gerrett allowed me to see all of it in his eyes; Helsa railed against the guests arriving the following day while Wellend sat at the other end of the long table, eating his food without comment.
Afterward, I'd gone to clear away the mess with a spell so the others wouldn't have to; I'd waited for Helsa to retire to her sitting room with a brandy before arriving in the dining hall and eliminating the remaining mess before Gerrett and the others got down on hands and knees to clean up broken glass and smeared food on expensive rugs.
The glass and crockery returned to the kitchen whole, where it was washed by two kitchen helpers while Bekzi supervised.
This is a horrible mess, Gerrett informed me as I studied the clean dining hall. I understood he didn't mean the dining hall itself; I'd just set it to rights.
Helsa is horrible, I agreed. I sure hope her father and the others aren't worse.
I'm not sure they can be worse, only more of the same, Gerrett observed.
My hands were on my hips as I studied the rug beneath my feet—yes it was clean—cleaner than it had been before I'd cast the spell to remove the food and broken dishes.
"I feel I know you from somewhere," Wellend appeared and startled a half-scream from my lips before I could slap a hand over my mouth.
"We've never met, my Prince," I said when I caught my breath enough to bow my head respectfully and speak.
"I understand that, but the feeling persists. As if we knew one another in a different age."
Here was the father I'd never known, and I could never tell him that, or call him Daddy. My soul wept for that terrible twist of fate, and once again I blamed the Lyristolyi and their drug for tearing apart the fabric of my life.
"My Prince, we have never met until now," I whispered.
He hesitated for a moment. "Dinner was excellent," he said and disappeared.
* * *
Hraede
Kellik
A hovercar the color of smoke traveled quietly through the trees on the way to the Rovell home. My eyes, as sharp as they ever were, saw three inside the vehicle.
One—the only woman, was bound.
A hostage.
Slipping silently off the high limb that bore my weight, I dropped quietly onto the track and followed. With darkness as my only shield, I gripped the crash-guard on the back of the vehicle and swung it around, smashing the front of the hovercar into a thick tree.
While two men fought to free themselves from the wreckage, I leapt on top of the vehicle, drew a line in the metal with a single claw and pulled one side away, as if I were ripping the lid off a pressboard box.
Without a thought, I removed the head of the man pointing his weapon at me.
The other pissed himself and shrank into the vehicle.
Careful not to harm her, I cut the bonds holding the woman and lifted her away.
"You will tell no one you saw me," I hissed compulsion at the man. "You wrecked the vehicle due to your own carelessness."
With a leap I was in the trees again, hauling the terrified woman with me.
* * *
Rigo
Hal's comp-vid rattled the warning tone—something had happened. He and the others never received messages from their team of vampire spies unless communication was necessary.
"A hovercar was wrecked outside the Rovell house," the vampire on the other end sputtered.
"What happened?" Hal demanded.
"Unsure at this time. We held back at a safe distance as directed, when the vehicle crashed. We heard it and moved in, but I can't explain what we found," he said.
"I can explain it."
I knew that voice.
Kell.
My sire.
"What?" I turned swiftly in his direction before the next words died on my lips. Kell, as mighty as he ever was, held an unconscious woman in his arms.
"Lissa," I shouted verbally and mentally. From my place at the meeting table, I could scent the woman's pregnancy. If something weren't done soon, she could lose the child.
* * *
Lissa
"She'll be fine," Karzac sighed as he turned away from the bed. Barra Kend slept peacefully, her pregnancy still intact. Karzac had healed the damage done by the wreck, then placed her in a healing sleep.
All she'd babbled the whole time I'd asked questions was her fear for her children and her husband.
I couldn't blame her. What concerned me was this; shortly after I'd gone to Hraede to help, the Rovell house went dark and any who'd inhabited it were now gone.
I suspected that included Ruther Kend. Rigo and the Rith Naeri had gone to the Rovell home to investigate—I asked him to search specifically for Kend's scent.
It's there, Rigo sent as I walked along a palace hall with Karzac. Pargun's body is here, he added. Quite dead from no apparent injury. There's another scent you may be interested in, too.
Who?
Quin was here.
I cursed.
* * *
Karathia—Present
Quin
In the twins' desperation to get away after the crash and abduction of Barra Kend, they failed to notice that Pargun never met with the others inside the basement for the move.
He was dead inside his suite; I'd made sure of it. In all the chaos, it was easy. Whatever Pargun knew, I also knew. The hostages he'd taken, I could find.
I felt no pity for him; he died swiftly and with less pain than he deserved.
I hoped someone would come to investigate, to find the body. Queen Lissa would understand that I'd been there, if nobody else would.
"We're on Karathia," Dorgus whispered as he and I settled Vardil on a bed in an unfamiliar suite. "This means we could die in an instant if the King and his spies learn we're here."
Karathia.
Bel Erland and King Rylend's home planet.
How could I get them to notice us?
Perhaps this was why the Orb had changed me. I no longer had my wings or a familiar face. If these died about me, I'd likely die with them.
"This is the ancestral home of the Arden twins," Dorgus continued. "Through their maternal great-grandfather, Hegatt Blackmantle and their grandmother, Queen Helsa Blackmantle-Arden. I can't say I'd miss them if the twins were killed, but I have to save him," he jerked his head toward Vardil.
I pitied Dorgus at that moment, because he refused to see anything but the criminal he still loved with all his heart.
Moreover, because I'd chosen silence, I couldn't tell him how I felt, and that was perhaps the wisest choice I'd inadvertently made. If I told him how many lives Vardil had taken, or the planets he was set to destroy beginning with Siriaa, Dorgus would only attempt to kill me himself.
He saw no wrong in Vardil Cayetes.
I realized then that I'd set aside the problem of poisoned planets; the Orb had me chasing other demons instead. Why it wanted me to serve Deris and Daris, however, I still didn't understand.
Why wouldn't it desire their deaths, like it desired Vardil Cayetes' death? Had it turned aside from Vardil, now that he was nothing more than a pathetic simpleton?
Did Deris and Daris play a role in the Orb's ultimate goal? Was that why I was with them now, and under their thumbs? Too many questions tumbled through my mind as Dorgus fed Vardil with the gentle hand of a parent feeding a baby.
When the meal was done and Dorgus began cleaning Vardil's face and hands, I slipped away.
Somewhere in the massive castle surrounded by a lake, Ruther Kend struggled to build a better death machine, unaware that his wife ha
d been rescued by the unknown and was now likely out of reach of his captors.
The castle was grand and richly appointed, with gilt covering elaborate plasterwork and furniture carved by talented craftsmen scattered throughout. Rich, Serendaan rugs ran through rooms and hallways, lit with spell-lights in hand-blown glass.
Outside, elegant water birds graced the small lake, while squirrels, fox and other creatures chased and hunted through the forest. I understood then why Deris and Daris chose the home on Hraede—it had come closest to their ancestral domain.
Almost invisible as I slipped from one hallway to the next, I overheard snippets of conversation. One of those conversations involved Pargun and his absence. Stopping for a moment outside the half-closed door, I listened while Deris fumed that Pargun hadn't responded to his comp-vid messages.
Deris thought the information broker to be alive and merely ignoring his communications. Drawing in a breath, I slipped away as silent as a fox in the forest, heading for the rooms set aside for Ruther Kend and his assistants.
* * *
Karathia—Past
Ilya
My love, stop fretting, I brushed dark hair away from Zaria's forehead. Something troubled her and I couldn't get her to tell me what it was.
Maybe we should try this another time? Bright-blue eyes pleaded with me to understand.
"Shhh, cabbage," I soothed. "Come, let me love you and take your mind away from these things."
"But," she began.
"Hush." I held her face in my hands and kissed her—gently at first, then with more urgency. I and my body ached for her. "Yes," I murmured against her mouth as I lowered her onto the sheets. Her skin so soft against my mouth and fingers; her eyes closing with pleasure as I nipped her collarbone before traveling farther down.
It is a simple thing to remove clothing with a spell. I did it slowly, one piece at a time. "Ilya," she whimpered when my fingers found the sweetest spot.
"I won't be rough, my love," I promised, before lowering my head to where my fingers had been. The taste of her was exhilarating, like that of a perfectly cast spell, sweet on the tongue as it envelopes the caster with pleasure. I was more than pleased to bring her to climax that way, then I moved over her body and gave her another before taking my own.
* * *
Zaria
Ilya woke early, as did I; I had work to do in the kitchen while he went to tend the horses in the stable. I didn't want to let him go; his presence in my bed made me feel safe enough to sleep soundly.
After we'd made love.
No, I didn't want to delude myself. This Ilya I was still getting to know. Some things were the same, others vastly different.
He loved me—that was the most important part.
"Don't let the new arrivals upset you," he breathed against my hair before folding away.
* * *
Bekzi met me in the kitchen; he nodded after I did, silently acknowledging that my night had gone well.
Breakfast had to be started, so we went about it, making preparations while our kitchen helpers set the simple spells for the stove and oven.
"Lord Hegatt has arrived, set another place at the table," Milar appeared inside the kitchen.
I'd jumped at Milar's sudden appearance, he was straight-spined and stuffy as always, although I could read in him that he hadn't expected Hegatt until the afternoon. Somebody had folded space, horse and all, for most of the trip, so he could come riding in for breakfast. Milar disappeared quickly; I assumed it was because Helsa sent mindspeech.
Or her father had.
How is he? I sent to Ilya while Bekzi and I prepared another plate of food.
He wears a permanent scowl, so you'll have to judge for yourself, Ilya replied. Take care around him, my love. He may be of the rape and dismiss variety.
I'll remove his cock if he tries, I snorted.
I think I'd like to watch, Ilya replied. He comes. Let me know if help is required.
Chapter 11
Le-Ath Veronis
Queen's Palace
Kell
Yes, I'd kept up with the Queen of Le-Ath Veronis. I never thought to meet her in the flesh, however.
Father, do not fidget, Rigo instructed mentally as we stood inside the Queen's palace library on Le-Ath Veronis.
Mindspeech. He'd never had it until his mating with the Queen. If I hadn't understood before that she was more than powerful, the present evidence would have overwhelmed me.
Rigo grinned after the sending, letting me know how happy he was to see I was still alive and working for the good of Hraede from the shadows. As I had no mindspeech to reply, I merely dipped my head in acknowledgement.
"Kellik of Abenott, come forward," Queen Lissa commanded.
Surrounding us was a gathering of those handpicked by Rigo and the Queen to witness this event.
I had no idea why she was determined to do this.
I was determined, as a result, not to bring the slightest harm when I took her blood. I stepped forward as commanded.
No climax. Lissa, Queen of all vampires, informed me in mindspeech as she tilted her head to expose the vein in her neck.
I wanted to argue. To tell her what she already knew, that the climax eliminated the pain of the bite.
"My blood is a gift to you, Kellik. You will take no harm from it," the Queen recited. "There are no bindings or conditions, it is freely given."
I sank my fangs into her throat as carefully as I could.
* * *
Karathia—Present
Quin
I wanted to ask Dorgus why they were moving us. I dared not. I had little to move after all, so I helped Dorgus pack Vardil's belongings.
He, Vardil, Daris and I were the only ones moving, too. Perhaps it was to ensure that at least one of the twins would survive if the other were killed.
Daris snapped at her servants to ready her things faster. It was something she could do herself with a spell; therefore, she chose to trouble her humanoid underlings with the task.
I watched as she swept down a hall with servants carrying heavy bags in her wake. I also saw in her face what I most wanted to know.
The move wasn't for safety; the plantation that held their largest drakus seed field needed additional supervision, and Vardil's employees required Vardil's presence in order to get things accomplished efficiently.
Also, housed in large buildings on a hidden corner of the same property were thousands of death machines, already manufactured and awaiting Ruther Kend's upgrades.
Deris and Daris intended a war against Karathia, and, as the machines could fire from any location while making the shots appear to come from another direction, the Karathian King's army wouldn't know where to send the spells.
These truly were death machines, and I worried that neither of the twins recognized what they might do if they were properly constructed.
Ruther Kend also wasn't aware that his wife had escaped. I still had no idea how that had happened—the driver who'd survived the crash couldn't recall what had happened, which resulted in his fiery death at the hands of Deris.
His screams and the stench from being burned alive still invaded my sleep and woke me with visions of the nightmares that had come.
Shivering involuntarily, I laid another carefully folded silk shirt in Vardil's heavy trunk and focused on my task.
By midday, we were on another world near its equator, where the rains and warm temperatures were ideal for growing drakus seed. My shoulders sagged at the first sight of this massive farm—as far as I could see the plants grew, tall and green while a light rain fell, giving life to the poisonous growth.
"Hurry, girl," Dorgus snapped. "We have to get him inside before he gets soaked."
He meant Vardil. Pulling a rainshield from the pouch of Vardil's hoverchair, I snapped it open and held it over Vardil's head while Dorgus guided the machine toward a massive plantation house.
* * *
"She can't speak," Dorgus inform
ed the cook and her staff.
Unlike the cook who stayed on Karathia with Deris, this one had been forced to work for the twins, after they took over the plantation from one of their wealthy kidnap victims.
"Does she have dry clothes?" The cook glared at Dorgus.
"She has what she's wearing," Dorgus snapped.
"Do you pay her?" The cook's fists went to her hips. She wasn't heavy; she was tall and substantial, nonetheless.
"That is none of your business," Dorgus responded.
"Every mouth in this house is my business," the cook's voice rose. "Find clothing for her or I will."
"Fine. Do whatever you want. Dress her like a princess, if you like. It won't improve her face any."
He'd merely put into words what I'd known all along. Dorgus preferred what was pleasing to his eye. I, in my current state, was only good enough to serve him and Vardil, while staying out of his way the rest of the time.
"Someday, Master Vardil," the cook pointed a finger at Dorgus, whom she believed to be Vardil, "You'll learn that all are the same, no matter what they look like or where they come from. It's what's in their heart and soul that makes them different."
"Come." One of the cook's assistants, a young woman with a pretty smile, took my hand and led me toward the laundry. "I'll help you find something to wear."
* * *
Cook Janis nodded her approval when assistant cook Ela brought me back to the kitchen dressed in a young boy's clothing. "Gem's clothes fit her well enough," Janis turned away. I already knew that Gem was dead—he'd died while attempting to help his father when Deris and Daris arrived with the wealthy kidnapped owner in order to take over the plantation.
Gem, at fourteen, was a favorite with all the staff. His death angered them greatly, but they were helpless against the kind of power wielded by the twins.
Gem's death had been an example to them, too. Everyone else there feared for their lives as a result. Gem's father, grieving and hopeless, was taken away again while the staff was forced to bow to the whims of those who'd taken him.
Except for Janis.
SpellBreaker: First Ordinance, Book 4 Page 14
