Defiance (Rise of the Iliri Book 3)

by Auryn Hadley

  The assassins walked in step, making a show of it for the crowd. Their shoulders just touched, blood stained their pale clothes, and they snarled, showing off their inhuman teeth. Just outside the range of the pikes, they paused without a word. A low growl thrummed from both of their throats.

  Jase was red across the left side of his body, the splatters on his face nearly as thick as paint. Her own hands were crimson to well above the elbows. When she licked her lips, she could taste the sweetness of humans.

  "What do you want?" The Jonkheer cried over the heads of his last two guards, his back pressed to a stone building behind him.

  "Leave the grauori alone," Jase said calmly, his voice deep and rough, but Sal could hear his passion. "Kill another of us, and we will do the same ta one of ya."

  "For each of us you kill," Sal added, "a human will die. Your lives are already forfeit, but the rest of them may still learn."

  And that was the ruse. Let these people think the carnage was about the grauori. If it saved one of their lives, even better. The real purpose was simply to destroy the Jonkheer – and Sal wanted it so badly. Entwined deep in Jase's mind, with their every action synchronized, the predators rushed forward.

  Effortlessly, they stepped inside the pikes, grabbing the guards' sword arms in their off-hands to pin the weapons. In unison, they brought their knives together – Jase with his left and Sal with her right – and then they cut. The spectacle was meant to make a lasting impression. The blades sliced deep into the throats in perfect unison.

  As soon as the men stopped struggling, the assassins dropped their corpses and stepped toward the Jonkheer. Behind them, humans screamed. Sal's desire overcame her. Jase buried his blade in the man's heart, but she reached for the Jonkheer's shoulder. Pulling his throat closer, she bit into his sweet, soft flesh. Her teeth sliced through tendons and a sudden gush of warm fluid made her growl in pleasure. She managed two gulps before Jase wrenched her away. They locked gazes, his twilight meeting her ice. It was time to go. Soon, more men would come, and two iliri couldn't stop them all.

  Mentally, they checked for the grauori and felt another mind slide into their link. Hwa. His touch in their heads was warm and soft, yet lethal. Wrapped in their mental link, the grauori's passions rose to match theirs, the taste different but welcome. This was what it meant to have a pack. Ducking through the streets, aiming for the feel of Roo's soft presence, Sal knew this was what her species was meant to do. Kill. She was a predator.

  Time to split up, Hwa said.

  Sal felt the beast fall in beside them. Jase changed direction slightly, stepping onto a rain barrel and leaping, his hands just making the rooftop as Sal ran on with her new partner. Above them, Jase scrambled across the roofs, his mind showing her the way.

  The beast beside her kept pace easily, yet Hwa was truly running. He sent a surge of sensations into her mind. Sal suddenly knew the smell of human: leather and stale sweat moving at them from around the corner. She ducked the weapon that was coming, sliding to her knees as Hwa leapt.

  When the guard rounded the corner, the grauori collided with him, grasping his shoulders and crushing the man's throat in his teeth. The exquisite feel of death was so much more pungent from his senses. With a push, he continued on, and Sal struggled to keep up, letting the male lead the way.

  Above, Jase leapt across a gap between the internal buildings and the city wall, his body impacting with stone before he pulled himself up. He saw the guards and, with little more than a thought, both Hwa and Sal could, too. They passed the last building and turned, Sal's blade ready.

  Hwa darted to the left, Sal to the right. She ducked behind her prey and embraced the man tightly, pinning her body to his shoulders while she plunged her weapon into his throat. Beside her, Hwa pounced on his own guard, his teeth locked on the man's shoulder. Suspended, his hind legs raked the man's body, the claws strong enough to slice through the leather, cloth, and flesh beneath. When the guard screamed, Hwa released him. That man wouldn't live much longer.

  She nodded approval at her new partner, and he looked back with Jase's twilight eyes. They ran.

  Outside the gate, Roo waited, murmuring softly to the horses. Sal reached her just as Jase jumped from the top of the wall. He hit the ground and sank to his knees, his shoulder muscles clearly visible through his shirt, pausing before he stood.

  He caught her eyes, and Sal felt his desire for her across the link, matching her own. He'd intended to impress her, to seduce her. The pack was whole. Now it was time to go.

  Wasting no time, they swung into the saddles. She held his mind to hers and pulled them away from the main link as she caught Roo's eye. The little bitch smiled, doing her best to stand tall like an iliri. The grauori had this. Kicking the mares into a true run, Sal and Jase left their new packmates at the gates to finish the ruse, racing beside the steep wall. It was the best place to hide. No one would look down today.

  Are they up ta this? Jase asked, his desire to be alone with her warring with his urge to protect his pack.

  Yeah, Hwa kills as well as you.

  Should I be jealous?

  No, but you also shouldn't slack off. I want five kilometers before we stop, Sergeant.

  Yes, my beautiful Lieutenant. Anything you want, Kaisae.

  He pressed his heels to his mare, asking Raven for more and the blue roan gave it, forcing Sal to push Arden. Through the snow they raced, the horses' hoof beats thudding like their own hearts. The smell of blood on them faded in the wind and Sal felt as if she was living in a fantasy. The crisp air, the pure scents, and the taste of blood still on her lips was what her kind lived for. Feeling Hwa's mind proved it. She wasn't a beast, but she was a predator, and she loved how it felt.

  It only took them a few minutes at such speed, but by the time they were far enough away, Sal's mare was tiring. She pulled her in gently, letting Arden chose the pace, and was pleased when she trotted. Raven fell in beside her, letting Jase meet her eyes.

  Looks like there's some caves up in the hills, he sent, his mind showing her the direction.

  She turned her horse that way, flashing him a smile. By the time they reached the hills, the mares were breathing easily. Only one thing remained. She reached out with her mind to check her packmates, pleased to feel both Hwa's and Roo's joy at sprinting through the snow. Roo noticed her touch.

  All is well my sister. There's no chase from them, Roo assured her. Find a safe place. We'll meet you in the morning. Enjoy the maast.

  "The mutts are fine and won't be with us until morning," Sal relayed to Jase.

  He dropped from Raven's back. "That's convenient."

  "They get it, too," she said as he pulled her into his arms. "Find us a home for the night, killer. I'll tack down."

  He dropped his reins and ran a finger across her chin, through the blood on her face. For a moment, his eyes met hers, and Sal tugged him to her, their kiss savage.

  But Jase pulled back with a sigh, his hands tight on her shoulders. "Kitten, we really need ta kill more often. Let's get the mare's comf'terble."

  She traced the line of his jaw with her fingers. She had to do this now or she never would. "Jase?"

  "Mm?"

  "I am in love with you," she whispered. "I know it. I'm terrified of it. I still need it – you. No matter what I do, don't ever let me go. Don't let me screw this up?"

  Words failed him for a moment and he pulled her in tighter. His cheek pressed against her soft pale hair. A shuddering breath slipped out. The musky scent of him made her feel safe as his arms surrounded her, protecting her from the world. Against her hair, Sal thought she felt moisture.

  "Never," he whispered. "I swear it, kitten. Ayati, cessivi, I will na let ya slip away from me. I can na. I would die before I lose ya."

  Chapter 8

  With the Jonkheer dead, all that was left was to remove the King. It took another week to ride to Dorton, Anglia's capital. There, they found a comfortable space in the wilderness outside the c
ity and set up camp. The group planned to hole up there until the Marquis eventually arrived to claim his new throne.

  Before the next king's coronation, the Blades had to find a way to get into the new ruler's good graces and persuade him to ally with the Conglomerate. If anyone even suspected they were behind the recent string of deaths, there was no way Anglia would sign an alliance. Which meant this assassination had to be done just right or it would all be a waste. For two more weeks, they planned, spending their evenings hiding from the depth of winter around a crude campfire. Twenty-two days after the death of the Jonkheer of Eriwald, the time had finally come.

  The sun was sinking in the sky, leaving fat red clouds overhead and shadows on the ground. Sal was pacing. The palace was too heavily guarded to risk both of them, and Jase was right, she told herself. He was a better shot. He was a better climber. She turned again, walking back the way she'd come.

  Kaisae, Roo thought, He is a good hunter, all will be fine. These things take time.

  Sal nodded but couldn't stop walking. Hwa had slipped inside the town, promising to interfere if anything happened. When she last saw him, he looked like any stray mongrel – the type of dog that humans never bothered to see. She just hoped it would be enough. The last time Jase had gone on a mission without her, he almost hadn't come home.

  With the sky turning from pinks to purples, she reached out with her mind and checked their positions again. She knew they felt her, but neither paused.

  Roo reached up, standing on three legs to rest her paw against Sal's leg. You are not helping. The more you worry, the more they will. Sit with me and talk. Tell me about something – it doesn't even matter what.

  Sal nodded, letting the bitch lead her over to the fire, then sank onto the moist ground. In the sky above, the first stars were just winking back. It was still early. Too early to worry.

  "I hate this, you know?"

  It takes more courage to stay home than to go with the hunt, Kaisae, Roo said calmly. Hate it all you want, but let the males have their minds. Yours is too strong and you pull at them.

  "What do you mean?"

  You did not know? Roo's head tilted slightly as she looked up at Sal.

  She had no idea what the grauori was talking bout. "No."

  Sal, my friend, you have a strong mind. You are gentle with it, but you can smother us in the link. You amplify the thoughts of us when we're together, but you not only have a strong mind, you have a well trained one.

  Sal smiled. Blaec. Our leader. He showed me how to think in the link and how to close my mind or open it depending on what we needed.

  The grauori nodded in understanding. You learned well, then. But you should know how strong your thoughts can be, and be careful of disturbing the thoughts of others.

  Roo? Sal asked, pondering that. I can amplify. Does that mean talents as well? You know, our abilities?

  I do not know, Kaisae.

  "I just wondered if we could reach the men back home. Between your link and me amplifying it?" Sal missed her friends and family, but she also knew regular updates would be helpful in the war at home.

  I do not know this male you link through. That makes it hard for us. Unless I can smell him and know his feel, I'm not sure I could find him. Not even with your mind leading me. Roo shrugged apologetically.

  "What if I gave you a burning of my memories of him? I know where he is. With the two of us, how far could we reach?"

  We can't, Sal. Not now. I have to keep my mind open for the males, but I'm willing to try later. The worst that will happen is we get a headache and lose the link for a short time. If I could do this, your leader would be sure to accept us as full members.

  Sal chuckled, "Yeah, he would. Although, I'd bet that he'll accept you regardless. Both of you have been priceless the last month."

  And we might be able to walk freely among your people?

  "I honestly don't know. They'd think of you as animals, most likely, but they'd see you as our animals, and you'd be safe for that. Not the Blades. We'd treat you as equals. But it would take time before the rest of the country would be able to truly understand what it is that you are. Even in the Conglomerate, they find it hard to think of us – the iliri – as true people." Sal sighed, "My home isn't perfect, Roo. It's just that it's..."

  It's your home. Roo said as she rested her chin on Sal's knee. Even if it is not perfect, I would like to have it be my home. Our home.

  "Did you tell him yet?" Sal asked, thinking of the coming pups.

  No. I tried, but got scared. She looked up from Sal's lap, her pale eyes contrasting with the gold on her ears. You said we will have time after this to train and relax. I thought it would be good to do it then when the males won't be distracted. I would hate Hwa to be angry and make a mistake in a hunt because of it.

  "I know what you mean, little wolf." Sal ran her fingers through the grauori's fur without thinking about it. "But you know he'll be happy. He is so proud of you, and your pups will be his treasure."

  But what will we do with babies in an army?

  "I've thought of that, actually. Our stable master, Tilso, he's an amazing kid – well young man. He's partnered with one of our Blades, but even when we're deployed, Tilso usually stays at our home and takes care of things. Why couldn't you do the same? When the pups are old enough, you can leave them with Tilso while we're out if the mission is short enough? We always have an empty room with the Blades. Usually, it's mine because I'm staying with one of my mates. There's no reason you and Hwa couldn't use it, and anytime you need a break, I'm sure all of us would be glad to take our turn with your kids."

  Your pack would raise my pups? Roo asked.

  "I don't mean like that. I know that we'd all treasure them, but they'll always be your children first. We'd respect that."

  No, Sal. For a pack to be willing to raise pups as their own, that is a good thing. The grauori, we don't all get to breed. Those of us who love pups, we help raise them, but only our Kaisae and those she chooses get to breed. That is the difference between a grauori and a gerus. Only gerus have earned the right to breed, and I was never given that title. That you even think the Blades would cherish my pups and not simply leave them to me? That is something I never even hoped for.

  "Ayati, Roo, you have no idea. Those will be the most spoiled pups ever." Sal smiled down at her friend. "And you may not be a gerus, but as far as I'm concerned, you've more than earned the title of ilus."

  Ilus?

  Sal shrugged a little too innocently. "It's a title for any iliri who has earned respect. Since we don't have any Kaisaes left – well, except me – it's a way to show that someone has proven themselves. I figure if you're a member of an iliri pack that makes you iliri, right?"

  I like that. Roo wuffed at the thought, letting her tongue flop from her lips. And maybe my pups will want to be iliri, too.

  "I hope so." Sal glanced down at her friend's waist, aware that the bitch was still sleek and trim. "Just tell me you aren't going to have a whole litter, ok?"

  Just two, Roo assured her. We always have twins.

  "This is all new to me. I don't even know how fast they grow. How old are grauori before they can hunt with the pack?"

  Usually when we're about two we get to tag along, but we stay with the helpers. How long does it take iliri?

  "That fast? It takes us years. We're old enough to hunt around eighteen, although many think they can before that. We usually begin breeding when we're in our twenties. Iliri often live to be near eighty."

  Roo's eyes were wide. So long? We're considered full packmates by the time we're five. We usually begin breeding when we're about fourteen. Although, I'm only twelve.

  Sal knew her friend was young, but not that young! "How long do the grauori live?"

  By forty we're showing age. Few live past fifty, but most often it's humans that take our lives, not age.

  "So basically, you just mature faster than we do. With you being a linker, there's no reason you c
ouldn't travel with us and keep the pups in camp on the safe missions. When they're old enough, if you let me, I'd be happy to help train them."

  You would? The Kaisae would be willing to train my pups? Roo's eyes were wide, and she buried her head against Sal. Her stubby fingers wrapped in Sal's shirt as she hugged her.

  "Roo, your pups would be like my own." Sal hugged her back. "There's no way I'd let them make their first kill without me there to protect them!"

  That's when she realized just how well Roo had distracted her. Speaking about killing brought Sal's mind back to Jase's mission. Right now, he was making the most important assassination without her. She knew he could do it, but it still felt wrong. Sal stopped herself before she could reach out and check the men again.

  The sky was truly dark and the stars glittered above them. She knew they would let her know if something happened, but she hated this. Hated being stuck at the camp waiting, hated not knowing how to make the new king love them, hated being so far from home, stuck on a mountain, and surrounded by snow. At least she had one good friend to keep her from going insane.

  Fuck, Jase's voice suddenly broke into her mind. Roo sat up, and Sal knew they both heard it.

  Sal, we have a complication.

  Chapter 9

  Jase slipped across the battlement, his dark clothing hiding him against the night sky, a cowl covering his pale face. Slowly, step by step and hand hold by hand hold, he made his way closer to the Palace. Finding a vantage point, he hid in the shadows and checked his quiver again. Each arrow was made from raven feathers. The black fletching was only used by the Terran archers. If he wasn't caught, this assassination would only give Anglia more reasons to fear and despise Terric.

  Through the window below, Jase watched figures moving, waiting to see the aged king. The Myrosican ambassador walked into sight, talking to someone on the other side of the room before moving away. After a long pause, the Chancellor did the same. Jase checked his surroundings again, making note of the guards and which path they traveled. This section of the wall seemed nearly abandoned, but as he turned back to the window, he caught movement with his iliri eyes. To his right, a shadow shifted slightly.