Betrayal's Shadow

by K H Lemoyne

  “You took Grimm’s blood?” Kamau’s voice rose, his look incredulous. Even Tsu raised a brow in surprise.

  “Hell no, I’m not stupid. Briet went to him. He gave her a sample.” Ansgar rubbed his hands together. “Mia and her child would have died if Grimm hadn’t arrived in time to help them. He’s been covering for them.”

  “So how do we proceed?” Tsu skipped straight to the chase. “The concern isn’t the council. It’s what Salvatore will do before and during Turen and Mia’s presentation.”

  “Briet and Turen want the women brought out of cryo. It will at least provide the women a position of defense and add to the objectivity of a ruling on the presentation. They deserve to be involved.”

  The corner of Tsu’s mouth rose in a smile. “A good start.”

  “She and I will help you bring them out,” Ansgar said. “It needs to happen on a very tight timeline so Salvatore doesn’t realize what’s happened. I don’t want her on site until the last minute either.”

  “We need to shut down Salvatore’s options for retaliation.” Ansgar looked at Kamau. “Those damned robots need to be decommissioned, but it needs to happen in synch, and we’ll need an alternate alarm and lockout mechanism.”

  Kamau smiled as he flipped the leather around his finger. “Done. I suppose there’s a possibility Salvatore won’t react.”

  Tsu shook his head. “No. He’s been escalating. If he is behind the attack on Maitea and Isa and drugging the warriors, then his outburst against Turen is only the tip of the iceberg. He has one of the most deadly powers to leverage. There are council members who won’t openly confront him, but none are behind him. With Turen, Mia and their child as irrefutable proof against all Salvatore has preached, he’ll have no recourse but to retaliate. Confronting him with his lies and murder will make him very dangerous.”

  Ansgar nodded. “Grimm has a matrix of Salvatore’s DNA on file buried under Xavier’s name. Can you lock him out of cryo and provide a way to contain him in the council room?”

  “I have handled the security system since Xavier’s expulsion and managed the security of the cryo, despite your intrusion. If the matrix is there, I’ll process what we need. I’ll need a few minutes and coordination before the guards are taken off-line. He has a nasty way of having them interface with our systems without my knowing.”

  “There’s so much that could go wrong.” Ansgar rubbed his face.

  “We detail each step one piece at a time until we have everything covered.” Kamau leaned back against the wall and crossed his arms. “Turen and Mia are the ones at risk. After all they’ve been through, what has made them decide to do this?”

  “They feel it’s worth the risk to bring the truth forward.”

  “Then we make sure they don’t suffer for us.”

  ***

  “We need to have everyone out of the pods and stable. Targeting thirty-five minutes total from system shutdown until everyone is positioned and ready to leave. Once done, we will have two minutes after I deactivate the security system before the machines show up. You and the rest of the women will register on the main system for twenty seconds until I can void the alarm,” said Tsu.

  Briet nodded to him but kept working on the hypodermic needles she was filling.

  “I can take care of the machines in the sub levels and everywhere but the council chamber. It won’t negate Salvatore’s ability to pull them in from somewhere else outside the Sanctum’s main building,” said Kamau.

  “We go in well armed.” Tsu frowned but nodded for confirmation to her and Ansgar. “I can lock them out of the building and cause brief interference for the ones in the council room, long enough for Mia and Turen to get from Leonis’s chamber to the council.”

  “The women will need to be given the serum immediately after they come out. They might need time for their internal temperature to stabilize. Grimm confirmed these doses will safely boost the metabolism and generate heat.” Briet handed a box of the booster shots to Tsu and Ansgar. “Grimm’s erecting a delayed program based on the DNA to lock Salvatore out of the remaining sections of the building and the grounds so he can’t fold to hide somewhere else from us. That leaves him only access to the council chamber or off Sanctum’s property. Grimm will also synch up with your path to cover the machines’ decommissioning.”

  She gave a quick look for Kamau’s concurrence.

  Tsu pointed back to the plasma screen. “Once I initiate the system shutdown, each pod will open in sequence with a delay between pods of forty-five seconds. Get the sister out, treat her, and move to the next. We start in five minutes, and each of us takes an aisle. If we stay on schedule, we should get them all out before Leonis heads for the council room. How long will they need to stabilize?”

  Briet narrowed her eyes. “It’s not precise, but basic cognition should return immediately and motor skills should take several more minutes.” She removed several small boxes and packets of liquid-soluble capsules from her pocket and handed Ansgar and Tsu each a packet. “This will be like a B12 boost. It’s not ideal, but it will give them an edge.”

  “I’ll plan to head in with Leonis and Turen.” Kamau glanced at Ansgar. “What was his take on this?”

  Briet watched Ansgar stack several dozen cases of bottled water at the entrance of the first aisle. Given the contaminated food and water supply, they were taking no risks with their sisters coming out of cryo. He moved to the second aisle. “He was very disturbed about Salvatore, though he’s damn tickled at the thought of relinquishing his clerical scribe duties. He’s relieved someone else can handle the Archives. Maybe it’ll stop the gray hairs.”

  He paused a minute to look up. “A large number of others have approached him with their concerns. No one had proof or a plan on how to change anything. We’ve never had one of our own turn.”

  Tsu nodded but turned away to touch the plasma panel on the wall. “Grimm altered the security system to add Turen, Mia, and Marcus’s DNA sequence for the path from Leonis’s chamber to the council room. I requested it set to run in thirty minutes. It doesn’t give them much leeway. But I can’t risk the guards probing the system and finding them early.”

  “We’re set. Meet you in the council chamber. Good luck.” Kamau folded from sight.

  Ansgar grabbed his hypodermic box and waited for Briet.

  She grabbed her set and glanced at Tsu. The man stood at the forefront of his aisle, facing away from them, silent. She looked back to Ansgar, and he motioned her forward. At her touch on his arm, Tsu lowered his head almost in prayer.

  “It’ll be over soon. They’re going to be all right.” She hoped her words gave some comfort. She didn’t feel too steady herself.

  He turned and looked at her over his shoulder, his dark brown eyes wide and bright. There was no smile, but somewhere in the depths of his expression, Briet saw an emotion she hadn’t witnessed in a very long time.

  Hope.

  Tsu gave her hand a quick squeeze and proceeded down his aisle.

  CHAPTER 23

  Turen brought Mia to a halt outside the council room. She cuddled Marcus, bundled in a sling across her chest, yet Turen could see the tension in her jaw as she mustered her courage for this confrontation. Leonis stopped ahead of them and glanced back, then bowed his head to give them a second of privacy.

  “There’s still time. We can leave right now if you want.” He cupped her cheek in his palm, while his other hand covered hers over Marcus’ body. “I will go anywhere you want, keep us safe as long as there is a beat to my heart.”

  She leaned into his touch and tried to smile, though her lips didn’t quite complete the upward motion. “I’m scared, but I don’t want to stop. We need to do this.”

  He rested his forehead against hers. “You are my soul.”

  She blinked at him, her eyes shining, and pressed her lips to his. “I haven’t had a dull moment since I met you.”

  “God, Mia.” He turned his face to laugh into her hair. “Please let u
s try for some dullness, boredom even, just for the next hundred or two years.”

  “We’re going to live that long?” she whispered in mock horror.

  “I’m counting on it.” He pulled her into his side, kissed her hair and tucked her close but left his weapon arm free. He nodded their readiness to Leonis, who moved in front of Mia to shield her from Salvatore’s initial view as the council room doors swung open.

  The room was packed. Thirty plus warriors were scattered about the rising amphitheater seating. From the bored frowns and crossed arms, Salvatore must have been deep in a lecture. True to form, the leader in charge, flanked by six of his robotic guards, was engrossed in a delivery read from a densely populated plasma panel.

  Heads turned with Leonis’s entry. Eyes widened and bodies shifted at the sight of Turen and Mia. Fixed stares locked on the bundle and tiny head tucked at Mia’s breast.

  That was when Salvatore stopped his diatribe.

  Mechanical whirs signaled the shift and lock of weapons. Turen palmed his sword and elongated his blade, shifting Mia’s body farther from Salvatore’s gaze.

  “It’s a little late to bring the woman in for questioning, Turen.”

  Leonis frowned and moved between the closest guard’s weapons and Mia. “Salvatore. The guards need to stand down. This is a peaceful discussion.”

  “She is an enemy of our people, Leonis. She will be dealt with as such.”

  “She is my mate, Salvatore. Those weapons had better retract from her and my son, now.”

  A rumble of comments worked across the rise of seating.

  “She’s a human.” The cold clinical voice rebounded from the council chamber walls. “Our people are not compatible with humans. Such a pathetic lie is an insult to everyone here.”

  “Mia was human. As was Isabella’s mate, Marco. As was Maitea. But then, you’ve known this for some time, haven’t you?” Turen’s anger escalated in response to the increased clicks of the robotic weapons levered toward his family.

  “Guards,” Salvatore commanded, and the machines rolled closer.

  “Wait.” A series of calls came from several in the stands. Saladin and Kaax preceded the group down the steps to stand before Turen. “We deserve to hear what Turen has to say. He has come in good faith without violent intent.” He glanced at Turen’s sword and then to the charged barrels of the guards’ munitions. “Until threats were raised against the woman and child he protects. We are a civilized people. We can handle open discussion.”

  “And the Archives make no reference to a requirement that a mate be a Guardian.” Briet moved forward through the open doorway, Ansgar at her back, amid startled comments from around the room.

  “You’ve defied our order,” Salvatore stated without the blink of an eye. He stared over her shoulder at Ansgar. “It was too much to trust each pod was checked. That will be remedied.”

  A sick twist in Turen’s gut morphed to relief. Ansgar wouldn’t be here if the women’s revival from the cryo pods hadn’t been successful, which was timely, because Salvatore’s intense gaze toward Briet was ripe with the promise of retribution.

  Turen moved closer, attempting to pull Salvatore’s attention from her. It didn’t work, so he offered distraction. “The order for cryo was a convenient confinement for women, Salvatore. Was drugging them as you did the rest of us in this room not sufficient?”

  Salvatore’s cold glare swung back to Turen and his eyes narrowed in calculation. Turen hoped Briet would proceed with caution, for Salvatore was closer to the edge than he’d ever witnessed.

  Unfortunately, Briet was all too ready for this confrontation. “That would only have served to dampen the mating call, not sever their ability to access the Archives, correct? You needed to restrict access to the only mechanism we had to dispute the limitations you’ve set on our people.” Her angry words inspired even louder grumbles from the warriors.

  “A weighty accusation given the burden of responsibility I’ve carried to ensure safety for our people these many years. It is beneath you, Briet, and not without serious repercussions. Your accusations have no connection to Turen’s contemptible claim.” Salvatore moved closer to Briet.

  Ansgar shifted, blocking his sister from Salvatore’s line of sight and the guard’s direct line of fire. Turen noted several weapons had shifted toward Briet during the discussion. Kamau closed in at Briet’s other side, but their positions still left several weapons with clear shots to both women.

  “Your claim against my family is contemptible.” Turen ground out the words, surprised at the lack of response in Salvatore’s eyes.

  “Maybe Mia and I should bring up the Archives and check,” said Briet with a smile in Mia’s direction.

  Mia’s lips tightened with resolve. “Archive, show me the descendents of Turen.” The gold shimmering screen flickered in the air next to Mia’s shoulder. The scripted names of Turen and his son glowed beneath a faded line headed by Turen’s father. Murmurs and gasps circled the group.

  With a quick look at Salvatore’s face, Turen pulled Mia closer.

  “Archive release.”

  “You’ve allowed a human access to the sacred Archives. I hold you responsible, Turen. But you, Briet, you shall suffer the consequences as well.” Salvatore’s voice reverberated from the high walls.

  A worried look passed from Ansgar to Turen as additional lights flickered to active on the robot guards. Additional panels slid open to reveal more options for attack.

  “She’s a mated female, with the capabilities of a female Guardian,” Briet persisted. A quick murmur filtered across the room. “With strong abilities to search and access the Archives. She was able to save her mate through that knowledge.”

  Salvatore’s focus on Briet was unnerving. “Such a vivid, rambling imagination. Perhaps you’re infected since you’ve disobeyed those rules of the Sanctum meant for your protection? Perhaps a taint from exposure to Turen’s human?” He cocked his head. “I am not without compassion, Briet. First we can get you help, and then we can work through the muddled logic you’ve created.”

  “There is nothing wrong with her logic,” Ansgar snapped.

  Turen pulled Mia closer to his side, trying to move before Briet as well. Ansgar and Kamau shifted beside Briet just before Tsu appeared in the doorway from the darkened hall outside the council room.

  Salvatore didn’t stop. “There is if she considers this woman to be mated. Do you have proof she is your mate, Turen? Proof this child is even yours? Proof she even gave birth to him? Humans are known for deceit and temptation.” Salvatore spouted the litany of questions to Turen but glanced at the group, in his arrogance assuming none would step forward and refute him.

  Turen considered his brethren also. He had proof, but he wasn’t going to expose Mia and Marcus like a sideshow. This was the pivotal point. The proof needed to come from others. The trust needed to be given freely.

  “My mate and son are not accountable to you for proof or sanction.” Turen’s hand clenched around the hilt of his sword. He leveled a look of open defiance toward Salvatore.

  Leonis let out a breath and stepped closer to Mia, almost sandwiching her inside a ring of male protectors. “The boy has his father’s mark.”

  The rumble of comments swept from warrior to warrior. The men stood, arms crossed in disgust at the obvious contradiction between their long-held dictates and the new revelations. All disbelief directed toward Salvatore.

  Salvatore shrugged. “What proof do you have the human female is actually the mother? Ah, yes, you were there for birth?” Salvatore’s eyes narrowed with assessment at Marcus.

  Turen kept silent, reining in his anger toward this man who’d caused so much destruction and pain. Murder was against their covenant, and while it would be justifiable now, to draw first blood in retribution would be without honor. Then again, if Salvatore made another move toward Mia, all sense of right could go to hell. “My word should be enough for this council. My honor is not up for questio
n.”

  Many of the warriors shifted to palm and extend their sword arms, weapons folding into view as they mentally solidified their allegiances with the promise of violence. Salvatore’s grip had cracked in a quick, ugly wave. Turen processed the commitment, glad to garner support before the women showed up from cryo.

  Salvatore nodded. “Your attendance at the birth would be sufficient for me.”

  Grimm pushed by Ansgar and walked around Turen, moving to plug the last hole of Mia and Marcus’s vulnerability. He turned, stroked the baby’s head, and swung back. “I was present for the birth while you were holding Turen imprisoned in our own walls. If you can’t trust the word of a loyal sentinel of our people, will you take mine? Surely as the healer for our people, I carry some small weight. I delivered this child from his mother. They both carry Turen’s mark. Whether you acknowledge him or not, they both fall under this Sanctum’s protection, by right and by God’s will, not yours.” He shifted beside Leonis, his hand clenched on the pommel of his sword.

  “How dramatic, Grimm. Do you see yourself in the role of the child’s personal guardian? Or perhaps you covet the mother?”

  Grimm gave a tight smile. “Their protection is the definition of my existence. I am very clear on my role in life, whereas you have forgotten yours.”

  “It isn’t our role to save every little human.” Salvatore’s face remained passive, but his tone carried venom. “Fine, then she will serve her sentence on the charges of assault on our people first.”

  Turen squeezed Mia’s hand and narrowed his eyes. “Charges leveled by whom?”

  Salvatore glanced at Grimm. “She attacked our fearless healer. Charges are not needed to assess her crime. There were witnesses.”

  Leonis cleared his throat. “Those present the night Turen was brought back levied no accusations.”

  “I have made no charges.” Grimm stepped forward. “There is no proof of an assault.” He played with Salvatore’s own words.