Escaping Fate (Veredian Chronicles Book 1)

by Regine Abel

  He had tried to kill Amalia. That meant he was a noble trying to acquire Khel’s lands, unless he ran the Blood House where Gruuk delivered his last three captives. Based on Lurphin’s confession, V had wanted to keep her alive but would have killed her if things got too complicated. This made me believe he was working with Gruuk and would have let her live to keep Gruuk happy. It was V who’d sent the assassin to sabotage our shuttle the same way as Khel’s parents’ shuttle. We’d always suspected Zhul Dervhen to be behind their deaths. My gut told me he was V. Now I needed to prove it.

  It took longer than expected but we finally got our hands on Yhul Mirvhen, the spaceport agent who we believed falsified Gruuk’s records. The night we planned to pick him up, he never came home. He couldn’t be found anywhere. We started thinking he’d been killed. It was Detective Gravhin that saved the day. Last night, one of his contacts snitched Mirvhen’s hiding place. Ghan was on his way to pick him up now. Gravhin agreed to let us hold Mirvhen in the compound’s holding cells because Dr. Lurphin had met an untimely demise in the PD’s prison and Nurse Rosthan was missing. V had a long reach and liked to eliminate evidence. While she may not currently feel this way, Advisor Colbhen was lucky to have been picked up by us rather than the PD.

  Thinking of Colbhen brought back the memory of her interrogation. I wanted to hate her. Worse, I wanted to kill her. But the minute I realized she hadn’t intended to kill Amalia, my rage dissipated. A part of me respected the lengths to which she would go for her son, even if it disgusted me.

  Some of the things she said hit home. I often thought Khel should use his influence and position on the Council to change things on Xelix Prime. Problem was, Khel hated politics. He battled with swords, not words.

  Political intrigues and diplomacy were my forte. Since Khel had become a Councilor, following uncle Dhak’s passing, I’d coached him regularly for the Council meetings. I tried to anticipate the motives, goals, and arguments of his opponents. I provided Khel with the arguments to counter them and warned him of potential traps his opponents might lay before him. We often deplored how I wasn’t allowed to hold the Praghan seat on his behalf. Only a consort or sibling could sit in the stead of a Councilor.

  Up until now, Khel didn’t have much pull anyway. As an unmated Tainted male, his clock ticked. The Council wouldn’t have sided with any reform he proposed because the chances were that they would be overturned the minute he keeled over. The only thing they respected after the Primes was money and rank. Khel would have lost both if his lands had been seized. Zhul Dervhen held most of the power in the chamber. He was a Prime, wealthy, had bought off half the Council and was charismatic. Khel and charisma didn’t exactly go hand in hand; he was too brutal, too direct.

  I smiled thinking of my cousin. Khel was a badass. He was diplomatically challenged, although he had improved in recent years. I was a fast talker and had gotten our asses out of trouble countless times. He just cracked skulls and glared people into pissing themselves.

  Amalia softened him in a way I couldn’t fathom. She might make a proper Councilor out of him after all. At least, she gave him the power to do so. Invitations to social events had started pouring in. Power had shifted in Khel’s favor and I wanted him to seize it. Whatever her selfish agenda, Letha’s point remained valid; Khel had the power to make things better for all of us lesser people.

  I tried not to think about the other thing Letha had said. There were plenty of rumors about the Xelhon District. It was a mainly agricultural region with only two remaining noble families; House Jormhon and House Balfhon. The other bloodlines had died out because of the Taint. Rhev Jormhon was the patriarch of House Jormhon. His mate Nhera, was also mated to his brother, Jhal, and to his paternal cousin Dehl. When the rumors broke, the whole Council was abuzz. Jormhon had been indifferent to their outraged moralities and as sole Councilor for Xelhon, the Council couldn’t remove him. Family Welfare tried to dissolve the second and third bond, but for some reason had abandoned their pursuit.

  The only thing that would have convinced Family Welfare to back off was the law. And Letha said the law condoned a female having two mates. The implications were major. I itched to pull up the Book of Law and see for myself, but what would that accomplish? Even if it was true, Khel would never allow it. He would loathe the idea of another male touching Amalia. I could relate. Yet, had our roles been reversed, her mating Khel as well wouldn’t have troubled me. In fact, it would feel natural. I was an extension of him, I lived because he did and felt all that he did.

  Despite that, I believed Khel would eventually consent, out of a sense of duty toward me, or worse, out of pity. But the Council would lynch him over it and all the vultures who coveted Amalia would descend upon us to take her away, claiming abuse. Even if the law said it was legal, mentalities were hard to change. It would take some radical event for the nobles and population at large to embrace this. Khel had too many enemies to take such a risk until his thirtieth birthday removed the threat of Property Law.

  I pulled down the neck of my shirt and gazed at my chest. Every inch of my skin was covered in the Taint’s black tendrils. Many of them had ruptured and the toxin spread in dark splotches under my skin. Khel didn’t know how advanced my Taint was. Since the Fastening, it was like it had gone into a frenzied race for the finish line. Before the Fastening, I might have had a year, but now, I was unlikely to make it to Khel’s birthday in five weeks. The pain from the Taint and the longing for things I could never have were wearing me down. The main reason I could still fool everyone about my state of health was that Minh was pumping me full of painkillers.

  I was ready for my final rest.

  * * *

  I joined Khel and Amalia for lunch. Dr. Volghan encouraged her to do some light physical activity but warned against excessive exertion. She looked a lot better than I would have imagined after her ordeal. She was also adamant about not remaining cooped up in her bedroom any more than necessary. So here we were, carefree, chatting and eating in the garden as if the last two days hadn’t occurred. She reached for a piece of sliced ryspak and my blood froze in my veins.

  “It’s okay, Lhor.” Amalia patted the back of my hand reassuringly, her fingers like silk on my skin. “It’s not going to hurt me. Dr. Lurphin lied.”

  Oh, how I loved when she touched me. I swallowed and looked uneasily at Khel. He glanced at Amalia’s hand on mine then met my gaze, impassive. I felt him try to crush his jealousy. I thought of pulling my hand from under hers but it’d be like admitting guilt.

  “Don’t worry, brother,” Khel said. “I’ve threatened poor Minh with every death imaginable if ryspak or any other Xelixian food causes her harm. He promised he’s done thorough tests to confirm she isn’t allergic to any Xelixian food.”

  I nodded while Amalia released my hand, frowning slightly. She noticed my concerned look and didn’t quite understand it. I came to realize Amalia was completely out of her depth when it came to social conventions.

  She liked physical contact, which wasn’t done in Xelixian society. Amalia was all hands. She spoke with them, touched with them, and laughed with them. She would put her hand on Khel’s forearm to get his attention, a playful slap on his hand or shoulder when he teased her, or a possessive hand resting on his lap as they talked. She hugged Jhola often and dragged her around by the hand when she was excited to show her something.

  But touching another male, even innocently, seriously disrespected Khel if done in public. I’d have to teach her proper etiquette. Khel wouldn’t. He wanted her happy and carefree. He would silently endure. After the end of their Trial, Khel and Amalia would have to attend the Confirmation reception. It would be their first time in public together and all eyes would study them. I couldn’t have either of them humiliated.

  “I must go, Falihna.” Khel brushed his lips against hers. “Ghan and I have military inspections to perform. I’ll be gone for a few hours.”

  “Ok. But don’t tarry,” she warned with a mock f
rown. “You still owe me a revenge round!”

  “Yes, my heart,” Khel chuckled. “I will grant you your revenge. Or at least, I’ll let you try.”

  Khel had spent the morning teaching her how to play Bakhol. It was a strategic board game where, in its simple version, you moved pawns along a board to capture your rival’s commander. The advanced version used cards that could help or hinder you. Khel was a master at this game, and I intended to teach Amalia a few tricks to even things out.

  “Lhor,” he said to me, his expression sobering, “Ghan has recovered the package we’d been looking for. We’ll unravel it upon our return.”

  Yhul Mirvhen, the spaceport controller who doctored Gruuk’s docking reports, was in our custody. Khel gave Amalia a last playful wink before strolling away. No sooner had Khel disappear inside the house than I felt her gaze on me. For a few seconds, it was unreadable, then her eyes began to sparkle with mischief.

  “What?” I took a sip of flexina tea to give myself countenance.

  “I want you to teach me how to fight,” she said with an assertive nod.

  Choking and sputtering, I watched in shock as she burst into laughter. “You want to what?”

  “I want you to teach me how to fight.”

  “Why would you want to do that?”

  “Why would I not want to do that?” she said, crossing her arms.

  “Because you don’t need to. Khel will protect you. I will protect you. Ghan and all the Elite Squad will protect you.”

  “I don’t want to have to depend on other people for protection. I’m completely helpless and I hate it. When I escaped from The Revenant, all I could think was that if I was discovered, I couldn’t fight my pursuers because I didn’t know how.”

  “Did you ask Khel?” I said, running out of arguments.

  She gave me a flat stare. “No.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because he’ll say the same thing you said about it being his job to protect me. And if I insist, he’ll think I don’t believe he can keep me safe.”

  “Do you think that?” I asked, trying to sound casual.

  “Of course not.” She heaved a sigh, her shoulders drooping. “I just want… I just want to not feel so helpless all the time. For once, I want to do something for myself, you know?”

  “Then tell him that.” I hated seeing her upset.

  She shrugged, clenched her jaw and averted her eyes.

  “Amalia, look at me,” I said sternly.

  Her eyes snapped back to mine, startled by my sudden anger.

  “Listen to me carefully. First, don’t ever ask me again to do something behind Khel’s back that you know will upset him. I’ve never betrayed Khel, and I’m not going to start now.”

  She winced, heat creeping up her cheeks. There was no malice in her request, but she needed to understand what kind of rift she could cause between us. She held my gaze, though clearly wanting to look away, and began torturing a strand of hair with both hands.

  “Second, you’re not a slave, Amalia.” Her hands stilled. I leaned forward. “You. Are. Not. A. Slave.” I articulated slowly, hoping to drive the message home. “You are no one’s property. Khel isn’t your master. He’s your mate. He doesn’t get to dictate what you can and cannot do. If you want to learn how to fight, it’s your prerogative as a free resident of Xelix Prime. He can be pissed all he wants, it doesn’t remove your right to choose what to do for yourself.”

  Amalia chewed on her lips for a moment. “But…” she started.

  “No buts,” I interrupted. “You don’t have to ask permission for anything pertaining to your own life. That said, you’re mated. Any decision you make impacts Khel and your life together. Try to take his feelings into account, but don’t let them dictate your choices.”

  She nodded slowly as she let it sink in.

  “Khel adores you, Amalia.” She looked into my eyes, her expression a mixture of doubt and hope. “He adores you. Your happiness is all that matters to him. He’s a good male. A smart and reasonable male. Your wanting to learn how to fight will displease him. He will wonder if you doubt his ability to protect you. He’ll also try to discourage you. But tell him what you told me and I promise you, in the end, he will agree. Reluctantly maybe, but he’ll agree nonetheless.”

  “Okay,” she said in an apologetic voice. “I’m sorry, Lhor. I didn’t mean to…”

  “No need to apologize, Amalia. I realize this is all very new to you. But trust me, just talk to him. Also, never ask another male to do for you what he could, unless he tells you to. It would hurt his feelings. At least, give him the chance to decline.”

  “Thank you, Lhor. You’ve been really amazing to me. I’m so lost in all of this. I will follow your advice.” She gave my hand a gentle squeeze.

  I lifted her hand off mine. She frowned at me. “You also shouldn’t do that, Amalia. It’s not proper for you to touch me.”

  “Why?” she challenged. “Does it displease you?”

  “No, Amalia. It doesn’t.”

  “Then why can’t I touch you?” She seemed genuinely confused. “I like touching you. If you don’t mind then what’s the problem?”

  Gharah’s teeth! Yes, please touch me.

  She said this innocently, but it was like a punch in the gut followed by a blazing trail of lust straight to my balls.

  “It’s not socially acceptable for a female to touch another male who isn’t her mate.” I tried not to think of all the inappropriate ways I wanted her to touch me. “Females usually don’t even make physical contact with each other either, which is why Letha touching you was so surprising.”

  She blinked. “So you’re saying that I shouldn’t touch you because society says so?”

  “Yes.”

  “You just said nobody should dictate what I can and cannot do.”

  “Right… But this is different.”

  “Why? I don’t care what society thinks. They’re nothing to me. Touching is the way of my people. That’s how we show affection to those we love. If not for this table between us, I would have hugged you instead.”

  “Lia…” She made me want to bang my head against the wall. How did you convince someone not to do something you hungered for them to do? “You’re right. What society thinks shouldn’t matter but it does. You’re no longer prisoner on a ship. You’re mated to a prominent male in our society. Everything you do reflects directly on him. If you touch another male in public, he’ll be humiliated and ridiculed. It will be like saying Khel isn’t male enough for you and you would consider that other male as a better option.”

  “Khel is more than male enough for me! I don’t care about other males. I don’t want to touch them. Just you.”

  Gharah’s blood…

  “Even me, Amalia. You can only touch your mate.”

  “Then I need to have two mates,” she mumbled with a playful pout.

  Kill me now.

  CHAPTER 17

  Khel

  Ghan and I returned home to the sound of Amalia’s scream. My heart stopped as we raced for the garden.

  “No! No! No!” she shouted.

  I exploded onto the patio with a vicious growl, my sword and blaster drawn. Ghan stormed in behind me. I would eviscerate any who dared threaten my mate. A choked squeal died in Amalia’s throat as Lhor pulled her behind him in a protective stance, blaster drawn at our charge. She gaped at us over Lhor’s shoulder, bug-eyed. It took me a second to take in the scene and let the rage bleed out of me.

  “By the Goddess, Lhor,” I said bewildered, “you two almost gave me a heart attack.” I eyed the Bakhol board on the table. “How badly is she losing for her to shriek like that?”

  “Hey! I didn’t shriek,” she said, pouty-lipped. “I was totally winning then he pulled a fast one at the last minute.”

  I looked at Lhor. “The dark horse?”

  “The dark horse,” Lhor said smugly, putting his blaster away.

  “Cheater,” she mumbled, her eyes thro
wing daggers at Lhor. “It’s past dinner time anyways,” she added with a haughty sniff.

  Ghan stared at them with an unreadable expression. “I will leave you all to it then,” he said, turning to leave.

  “No! Wait!” Amalia said. “Why is he leaving?” she asked Lhor. “Jhola always makes too much food. There’s plenty for him too. I mean, it’s okay to invite him, right? That’s not improper?”

  Lhor chuckled. “No, Amalia. It’s okay to invite him.”

  Both of them were looking at Ghan expectantly. It was the first time I’d ever seen him this… uneasy? He gave me a look as if asking for help. I wouldn’t let him off the hook on this one. I still owed him some payback for smirking at the Kel thing.

  “My mate wishes you to join us for dinner,” I drawled. “Surely, you won’t disappoint her?”

  His eyes narrowed. Yep, he was going to get me back for this.

  “I’ll get my veil,” he said coolly before turning away.

  I flinched. How could I forget about that? I was so used to Ghan’s intimidating appearance I forgot how uncomfortable it made people. Ghan didn’t give a shit about rules of propriety. As a male with advanced Taint, he was expected to be hooded in public. Ghan never did. It wasn’t an article of law, but a police officer could give you a warning for walking around exposed. With his brutish features and his puckered scar, people could rarely stand looking at him more than a few seconds. He usually ate alone, with me or some members of our Elite Squad. My eyes followed his retreating back, a pang of guilt burning in my gut.

  “Ghan!” Amalia called out, brushing past me after him.

  He stopped, turning his face just enough to give her a profile view of its unscarred side. He didn’t meet her eyes.

  “Yes, Seha Praghan?”

  “Amalia, please,” she said. “That Seha stuff is too formal for me.” She shrugged. “Please look at me.”

  He stilled. His jaw clenched as he turned to face her. I almost intervened, but my gut told me to stay out of it. She walked up to him, barely two feet between them and craned her neck to look up at him. She slowly examined every inch of his coarse face and the livid scar across it.