Tenacity (Rise of the Iliri Book 5)

by Auryn Hadley

  He paused before answering. "Five. How'd you know?"

  Sal sucked in a deep breath, tasting no fear on the man. "How old were you when he took you into his house to be raised as a servant?"

  Narnx's head dropped. "Five. The day after my mother died."

  "And how did she die?"

  He swallowed and took a weak breath before answering. "Mugged in Terran City."

  "Strange how they didn't take the necklace, isn't it?"

  "How'd you know about that?"

  She tilted her head to his chest. "I can see the cord around your neck. Terran men wear little jewelry unless it has sentimental value or is worth a lot of money. I'd guess that's both. I'd also guess that he gave it to her."

  "You realize you just publicly accused him of an affair with an iliri bitch before the entire army?"

  She smiled cruelly. "And the rumors are already spreading. I warned him not to fuck with me."

  "He'll make you pay, Sal. He'll make you pay the only way he knows how." Narnx flicked his eyes to Blaec.

  "She'll win," Blaec said, looking up wearily. "What is my life compared to the lives of all of our people?"

  Narnx sighed, pressing his forehead to hers before he reached up and wiped the blood from her face. "You can't stop him. Not like this."

  "Then get Blaec free," she whispered, her mouth close to his. "I'll give you anything you want. Go with him. Head to the CFC or Viraenova. Please, Narnx. This is between Makiel and me, and no one else should be caught in the middle."

  "I can't, Sal. I can't get Blaec through the guards."

  She closed her eyes and tried to swallow her desperation. "Narnx, do you know how we iliri feel about life debts?"

  "Yeah," he whispered, turning away. He left without another word.

  She growled and banged her head against the post, still chained tight against it. She felt helpless. All she could do was torture the enemy while waiting for him to grow tired of the game and kill her - or worse, kill Blaec.

  You can't shift, you can't friend. How do we get you out of the chains? she asked Blaec.

  You don't. He turned to look at her. I'm the leverage, Sal. All he can do is kill me.

  She bit her lips and shook her head. I can't live without you.

  You can. You will. You have two cessivi, and neither of them is me. You chose Cyno as your Ahnor because you need him. You only enjoy me.

  Anglia needs you!

  No, Blaec said sadly. Anglia needs you. Arctic will make a fine general. The pups will make amazing soldiers. You don't need me anymore, Sal. I spent my life doing anything it took to stop this war, so don't you dare give that up to save one stupid iliri mongrel.

  "You will not give up," she growled. I can't do this without you.

  Blaec looked up at the sky. Facing death is not much fun, sweetness, but it's something we all have to do. Without the keys, you can't get me out of these chains.

  And Narnx has the keys, she remembered, hoping that was the solution. I can make Narnx give them to us.

  He shook his head. I'd still be in the camp, and they all know my face. I can't change it the way you can.

  You can sneak out at night. You're a damned Black Blade! You can get out of this.

  He took a long, deep breath, not even trying to hide his fear from her. Circ couldn't, Sal. We don't always win. I'm scared to death, but I'm goin to face this like an iliri – with my head finally held up with pride.

  Chapter 25

  Their hands still locked behind the posts, the iliri stood, exhausted. Blaec shivered, but Sal's body tolerated the weather. She wasn't comfortable, but only the thin skin of her ears was suffering from the temperature.

  Sal? Blaec asked timidly.

  Yeah?

  Promise me something? No matter what, stop this man. I mean it, love. If you don't, it'll be Jase next.

  She turned her head, looking over to him. His pale eyes met hers, completely serious. She clenched her jaw and nodded. That's a vision, isn't it. She didn't ask; his tone told her the answer.

  He still nodded. We have to make choices, and this is one. Sweetness, I've kept journals of all of my prophecies. I haven't said anything about most of them, but I wrote them all down. Pig knows where they are. If anything happens to me, read them, ok?

  Her ears hung low on her head when she realized what he was saying. I will. Does this mean you aren't going to make it home?

  He smiled at her weakly, but there was a hollowness in his eyes. It's not looking good, sweetness. If you cripple him enough, maybe you can save me. Either way, you were worth it, ok?

  Sal strained against the bonds, knowing they wouldn't give, but she didn't know what else to do. You're the first man I've ever loved, Blaec. The first man I ever chose to be with! Even the first time, I chose it because I wanted you. You can't be the first one to die on me. You can't leave me!

  I know. I'm sorry I held back so much, but I had to. I'm so glad you have them. You deserve them, Sal. You deserve to be loved completely.

  She took a long, shaking breath. I love you so much, Blaec. I would've made you cessivi too.

  I know. I love you too much for that. You'll find another.

  And you're coming home with me. She looked back to him, and he nodded, both of them hoping she was right. But if not, I swear, Blaec. If he harms you, I swear I will make him pay for it. I know it matters, so I'll swear it, but I'm going to get you home!

  His relief flowed across their link. Thank you.

  Silence hung between them, their emotions saying more than words ever could. Love was the only thing she had left to offer. The Emperor had taken everything else. She barely knew where they were in the world, and their only friends were people who'd once tried to kill them. Jase and Zep were half a continent away, and she couldn't reach a single mind that wasn't held by the enemy. If Sal's eyes could've cried, she would have.

  But the lack of food was wearing on her. No matter how hard she tried to stay awake, eventually she dozed off, her legs buckling until the collar around her neck slowly strangled her. Suffocating, she wrenched herself awake, gasping for air. A man walking past laughed and she glared at him.

  "Pretty brave when you're so far away." Her desperate anger had no other outlet.

  He turned to face her, the look on his face a mixture of anger and disgust. "Yeah?" he asked, striding toward her. "I'm not scared of a chained beast. What the fuck can you do to me?"

  He didn't stop until he was in her face, spittle from his lips splattering across her skin. Sal lunged forward, striking as fast as a snake. She heard her shoulders pop and felt a flare of pain as one joint was pulled nearly out of place, but she'd judged right. Her teeth sank into his throat and she bit down, ripping a full mouthful of flesh out as she returned to her position, chewing slowly.

  She swallowed and licked at her lips. "Kill you," she answered, not even caring that the man was too dead to hear.

  Beside her, Blaec huffed out a wry laugh. Jase is right. You are kinda hot when you're killing.

  He'd never told her that before. They'd been together almost two years and, even though he'd learned to accept her feral ways, that was the first time he'd complimented her for them. It made her stomach twist.

  One down, she thought, trying to push past the futility of their situation. Unfortunately, that wasn't my best move. They'll be wary of coming close, now.

  Good. Then they'll stop touching you.

  The body lay at her feet for nearly thirty minutes before someone noticed. A man walking past sounded the alert and it didn't take long before the Black Widows arrived. The Captain looked from the corpse to her face and sighed.

  "Someone get a sword on the beast's throat. If she goes after one of you, kill her."

  "Makiel might not like that," she pointed out.

  "Not losing any more men to you."

  She shrugged, planning his death in her mind. "Most of you are pretty tasty. ‘Cept the traitor."

  Narnx laughed and pulled a long, thin b
lade. "Then I'll hold her. Least we know she doesn't eat my kind."

  He rested the edge against her neck and Sal leaned into it, feeling it dig into her skin. For a moment she wondered what would happen if she died. Would the Emperor stop? Would Anglia? Would Blaec go free? No. All it would do is condemn her lovers to a slow and painful death.

  They removed the man's body, commenting on the wound in his neck with disgust. She didn't bother to look. Narnx held her gaze, challenging her dominance. She had nothing to lose, and if he left, he'd be giving in. They both knew it, just as they both knew she was truly the stronger iliri.

  "Nas gern suma," Sal growled softly.

  Narnx glared. "I don't speak that language, bitch. You want to talk to me, you do it in Glish."

  Sal looked for any sign of an expression on his face but found nothing. "Good to know. I suppose this means I'll be getting another visit from your daddy?"

  "Dregor," he whispered, showing the lie of his own words. "I have no father."

  Sal cocked her head to the side. "Is he hoping we die of exposure, or would he prefer we hang ourselves from exhaustion?"

  "Both," Captain Vitus said. "You just killed an officer, bitch."

  "He's not the first," she snarled back. "Jaeger's Crossing comes to mind. Remember, though, you attacked first."

  "Escean Pass," the Captain countered. "You ambushed us."

  Sal nodded. "Carrying a load of iliri heads. Again, you attacked us first. Zaqala. We were signing an alliance when you killed my Taunor. You completely ruined my dress doing it."

  "You don't sound too upset."

  Sal pasted on a smile. "That's because we brought him back to life." Then she pinned her ears. "I will win this. Do you not understand?"

  A deep voice chuckled as he walked up behind her. Sal recognized Makiel's charming sound, her ears following the squelch of his feet through the mud. He stayed outside the perimeter of her chain until he was in her line of sight, then gestured for Narnx to leave.

  "You won't win," Makiel said. "You can kill us, but we keep coming. We will not let your kind ruin the fate of humanity."

  Sal chuckled. "Irony, right there. An iliri talking about saving the humans from iliri. I admit, you play the part well - and are pretty convincing - but I can smell what they can't."

  "Like what?"

  "Arousal." She met his eyes easily. "You want to lick the blood from my jaw as you fuck me." Proving the point, she inhaled again. "See."

  "Disgusting."

  Sal just let her eyes drop, running down his body. "Nice coat. Bulky. Concealing."

  He shook his head regretfully but stepped close enough to keep their words private, even with the throng of men gathering around them. "I know what you're trying to do, and it won't work."

  "It already has," she promised. "They're already wondering about your affair with Narnx's mother. They're already wondering why you're hiding the histories from them. You see, I hear really well, and men like to talk."

  "How did you bring him back to life?" Makiel asked, changing subjects completely.

  "Wasn't me. One of the grauori did it. I'm not the only miracle worker in Anglia."

  "How did you make that man attack me?"

  She shrugged innocently. "Let's call it my amazing charm."

  He reached up and grabbed her face, but this time his hands were bare. Sal gasped as the power of his mind hit her, quickly locking her memories away. Her lip curled and she snarled, refusing to lower her eyes. Dozens of images flashed at the back of her mind as his thoughts leaked in, but she ignored them, forcing herself to concentrate on the threat before her.

  "Bite me, and your lover will pay for it."

  "Get out of my head," she warned. "It is not a safe place to play."

  He smiled slowly as the fingers of his mind sought her memories. He was trying to use powers that only Kaisaes had ever earned access to. His talent was rough and fumbling, but Sal had never heard of a male wielding them. She could only guess it was because there were no other females in his pack. Blaec had started to experience the same thing in the years before Sal joined the Black Blades, and the Emperor had been at this longer. The thought of him being able to kill with a touch chilled her to the bone.

  "A touch is it?" he purred.

  He'd just read her. She didn't know what else he could do but, obviously, he could read by touch. Sal turned her mind to plates, remembering the subtle differences that had resulted in her being beaten by her masters, and let it flood her senses completely.

  "You'll get nothing from me," she said softly.

  He nodded. "Useful. Now I know a good way to block readers."

  "Only if you're stronger than the reader. Sadly you aren't stronger than me. Where's the metal?"

  His memories flashed in her mind. Sal couldn't help but smile. No matter how hard Makiel tried to block her with surface thoughts, she'd already delved too far inside for that to matter. He tried to invade her brain with the grace of a sledgehammer, while she'd slipped into his head as gently as a needle, only the initial pinch causing any discomfort to the recipient. His thoughts told her one story - of his affair with Narnx's mother - while his memories gave her the tactical knowledge and secret intelligence she truly desired. Each one she copied, packaged, and hid in the back of her mind to go through later. If only she had a way to get it back to the Blades.

  Makiel grinned, thinking he'd bested her, and looked over his shoulder. His eyes fell on a soldier in the crowd. "Private," he called, ordering the man to his side.

  "Yes, sir?"

  "Touch the bitch." Confused, the man reached up and poked a finger into her arm. Makiel glared at him. "No you fool, touch her skin with yours."

  Sal inhaled deeply, tasting the man's scent. "He wants me to kill you," she told the Private. "He wants to learn how to use that power at the cost of your life."

  "Sir?" the man asked, completely confused.

  "Just touch her skin. That's an order."

  Timidly, the soldier nodded and pressed the back of his hand to her face. His fear hit Sal through the touch, mingled with images of two small children and a young wife. He'd joined the army to support his kids, terrified that he'd never make it home, but hoped that at least the death benefits would see them cared for until they were grown.

  "I understand," she told the man. "The word you're looking for is umso."

  Makiel released her long enough to crack her hard across the mouth, making Sal snarl. As exhausted as she was, her reaction was primal. For a split second, she stopped thinking about the humans she was trying to convert and wanted nothing more than to kill the man for the pain he'd just caused.

  "Do not try to subvert my soldiers," Makiel snapped, the hint of an iliri growl rumbling in his tone.

  "Why not?" she demanded. "It's you that wants me to kill him for your own gain. If he cried umso to Anglia, we'd return him to his wife and kids where he truly belongs."

  Makiel shook his head. "No, bitch. You want to kill him. Don't lie to us. You eat humans."

  "The enemy," Sal clarified. "Murderous, lecherous, villainous men. Yes, I do eat them. I also love humans. My mate is human. My best friend is human. My King is human. The world is not as black and white as you wish it were, Makiel."

  "It can be," he whispered. "Stick a knife in the Major's shoulder again."

  "Did you not learn last time?" Sal yelled, feeling her panic rise. "I will get closer to your heart each time."

  He smiled. "That will work too."

  Her breath fled her body as she realized what he wanted. No matter what she did, he'd feel it - and copy it. She couldn't even put Blaec to sleep without giving the Emperor more power over her people.

  I'm fine, Blaec thought, understanding the same thing. You have more tricks than he does. I love you, my Kaisae.

  She nodded, knowing Blaec could see. "I will not give you more power over humans," Sal swore. "You cannot touch me forever, and if you aren't holding me, you can't learn what I do."

  "
Stab him in the gut."

  Her ears flicked back, hoping to close off the sound of Blaec's pain, but it didn't work. The blade pierced his flesh and his muffled scream cut through the noise of the crowd.

  "I love you!" she called out.

  "Don't let him win," Blaec groaned. "No matter what, you can't let him win, sweetness."

  She nodded again, wishing she could cry. "I will make you regret this, Makiel. I swear it," she promised the Emperor.

  "On what?" the old man asked. "You don't believe in a god. Your vows are empty."

  "Ayati," she said softly. "The nature of the world is stronger than even your made-up beliefs. You. Will. Not. Win."

  "Stab him again. This time lower."

  She roared her rage into his face, but it didn't stop the abuse. Blaec screamed loudly this time, the scent of his blood drifting to her senses. When the Emperor smiled proudly, it sent her over the edge.

  With her fingers already deep in the recesses of his mind it didn't take much. She grabbed his heart and froze it, watching the man's eyes widen as the pain hit. Desperate, she tried to take control of his mind too, but he fought, flinging her attempt at control off. His heart beat again, but he'd shifted her mental hands to something else. Something she recognized.

  Something that felt a lot like her brothers' skills.

  "Copy this," she hissed, wrenching and tearing at the iliri structures in his head, ruining every one. She moved quickly, knowing the pain of what she was doing would make him break the contact. She couldn't risk something being left intact. She didn't have time to identify everything he'd accumulated, but she could feel the pure colors of his skills as distinct from everything else in his mind. As she ripped, she growled. She snarled as she pulled, turning his mind into less than a human's in milliseconds. He screamed and tore at his head, falling into the mud.

  "I will win!" she roared.

  "Kill him!" the Emperor bellowed. "Make her watch while her lover dies."

  "No!" Sal screamed, realizing her mistake. Her head snapped to Blaec. Panic hit her like ice. "Don't! Please, not him!" She surged against the chains. "I'll fix it!"