Tenacity (Rise of the Iliri Book 5)

by Auryn Hadley

  "Like you?" she asked, confused.

  "Human," he muttered.

  "Oh!" Sal said, grinning. "So no one told you about my mate?"

  "The guy I just smacked around?"

  Sal shook her head. "That's my brother. Well, unit-mate, I guess you'd call it. I just figured someone would have mentioned my Taunor. He's human."

  His eyes widened and his mouth loosened, but he refused to let it fall open. "No. She didn't say that."

  "His name is Zep. His parents were proud to brag that they were from twenty generations of pure human breeding. I'm not worried about being around you. I'd think it'd be more that you wouldn't want to be alone with me after the rumors."

  "That you eat my kind?" he asked.

  She nodded.

  Petric shrugged. "Figured that was just Terran propaganda."

  "It's not." Sal tilted her head to the side, waiting for his reaction. His brow furrowed, but he refused to say anything, so she went on. "Iliri crave the iron in human flesh. It smells sweet to us, and there aren't words to describe the taste, but we think of you like our horses."

  He choked at that. "Like horses?"

  Sal reached over to pat his arm. "I won't eat my mares. I don't eat my friends. I will eat Terrans. So will other Anglians."

  "Just kaisaes?" Petric asked.

  "No, all iliri. Zensa fights it every time she's with you, but her urges to bite you aren't because of your taste."

  The poor guy blushed at that. "Um," he stammered.

  Sal held up her hand, stopping him. "That's how we claim our men. Others see the marks and know he's spoken for. They can also smell her on you. It's like a wedding ring but more personal. Just figured I should clarify that."

  "Thanks," he chuckled. "I guess this shit's gonna get pretty intense soon, huh?"

  "The war?" Sal asked. When he nodded, she went on. "Yeah. You might want to warn the Unavi about us. Anglia and Viraenova are coming. We're on your side, and we have no intention of conquering your country, just freeing it."

  "You sure?" He glanced behind him, looking at the door. "I mean, rulers tend to change their mind, and Unav was a prize a few years ago."

  "You have my word."

  "No offense," he said, tilting his head to the side, "but how can you know?"

  Sal nodded slowly. "Zensa didn't tell you who I am, did she?"

  "She said we had to help a kaisae, because to not would be a betrayal to her people."

  "Not a kaisae. The Kaisae. I sit on one of Anglia's three thrones." Sal smiled gently. "You can tell your friends that you just backhanded a queen and it isn't that far from the truth."

  He paused, not even daring to breathe. "What's your real name?" he asked.

  "Salryc Luxx."

  "Oh fuck." Petric slipped from his chair and dropped to his knees. "Majesty!"

  She laughed, hauling him back to his feet. "I prefer Sal, and I hate the kneeling crap. I'm just a soldier, Petric. The only thing that makes me special is my species."

  He paused, holding up his hand to stop her words. "I think that's your friend."

  Through the window, Sal could see a man walking toward the cottage. He shuffled up the steps and paused, then knocked at the door. Petric opened it carefully.

  "Look, I'm sorry," Kolt said from the other side of the door. "I had too much to drink. Can I come in and apologize?"

  "Yeah," Petric grumbled, opening the door just enough for Kolt to enter, then closing it quickly. He twisted the lock and sighed deeply. "Sorry," he said, turning to look at Kolt in the light.

  Bruises colored Kolt's face, and his right eye was swollen nearly closed, but he managed to grin. "Put more weight into your swing and try to punch through the target."

  "I think he did pretty good," Sal said, moving to Kolt's side. "You look like you got kicked by a horse."

  "Cheek's stiff," Kolt agreed. "Fix me up, babe?" He offered both hands to her.

  She took them, twining her fingers with his. Sal wasn't a great healer, but she had enough skill to fix bruises and most lacerations. She'd never used the ability as much as she had in the last week, though, and as she healed Kolt, she couldn't help but send a thought of thanks to Shift for teaching her the ability. By the time she was done, Kolt looked like his normal self.

  "Feel better?" she asked.

  "Much." He turned to her host. "And thanks, man. You were great. The Terrans even bought me a drink. They never suspected a thing. Asked if I'd seen an iliri, and I told them I'd been a bit too busy to notice."

  Petric grinned. "Then I'm glad I could help. Glad Zensa didn't warn me who I was hitting."

  Kolt shrugged, a smile on his face. "Yeah, bet she didn't tell you that Sal's the best assassin the CFC has ever seen, either. Ok." He turned back to Sal. "The horses are a lost cause. We're on foot again."

  "South," Sal said. "I need our things and to get into some real clothes."

  "Oh!" Petric gestured for Sal to follow him, leading her to a door at the far side. "Your stuff's on the bed. I have another pack in the kitchen filled with food. Feel free to change in there and let me know what else you need?"

  She thanked him and stepped into their bedroom, closing the door behind her. While she dressed, she could hear the men talking in soft tones through the wood. The dress, she left on the bed, pulling on a Terran shirt and her own black pants in its place. Her boots had been cleaned completely, and her clothes smelled fresh. She belted on her daggers and grabbed Kolt's sword - Blaec's sword - then returned to the main room.

  "Here." She tossed the sheathed weapon at her new partner.

  He caught it easily and buckled it around his waist. "Got a dark shirt in there? I'll glow in this."

  She rummaged in the pack and pulled out a matching Terran shirt, passing it across. "I left the dress on the bed," Sal told Petric. "How can I repay you for all of this?"

  He shrugged. "Fifty thousand guilders?"

  Sal pulled a dagger from her belt and held it out. "Will two kilos of steel do?"

  This time Petric's mouth did fall open. "I was joking," he breathed, reaching out to trace his fingers along the flat of the blade. "That's real?"

  Sal drew the other as well, holding them both up. "Yeah, they're real. What you and Zensa have done? It matters."

  "Like..." Petric looked at Kolt. "She means that?"

  Kolt nodded. "She'd give you the blades too, if you wanted them. If you don't name a price, you leave her in debt. We take that seriously."

  Petric shook his head, looking between them. "The horses," he said quickly. "If the Terrans leave them, I'll take those. I need something to work the farm."

  Sal smiled and nodded. "Then they're yours. They weren't made to pull, though."

  "We're kinda short of horses here in Slate Ridge, Kaisae. Anything is better than doing it by hand. I'm trying to feed a rebellion here."

  "You shouldn't have said that," Kolt told him, laughing.

  "Cenla Xie," Sal whispered the town's name in her native tongue. "I will remember."

  Petric pointed at the pack beside Kolt. "You've got food for a couple of days. We put some coins in there, just in case. It's not much, but everyone gave what they could spare. There's your two changes of clothes, plus a black shirt for each of you. What else do you need?"

  "Some luck," Sal said. "We just need to make it away from town without being seen."

  "Woods come up to the back of the house. It's about six hours till dawn, and I'm willing to bet the soldiers are winding down. Keep to the trees until you hit the stream. That's the Escean border."

  Kolt held out his hand, and Petric took it, clasping it firmly. "Thanks," Kolt told him. "Tell them all how much they helped."

  "And that I'll be sending orders soon," Sal added. "The rebellion's time has come."

  Petric smiled. "We've been waiting."

  Sal nodded. "For almost two years. I know. I was the one who asked you all to have patience. We just need to save the girls, first, before they understand how organized you a
ll truly are."

  She turned to leave, and he hurried to the door, unlocking it for her. "Be safe, Kaisae. Laetus, if you'll take it from a human."

  Sal smiled and grabbed his arm. "I'll take it from a friend. Thank you."

  Chapter 38

  A cold breeze rattled in the dead leaves that still clung to the branches. Detritus crunched beneath their feet. Sal and Kolt moved through the dense forest as fast as they could, but it seemed as if the world was screaming their presence. Their senses were seeking any hint of pursuit, and the sound of their passage seemed too loud in both of their ears.

  Kolt's thoughts broke the tension as he struck up a silent conversation. When we woke, he asked pausing for the right words, were we linked?

  Yes. Sal didn't know what else to say.

  Did you do it?

  She looked over at him. No. Not intentionally.

  He shrugged it off. Guess there could be worse reactions to a bad dream.

  I don't dream.

  He stopped in his tracks. I think you do.

  Nope, Sal shook her head as she turned to wait for him.

  Yeah, babe, you kinda have to.

  Why?

  Because I don't think those were my dreams I had last night. He rubbed his hand across his mouth. I'm not sure if I should tell you about it, now.

  She tilted her head to the south. Well, it's not like we have anything else to talk about while we walk.

  Yeah, but...

  It was about Blaec, she guessed.

  Yeah. They walked for a few minutes in silence before he decided to tell her. You were talking to him. It was in the middle of nothingness, and you were leaning back against his chest, looking up at a light in the sky. He kept saying it was ok, he could wait.

  She shrugged. I've never dreamed, Kolt. That also doesn't sound like I remember death looking like, or feeling like.

  So, what do you think happens when we die?

  She glanced up at the moons. They seemed to grow larger as they neared the horizon. Nothing. I think we die. It's a vortex that pulls our minds to it, shredding them when we fall in deep enough. It's dark and lonely, but it only lasts a moment before we lose ourselves and simply don't exist anymore. This is it, Kolt. This is all we have.

  Then how did you save Zep?

  She smiled, preferring that memory. I kept him from falling into the vortex. It pulled at him, but we held him until his body could live again.

  Kolt refused to give up. Then why am I dreaming about your mate?

  Because that's what we talked about before you fell asleep. I've never dreamed. Jase doesn't dream. Zep doesn't feel our dreams because they don't exist. He says touching our minds when we sleep is creepy because there's simply nothing there.

  Kolt nodded but had one last question. So you don't want to know what Blaec said?

  She bit her lips together and shook her head. No. I want to remember the man I loved, not the pain of his loss. I want to remember the way his green eyes sparkled, and how he lifted his chin proudly as he laughed. I don't want to confuse that with dreams that are little more than wish fulfillment.

  I can see that. Kolt turned his eyes back to the path and trudged on.

  It was nearly dawn before they found the stream. It was probably only a couple of meters deep, but it was enough that neither of them wanted to wade into it. They turned west, hoping the rising foothills would make it easier to find a way across. The first rays of the sun were long behind them before they found a shallow spot.

  Once on the other side, Sal reached out with her mind. Rais? Blaz? She knew those men the best and hoped they'd be able to hear her.

  Sal? It was Blaz.

  "I got the 112th," she told Kolt, then sent to Blaz, I can't tell you how nice it is to hear your voice!

  No shit, he agreed. So, if I understand this right, you're kinda close to us, right?

  Depends on how strong your linker is.

  A rough voice slid into her head. Not that strong. Laetus, Kaisae. I am Murah.

  Thanks, Murah. I think we just crossed into Escea, Sal told them. We're in the foothills, traveling south near the edge of the forest.

  Then we're about a day away, Blaz told her. You have horses?

  No.

  Fuck. Blaz's mind drifted away as he thought. Then you can ride double with me.

  I have a friend, she told him.

  Blaz accepted that, but a flow of sorrow leaked across to her. Sal? I'm sorry. You know that, right?

  She stopped walking, his emotions hitting her too hard. I know. You're leaking, Blaz. I can't do that right now.

  Fuck. He tried to close down his emotions, and almost succeeded, only a hint of the pain tinting his mental voice. So, does your friend know how to ride?

  Sal glanced at Kolt. Well enough, I suppose, although Star Fall was never known for their horsemanship. Kolton learns fast enough.

  Enik Kolton? He didn't even try to hide his shock. Sal? Why does his name keep popping up?

  What do you mean?

  Arctic asked us to find someone. Rais did some digging when we passed through Prin. The only person who matched his criteria… was Kolton. Six years ago.

  She chuckled. I know, Kolt already told me. Thank you for finding it, though.

  Wasn't me. Rais did that on his own. He also didn't believe it. He said we were looking for an iliri, not a human.

  He's iliri. He just knew how to hide better than we did. She wondered if she dared tell Blaz the rest, and decided she could trust him. He's defecting to Anglia.

  Blaz's relief hit her. Good. We were told to find the man that did you the biggest favor in your life. If that's Kolton, then I'll talk to Sturmgren myself about his records.

  It's him. Blaz, he's the one that showed me how to get out of those chains.

  Then tell him the 112th has his back. We'll make sure he's cleared before the rest of his unit is in the country. You've taken care of us. We owe you. Hell, she could feel his laugh, I have a damned mutt trotting at Rax's shoulder who keeps trying to tell me he outranks me.

  Murah? she asked.

  Yep, Blaz grumbled.

  He's Brerror - dominant males, usually, who don't tend to play well with others. Seems they don't do the pack thing.

  Yep, sounds like Murah. So how do I prove my place as the first officer?

  Sal ducked her head, looking at Kolt from the corner of her eye. You beat him. Probably a lot. Don't drop your eyes and don't back off. If he challenges you, then force him to submit, violently if you have to.

  I can do that, Blaz thought. He's kinda slow for a grauori.

  Sal laughed, trying to keep it quiet. Then you'll be fine. I've seen how fast you move.

  Had a blade in your ribs a few times, if I recall.

  I'll deny it until I die, she teased. Ok. One more day, then I can stop walking. Sit deep, Blaz. Ride safe. I'm ready to see my mates.

  You too, Sal. Don't ever scare me like that again, ok?

  Ok, she agreed, letting their link dissolve.

  "So you reached them?" Kolt asked.

  "Yeah." She sighed, feeling some of her tension fade away. "They're about a day out. They also promised to have your species changed so you can properly defect."

  "Why?" He grabbed her elbow, helping her balance as she stepped over a downed tree.

  "Because that's what friends do." She smiled up at him appreciatively. "They take care of each other."

  "You seem to have a lot of friends."

  "They know you helped me in the past. Blaz knows you helped get me out of the chains. They all know you helped get me out of the camp. The 112th will never be across the line from Anglia, we've sworn that to each other."

  "Did you sleep with him?" Kolt asked, sounding almost jealous. "In Prin, when he was groping you every chance he could get, did you really sleep with him?"

  Sal chuckled. "No. I bit him, then we had a few drinks. We told a few secrets to each other and decided that maybe being from two different species didn't mean we
had to hate each other."

  "That's it?"

  She nodded. "The crap you saw in Prin was all just for show."

  Kolt grabbed her arm, halting her. "He was riding your horse, Sal. The Blades never let others ride their horses."

  "I did." She tugged her arm away. "We had to stop the steel, and he was the second officer of the 112th. I needed to make the world think I was in his bed and it worked. He's enough of a horseman that he figured out I was sleeping with Blaec because of my stupid ears. I figured he could handle my mare if he can read me that well."

  "Then how'd he know all that other stuff?" Kolt lifted his chin. "He had no problems sharing the stories about how iliri women are in bed."

  She laughed. "I had to tell him. He blushed brilliantly at even needing to ask."

  "You forget that I'm iliri enough to smell it. Your scent on him. Your marks on his body. His desire for you as he talked."

  "Jealous?" she asked, the set of her ears showing she was not amused.

  "No. I'd just rather you didn't lie to me."

  "I'm not. I will never lay with a human again," she swore.

  Kolt nodded. "Then you'd better tell Blaz that. I bet he still wants you."

  "He's a friend."

  Kolt shook his head and started walking again, his back stiff. He was almost out of her range of hearing when he muttered, "Being a friend never stopped a man from dreaming."

  She growled and stormed after him. "You gonna be a dick about every man I talk to?"

  He slowed a bit, letting her catch up. "Just the humans."

  "There's a lot of humans in Anglia," Sal reminded him. "Dominik Jens, the Verdant Shields, and most of my soldiers."

  "That's different." He refused to look at her.

  "Kolt?" Sal asked. "Why are you so pissed about this?"

  He turned quickly, grabbing her shoulders and stepping close enough so his chest almost brushed hers. "You're too good for them, Sal. You're my Kaisae - our Kaisae. You don't need a damned human."

  She lifted her chin defiantly, glaring into his eyes. "You forget about Zep already?"

  Kolt glared back. "He's not really human. I've known that since I failed out of the Blades. It's the rest of them. All those men who think they own you. The ones who think you're some toy they deserve to play with." He growled, his lip lifting enough to expose the line of his teeth. "Like Blaz."