Tenacity (Rise of the Iliri Book 5)

by Auryn Hadley

  "Lieutenant!" the guard yelled.

  The officer wore the standard black and red of the Terran elites, his blonde hair falling across his collar. He turned slowly, pale green eyes widening in shock to see Marin. "Corporal?" he asked, walking over.

  "Yes, sir," Marin said. "Took me a bit, but I made it back, sir."

  Narnx took a long breath, then nodded. "Do you have anything to report?"

  Breathe, Marin told himself. He couldn't lie to Narnx. His mind whirled as he tried to find a careful answer while he struggled to keep his heart rate steady and his muscles relaxed.

  "Yes, sir. I was held by the Black Blades for over a week. I was able to see a few things."

  The guard shuffled nervously. "Lieutenant Narnx, sir? Shall I assume his identity is verified?"

  Narnx nodded, his eyes never leaving Marin's. "Yes, Private." He smiled, but it was just for show. "It's good to see you again, Celik. Thought you'd been eaten by the beasts."

  "I was," Marin admitted. "Then healed, then tortured. They made the mistake of thinking I was too far gone to escape."

  "I'm glad to hear it," Narnx said, tilting his head. "I know you're exhausted, but I need a full report. I can at least let you sit while you give it."

  "Thank you, sir."

  Narnx dismissed the Private and led Marin through the massive camp. Two posts still stood in the center, a resin chain hanging loosely from one, the other bare. He stared, realizing that was where Blaec Doll died. Here, kilometers away from where the Blades had suffered, but they'd still felt it. Narnx slowed, his own eyes lingering for a moment before he turned down a row of tents. By the time he found the one he was looking for, the scene of the massacre was out of sight.

  "Come in," Narnx said, pushing aside the flap.

  Marin stepped inside and paused. The tent was completely regulation. Most soldiers kept a few private things, but not Narnx. A small table held maps, the cot was made to military specifications, and even his weapons and armor were placed in the regulation spot. Marin's stomach clenched, wondering if Zep had been right. Narnx was the perfect soldier. He did everything asked, and he did it well. That's how he'd ended up as the second officer of the Black Widow Company. He'd simply been too good to pass over.

  "Sit." Narnx moved around to his chair, flicking his hand toward the smaller one across the desk. "What can you tell me about the Anglian tactics?" he asked.

  Marin took a deep breath. "They spoke openly around me, sir."

  "And?"

  He nodded, trying to swallow the spit that simply didn't exist in his mouth. "Yes, sir. They believe that they're justified in their actions. They want to save their - your - people." He left the words hanging between them.

  Narnx inhaled again. Marin would have never noticed it before, but after days surrounded by iliri, it was now so obvious. He smiled as he looked directly into Narnx's eyes. Just as the pale man began to tense, Marin dropped his gaze to the desk.

  "You know the bitch got away?" Narnx asked, his tone completely formal.

  "Yeah," Marin said. "I also know how."

  "Do tell."

  This was it. He was unarmed and about to put his life in the hands of a single phrase. "Il bax genause." He dared to look back up. "I saw the link break."

  "And?" Narnx asked, his tone hinting at something more.

  He nodded. "And Zep knew who had the key. They aren't beasts, sir. They're not human, but they deserve our respect. They never did a thing to me that we didn't do first. We took their mate - their soul - and they only hurt me enough to find a way to get her back."

  "They let you go?"

  Marin clenched his hands before him. He was still alive, so maybe Zep had been right. "Three times."

  "Why didn't you leave the first two?"

  "Honestly? The first time, I don't know. They were frantic, and I just didn't go. The second? I tried, but then I heard them. I went back and watched Cyno try to save Zep, even as his own mind was breaking. I've never seen that kind of devotion, sir."

  Narnx nodded. "Was that when Blaec Doll died?"

  Marin leaned back and lifted his head. The words he was about to say would brand him a traitor and convict him of treason. "Yes, sir. I said umso."

  "Is that the third?" Narnx asked without flinching.

  Marin slid his hand into his pocket and pulled out a small vial. "Yes, sir. Cyno said you'll know who can use this best." He placed it on the table. "Murtadem."

  Finally, emotion showed on Narnx's face. Suspicion. "Corporal, I'm giving you one last chance to prove you're not a traitor. Did you bring this to me for a specific reason?"

  Cold chills trickled across Marin's skin, but he nodded. Even as his mind tried to think of a way to back peddle, his heart knew he was doing the right thing. "Yes. The Blades believe that an internal takeover would be a lot easier if the third in line to the throne leads the elite units."

  "Look at me," Narnx demanded.

  Marin lifted his eyes to Narnx's, well aware that no matter how professional the Lieutenant seemed, he would still have iliri instincts. "I have scars that will prove my story, sir. I also know about your help."

  "Why should I trust you?" Narnx made no effort to deny the accusations.

  "Cyno did. Ask Sal. I know you can reach her. The rebels locked the hubs away, but Sal knows how to use them. She'll know what her cessivi do."

  "Do not say that word," Narnx hissed. "Never, do you understand me? I don't care who you're talking to, if I hear that leave your mouth again, I will kill you."

  "Why?"

  The pale man glanced nervously to the canvas walls. "Because my sire knows what it means." He leaned across the desk and lowered his voice. "It works both ways, Marin. There's three of them, and he'd only need one, and any one of them would do. Do you understand what I am saying?"

  "Oh, shit," he breathed. "They didn't tell me that. I mean, they said without her they would - "

  Narnx shook his head, his fingers closing on the vial. "This is treason, you know that, right?"

  "It's not," Marin said, lifting his chin. "I cried umso, Lieutenant. It's only treason if I'm trying to undermine my own government."

  "Is an extraction in progress?"

  "Yes. My family will be moved before the month is out."

  "Good," Narnx purred. "I'm assigning you to delta squad. They're short a man."

  "Yes, sir." Zep had been right! Narnx really was working to help Anglia! No, he thought, not Anglia, but the iliri. Narnx was working to save his own people.

  "Stop that," the Lieutenant hissed. "Deep breaths. Control your heart. If you stay calm, the scent of your emotions is muted."

  "How will this work in the end?" Marin asked.

  Leaning back, Narnx sighed. He pushed his hands across his face and sighed again. "Most likely we'll die. Of all the futures I've seen, most of them are bad, but there's a chance."

  "Of?"

  This time the smile finally reached Narnx's eyes. "That I'll live long enough to meet my mate. Our son will be named Blaec."

  "It's a good name," Marin said. "Blaec Zaryn."

  "No." Narnx chuckled sadly. "Our children take the name of their mothers. Somewhere in this world, Blaec's sister is alive. He never even knew he had one, but I've seen it. They shared a human sire. She doesn't even know they're related, but she'll take his name."

  "Ayati," Marin breathed.

  "You've been learning. What changed your mind, human?"

  "The truth." He paused at the sound of people passing outside, then leaned closer, his voice barely a whisper. "I went from being a threat to a friend with no malice. I made one little gesture of kindness, and they returned it. When I cared for them?" He looked away, his mind trapped in the memory. "I watched Cyno and Zep grieve. I held Risk while he cried without shame. I kept thinking that we say humans are superior, but they have an honesty that we can't even begin to understand. Why do we want to eradicate that? What have they ever done to us? We colonized this planet from someplace far away, but
it was their home first. Yours, I mean. What right do we have to kill them for simply existing?"

  "None," Narnx agreed. "We never asked for this. In a few weeks, I will promote you to the second officer of Delta Squad. I need you to convince Tharp and his men that this is about more than winning the war. Can you do that?"

  "Tharp?" Marin asked. "You know about Star Fall, then?"

  "Yes. I've been slowly recruiting and assigning them to the same team." His smile was devious. "They aren't sure if I know, but they also aren't dumb enough to think it was simply coincidence. You're going to be taking a lot of risks."

  "And then?" Marin asked.

  Narnx reached across the table, his hand held palm up. "I must touch you to share the memory of what we should have discussed. Look over it, memorize it. Not all of the iliri here are on our side, so don't trust them."

  Before Marin took his hand, he asked again, "What's the plan, sir? After we get you in place, what happens then?"

  Narnx blinked slowly, his smile wistful. "Then we change the world, Marin. Live or die, we're going to change the entire fucking world. I don't see any other option. Welcome to the right side."

  Dear Reader,

  Tenacity is not the end, but a chance for a new beginning. For my fans who enjoy re-reading this series, I hope this gives you a whole new insight into the past. For the rest of you still waiting on the next book, I promise it's moving along a lot faster than I could have hoped.

  Wrangling this cast of characters hasn't always been easy. Some have been happy to stand in the background, quietly offering their support. Soon, they will get their time to shine. For others, who steal the scene whenever possible, they have no intention of going away. Because of this, we're currently expecting the series to contain a total of ten books – unless Zep gets another wild idea to add more! (He does that to me, sometimes).

  And so many of you have faithfully posted reviews of the books in this series. Because of you, sales have been better than any new author could hope for! I will never be able to thank you enough. Whether it was sharing the series to Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, telling your best friend about it, or taking the time to post a review on Amazon and Goodreads, you really have made a difference.

  The only way I can ever pay you all back is to make the next book better, get it to you faster, and keep going until this epic journey finally reaches the end. You, my readers, have been the best audience I could hope for. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

  If you haven't already, consider following me on my author page to get updated when the next book comes out.

  And if you'd like to share your opinion about

  Tenacity, click here.

  Now, here's an excerpt from another book by Auryn Hadley, this one co-authored with Kitty Cox. The Gamer Girls series features strong women, cool geeks, and the dark side of life online.

  Flawed

  Gamer Girls #1

  Prologue

  Unlocking the door, Destiny tossed her backpack on the couch, grabbed a Coke, and ran up the stairs as fast as she could. First, her finger pressed the power button to turn on her computer, then she stripped out of her school clothes. Baggy fleece pants and a t-shirt so old and worn that it was nearly transparent took their place. She'd promised her guild that she'd join them for the raid at eight but still had to do one more read-through before posting her latest blog entry.

  Dropping into the well-worn chair, she ripped open a mini Snickers, shoved it in her face, and opened a browser. A gulp of Coke washed the whole thing down. Probably not the best choice. Chocolate and soda – that definitely wouldn't help her drop a few pounds. With one hand she pinched the flab at her waist, while the other clicked the button to log into her blog.

  Well, not like she needed to be pretty to become a game developer. The biggest question was whether to get a degree first or ride the wave of her recent fame. Electronic Arts wanted her to come in for an interview for one of their massively multiplayer online games, but the letter lying on the kitchen table was too tempting to overlook. A scholarship to the school of her dreams, the University of Southern California, wasn't something to take lightly. Then again, could she really learn anything new, or would she just be spending money she didn't have for a dream she was about to achieve on her own?

  Destiny shoved her hands through her hair and let her eyes scan the blog. That image wasn't in quite the right place. Nope, she wanted that to say now instead of not. What the hell was that sentence supposed to mean? Oh, right. Well, it needed to be rephrased. Then she read it all again. When the whole thing was good enough, she pressed the button to post and started on the comments. Most of them were readers who didn't bother to log in or sign up for an account.

  Anonymous: Dum fukin bitch. Nothing wrong with girls in Legend. Them elves are hawt!

  Anonymous: It's called rock, paper, scissors. If you could do more than just make a sandwich you fat fuck, you'd know that.

  Anonymous: Talk bout Legend agn & I'll rape you.

  Fyre: Is it more appropriate to alter the attire for female models, or offer equally scandalous clothing to the males? What about offering players both, so that those who choose to sexualize their own avatar have that option, and those who find it foolish can select armor that actually appears to serve a purpose?

  Anonymous: I fap to your stream. Luv me a fat hoe.

  Soul_Reaper: Face it, more dudes play than babes. Armor reflects that. If you got a problem, go play Hello Kitty Online.

  Anonymous: Glad someone said it! Legend is just bad!

  She couldn't take anymore. Yes, she knew she was opening a can of worms when she called out a game for its atrocious representation of women. Not only was their "armor" barely more than dental floss, but the women were always abused, assaulted, or treated like objects. Granted, her faithful fan "Anonymous" wasn't helping her ego any. Fyre had a point, though. Was her problem the unequal options, or was it simply that she was so sick and tired of being told she was only good enough if she dropped twenty pounds? She clicked his name, which gave her the option to respond to his account privately.

  You raise a good point about character clothing options. While I personally find it irritating that a few strips of flimsy cloth represent top tier damage protection, none of us are fooled into thinking that games are equivalent to real life. Mostly, I believe the issue isn't the clothing (although getting to see some hot guys in leather straps would be nice for a change) but the use of females as quest objectives.

  Let me explain. In the few instances where a male needs to be saved, the storyline always includes him doing everything possible to help himself. Women, instead, are stupid, rushing headlong into danger because of a failed love, lost item, or any other superficial BS the designers feel is "good enough" to keep the story going. It's not. Women make up almost half of the population of online games, now, and we want to be tough, smart, sexy, and super-powered, too.

  She sent it and started deleting the most crass of the anonymous comments. Her blog was supposed to be a place for gamers to discuss the mechanics of both the available games and those currently being designed. She popped another Snickers into her mouth, her hand moving down the list, deleting based on the first few words in the quick view. Pressing a button, the icon spun, removing all of the nastiness and hate.

  Her computer dinged softly, indicating another private message. Really? When she opened that folder, she was shocked to see that Fyre had already responded.

  As a man, the objectification of women is a little too easy to overlook – sad as that may be. I think that people of alternate lifestyles, such as the transgendered and homosexual, also need representation. Back when I was a kid, only little boys played games. Now, that's not the case. Must say, I love your blog, Deztiny, and enjoy hearing your perspective on your stream.

  Pretty sure you won't answer it, but one last question. As the most influential private gamer this year, if you could persuade a development team to make anything, what would your d
ream game be?

  She chuckled at the misspelling of her name but wasn't upset. The guy was obviously a fan, but she was neither Dez nor tiny. Easy accident to make, though. Granted, her mom freaked out if she spent too much time talking to any one person so she'd answer this guy another way. Since he sounded genuinely interested in her opinions, she'd give him an eyeful.

  See tomorrow's post for a detailed answer. Short answer: I want it all, and I want something that feels smooth. Raid in World of Warcraft tonight at 8 pm EST, lachesis@streamgamesnow.

  He responded immediately.

  Will be watching. Won't cry if you happen to give up the secret to holding agro! Love your blog – best insights I've heard in a long time.

  That was exactly what she'd needed: a nice little boost to her ego. Granted, most of the work she'd done for Sony and EA so far was contract jobs, but the non-disclosure agreement still held. Not to mention that she didn't want everyone to know she was just a kid. It seemed like as soon as people found out she was still in high school, they assumed she was an idiot. Never mind that she'd proven herself over and over. Nope, all that mattered was that she was chunky and ugly.

  Her inbox dinged again, but this time, the message wasn't from Fyre. With a sigh, she opened it. Someone had caught a screenshot of her talking on the stream and photoshopped a penis into her open mouth. Destiny just deleted it. If her mom ever found out some of the things these people said to and about her, she'd make her stop blogging.

  What her mom didn't know wouldn't hurt her. Destiny focused her attention on the game of her dreams. Oh, she already knew what it was. She'd been wishing someone would make it, but the technical hurdles would require a very specific team. Hm. Maybe she'd address that as well. If nothing else, it would look really good on her resume.

  ***

  Two weeks later, Destiny finally got a response from Fyre to the blog she'd written for him. At first, she'd been a little annoyed, but she realized that since her inbox received a few hundred messages a day – something she didn't keep secret – he'd probably just read it instead of commenting. Didn't matter. It still made her smile to see a fan that actually cared enough to hold a dialogue about something other than how girls should be seen and not heard.