by Lexi Ander
Sūnder (Darksoul 1)
By Lexi Ander
Published by Lexi Ander
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner without written permission of the publisher, except for the purpose of reviews.
Edited by Alison Todd-Mann
Proofread by Samantha M. Derr
Cover design by Kirby Crow
Formatted by Alison Todd-Mann; fonts: Amarante by Karolina Lach; images from the VectEezy website, files by FreeVector, Zhaolifang, and Happymeluv
Map by Raelynn Marie
This book is a work of fiction and all names, characters, places, and incidents are fictional or used factitiously. Any resemblance to actual people, places, or events is coincidental.
First Edition September 2017
Copyright © 2015 by Lexi Ander
Darksoul: Part One © 2015 Lexi Ander
BLURB
If Sūnder Alārd was born female he would have been cherished for being faeborn—born with magick—and his birth celebrated. Instead, his L’fÿn mother insisted on his death. Only his Panthrÿn father’s desperate escape through the forest saved him.
With most Chándariāns uneasy in his presence due to rumors he is doomed to become a darksoul, and unlikely to find a mate because of it, Sūnder has nevertheless carved out an honorable existence as a warrior and commander. Serving as a bodyguard and chaperone, Sūnder accompanies the Chándariān prince to the annual mating festival on Earth, and when the prince is injured, he can’t help but be fascinated by the tongue-tied nurse who attends them at the hospital.
At sixteen years of age, Gabriel St. Baptista came home to discover his parents had taken off into space, leaving him behind to look after himself. Gabe never recovered from the unexpected desertion, and keeps everyone at arm’s length to avoid the pain of being abandoned again. However, after meeting Sūnder, Gabe finds himself unable to resist the bond between them and breaks his carefully crafted rules to spend time with the Chándariāns, regardless of the fact that Sūnder will soon leave. Scared by what he feels for Sūnder, Gabe can only hope his heart won’t be too broken when Sūnder returns to Chándaria.
But deceit and treachery surrounds them both, and when Gabe saves Sūnder’s life, it sets off a chain of events that could either tear Gabe and Sūnder apart… or give them both exactly what they want.
Table of Contents
Copyright
Blurb
Author’s Note
Acknowledgments
Trademarks
Lexicon Guide
Title Page
Map of Chándaria
Part One
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Part Two
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Epilogue
Glossary
Lexicon (Pronunciation)
About the Author
Other works by Lexi Ander
AUTHOR’S NOTE
Early in 2015 I wrote Darksoul: Part One for the M/M Romance group on Goodreads. If you read the story there, you will find I made some changes in completing the book, the book, now named Sūnder, and though the essence of the first part is still the same, it will read very differently than the original. Editing corrections have been made, and I have added background material to help support elements I wanted in future books. There are also smaller changes, such as Gabe’s last name and the names of the races, but they haven’t affected the plot. The original Part One has been divided because I thought Gabe’s acceptance came too early. This book does end with a HEA for this couple, and can be read as a standalone. Any future books in this universe will focus on different plots and main characters.
I hope you enjoy the culmination of Gabriel and Sūnder’s story!
Genre: science fiction, fantasy
Words: 120,000
Tags: anthropomorphic cat/elf, nurse, warrior, spanking, interspecies mating, magick, sort of mpreg, political intrigue, HEA, secrets, versatile alpha male, royalty, smexy use of a tail
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Christina,
thank you for writing such an excellent story prompt
that wouldn’t let me say no.
Also, a wealth of gratitude to
Jo, Andrea, Crissy, Piper, Wendy, and Caroline
for your valuable feedback.
Trademark Acknowledgements
Harley Davidson: Robert R Holloway, III Corporation
Hugo Boss: Hugo Boss AG Joint Stock Company Fed Rep
LEXICON GUIDE
Letters have been added to the alphabet to reflect how non-English words sound. Rather than list them all, here are what the letters mean:
á – a sharp sound, as in cat; e.g. Akirá [ah-keer-a], Alglistán [ahl-glis-stan], Válora [va-lor-a], and Bálsari [bal-sar-ee]
ä, ë – pronounced individually, as in reapply; e.g. Leänther [lee-an-ther] and Lileäh [lil-e-ah] or as in Brontë; e.g. Aulūçë [awl-oo-see] and e’vÿllë [eh-vil-lee]
ā – a long sound, as in aah or car; e.g. E’drijān [eh-dri-jahn], Chándariān [chan-dar-ee-ahn], and Sāchem [sah-chem]
è – a short ‘eh’ sound, as in bet; e.g. Nèlla [Nell-a] and Slorèx [slor-ehx]
ö – an ‘o-e’ sound, as in doe; e.g. dömini [doe-min-eye] and Ölwuen [oel-win]
ū – a long sound, as in druid; e.g. Sūnder [soon-der] and Lashūl [lash-ool]
ÿ – a short ‘i’ sound, as in sin; e.g. Panthrÿn [pan-thrin] and Kÿlyn [ki-lin]
Other words that have unusual pronunciations include:
A’yrē – [ah-ree]
Būkkës – [book-ees]
Branwuen – [bran-win]
dròw – rhymes with ‘owe’
Faelÿn – [fay-lin]
Florètān – [flor-eh-tahn]
Grāzoälūn – [gra-zo-ah-loon]
Kaukèx – [kaw-kex]
L’fÿn – [el-fin]
Rinne – [rin-nee]
S’koylë – [s-koi-lee]
Tālia – [tal-ya]
Valiant – [val-yant]
* Along with the glossary, a full lexicon can be found at the rear of the novel.
PROLOGUE
THE BARK OF THE tree Valiant hid behind exploded. He flinched, hunching his shoulders to shield his fragile burden. Splinters lodged in his exposed skin, thankfully leaving the babe unharmed. His energy flagged, but if he pushed himself a little harder he could reach the field where the rest of his knights awaited with the hovercrafts. Panting heavily, he pushed off the tree and ran as fast as he could. If not for the fragile treasure in his arms, Valiant would have taken to the trees where, as a Panthrÿn, he’d make better time. Not that speed mattered. The Jade Forest belonged to the L’fÿns, and they were far more familiar with these woods than he. Instead, he relied on his battle-honed reflexes to keep him ahead of his persistent pursuers.
He ducked and spun left, the next stunner blast missing him as his keen hearing saved him once again. Had his bodyguards all fallen to the L’fÿns of Nell
á? He heard people following him but couldn’t risk stopping to verify whether the pursuers were his Panthrÿn knights or L’fÿn. The babe he clutched to his chest had been silent since Valiant picked him up. Had the newborn died, making his precipitous escape through the Jade Forest unnecessary?
Valiant could hardly believe he ran from his wife and her people. L’fÿns were a peaceful race, the arranged marriage between his family and the L’fÿns of Nellá an age-old tradition that had begun with a peace treaty centuries ago. Valiant hadn’t fallen in love with Tālia, but he’d been fond of her and valued her friendship. That she became pregnant within the first season of their nuptials had been a sign from the Gods. On the eve of the birth, they’d left the capital of Wūxbury and traveled to Tālia’s homeland so the babe would be born near the forest, as was L’fÿn tradition.
All had gone well, or so Valiant thought—he’d been pacing anxiously in the hallway—until the child was born and wails of sorrow were raised within Tālia’s chamber. Her attendants burst from the enclosed room, jostling him in their haste to leave. Certain the newborn had passed through the veil—for what else could cause such a commotion?—he rushed into the birthing chamber to… discover the boy alive, whole, seemingly hale, and… on the floor? Alarmed, Valiant bent to pick the child up.
“No, Valiant, don’t touch it,” Tālia choked out, her hand held up beseechingly. Grief ravaged her delicate features, her cheeks painted with silver tears as she lay in the bed, propped up on a mound of lavishly embroidered pillows. Her cornsilk hair was bound high on her head, the loose tendrils plastered to her sweat-slick coral skin attesting to the strain of childbirth.
Ignoring her plea, Valiant lifted the babe, cradling him carefully in his arms as he fought the anger he felt at his son’s treatment. The boy’s unusual gaze caught and held his. Brilliant, royal blue eyes were each red-ringed, the vibrant crimson color matching that of his already thick mane. Like both his Panthrÿn and L’fÿn parents the child was smooth-skinned, but darker than Valiant had expected, considering his mother. Some called L’fÿns “The Golden” because their skin tones were vibrant coral hues and their hair some shade of white, gold, or bronze, although a small portion of the L’fÿn population—dròw—were between a dark gray and deepest black in color. Other than the child’s skin tone, pointed ears, and the slightly tilted angle of his L’fÿn-shaped eyes, the babe’s more prominent features were all Panthrÿn. The retractable claws, rosettes on his torso, ridges down the bridge of his nose, and long tail all favored Valiant’s side of the family.
The inherent power of an alpha emanated from his son, which pleased Valiant mightily, but he also felt something else within the boy, something unexpected. Surprised, he glanced at Tālia, stating proudly, “He has magick.”
Tālia cried harder.
“I don’t understand.” Valiant sensed nothing wrong with the babe, so why were Tālia and her household filled with such sorrow? “Why do you weep so? He is a beautiful child who shall clearly grow into a powerful male.”
“He is faeborn.” Tālia’s voice broke, and she stifled a sob.
Tālia had spoken glowingly of the treasured faeborn children, coddled and spoiled, given everything they wanted. For an L’fÿn dròw to be called faeborn, magick must rest within them at birth. Instead of being born with an L’fÿn’s light-colored hair, faeborn were crowned by brilliant hues found only in nature. These children grew to become healers, druids, or rangers, occupations of great importance because they were the only ones other L’fÿns trusted to broker peace and settle disputes. How was their son’s magick not wondrous?
“This is an incredible thing,” Valiant argued. “How can you be upset at such good fortune?”
Tālia shook her head, her copper eyes glistening with unshed tears. “He is a dròw male. Faeborn should only be female, never male. Faeborn males crave violence, blood, and war. He— It is an abomination. Father shall fetch the High Druid. She will deal with it.”
Her words shocked him to the core. How could he not have known faeborn males were shunned so cruelly? Panthrÿns were a warrior people and it could be said that they, too, craved battle and bloodshed. Fighting was what they did, who they were. Yet despite their battle-ready natures, Panthrÿns didn’t conquer or kill blindly. In fact, they were one of the few races trusted to police the galaxy. The disgust in Tālia’s voice as she described their child wounded him, lighting a flame of anger that burned through his veins.
Did she not realize her words, her condemnation of his son, pushed him dangerously close to the edge of savagery? Valiant gritted his teeth, breathing deeply to keep from lashing out with claw or word. When he spoke he attempted to infuse his voice with calm, but feared his fury still bled through.
“How can you say a tendency to violence is wrong when you married a Chándariān knight? Our battle prowess is unequaled. And yet, you consider murdering a child for carrying the qualities of his sire?”
Yes, Valiant had heard dròw males possessed more alpha attributes than the rest of the L’fÿn race, but he didn’t understand why Tālia was so distraught. He didn’t know any dròw males himself, as they kept to themselves and often suffered from wanderlust, roaming the galaxy as if searching for something, but… “If we Panthrÿns can harness our aggressive tendencies, surely faeborn males could too, if given similar training.”
Panthrÿn bodyguards crowded into the room through the double doors Valiant had left wide open in his haste, their growls of displeasure evidence they’d overheard Valiant’s argument with Tālia.
Tālia paled. “No, Valiant, please, you don’t understand. Faeborn females are touched by magick at birth, and so are in tune with all life. But when a dròw male is born with the gift, it is warped. The magick within the male becomes corrupted, tainted. No good comes from any male born with magick. Please, walk away and allow my father to handle this. Nothing you say can change the fate the creature was born to, the fate its very nature demands.” Tālia moved slowly across the bed and attempted to stand, only to collapse on the mattress, moaning in pain.
Valiant glanced back down at the babe. Tālia’s attendants hadn’t deemed him worthy enough to clean properly before they rushed from the room. Valiant’s own skin mimicked the deepest shadows, and the babe could have inherited the dusky-gray skin from him… but the eyes and mane could not be ignored. However, regardless of the presence of magick, Valiant still saw no reason for infanticide.
“Have you forgotten that he is of my blood? I get a say in our child’s fate whether you like it or not, Tālia.” Disregarding Tālia’s pleas to leave the child be, he swaddled the babe as his mother had taught him. Resettled in his arms, the boy watched him intently with those unusual eyes. Valiant couldn’t help but think his son’s mane was the color of freshly spilled blood. He forced the thought away, refusing to allow Tālia’s superstitions to infect him.
She made a distraught, fearful noise when he moved to the doorway with his son.
Valiant refused to meet her gaze, for that was a symbol of respect and she lacked the honor he’d once thought she possessed. Although he hadn’t loved her, he had believed they were friends. He’d never imagined she would be capable of murdering her own child.
“No, you cannot take it! Don’t you understand? That… thing you hold shall bring nothing but harm to our peoples,” Tālia said quickly, as if she desperately searched for a way to cause Valiant to stay. “Faeborn males were responsible for the Scarab War. The destruction caused, the lives lost, all of it can be laid at their feet!”
The Scarab War was some five hundred seasons past, and yes, the magick used by the different L’fÿn factions had extinguished many lives before the Chándariān Knights had stepped in and put a stop to the fighting. “I remember my history well, Tālia, and I know that dròw females and L’fÿns were just as responsible for the devastation wrought. If this is how all L’fÿns treat their faeborn males, then perhaps my father—your king—should be made aware of it.”
&nbs
p; The L’fÿns’ trespass against faeborn males would garner a swift and fierce response. Murder always did. Already Valiant was thinking of how to mitigate the situation, ways to right the wrong but also keep the peace. Resolute, he strode from the room, his bodyguards forming a shield behind him. He had little time to spare, much of it already squandered arguing with Tālia instead of immediately fleeing to where his gliders awaited.
And so he ran.
That the L’fÿns used stunners said they wished only to stop him. If they’d wanted him dead they would have reverted to blades. But if they did manage to incapacitate him the child would surely die, and that, Valiant refused to allow.
The road that lead to the Panthrÿn province of S’koylë lay at the far edge of the Jade Forest. More knights awaited him there with the gliders that would take them home. The track from Tālia’s residence back to the road seemed twice as long.
Valiant often ducked for cover or changed his path, zig-zagging through the forest in order to keep from being shot by his pursuers. Never had he been so relieved to see a flash of tail in the tree boughs ahead. His knights were close! Relieved, he realized they had taken to the upper branches where the L’fÿns could not follow. Unlike Valiant, whose burden kept him on the ground, they were able to use all four limbs to easily roam the Jade Forest’s vast canopy. Leaping a downed tree, Valiant veered in their direction, another half-dozen shots barely missing him. He dared not glance up for direction. It would reveal his hidden brethren, making them targets too. The brief glimpses of tail, cleverly hidden from his pursuers but evident to Valiant, guided him in his flight.
Breaking through the trees into a clearing, Valiant bit back a whoop of relief upon sighting his remaining knights. Their leisurely stances revealed his bodyguards hadn’t been able to radio ahead, causing him to worry over their fate. Noticing Valiant’s desperate flight, the knights jumped to their feet and raced to meet him. Startled yelps and angry yowls behind him indicated that those chasing him had been stopped or, at the very least, temporarily delayed.
