Sūnder (Darksoul Book 1) Read online

  His expression darkened. Tālia barely refrained from flinching when he shoved a device across the desk. She didn’t pick it up because she could plainly see the absurd news post about darkhunters surrendering to Sūnder.

  “You think I’m so disconnected with the world I wouldn’t know what went on today? I already know the rumor of the guardian that has spread like wildfire through our people. I’ve spent the last hour deconstructing everything the House of Nellá claims to have done for the better of the L’fÿns.”

  “We’ve done great—”

  “Enough! We’ve been the downfall of the L’fÿn race. My grandfather lusted after domination and power. He sought to harness something that didn’t belong to him to begin with. He and the other noble houses allied with him broke sacred bonds, then drove away or killed the only people able to return balance to the land. We’ve been cleaning up the mess he made ever since. The land is dying. The people are dying. How is that great?” Koi rose from his chair, calling for a car and bidding his attendant to accompany him.

  Gathering his data pad and slipping on a red brocade dinner jacket, his gaze didn’t waver from Tālia. “You had better pray that Döminá Lileäh is correct in her assessment of the events at the park, because a guardian is the only hope our people have of surviving—if it isn’t already too late. Do not leave the premises. I won’t have you meddling any longer. If you persist, I shall hand you over to King Valiant for containment, along with information on everything you’ve done, and wash my hands of you.” Koi strode from the room without another word.

  Breathing deeply through her shock and rising fury, Tālia remained motionless. How dare he command her as if she were a recalcitrant child? As petty as the thought was, Tālia wanted to ransack her father’s meticulously ordered office, smash the items he valued most, and leave nothing behind but shards. He believed he could take the title of Keeper from her, did he? He’d let her wear the pendant for years, but he’d never truly handed all the power over to her. The noble houses aligned with Nellá looked to him for direction, not her, and she’d been afraid to force their hand. But now, if she did nothing, he’d give everything she’d worked for to High Druid Mèlindria. It could not be allowed to happen.

  The study door still open, she sat and listened to her father and his attendant until they finally stepped out the front door. She needed to be gone before her father returned and discovered the true extent of her “meddling”. Messages were sent to those loyal to her. Tālia was lucky she’d been paranoid enough to have a plan in place in case she ever needed to disappear for any given amount of time.

  Gathering her skirts in one hand, she hurried through the halls and down the stairs. In the underground suite, four sentries lay on the floor unconscious, guards devoted only to her searching their pockets. Koi distrusted electronic locks, something that occasionally barred Tālia from areas Koi deemed off limits, and one of the downed guards held the antiquated key she required.

  The item found, the door was opened. Tālia followed her guards in. Across the room, three faeborn males huddled together, their coloring announcing what they were and setting them apart from all other L’fÿns. One wore a blue serapé the exact shade of its waist-length hair. A green-laced neck corset matched its leather vambraces, a style of clothing worn by Faelÿns who lived in the Shattered Lands. From behind that creature, a bright green head with a pixie cut peeked. Ropes of white fur hung from the edges of its taupe cloak, strands of stiff metal holding various trinkets that clinked when it moved.

  The largest faeborn male placed itself between Tālia’s men and the two smaller faeborn. The creature’s hair was an unusual black, darker than its skin, making the eyes—crystal blue encircled by a dark ring—more compelling than any gaze she’d met in some time. The cold rage there kept her in the doorway instead of entering the room completely. It wore a knee length skirt made of a red-scaled reptilian hide, the same color as its silver-trimmed buckled vest. Like the other faeborn, it too wore stiff leather vambraces, but these had a distinct military cast to them. Even weaponless, the large faeborn was clearly the most dangerous of the three.

  Each faeborn wore an anklet her father had designed to keep them from using their magick against the people of the house. The magick they wielded couldn’t harm others directly, but they could send messages through plants, and they could keep people from entering or exiting a room if the materials used to construct the abode once lived or were of the earth. Although that was an awesome power to hold, the real power lay in the magick they bestowed on their Guardians.

  “Faeborn, you will do as these men say and not cause me any problems. I have been reminded on numerous occasions that I lack the benevolence of my father. Only one of you is needed for my purpose. If you resist, or defy me, you shall be killed without warning. So, if you wish to live for a while yet, you had better do what you are told.”

  Tālia turned to the nearest L’fÿn. “An armored vehicle is being brought around to the rear. I expect you to deliver these packages to the River House within the hour. Make sure to bring everything they will need for one week, no more. Leave no clues as to where you have gone.”

  After receiving the L’fÿn’s vow, Tālia hurried up the stairs and retrieved the case of e’vÿllë, the only other item she required to accomplish her plans. She wouldn’t rest until she was triumphant, with her father bowing at her feet, bestowing unto her the title Döminá of House Nellá and pledging his fealty.

  ~ : § : ~

  Akirá Kaukèx waited impatiently to be relieved of security duty. The Chándariān embassy had closed an hour ago, but with the attack on Comman— no, Prince Sūnder, King Valiant had ordered security be tightened around all the crown’s holdings. After receiving news of the trap, Akirá had pulled some strings in order to be on guard at the embassy, betting Prince Sūnder and the guardian would use the embassy’s helliopod. The most logical place for them to be safe was aboard the Oberon.

  Gabriel St. Baptista. He wasn’t what Akirá had expected. The SilverHands would be happy to have finally found that for which they’d searched the last five hundred years—an actual guardian. He hoped they kept their vigilance; danger still lurked, and what were the odds of there being a second guardian? If something were to happen to the fragile human, their plans would all be forever lost.

  Speaking of danger….

  A sleek hovercraft pulled to the curb and stopped, the engine idling. Akirá signaled to his teammate that he would see what the person wanted before he strode down the drive. The tinted window slid down, the interior dark enough that from a distance no one could see into the back seat—except for him. Akirá didn’t need superior eyesight to know who waited. He’d scented her even with the vehicle locked up tight.

  Tālia of Nellá looked impeccable in her loose brocade robes, the Keeper’s seal on her left shoulder. Her coral skin gleamed as if oiled, and her cornsilk hair was wound in intricate braids.

  “What can I do for you this evening, Keeper?” Akirá didn’t dare stand too close. None needed to know he was acquainted with her—yet.

  For a moment, she stared at him. He wore the Chándariān crown colors of white and green, the uniform borrowed since he didn’t normally serve the embassy. Many humans looked at his fur-covered body, feline face, and curled horns, and immediately thought he was a heathen, a sentiment many L’fÿns shared. What did he care what anyone thought of him? He knew she had no love of Faelÿns, but she needed someone not Panthrÿn or L’fÿn to do her dirty work.

  “Master Kaukèx, you shall attend the River Walk Gala tomorrow at two in the afternoon.” Tālia’s voice was silky smooth, but her copper eyes glinted with a hardness Akirá had only seen on warriors with nothing to lose. “My attendant will find you and bring you to me. Don’t be late.”

  Akirá said nothing, merely nodded and turned to walk up the drive to the waiting security guard. “They needed directions.” Akirá said, already lost in thought.

  What would Tālia do now tha
t Sūnder had slithered out of her grasp? Nothing good, he’d wager. He’d had two weeks to prepare, but she wouldn’t make things easy for him. Akirá didn’t care. Easy or hard, he’d get the job done. And Gabriel St. Baptista was the key.

  15

  THE SUN HAD SET almost an hour ago, but the scent of hot asphalt overlying the decay of charred food, and sometimes sewage, depending on which alleys Ronan slipped down, stung his sensitive nostrils. At times like these he missed the old suburbs on the outskirts of the city, where expansive green lawns and century-old trees adorned his family’s land. The foliage and loamy soil were much easier on his senses than the unwashed inner city streets.

  He and Gabe had been living in the city proper since their first year of college. He didn’t regret moving to the urban area, but there were days he missed how home smelled. Slipping around shadowed corners, Ronan listened and watched for any hint of pursuit. He’d doubled back along his route several times already, the tail he’d spotted earlier in the day not appearing again. But he was still cautious, just in case the bastard found him once more.

  Silent, he climbed the well-kept fire escape and ran hunched across the gravel roof top to the shade provided by two HVAC units. From here, Ronan could see across to the building next door, the third floor of the warehouse where Gabe lived. The curtains were wide open, revealing a dark interior.

  Laying his duffle bag down gently, he sat, prepared to wait. Even before Gabe called and asked Ronan to watch his place, Ronan had guessed Gabe would be leaving with Sūnder, at least for the time being. It was probably a good thing, Gabe leaving. It would have been hard to keep the elders away from him. Especially now. They were already livid with him for putting Gabe in Sūnder’s path. He’d tried to tell them that Sūnder and Gabe had crossed paths before, that the connection had already been established, but the elders refused to listen. It wasn’t as if Ronan had gone out of his way to get the two of them together. Well, perhaps he did, just a little. If Sūnder made Gabe happy, if Sūnder really did belong to Gabe, then there was nothing Ronan wouldn’t do to make sure Gabe had a chance at the life he could have had if he’d been born on the planet of his ancestors.

  A soft beep in his ear announced a waiting call, and when he checked his data pad to see who, he grinned and swiped at his ear to activate the call. “How’s space, my friend?” Ronan made his voice light, even though he already missed Gabe deeply.

  “I’m feeling very small,” Gabe replied with a soft chuckle. “I need to learn Sūnder’s language, otherwise I’ll get lost every time I leave his cabin.”

  “Why are you whispering?” Ronan found himself mimicking Gabe’s quiet tone.

  “Sūnder’s asleep, and I don’t want to disturb him.”

  “There are videos all over the internet of the incident at the park. Are you both all right?” Cyberspace had been flooded with dozens of videos spectators had taken of L’fÿns attacking the Panthrÿns, Sūnder and Gabe protected by the circle of bodyguards, and later of the oldest trees in the park uprooting themselves and wading into the battle like an ancient Hollywood movie.

  “Physically we’re both fine, but we’ve been knocked around. I don’t want to say crazy, but this has definitely been an out-of-the-norm experience, and emotionally taxing. Sūnder took another hit today. Royal politics suck.”

  “What about you? Are you okay? You said you were when we spoke before you left, but…”

  “Honestly?” Gabe sighed deeply. “I don’t know how I feel. Sūnder trusted me enough to show me this beautiful part of himself. God, Ronan, I wish you could’ve seen what I did. I don’t think I could describe it well enough to— I swear I saw his soul, and it was unlike anything I’ve seen before.”

  Ronan grinned, glad Gabe wasn’t on videochat because even though he was happy for Gabe, his joy was mixed with sorrow. Gabe knew him too well, and would read it in his expression no matter how hard Ronan attempted to hide his feelings.

  Gabe’s voice lowered and Ronan strained to hear him. “I’m changing, Ro. I’m not sure how, or what caused it. Ever since I’ve been with Sūnder, I think. At first I thought I was just sensitive to his magick. When I touched him, when we, ah, you know, we were intimate, I could sense it. Then when Sūnder opened himself… and then… the wrongness, it… I did something I shouldn’t have been able to do. Ro, I don’t think I’m completely human.”

  He bit back a growl of frustration. His commander and the elders had tied his hands years ago, and until the elders gave their approval… Dammit! “Would it be so bad if you weren’t?”

  “I don’t know. But if I’m not, why wouldn’t my parents say anything to me about it?” The hurt in Gabe’s voice sliced at Ronan.

  “Maybe they were trying to protect you?” he suggested, the only excuse he could give without lying to Gabe. As with so many times in the past, Ronan weighed the consequences against spilling everything he knew to Gabe. He would be sacrificing everything he had here on Earth: his home, his family, his future. There had to be a way to help Gabe without breaking the rules he’d sworn to uphold. He was already in trouble for Gabe and Sūnder meeting, and that wasn’t even his fault. How much more could he, would he, sacrifice to help his best friend?

  “Gabe.” Ronan was surprised to hear his own breath hitch. Years of arguing, of yearning to confess but not daring to… Before, his silence had kept Gabe from harm, but now Gabe needed information because he was no longer safe, was he? If Ronan’s suspicions were true, what would the elders do?

  “Ronan, talk to me. What’s wrong?”

  Would it really matter anymore? The Movement had started when the Chándariāns reached out to Earth for help. The races on Slorèx were dying, and those within The Movement argued for mercy. They wanted to help, but the elders steadfastly refused, being more cautious than those in The Movement thought prudent.

  “Ro, please.” Gabe’s voice cracked with emotion.

  “I’m so sorry, Gabe.” Ronan squeezed his burning eyes shut. Was he going to lose his best friend because of the secrets he held?

  “What have you to be sorry about? Do you know something about my family that I don’t?”

  He swallowed. “They won’t… I can’t… Goddamn it! I wanted to tell you. I always did, but they—” Ronan swallowed, again, past the lump in his throat, more scared than he’d been in a long while. What he said, what he did at this moment would change his life forever, or he could lose Gabe’s trust, his friendship.

  “You’re scaring me. Are you in trouble? Someone’s threatening you, aren’t they? I can wake Sūnder and have him send Paulo and a team after you.”

  “No,” his voice came out too soft. “No,” he said again more firmly. “I need to be here for a little while longer. I’m working on changing things, but everything has been happening too fast. I know you don’t understand anything I just said, but I promise to explain soon. For now, you need to find your parents and tell them what happened. You gave blood to be pre-approved to attend the Festival, right? Perhaps you can have one of the Chándariān doctors examine the results.”

  “I’m scared, Ro. If they find what I’m afraid they will… and you sound sure there’s something for them to discover.” Ronan hated the uncertainty in Gabe’s voice. He could all too clearly imagine the wounded look Gabe wore. How was he supposed to choose between his family and his best friend who was more like a brother to him? Ronan rubbed his temple. What if this wasn’t a matter of choosing between the people he loved, but was about doing the right thing regardless of the consequences?

  Well, shit.

  “Are you still going to the Festival?”

  Gabe sounded dazed when he said, “Yeah, I think we are.”

  “I’m not in a position to talk at the moment, but I’ll meet you there. I have a couple of things to take care of first. I promise to tell you everything I know.” Ronan’s voice gave out. Oh, God, I’m really going to do this.

  “Ro, you sound… shit! What’s wrong? Do you need me to come back?
What can I do?”

  Ronan almost lost control of his emotions right then. He’d admitted he’d been keeping secrets and there Gabe was, willing to leave the security of Sūnder’s ship to help him.

  “It’s not safe for you here. You know it. Sūnder knows it, otherwise he wouldn’t have taken you off-planet in the first place. I’m won’t downplay the situation I’m in, Gabe. I am going to be in trouble with some very powerful people. More than likely I’ll lose everything. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t scared.”

  “I don’t like being separated from you. Let Captain Paulo come pick you up, and we’ll get through this together. Please, Ronan?” There was steel in Gabe’s voice, and Ronan latched onto that strength. Gabe wasn’t yelling or denouncing him, so perhaps he hadn’t screwed up too much when it came to his best friend.

  “There are some things I need to do first. But if you still want me to go with you when I see you at the Festival, I’ll leave with you then.” But Ronan wouldn’t hold his breath. If Gabe walked away after everything was revealed, Ronan wouldn’t blame him.

  “Ro, there is nothing you could say or do that would make me abandon you. Whatever’s going on, we’ll get through it together.”

  God, Ronan hoped so. “All right. Be safe.”

  “You, too.”

  After saying goodbye, he breathed deeply to regain control of his emotions. This was what he wanted, wasn’t it? He’d disagreed with the elders’ policies, doing what he thought best at each turn regardless. But every decision further opened a rift that was now too wide for him to cross back over. He had to finish what he’d set out to do, and pray he didn’t lose as much as he feared.

  With quick fingers, he typed out several messages to his contacts, telling them to be ready to move at a moment’s notice. Regardless of his personal issues, there were still people who counted on him.

  Across the way, the lights in Gabe’s flat flared suddenly. Ronan grabbed the binoculars and peered through, counting no less than eight darkly clad men searching the rooms. With so few places to hide, the place was cleared within seconds. Most of the men filed back out of Gabe’s home, but one stayed behind, moving to stand in front of the windows. When the dark mask was pulled off, Ronan drew in a breath. He’d hoped they wouldn’t be searching for him this soon. The man pulled out a data pad.