WhiteWing Read online

  WhiteWing

  First Ordinance, Book 5

  Connie Suttle

  SubtleDemon Publishing, LLC

  Copyright (c) 2016 Connie Suttle All rights reserved.

  Published by:

  SubtleDemon Publishing, LLC

  PO Box 95696

  Oklahoma City, OK 73143

  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, incidents, and characters are the product of the author's imagination and are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

  eISBN: 9781939759399

  Cover Art by: Renee Barratt @ The Cover Counts

  To Walter, Joe, Larry, Lee, Sarah, Dianne and Mark.

  Thank you.

  Acknowledgements

  As always, this book is the result of collaboration. If it weren't for the support of my editor, my cover artist and my beta readers, it would be less than it is. All mistakes, as usual, are mine and no other's.

  About the Author:

  Connie Suttle lives in Oklahoma with her husband and a conglomerate of cats. They have finally banded together to make their demands, which has proven disconcerting to all humans involved.

  You may find Connie in the following ways:

  Facebook: Connie Suttle Author

  Twitter: @subtledemon

  Website and Blog: subtledemon.com

  Other books by Connie Suttle:

  Blood Destiny Series:

  Blood Wager

  Blood Passage

  Blood Sense

  Blood Domination

  Blood Royal

  Blood Queen

  Blood Rebellion

  Blood War

  Blood Redemption

  Blood Reunion

  *****

  Legend of the Ir'Indicti Series:

  Bumble

  Shadowed

  Target

  Vendetta

  Destroyer

  *****

  High Demon Series

  Demon Lost

  Demon Revealed

  Demon's King

  Demon's Quest

  Demon's Revenge

  Demon's Dream

  *****

  God Wars Series

  Blood Double

  Blood Trouble

  Blood Revolution

  Blood Love

  Blood Finale

  *****

  Saa Thalarr Series:

  Hope and Vengeance

  Wyvern and Company

  Observe and Protect*

  *****

  First Ordinance Series:

  Finder

  Keeper

  BlackWing

  SpellBreaker

  WhiteWing

  *****

  R-D Series:

  Cloud Dust

  Cloud Invasion

  Cloud Rebel

  *****

  Latter Day Demons Series:

  Hot Demon in the City

  A Demon's Work is Never Done

  A Demon's Due*

  *****

  Seattle Elementals Series:

  Your Money's Worth

  Worth Your While*

  Also Published by SubtleDemon Publishing, LLC:

  Malefactor*

  By Joseph Scholes

  *Forthcoming

  Contents

  To Walter, Joe, Larry, Lee, Sarah, Dianne and Mark.

  Acknowledgements

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 1

  Reth Alliance

  Planet Gilvos

  Lew Velker

  Just a little farther, I silently begged the small treasure-bot. While passing a certain perimeter had raised the hair on my arms and caused my heart to pound unnaturally fast, the treasure-bot wasn't afflicted by those mortal difficulties.

  The bot had dug deep and now had trouble climbing from the hole it had created. Clutched in its prehensile, metal fingers was a strange, glass ball. This was what all the fuss was about? A marble?

  It must have some value—I'd watched from a distance as the Lord Mayor from the nearby city visited this spot several times.

  Everybody knew how obsessive he was. It made me think that something of worth was buried there; why else would he keep coming back?

  "Ah," I breathed as the bot's tiny fingers deposited the marble in my hand. Surely I could convince the Lord Mayor to tell me its worth; blackmail usually worked quite fine for that sort of thing.

  * * *

  Avii Castle, Le-Ath Veronis

  Quin

  "Director Kooper Griff, my King," Ardis announced as the long-legged Director of the ASD offered a proper bow to Justis. Justis nodded in return and lifted a hand, indicating that Kooper should approach us.

  Justis and I sat at breakfast in Justis' private quarters, having nearly finished our meal when Ardis informed us that Kooper had arrived. Rather than keeping him waiting, Justis intended to offer breakfast.

  A Yellow Wing poured tea for Kooper, while another set a plate in front of him when he took the offered seat.

  "What can I do for you, Director?" Justis grinned at Kooper. Oddly enough, they'd become good friends.

  "I was hoping Quin had heard from Zaria," Kooper blew out a troubled sigh.

  "Nothing," I said, setting my fork down beside my plate. She'd promised to help me with several troubling things. So far, Queen Lissa was the one to get me from one poisoned planet to another, so I could call the poisonous creatures to the collection spheres I buried there.

  I felt somewhat abandoned by Zaria's absence, although I had no desire to voice my complaints; Zaria had rid us of the menace Liron presented, as the rogue god he was. She'd also saved my life and many others—I had no right to complain.

  The truth was, I missed her greatly.

  I also knew that Caylon Black missed her as well; Cleo, his first mate, should deliver their child at any time, and he and Cleo wanted Zaria there to assist Karzac with the birth.

  Caylon silently cursed Ilya, who’d left a hole in Zaria's heart and forced her into hiding to conceal her grief.

  At least that was what happened shortly after Liron's demise. Months had passed and still Zaria had not appeared, leaving all of us to wonder how long she would suffer from Ilya's lack of faith and his dismay, once he learned she was both Karathian and Larentii.

  None had seen him, either; his continued absence was nearly as puzzling as Zaria's. As nobody had heard from Zaria, there was no way to determine where she might be. Queen Lissa likely knew where Ilya was hiding, but she wouldn't say.

  I imagined he'd found his way back to Falchan; he was happy there, fighting alongside the Falchani warriors in their constant war with a long-time enemy.

  "Ilya's on Falchan; Dragon says so," Kooper said, confirming my theory. "The perpetual, stone-faced warrior, that one," Kooper shook his head. He failed to understand, just as I did.

  "He has to make peace with this in his own time," Justis said, lifting his cup of tea and sipping. "People handle things in different ways. I hope he doesn't destroy his love by waiting too long."

  "That's the problem right there—he's destroying his love," Kooper snorted. "He has to own his mistakes and then pray that Zaria takes him back when he comes to his senses. We have other troubles, too," Kooper said. "An entire shipment of replication bots has been stolen
off the loading docks—before they ever made it onto the ship. Those bots can reproduce almost anything, and are heavily controlled and licensed because of it," he added. "I'm concerned that they're in the hands of Cayetes, since we have no leads. I was hoping you or Zaria could help with that."

  I studied the images on Kooper's comp-vid and used my gift to search for the machines depicted. I found nothing. Somewhere, a Sirenali likely guarded them.

  "Director Griff, I cannot find them," I admitted defeat in the matter. "If I hear anything from Zaria, I'll let you know," I promised. "Please, enjoy your meal and we will speak of happier things."

  * * *

  "When are you going out again?" Gurnil asked as he shelved a book in the massive library he kept at Avii Castle. The book made the soft, familiar hissing sound of cover against cover as it slid into its place with a quiet thunk.

  "In two days," I flattened my wings against my back. "We will visit three more worlds before I return to rest."

  "Elabeth always returned to Avii Castle exhausted after performing a saving in Fyris," Gurnil observed. "She would never speak of it afterward, as if the poison troubled her in such a way that she didn't wish to speak of it, or place that burden upon another."

  "It is troubling," I lowered my gaze to stare at my shoes. "I can feel the planet itself groaning from the sickness that invades it."

  "Camryn never said anything about that," Gurnil mused. "He would confide in me at times, but he never mentioned that Elabeth was so sensitive to the planet itself. I think it is your making by Liron that does that. No, do not lament your making, we are all richer for that and are grateful," he held up a hand. "You have done too many things to save not only this race, but too many more to count."

  I'd blinked at him before opening my mouth to speak; Gurnil allayed my fears before I could speak of them. "At least something good came from Liron's betrayal," I breathed. "I hold more gratitude toward Zaria than I will ever have for Liron."

  "I've wished to speak with you about that," Gurnil offered a smile. "I heard a rumor that Zaria remade you, and in doing so, removed all traces of Liron in you."

  "I hope that is true," I was back to studying my shoes. "I would much rather owe my existence to her than Liron."

  "Dearest, it is true," Daragar appeared beside Gurnil and me, a broad smile lighting his sky-blue face. "If the Vhanaraszh changes what was, it is authentic in every way. You are more hers than anyone else's, now."

  "I've missed you," I returned Daragar's smile.

  "And I you. Would you like to visit the falaca with me?" He spoke of the soft-bleating, mild-tempered, wooly creatures inhabiting the Larentii homeworld.

  "I would," I said. "More than anything."

  * * *

  Earth

  Caylon Black

  My daughter would arrive soon. Karzac hovered and that was always a sign that the child was coming. Until now, I hadn't considered sending mindspeech in an attempt to find Zaria. She and Cleo still hadn't met, and I didn't want that meeting to take place at an inopportune moment.

  That's why I'd chosen Dragon's dojo on Earth to do my pacing and cursing; I didn't want to upset Cleo with my anger and misgivings. While I was at it, I cursed my own heart for choosing Zaria as a second mate.

  Once, I'd had no use for such things. Those decisions were no longer in my control, or so it would seem.

  "I hope you're shielding this from Cleo," Zaria snapped as she appeared ten feet away from me. "You have no idea how difficult it is for me to come to you when you're cursing yourself and the need for mates in the first place."

  "What kind of fool do you take me for?" I snapped back.

  "One who is so afraid of getting hurt that he curses love?"

  I went still. "Fuck," I mumbled in Falchani.

  "I understand every language. You can say fuck in all of them. I'll agree with you."

  "Will you—please—come into the house to meet Cleo? She needs an ally. You see what kind of ally I make."

  "Caylon, I hope you allow the ice around your heart to thaw someday," she said with a sigh. "Lead the way. It's time I met your Cleo."

  She is my Cleo, I reminded myself.

  "And your first mate," Zaria read me as easily as a random road sign. "You love her."

  "Yes."

  * * *

  Zaria

  "Cleo, my love, this is Zaria," Caylon introduced us.

  "Caylon, are you running a fever?" Cleo asked. "I don't think you've ever used an endearment when introducing me," she teased.

  "Zaria is showing me the error of my ways," Caylon said. "And you are my love. I'm just a fool of a Falchani who is too shy to admit it," he replied.

  "There's not a shy bone in your body," Cleo grinned at him.

  "True," Caylon agreed. An almost smile curled a corner of his mouth.

  "How's that baby girl?" I asked.

  "Kicking me every chance she gets," Cleo laughed. "I'm so glad you're here. I was about to beg Belen to come find you."

  "I would have been happy to do so," Belen appeared in a flash of brightness. "I, too, have been waiting for Zaria to return."

  "Is there something I didn't know before now?" Caylon lifted a dark eyebrow.

  "There are many things you do not know," Belen beamed. "Where shall I start?"

  "Alphabetically?" I asked.

  Cleo snickered.

  "Honey, don't look so dejected," I patted Caylon's face. "We're just teasing."

  He shocked the hell out of me by grabbing my hand and kissing it.

  Ilya's an ass, he sent to me, kissed my hand again and then let it go.

  I know, I replied.

  * * *

  Falchani Plains

  Ilya

  "What do you want?" My voice was sullen and it shouldn't have been with the former King of Karathia. It didn't matter that he called himself Wellend, now. For years uncounted, he'd led a dual existence, much as I had. He and his father Warlend, King before Wellend, had operated under two separate identities.

  Like me, I imagined the Mighty Heart or one of the others had seen to that. It takes a great deal of power to allow someone to exist in two places at the same time. My two identities merged the moment I sat in my seat at the trial on Karathia.

  Corolan and Warrik. Gale and Norn. I imagined it was the same for them; they'd all been present at the trial, too. What difference did it make in the long term? They were one and the same, now; all four had disappeared, leaving only Wellend and Warlend behind.

  What did matter was this; Wellend should have been her father. Still counted himself as such, actually. He'd appeared inside my tent on Falchan while I cleaned my blades. He hadn't said anything, yet; he merely sat easily on my cot and studied the sparse furnishings around him.

  "Surprised you don't let your horse sleep at the foot of your bed," he observed.

  "Hmmph," I grunted.

  "You're wondering why I'm here," he went on, while amusement lit his eyes. "Well, I have it on good authority from the current King of Karathia that Vardil Cayetes may be coming out of the shadows to reclaim his old empire."

  "What's that got to do with me?" I growled. "You should go. I hear we may have a battle on our hands in the morning."

  "Two small bands of marauders—that's from the current King's father, who can tell these things," he grinned. "You're not needed for that."

  "Then what do you want me to do?"

  "Go looking for Vardil." Wellend shrugged, as if any dolt would have figured that out by now.

  "What's the ASD doing, sitting on their hands?"

  "No. The ASD is hoping Zaria comes back to help with all this. They've exhausted their resources, looking for him already."

  My heart constricted when he said her name. I'd kept myself immersed in blade work and battle to keep that name from my mind. Yet here he was, saying it as if it didn't make my soul bleed.

  I'd fucked everything up with her until it was beyond repair. She didn't need me. She had other mates, or other
s who wanted to be her mates.

  "She didn't sleep with them," Wellend picked those thoughts from my mind. "Still hasn't."

  "Not my problem."

  "You're delusional if you think it's not."

  "Then I'm delusional. She doesn't need that."

  "Say you don't want her," he said, "and I'll tell you how much of a lie that is."

  "It's not what I want that matters. It's what she needs. Leave. Please."

  "I've never met anyone so stubborn in my life," he shook his head. "The rumor is that Vardil was seen on Paricos II, if you'd like to follow up on that. The King would very much like regular reports, too."

  "Is this a command from the King?"

  "Will it get you to Paricos II?"

  "That's the only way I'll go."

  "Then it's a command. Leave in the morning. Get some sleep tonight; you'll need to be rested to handle what's likely to come your way."

  I cursed him when he disappeared; at least I had the sense to wait until that happened. He was a trusted advisor to the current King, and I knew better than to fool with that. I'd fucked up everything else in my life except that, or so it appeared.

  Fucking Vardil Cayetes, I grumbled mentally, who is allied with fucking V'ili. Not only could V'ili command Vardil's former villains to obey his commands, but together, they could be impossible for anyone to locate.

  * * *

  Earth

  Zaria

  Cleo went into labor late; with Karzac in attendance, there was little for me to do except coach Caylon mentally on what Cleo needed from him during the birth. He held her hand as her knuckles went white while squeezing the blood from his fingers. He soothed when she called him names at difficult times.

  Reaching out with a Larentii's ability, I took the sharp edge from her pain on several occasions. Karzac offered mute appreciation for my efforts. At the end, he placed tiny, squalling Cle-Anne in Cleo's arms.

  I could have told Caylon then what a determined warrior his daughter would become, but held back; that would be a happy revelation for his future.

  After the baby suckled and slept, Cleo also slept. Caylon wanted to talk, but I held him off, telling him he should give all his attention to Cleo and his daughter. We could talk later.

  "You're leaving?" Kyler, Cleo's twin sister had arrived but held her sister's other hand while Karzac and I coached Cleo and Caylon through the birth.