A Warrior's Quest Read online

  She didn’t know. But for now…for now she’d focus on the male in her arms and the two babes who needed a mother. On the family they would make between them.

  That was all that really mattered at the moment.

  Everything else could wait.

  For now.

  Epilogue

  Aureliana woke wrapped in her Rajni’s arms. Blue arms.

  He was satisfied with himself, then. She contented herself with running her fingers through the dark hair spread over his pillow. Her Rajni was a definite bed hog. She didn’t mind. He’d done a pretty fair job of keeping her warm throughout the night.

  Apparently Laquazzean were just as susceptible to the cold as Dardaptoans. At least she was.

  A whisper of a thought had her slipping from Ren’s arms. He protested, but Aureliana kissed him and whispered where she was going. Where she was needed. Demon black eyes opened partway. “I will be there shortly.” But his hands wandered over her front. Intent. “Or we can start on another spawn of our own.”

  “Kindara needs me, now. You can wait.” He’d had her more than enough the night before.

  He threw the blanket back and stretched. “I am not so certain that I can.”

  “Well, you will have to. I am going now.” Kindara’s pains grew closer. Aureliana wasn’t sure how she knew it, but she did. “The babe will be here soon.”

  “Our spawn is waking. He’ll be demanding his pint soon.” Ren rolled on his stomach, exposing a magnificent male behind. A still blue behind. He sighed, then pulled the pillow over his head. “Go. He will be well with his father.”

  Her heart softened toward him. He meant what he said. She was still uncertain what exactly had happened to her Rajni in that hut with Phaenna—he refused to speak of it—but whatever it was it had softened him toward Thas. Considerably.

  They had spent much of the evening talking of their plans and what was to happen next. They were in agreement on most things, especially the future of little Cerridwen and Thas. The two babes would be raised with her as mother and him as father. And nothing would interfere with that.

  Aureliana slipped into her clothing and shoes. Pulled her hair back in a loose bun.

  Kindara needed her now. More so than ever.

  Aureliana joined Rathan and the healer Phelius, Bronwen, and Bronwen’s older brother Thad in the king’s suite. Barlaam headed up the healers, and he was examining Kindara when she entered.

  Kindara looked up when Aureliana walked toward the bed. Her friend held out a hand and Aureliana took it, reminded of that horrible day thirty years ago when Kindara had miscarried Iavius’s babe. Today would not be a repeat of that day, or of the day that Alita and so many of their friends had been lost.

  Aureliana knew that with every instinct she possessed. Every moment she had ever spent with Kindara ran through her mind, and threatened to overwhelm her. It was a new skill she would never get used to. She sat down beside Kindara on the bed. Rathan was behind her friend, holding her tightly, in a prime position to give Kindara blood if needed. He was far paler than Aureliana had ever seen him, and sweat—she hadn’t realized demons could perspire—beaded on his forehead.

  He was terrified, but Kindara was oddly not. “Jierra comes soon. Cormac went to fetch her and the babes.”

  “That’s good. How are you feeling?” Aureliana knew; she could so easily read the thoughts of those around her now, though she would never intrude. She would have to speak to Cormac about filters to prevent her from invading privacy. “The babe?”

  “Rathan Junior is determined to make his entrance,” Kindara’s mate said.

  “Iustis is progressing nicely.” Kindara and Rathan never had agreed on a name. Aureliana had thought it was sweet how they would discuss it. She closed her eyes for a moment, instinctively knowing how to seek, to connect with the yet-birthed babe.

  That was going to be her strength as a Laquazzean. Babes; children. Spawn. Whatever they were called, in whatever world.

  “Cherish the children, cherish the child. Cherish the child! The poor, poor children! Cherish or all shall be lost...”

  That had been the Beansidhe’s warning so many months ago, in Aodhan and Mallory’s suite that night. Phaenna had been warning her, preparing her for what was to come. Not the method Aureliana would have chosen, but Phaenna’s actions had done what they had been intended to—driven Aureliana to Relaklonos via Levia in order to get Aureliana to Thas. It was circuitous, but it had worked.

  Everything was connected in life—in any world. There were no real, no true, coincidences. As a Laquazzean she could see the infinite threads that tied lives together. Could see those ties that would one day surround young Iavius though he was not yet born. He, like little Thas, Zephra, and Cerridwen would be a great leader someday. Like Cathdun and Claudia—Jierra’s twins—and like the babes of the Wolf god and Kennera. The babes were all being born within the same year for very good reasons.

  Yet even with her foresight those reasons were not clear to her. Darkness covered the future.

  A darkness that terrified her to her soul.

  Kindara’s hand tightened on Aureliana’s. Aureliana covered Kindara’s. “His future will be bright.”

  “It will?” Rathan asked.

  Aureliana looked up at the Demonkin, now her brother-in-law. “It will. As will that of his brothers and sisters. He is blessed.”

  Kindara caught her breath and pushed down, bringing her first son in to the world. Aureliana held her friend until the pain was done.

  When it was over Aureliana stepped aside to leave the small family a bit of privacy. As she walked away her attention landed on Bronwen, standing alone near the far window. The girl looked so frail and lost. Fragile. Sudden insight hit Aureliana; knowledge that terrified her.

  The darkness was coming for Bronwen, and soon.

  And there was nothing anyone could do but warn her.

  ++++

  ++++

  Watch for more novels and stories coming in 2013 and 2014 from Calle j. Brookes and Lost River Lit.

  Nalik’s book will be coming by the end of 2013!

  Coming 2014

  “Bronwen”

  She tripped over him, landing hard against the cement floor. Bronwen knew the water she’d carried spilled everywhere and knew she would have bruises.

  “Watch it, female. I may be just a warrior, but even I deserve not to be tread upon.” His voice was harsh, deep. Terrifying.

  She wished she could see him, see if he was as terrifying as he sounded. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to--”

  “Are you blind, then, girl? Did you really not see me?”

  “Almost. I can see some, but it is so dark in here, and I...I really am sorry.” Bron held her hands out in front of herself and tried to stand back up.

  Hands on her shoulders prevented it. “Don’t move, or you’ll hurt yourself more.”

  He was huge; nearly as big as the prince Ren. His shadow was harsh, dark, against that of the white cement walls. She wished there was more light. If she could just see his face, then she would know what to say. “I’m sorry.”

  “You’ve said that before.” His fingers spread over her shoulders and he turned her. Effortlessly. “You’re too small to be demon. What are you? Not human.”

  “No. Dardaptoan. From Colorado…Gaia. You’d call it Gaia.” What was he? And why was he down here? She’d thought this path would be the one with the fewest people. “I’m sorry…I am Bronwen Sebastos. I’m a healer. I-I-I came with Kindara and Rathan. To find medicines for our Kind.”

  “So the wayward King has returned. Interesting. Tell me, Bronwen Sebastos, is someone looking for you?”

  “No…”

  “A pity. For you…”

  RUNNING

  PAVAD Book Six

  Coming Early 2014

  All Alessandra wanted was to find her car in the parking lot—it had been a week since she’d left it--and go home. Hopefully that home would be quiet and Al could s
leep for a week. It should be empty, at this time of day—her brother and new sister-in-law Jules both worked at PAVAD with Al, and Ruthie, her little niece, should already be with Al’s mother for the day.

  Her team with PAVAD—the Prevention and Analysis of Violent Acts Division of the FBI—had spent the last week chasing down a nasty creep who got his rocks off killing blonde women. They’d caught him, but Al had the unenviable thrill of being prime bait. She could still feel the sleaze of his touch on her skin. Sometimes the job just sucked, and this case had definitely been one of them.

  The parking lot adjacent to the PAVAD building seemed ten times as huge as Al knew it was. And of course, she’d parked clear across the level. Or maybe it was the level above?

  She kept walking, her bag loading her down. Had she ever ached as much as she did now? She’d tackled the creep, and sent them both out a second story window, and now she felt it. Had she ever been this exhausted?

  Yeah, back when her brother and Jules had been kidnapped at Thanksgiving five months ago. And then again when her partner Paige and Jules were in the hands of a madman. A madman who’d once been Al’s friend. Al had been one of the searchers tirelessly hunting for the people she loved. They’d found them, but Al would never forget those few days.

  Her car was in the back corner of the lot and she wondered what she’d been thinking when she’d parked there. Carrie—one of her friend’s, and Al’s team leader’s wife—was out of her own Ford Escape parked next to Al’s car. Al thought about calling out to her friend, but she was just way too tired; Carrie hadn’t seen her yet.

  Besides, there was Sebastian—Carrie’s husband—right behind Carrie. How had he beaten Al out of the building? When she’d left the bullpen, he’d still been in his office half-buried under reams of paperwork.

  Sebastian’s week long absence away from Carrie had probably made him antsy for his wife. They’d not even been married for a year, and Al suspected they’d spent almost as much time apart as they had together. It was nature of the beast that was their job.

  Carrie had probably texted him, and he’d ran out to spend a few extra minutes before Carrie’s shift began.

  Once again Al couldn’t help but think that Carrie Lorcan was one heck of a lucky woman. She watched the couple for a moment, feeling that bit of envy and loneliness that had been plaguing her for a while. Since Thanksgiving, at least, when her oldest brother Malachi and Jules had first gotten together, and in the months since, Al had felt a bit...rootless. And she couldn’t shake it. But she was happy for Jules and Mal and Carrie and Sebastian. And for all the other couples who’d found each other through PAVAD. Inner-Bureau romances were usually frowned on, but PAVAD was full of them lately. Even the deputy director in charge of PAVAD had recently married the head of the forensics department. Romances in PAVAD just seemed to work, for some reason.

  But not for her.

  Romance just didn’t work for her, and that was one of her greatest sorrows. Still, she had pretty much everything she wanted from life, and the people she loved were happy and safe. So that was just fine with Al.

  Carrie cried out, and Al’s attention sharpened. Sebastian had his arm wrapped around Carrie’s neck and was pulling her back toward the SUV. Carrie was fighting him. Carrie wouldn’t fight Sebastian. And Sebastian would never hurt Carrie.

  Al sped up, every instinct she possessed telling her this was wrong. Something wasn’t right.

  She was close enough now that Carrie could see her, and there was fear, confusion, and pleading on the younger woman’s face. Carrie was terrified.

  And now Al could see why.

  The man had Sebastian’s face; she couldn’t deny that.

  But it definitely wasn’t Sebastian Lorcan wrapped around Carrie...

  WATCHING

  (PAVAD Book 1)

  Romantic Suspense

  Now Available as a Free Download at major ebook retailers!

  Chapter One

  Thank God it wasn’t her child’s crime scene they were hiking toward. That thought ran continuously through Dr. Georgia Dennis’ mind as she picked her way over fallen branches and loose rocks, only steps behind her partner.

  What would the girl have felt as she’d been forced up this hill? What fears would have run through the child’s mind as the leaves cracked beneath her feet, as the mud slipped out beneath her steps? Had her hands been bound the entire time? Had she lost her balance? Had he pushed her down? How would the UNSUB—the Unknown Subject—have controlled his…catch?

  Georgia’s breath caught in her throat as she tried to put herself in the girl’s shoes. She pushed away the feelings the girl’s parents must have felt, though those thoughts threatened to choke her. How could someone do this? To a child? How could he do this and not think of the pain and terror the child would be experiencing; how? “He may be a sadist or a mission killer.”

  “Any evidence to back up your theory so early in the investigation?” her partner and supervisor Michael Hellbrook asked.

  “Method of death...sir.”

  “Continue. Talk it out for me.” Impatience was evident as he waited for her to climb the log.

  The local agent, Elias Stanton, had met them at the base of the mountain to lead them to this crime scene. He darted nervous glances between her and Hellbrook. The tension between her and her supervisor was old news to her, something that just was. She hardly noticed it anymore.

  Georgia adjusted her backpack, scanning the overgrown trail for any signs of the killer the locals may have missed. She continued on. Her foot slipped on a loose rock and she kicked it aside. Had the killer considered that stone? Had he carried the rocks with him up the trail? “Stoning. It’s a traditional method of killing, used as far back as Biblical times. A young girl, just becoming aware of her sexuality. He sees it, decides to cleanse—therefore, mission killer. He could also be a classic sadist. Someone who wandered into the idea of stoning, possibly by throwing rocks at a small animal—or even a smaller child. Someone who enjoyed watching his victims suffer. Someone who picked those who couldn’t retaliate. Or those he put into positions where they couldn’t fight back.”

  “So someone who enjoyed hurting others?” Confusion tinged the local’s tone. It didn’t surprise her. Many agents—even if they were good agents—struggled with the idea of profiling.

  “Yes. And he’s raging against all females, especially those similar in type to the four victims. Were there any signs of sexual assault?” Georgia hated to ask, especially since the victims in this case were all teenage girls. She hated when the victims were kids, always imagining her four-year-old son Matthew in their place. Imagining herself in their parents’ places. That was what she took from each case that dealt with children—the pain on the parents’ faces.

  She slipped her hand into her pocket, running a finger over the toy car her son had tucked in there that morning before they’d left the house.

  He was why she did this. For each of these monsters she took off the streets, the chance that one would get her baby lessened. She never lost sight of that. Her son would not be a victim.

  “Preliminary findings were inconclusive. M.E. was nervous about doing an extensive autopsy. They’re waiting for our go ahead to bring in our own medical examiner.” Hellbrook barely looked at her. That also didn’t surprise her. They didn’t have the strongest of relationships, by any means. His fault. She’d tried.

  “And nothing’s been found in the seven hours since we were first notified?”

  “Uh...no, ma’am.”

  Georgia kept her eyes on Hellbrook’s back as she followed him and the other man when they began hiking again. “I take it our medical examiner is on the way?”

  Calling for one would have been Georgia’s job had she been left behind at the precinct. She normally handled the miscellaneous tasks that other agents didn’t have time to handle. That was her normal lot with Hellbrook’s team. Six months since she’d been assigned to his unit, and today was the first he’d let h
er out of the precinct. He’d had no choice—his customary partner was too sick to leave the precinct, and there were too many crime scenes for the rest of the team to cover.

  She hated that it had come down to necessity for him to grant her request—one she’d made on every new case—but she was glad he finally had. She wanted to do her job, all aspects of it. And she really wanted the creep who’d targeted these four little girls for his sick game.

  She wanted to be out there, needed to be out there, stopping the monsters who preyed on the weak. That was why she’d joined the FBI in the first place, that was why she’d studied hard and earned two doctorates by the time she’d hit twenty-five.

  “Of course. Come on. It’ll be sunset soon and we need to get what we can before that point.”

  Georgia hurried to keep up with him as his long legs ate up the trail. She understood his impatience; she needed to be at the scene just as much as he, but both she and Stanton were struggling to keep up. What good would that do Hellbrook?

  ***

  Hell kept one eye on Georgia, wanting to make certain she—the smallest member of his team—could handle the hike to the first crime scene. The animal trail they followed was not an easy path for any of them, but the petite Georgia would have a tougher time. She had to stretch in a few places or climb over logs and rocks that he and Stanton had little difficulty scaling.

  He wanted to grab her arm and drag her along. He had always been an impatient man, especially when on the hunt for child-killers. He forced himself to keep his hands off his partner, letting the local agent help her when needed.

  Hell sensed the other man enjoyed helping her. And she would fight like the devil if he ever offered to help. That was mostly his fault for the way he’d treated her over the last six months. But habits were hard to break. Even for him.