BloodLust (Rise of the Iliri Book 1) (27 page)

Naked before him, her body begged for his touch.  He teased her with gentle caresses, trailing his fingers across her skin as he stood to remove his own clothes.  Together, naked in the dim light of the moons, she couldn't resist the desire any longer. 

She pulled his face to hers and he followed willingly.  Their lips touched, his passion flared, and he devoured her, pushing her step by step toward the bed.  One arm around her back, he pulled her to his chest as he slowly lowered them both onto the mattress. 

He made her look at him, his touch on her cheek begging her to open her eyes, the request little more than a feeling in her mind.  She saw the anger, the desire, and the death lurking just beneath the surface.  Staring at her like a predator, he thrust himself inside her.

Sal cried out, and he pressed his hand over her mouth, then thrust again and again, his teeth bared, snarling.  Her eyes stayed locked to his as she lost control of her body in the pleasure he created, a smile caressing his lips when he brought her to climax.  Sal lost herself in the animalistic need, no longer trying to fight what she was.

Over and over, throughout the night, he had his way with her body and she let him.  When the passion eventually faded, they both fell exhausted into the covers, Cyno pulling Sal onto his chest and wrapping his arms tightly around her like he never planned to let her go.  Their minds were still entwined.

Chapter 32

Sal woke with a smile on her face, feeling Cyno's hands stroking her hair across her naked back.  Enjoying the moment, she snuggled closer to his chest, murmuring softly, and he chuckled in response.

"Awake, kitten?" His voice was harsh against the morning silence.  Sal shook her head and tried to push closer to him.  He tightened his hold on her and gently caressed the side of her face.  "Just tell me I did na hurt ya."

"Jase, you know I wanted it as badly as you.  It's ok.  I'm fine, I promise."  She cracked open her eyes, but only barely.

"K.  Then yer gonna have ta get outta this bed eventually," he whispered.

"I know, but I like it here."

"I like you here too, kitten, but we do hafta report.  LT covered for us last night, but we got intel ta give.  The war will na wait while I seduce ya."

Sal sighed and pulled herself out of the bed.  Jase watched her while she moved about the room.  His eyes tracked her like a predator, but a smile played across his lips.  She sorted through the black leathers on the floor, dropping some in disgust, and moved to the stacked saddles, rummaging in her packs.  She pulled out a fresh shirt, stretching before she turned back to him, carrying her clothes to the bed.  His eyes still watching her, she slipped her arms into the sleeves and slowly began buttoning the shirt over her naked body.

"You can't stay there all day either, killer," she teased, standing just out of his reach.

"Nah, I know it, but I wanna enjoy the view while it lasts."

"What happened to morning after nerves?"  She bent to step into her breeches, glancing at him through the fall of her tangled hair.

"I figur'd from the way ya were screaming last night, I got nothing ta be worried about."  He laughed, then turned serious.  "Nah, Sal, it's jus' that I really like this.  For the first time, I do na feel embarrassed 'bout what happens ta me.  Ya make me na regret it, ya know?"  He paused.  "I allus felt like I was different.  Bad somehow, and that's why I like it so much, but seeing ya, I can na thinka it as a bad thing."  He shrugged.  "I can na think of ya as wrong in any way."

"Stop talking like that, Jase, or we'll never get the horses saddled." 

Cyno pulled himself from the bed, moving behind her to kiss the wounds on her neck as he slid his arms up the leather at her thighs.  Sal tilted her head and kissed him, twining her fingers into his.  When their lips parted, they both sighed.

"Ayati, Sal.  One night, I wanna have ya without the need ta kill somethan first."

"When things aren't so crazy, and I'm not making Blaec feel so ignored, you might get your wish.  But from the sounds of it, might be a couple of weeks before either of us goes more than a few days without blood on our hands."

"I never loved my job so much."  He laughed, stepping away from her.  "K, kitten, let's get ya back to yer other man and make sure the army knows 'bout the Empire's plans."

Cyno grabbed both saddles and pushed through the dilapidated door, shooting her a sheepish look for his show of chivalry.  Outside, they made quick work of checking their horses and fitting the tack.  When he pulled the reins over Raven's neck and moved to her side, Sal put a hand on his shoulder.  He turned to look at her, and she reached up, caressing his face, noting there was no hint of stubble on his smooth cheek.  When she stepped into him, he wrapped his arms around her for one last lingering, gentle kiss.

"C'mon, kitten," he whispered. "There'll be more next time.  Do na tempt me.  I am na that strong."

"Me either, Jase.  Damn."  She sighed and turned, slipping under Arden's neck.  Grabbing a fistful of mane, she swung herself into the saddle, slipped her feet into the stirrups, and picked up her reins before looking at him again.  Side by side, they guided the horses into a walk, the military camp only a few kilometers away.

Much of their ride was spent in companionable silence.  Neither felt uncomfortable with their arrangement, the embarrassment of the first night long past.  Blood still clung to them, streaked across their faces, and their bodies showed signs of more wounds than they'd acquired in battle, but the assassins were at peace with their strange desires.  When the camp began to peek through the trees, Sal remembered that she hadn't spoken to her commanding officer since before she left.

Blaec?
she sent, searching for the touch of his mind.

Sal,
he replied, the feeling of a caress accompanying her name.

We're almost back to camp.  Just leaving the woods now.  Jase said he updated you last night?

He did,
Blaec told her,
and don't you dare worry about not sending to me yourself. 

I won't – much,
she thought. 
But we overheard some interesting stuff.  Ya might want to get some officers in when we report.

That serious?  Shit.  Ok, Sal, I can do that.  Story from the Blades is that my assassins feared they were being tailed last night, so holed up in the woods.  The Generals here accepted that.  They still don't know how you get messages to me, so stay vague if you're asked. 

Got it, sir,
she responded, acknowledging both the Lieutenant and her lover in her tone.

Closing the link with Blaec, she reached for Cyno's mind and explained the situation.  They worked out a plausible back story that would prevent any questions about their battered state and night in the woods.  By the time they reached the sentries at the gate, both iliri were in good spirits, sitting easy in the saddle.

"Name, rank, and unit!" the guard on duty demanded.

"Salryc Luxx, Corporal, Black Blades."

"Jassant Cynortas, Corporal, Black Blades."

The young man's eyes widened, realizing he stood before legends in the military.  "Sirs!  Welcome back, sirs," he stammered.

Sal checked the rank on his shoulder and said, "At ease, Private.  Where are we to report?"

"The General's pavilion," the soldier answered, gesturing across the camp.  "Your Lieutenant should meet you there.  I'll send a runner to inform them you're on your way."

"Thanks, kid," Cyno replied, his cold eyes doing little to set the boy at ease.

Once inside the gate, the couple slid from their mares, leading the horses by a single rein, and stretched their legs as they walked toward the General's pavilion.  Their heads bent together, they mentally discussed the implications of what they were about to tell the officers, ignoring the glares of the humans around them.

While most infantrymen were in awe of the elite soldiers, a few sneered at their pale skin and obvious iliri breeding.  One man dared to spit at Sal when they passed, ducking back into the crowd at the murder in Cyno's look.  Sal rested a hand on his shoulder, calming him, and kept walking.  Arden followed patiently.  They passed two more columns of tents, moving from the common infantry squads, through the pike-men, and into the housing for the cavalry.  Less than twenty-five meters ahead, they could make out the General's pavilion, Scorch standing outside, a sign the Lieutenant was waiting.  A sound to her right caught her attention, and she saw a group of men riding their way.  Their black armor identified the rest of her unit before she could even make out the details of their features.

"Looks like we're all here," she said.

"Least there's that," he agreed.  "Allus hated reporting ta humans."

Sal glanced up at him, her ears flicking forward in confusion.  "I'll take lead on it then, but why?"

He looked away, his jaw set to hide his embarrassment.  "I do na speak Glish as well as ya.  Soon as they hear my accent..."  He shrugged.

Sal reached up and gently rubbed his arm reassuringly.  "Guess that means I need to get out more.  I didn't know there was anything else to speak.  Besides, your accent is kinda cute."

"Oh, kitten," Cyno said, laughing.  "The only real iliri I know of, and ya do na speak Iliran.  Yeh, there's more than just Glish.  When we get time, I'll teach ya.  Now let's get this over with."

They reached the front of the pavilion, their unit lingering before the doors.  The assassins tied their mounts beside the rest and rejoined the only family they knew.

"Get something good?" Arctic asked when they walked up.

"Yeh," Cyno said.  "Quite a bit."

"Ok.  LT's already inside briefing General Albin on your mission.  I know you hate this, Cyno, but – "

Sal interrupted, "I got it."

The Blades snapped their heads to her.  Those simple words contradicted the orders of her superior officer, no matter how casually he'd given them.  Sal met Arctic's eyes easily, and held them.  Slowly, a smile began to pull at his mouth.

"Ok, Kaisae.  You think you can take this, I'll let you."  He refused to look away, but there was no malice in Arctic's gaze.

Sal quickly dropped her eyes, the realization of what she'd just done hitting her.  "Sir..."

He waved it off.  "You're right.  We both know it.  Now, let's get this done.  You two smell like you were playing in your food, and I'm starving."

She nodded and entered the pavilion, moving to one side to stand at attention.  The rest of the Black Blades followed behind her, forming up easily, Cyno taking the place at her left.  LT glanced at Arctic and nodded, then turned to Sal.

"Corporal Luxx, report?"

"Sir, the Escean Warlords have been eliminated. Their sentries are lax, but there's about twice as many soldiers as we were told to expect.  We entered through the third floor, made our way above the great hall, and overheard seven Warlords, each from a different province in Escea, discussing an offer the Emperor had recently made.  One claimed that he'd been offered one hundred steel swords to join forces with the Empire of Terric and a second confirmed the claim.  Jurica refused.  It appears his offers of peace are genuine.  Corporal Cynortas and I allowed him to leave the meeting, before we," Sal couldn't help but smile, "introduced ourselves.  Dejan, Rok, and Vilko were positively identified before they were eliminated, along with three other Warlords."

"Casualties?" the General asked.

Her eyes flicked toward him, a moment of confusion making her pause.  "Six Warlords, sir.  Corporal Cynortas and myself were unharmed."

"Lieutenant Doll, you only sent two soldiers for this mission?"

"Yes, sir.  They are elite assassins.  I felt that two was overkill, but I wanted to be sure of the mission's success."

"I see.  Continue, Corporal."

"Yes, sir," Sal said.  "Dejan believed that the Emperor had enough steel to offer each of the seven men present one hundred swords.  Steel swords, sir.  He also indicated that the Emperor's interest in the Conglomerate of Free Citizens is at least partially due to a cache of steel under one of our bases.  Dejan made it sound as if the steel was to be payment for an organized attack on that base."

The General nodded, processing the information.  "Did they mention where the metal was located, or which direction they planned to attack?"

"Not that I heard, sir.  He also said that a shipment of steel is currently headed to the Escean Pass on its way to Anglia.  The Emperor hopes to convince that nation to ally with him."

"How much steel, Sal?" LT asked.

"I do not know, sir, but from the conversation, I would guess a lot.  They referred to a caravan of it."

"Shit," the General breathed.  "If Anglia joins the Empire, there's nothing we can do to stand against them.  It'd be at least five to one, and Myrosica will go whichever way Anglia does.  How sure are you of this intel, girl?"

"I can only report what I heard, sir," Sal replied.

General Albin nodded.  "Unfortunately, it corresponds to intelligence I'm getting from the north.  There's a Terran convoy, well-laden, making its way into the Escean Pass."  He turned to the Lieutenant, and added, "It seems the Black Widow Company has also been spotted in the area."

LT turned to his men and Arctic met his eyes.  They stared in silence for a moment, then LT spoke.  "General, let me send an infiltrator to organize with the scouts while I prepare the Blades for an assault.  We can secure the shipment and bring the metal back for the CFC."

"With just eight men?" General Albin asked.  "No, send your infiltrator and get more intelligence.  I'll organize two units of heavy cavalry, and your Black Blades can assist Llyr's men with the assault."  The General called to someone outside the tent, "Private, get Llyr in here!"