I AM COMPLETE (I AM MAN Book 5) by Elaine Valicity

Author:Elaine, Valicity
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The Rebel Christian Publishing
Published: 2022-05-07T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

Code-X5 removed his cloak and hung it on the coatrack in the corner. Behind him, Annie and Juanita went over defensive tactics for close combat. They had been sparring for the last hour, but X5 had missed it, he’d been with Clora. Sunder had put them to work since they’d moved back into the palace. Speeches every other day, meetings in between. There was hardly time for anything besides preparing for war.

Code wasn’t surprised. This morning, the princess had to hold a press conference to explain why the Vale had closed its southern borders. Her pre-written speech detailed a list of reasons that blamed bandits and even wild extremists. But X5 knew the real reason—he’d sat in on a War Council meeting with Bastion when Sunder had told everyone what was going on.

The other pillars had arrived.

The Vale took the initiative and fired on their fleets before they reached the shores. The Republic had been able to hold them off, forcing the Kishran and Savish fleets to retreat. But everyone was certain their withdrawal wasn’t permanent. They would be back. And when they returned, they would be better prepared.

The small skirmish hadn’t been much, and the Vale had even walked away victorious and relatively unscathed. But no one could deny this was just the beginning. They had sparked a flame that would soon become a wildfire.

It was now the princess’s job to curb the fears of the public and keep rumors from spreading. Clora had been working hard, as hard as the prince and everyone else. But apparently not hard enough to miss a chance to get close with S14.

Code had noticed her new necklace almost immediately, when she had gotten dressed for her press conference earlier this afternoon. It stood out against her dark brown skin, shining in the Valetian sun. Naturally, X5 had inquired about it, not as much interested in the jewelry as he was in simply making small talk. But when Clora revealed that it was a gift from his best friend, he was glad he’d asked.

He took the necklace. After ‘accidentally’ snapping the chain when she’d asked him to remove it after the press conference, he’d promised her he would take it to Zaust and see if the little Balpur could repair it. But that was a lie. What he wanted, more than anything, was to cave Fourteen’s face in. But he loved Carter too much to resort to violence, so he invited the Soldier to a sparring session instead.

“Ready?” Annie asked, walking from the ring to join X5. They were in an empty section of the hangar beneath the palace. It was the only area they could find that would hold up against their weapons if things got out of hand.

X5 glanced around. “Where’s Fourteen?”

“Right here,” said a deep voice behind him.

Code turned to find his friend striding in with a smile on his face. He’d changed from his palace security uniform into something more comfortable, simple cargo pants and a black t-shirt with combat boots.

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