Unexpected Eden by Rhenna Morgan

Author:Rhenna Morgan [Morgan, Rhenna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781616506285
Google: a4mhBAAAQBAJ
Barnesnoble:
Goodreads: 23269158
Publisher: Lyrical Press
Published: 2013-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

Maxis perched on a rocky ledge at the height of his training grounds and observed Reese with the new recruits below. Despite Asshur’s cooler temperature, most had shed their shirts mid-drill. Their bodies shone slick with sweat even with the cloud-covered sky. They ducked and weaved and counterattacked in smooth kicks and punches. Their hesitation and strategy still needed work, but their grunts and shouts promised staunch determination.

If only the rest of his plans would fall in line.

The nagging thought tapped at his impatience and shoved him to his feet. Four days since he’d spied Eryx with Lexi and still no sign of her anywhere in Eden. Sightings of Eryx abounded, but there’d been not so much as a glimpse of the dark-haired woman from Evad.

Doubt waggled in the back of his mind. Maybe Eryx had contained his interludes to some remote corner of the human realm. For all he knew, the man had a damned harem locked away in Timbuktu.

He waved off his doubts and sent a mental summons to Reese. Second-guessing himself was a waste of time, especially with the other options he could work with. The bit he’d learned from Phybe about Serena promised an entirely new and intriguing angle for his schemes—and he intended to leverage every last thread he could find.

He situated himself on a nearby rock. Stone the color of burnt adobe stretched out, a wasteland, barren and dismal. Only sparse outcroppings of spindly, gray bushes broke the dull terrain. Thanks to the somewhat constant rain in this region, the men stirred very little dust as they drilled, but if a drought were to occur, the place would be a dust bowl.

Reese landed on the hard rock. “What do you want?”

Maxis ground his teeth. Remember his value. Patience.

“You’d do well to remember who you’re speaking to, strategos.” Maxis emphasized the title and bared his teeth under the guise of an empty smile. “The army you’re training is young with very limited loyalties. You could be replaced. Rather quickly.”

Reese placed his hands formally behind his back, but the move screamed of mockery.

Maxis pushed from his seat. “I have an assignment for you.” He peered over the ledge to watch the men once more. “There’s a woman we’d do well to court. Welcome her into our fold, so to speak. Her name is Serena Doroz.” He faced Reese. “I understand she’s spent considerable time in the malran’s bed. Are you familiar with her?”

Reese cocked his head. “Gossip about the malran’s love life isn’t a topic I follow.”

Maxis paced with slow steps along the ledge. “Apparently, this lady was involved with the malran some time ago and is a bit distressed she’s been unable to regain his interest. Keeps throwing herself at him in hopes he’ll take another bite.”

Reese’s face hardened. “How does the malran’s discarded lover have anything to do with me and my efforts to train an army?’

Maxis waved over his shoulder and headed in the other direction. “The two have nothing whatsoever to do with each other.

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