Implosion by Rachel Aukes

Author:Rachel Aukes [Aukes, Rachel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Waypoint Books LLC
Published: 2018-08-04T16:00:00+00:00

Without looking at Gix, he spoke finally and quietly. “Don’t ever drug me again. Never again, do you understand?”

The cutting edge to his voice must’ve been clear because she stuttered in her response. “W-we were o-only tr-trying to help.”

“Gix,” he cautioned.

“Yes, my lord. Never again.”

“Good. Now that that’s settled, give me an update.”

“When we heard Hillas had imprisoned you, Wync spread the word as quickly as possible. Everyone supportive to you abandoned the base to set up a temporary base at the backup coordinate and at this rendezvous point while Wync and I went for you.”

“And, please tell me, you took everything you could from the base.”

“Not exactly,” she said, her voice hitching with uncertainty. “The Grand Lord sent attack squads to the base the moment you were taken. Everyone grabbed what they could, but we had to get out of there fast. We have all our ships, but only the weapons and medical supplies we could carry.” She sighed. “He continues to send out search parties but has had no success. The Sephians and humans have the Grand Lord’s base surrounded and are watching his every move. With them restricting his movements, the risk of him finding both this location as well as our interim earthside base is nil. Using force to quell unrest was a strong reminder that Hillas Puftan is no longer fit to lead our people.”

“The Grand Lord is dead.” He swallowed. Hillas is gone and my people are no closer to safety.

Gix looked confused. “My Lord Commander?”

“Hillas Puftan is dead. The Draeken in charge now is his doppelgänger, and he plans to continue the Puftan legacy, even though he carries no Puftan blood in his veins.”

The guardsman gasped. “We must tell our people. Once they know the truth, they will kill the imposter. You are the natural replacement.”

Roden held up a hand. “A day more will not matter. I need time to discover what schemes Otas has initiated over the past two weeks.” Roden paused. “Tell me, has there been news of Hillas’ daughter?”

“I never knew the Grand Lord had surviving children.”

“Answer the question.”

“There has been no news about a daughter,” she said.

Roden’s jaw clenched. While he’d been on his back, Nalea was being tortured and executed.

He turned to the guardsman. “How many have sworn loyalty to me?”

“There’s over a thousand Draeken loyal to you earthside. More are on the core ships, but they can’t get here with Hillas’ stand-down orders. Most are at our new base, a short flight from here. There’re still some imprisoned at the Grand Lord’s—er… I mean, the imposter’s, earthside base. More yet are still in hiding on his base and on the core ships. We’re ready to attack at your command.”

“That’ll be all,” he said, dismissing her. “And quit slouching. Build those back muscles. Your wings will be stronger for it.”

“Yes, sir.” At the door, Gix paused. “The woman you wanted to go back for… was she Hillas’ daughter?”

He cut her a hard look. “It no longer matters.”

Roden waited

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