Read Online BloodLust (Rise of the Iliri Book 1) by Auryn Hadley - Free Book Online
Authors: Auryn Hadley
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but glided in when invited, a rare talent. Plus, according to Arctic, some of his men intended to keep in contact with her even if she didn't pass the trials. Iliran men were drawn to dominant women, and Sal might pretend to be a quiet and willing servant, but as easily as she'd held his gaze, Blaec knew better. He knew what she really was and longed to submit to a woman like her. If only that wouldn't cause problems in the unit.
Blaec had been raised by his iliran mother and two fathers. It took him nearly a decade to learn to act like a human in Conglomerate society, but once he had, they accepted him without question. His mind still longed for the comforts of his mother's people, but he wasn't willing to give up all that his human position offered his men. They were the only family he had, and only as a human could he protect them.
Sal seemed to understand that. She hadn't made him spell it out in her interview, but she seemed to accept that they had to play by the military's rules. The only problem was that she still had to learn to ride. A Blade without a mount was like an arrow without a bow. The other possibility, a young man with experience on the street, could ride. He'd served a year with the light cavalry, but he couldn't fight any better than a common solider, hadn't been invited into their minds, and Blaec had not seen him befriend a single Blade. The bond just wasn't there. No matter how hard he tried to stay impartial, the facts were clear.
Sal was his best bet, even if her presence would result in a few squabbles. Blaec told himself that his men had settled worse and come out stronger for it. They could handle a pretty girl in their midst. He refused to think about the effect a Kaisae had on her men. The girl had submitted to him, he reminded himself. If she passed the trials, she should work out, no matter how nice she smelled. He was only a half breed, so it wasn't like his instincts would take over.
Below him, the party was breaking up. The Black Blades left in a group, one shining red spot the only color in their cluster of black. Looking at them from above, Blaec saw nothing but smiles and true camaraderie. Sal took Zep's arm on one side, Cyno's on the other, with the rest closing ranks around them. The girl staggered, obviously drunk, and laughter reached his ears. She'd feel it in the morning, he thought, but if she could still pass the tests, it wouldn't matter.
He decided to send her medication, just to be sure.
Chapter 7
The powder helped. Sal's head no longer throbbed. She had no idea who'd been thoughtful enough to send her the meds, but wished she could thank him. Now, if only her mouth would be as cooperative. She took another pull on the flask – nothing more than water for her dehydrated body – and stared up at the pair of moons in the too-blue sky, hoping to ease the nervous tension in her neck.
She was early, thinking the fresh air would wipe the last of the cobwebs from her head. Last night, Zep told her their next trial would require her brain. Sal needed an advantage. Instead, she just watched stablehands catching horses. Once haltered, the animals were passed to a groom who cleaned, tacked, and tied them along the rail inside the arena.
Four war horses stood quietly, heads bowed, dozing in the afternoon sun. Two more were being brushed, and a handler led in a third. Sal counted on her fingers, her head still not clear enough for calculations, and arrived at seven total.
What would the test be? Zep's hint tugged at the back of her mind. Riding wasn't exactly a mental skill, but it was Sal's weakness. She spent months tallying the inventory for the stable in her time with the military, but none in the saddle. Through necessity, she learned the basics of working around horses and the care each required, but few Privates were awarded the luxury of riding lessons
Blaec had been raised by his iliran mother and two fathers. It took him nearly a decade to learn to act like a human in Conglomerate society, but once he had, they accepted him without question. His mind still longed for the comforts of his mother's people, but he wasn't willing to give up all that his human position offered his men. They were the only family he had, and only as a human could he protect them.
Sal seemed to understand that. She hadn't made him spell it out in her interview, but she seemed to accept that they had to play by the military's rules. The only problem was that she still had to learn to ride. A Blade without a mount was like an arrow without a bow. The other possibility, a young man with experience on the street, could ride. He'd served a year with the light cavalry, but he couldn't fight any better than a common solider, hadn't been invited into their minds, and Blaec had not seen him befriend a single Blade. The bond just wasn't there. No matter how hard he tried to stay impartial, the facts were clear.
Sal was his best bet, even if her presence would result in a few squabbles. Blaec told himself that his men had settled worse and come out stronger for it. They could handle a pretty girl in their midst. He refused to think about the effect a Kaisae had on her men. The girl had submitted to him, he reminded himself. If she passed the trials, she should work out, no matter how nice she smelled. He was only a half breed, so it wasn't like his instincts would take over.
Below him, the party was breaking up. The Black Blades left in a group, one shining red spot the only color in their cluster of black. Looking at them from above, Blaec saw nothing but smiles and true camaraderie. Sal took Zep's arm on one side, Cyno's on the other, with the rest closing ranks around them. The girl staggered, obviously drunk, and laughter reached his ears. She'd feel it in the morning, he thought, but if she could still pass the tests, it wouldn't matter.
He decided to send her medication, just to be sure.
Chapter 7
The powder helped. Sal's head no longer throbbed. She had no idea who'd been thoughtful enough to send her the meds, but wished she could thank him. Now, if only her mouth would be as cooperative. She took another pull on the flask – nothing more than water for her dehydrated body – and stared up at the pair of moons in the too-blue sky, hoping to ease the nervous tension in her neck.
She was early, thinking the fresh air would wipe the last of the cobwebs from her head. Last night, Zep told her their next trial would require her brain. Sal needed an advantage. Instead, she just watched stablehands catching horses. Once haltered, the animals were passed to a groom who cleaned, tacked, and tied them along the rail inside the arena.
Four war horses stood quietly, heads bowed, dozing in the afternoon sun. Two more were being brushed, and a handler led in a third. Sal counted on her fingers, her head still not clear enough for calculations, and arrived at seven total.
What would the test be? Zep's hint tugged at the back of her mind. Riding wasn't exactly a mental skill, but it was Sal's weakness. She spent months tallying the inventory for the stable in her time with the military, but none in the saddle. Through necessity, she learned the basics of working around horses and the care each required, but few Privates were awarded the luxury of riding lessons
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