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  Hael’s Fury

  Copyright © 2009 Viola Grace ISBN: 978-1-55487-349-4

  Cover art by Martine Jardin

  All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

  Published by Devine Destinies An imprint of eXtasy Books

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  Hael’s Fury

  Sector Guard 3

  By

  Viola Grace

  Chapter One

  e require attendance by Customs Agent Mor

  “W nil.” The voice coming through the speakers was obviously agitated. This was why Livin Hael was here.

  “I am sorry, but as the on duty Agent I am more than capable of dealing with your clearance.

  Please remain calm while the beam scans your ship.” With a few deft flicks of her fingers, the docking clamps latched in place and the power drains attached to the hull. The trader transport was not going anywhere.

  What they couldn’t know was that Agent Mornil had been detained by three strippers at the entertainment centre on the Drai orbital station.

  He would be coming late, if he could still come after they were done with him. The transport, Briax 2, signalled the end of her undercover operation, now she just needed to make the arrests.

  Her hands skimmed over the toggles and switches as she said the two words guaranteed to 1

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  send the transport captain into a frenzy.

  “Engaging scanner.”

  “Again, I protest! We wish to speak to Customs Agent Mornil.” She hadn’t known a male’s voice could get that shrill, but he proved her wrong.

  The scanner was giving her the feedback she was looking for. There were living beings on that ship that were stacked like cordwood in cold sleep. The transport was not graded for living transport and there was no stop on a colony world on their route. They were slavers.

  “What is going on here?” A thunderous voice rang out behind her, it belonged to the diminutive Mornil.

  “The Briax 2 is loaded with living cargo. They have no rating to transport living beings and no stops registered on colony worlds. They are slaving.” She kept a close eye on him in the reflection of the vid screen. His face was running through a gamut of emotion. When it got to fury, she was ready. “It was bizarre really, they kept asking for you for some reason. Don’t worry though, I had the station guards in place and ready to go. They are taking the crew into custody as we speak and rescuing the sleepers.”

  His first lunge at her took him past her and into the vid console. She had sidestepped him neatly.

  He took another run at her and she dodged him again. Finally coming to the conclusion that he 2

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  could not grab her, he pulled his pistol.

  It would have been intimidating if she wasn’t ready for it. His thumb revved up the heat setting, he took aim and fired.

  Finally. She had been waiting for this moment for weeks. A small flick of her mind and she bled the heat from the beam, turning it into the mere passing of air over her body. The air she gathered and shoved back into Mornil’s chest. He was gasping for breath, so with a flick of her finger, she pulled the air out of his lungs and held it above his face. His eyes went wild and she could sense his question. She had heard it before. “I am an agent of the Drai, and a born elemental. You are under arrest.” He had passed out before she had finished speaking and she absently forced the air back into his body.

  Cuffing him securely, she watched the steady stream of cold sleep chambers moving out of the ship and onto the station. Those who had been enslaved would be freed, and those who wanted a cheap transport would be sent on to the next large port of call.

  “Security, we have one additional participant for arrest. Please report to the customs office.”

  With her assignment completed, she only had one more thing to do. “Transport Va’dil, please present for customs scan.” There was no one to man her station and the goods and ships were still 3

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  stopping in for refuelling and trade. Customs Agents waited for no one and they never traded shifts.

  Mornil’s shift passed with no other bits of excitement with one exception—a Draikyn arrived without notice and the officers fell over themselves to make him welcome. After the brisk scan and clearance of his shuttle, she only caught a glimpse of the black and silver of his form as he headed into the station. The tiny flicker of his shape was enough to chill her and heat her at the same time. He seemed horribly familiar.

  “This is shuttle Morganti requesting clearance to the Drai station.” The drone of the voice snapped her back to her duties. Daydreaming could wait, now was time for business.

  “So, honey, how did it go?” Livin’s mother was preparing dinner as she always did on the eighth day. Her Matya’s pale skin gleamed in the bright light streaming through the window, showing proof of her diluted blood. It was the same light shade that Livin had, and it marked her as a mixed breed. Not exactly the most valued of the Draikyn. Her deep green hair accented her pale gold skin and was echoed in her offspring.

  “Fine, Matya. About as well as could be expected. The rest of the shift was hard though, a personal craft was taking up one of the bays.” She 4

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  snuck her hand past the knife that was slicing cheese and snatched it back with her prize.

  Her mother’s sigh was almost deafening. It was a sigh of long suffering. “Honestly, Liv, couldn’t you wait a moment?”

  “Nope. I am hungry now. When is dinner?”

  “Two hours from now, but wait, you had a call while you were out.” Sivin turned her back to her offspring to protect the food and Livin tried to hide her smile.

  “Was there a message?”

  “Check your bed.” Sivin threw a wink at her daughter and turned back to completing the elaborate Drai weekend meal.

  Curious now, Livin ran up the stairs to check her room. She had heard from other species that it was uncommon for adult children to remain at home, but it seemed natural for the Draikyn to keep their families close. Parents who wanted privacy would arrange for a sitter and simply have their adult time away. The children would remain in the nest, no matter what the age, and sitters were mandatory, they were usually a mated couple who were friends of the family, and yet who had no children who were unmated. The rules and traditions of other races still confused her.

  Reaching her door, she palmed the lock and winced as she saw the bed. It was an Introduction 5

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  gown. Oh hells. She checked the invitation laid out on top of it and winced at the smell of ink.

  Whomever she was supposed to be introduced to, he had just arrived on Drai. At least she would have time for her mother’s dinner. It was far more nutritious than anything that the Clan Leaders would have prepared. The Introduction was going to be set at the town hall. Livin could hardly wait.

  Nothing like being rejected in front of a crowd.

  Just the thought almost put her off her feed.

  Almost. She threw her overnight bag onto the floor and fingered the elaborate embroidery that her mother had put into the gown. Sivin liked to tell her that the instant that she birthed a daughter, she had started on the gown. With the covering of needlework and gemstones, the gown almost stood on its own. It certainly showed the attention of a doting parent, but even her nest and upbringing had not brought her a mate.

  She dreamed of seeing the male that haunted her nights and speaking those fateful words, “I dreamed of you.” If he reciprocated, then they were destined to be mates. If she could not find the courage to speak the words, she would remain alone. It wasn’t a horrible thought. She could push for a seat on the council, or start matchmaking.

  It was a family secret that her father had made the first move. Sivin had been too shy to approach him, so he had sought her out in a dark corner and 6

  Hael’s Fury

  whispered the words to her. She reciprocated and the rest was history. Sivin’s lack of pedigree had never stopped Loson Hael. He loved her more with each passing day. It was gratifying to see her parents in love after three decades.

  Perhaps it would have been easier if one of her ancestors hadn’t mated with a genetically altered Terran. If she had been born a pure Draikyn, she may have had the dream that would lead her to her mate. As it was, her dreams were simply filled with wind and fire. Not too unusual for a woman who could call the elements to her. Now, if only she could call a man into her dreams, she would be set.
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  Viola Grace

  Chapter Two

  t had taken the better part of an hour to get her Iinto th

  e gown, but by the time she was in it, Livin was resigned to going to the Clan Hall. Her father handed her a bib before she sat down for dinner, and she was able to regale Loson and Sivin with the non-classified details of her assignment.

  “Why do they all try to use heat pistols?”

  Her father barked a laugh. “Perhaps because no one knows that your talent exists outside of the Clan Council.” He rustled his wings in amusement and Livin remembered the envy she had felt as a child. She had wanted wings so badly, until Loson had sat her down to explain the facts of life to her. Boys had wings, girls didn’t.

  When she asked why, she had been told that it was to keep the girls from getting away.

  Sivin had hit him for that one, but as Livin grew, she realized the truth. It was indeed a mating response. Perhaps a throwback to the days 8

  Hael’s Fury

  when the Draikyn could shape shift into dragons.

  Nowadays, only the sleepers could do that—those rare Clan members who had flown to other planets thousands of years ago to sleep until they felt a call. Some said that they slept to wait for their mates, but some said that they would wake during a great cataclysm and come to repopulate Drai. That sounded a little to grim for Livin who was helping herself to a third round of vegetables.

  “So do you have a strategy for this evening, Liv?” Her father’s fangs flashed with his grin.

  “Yup, I am going in, saying hello, and getting out of there as soon as I can. I also am still technically on call, so while I am not hoping for a disaster, I would love a distraction.”

  Loson sighed heavily. “You are never going to catch a male with that attitude.”

  “I am not looking to catch one, I just want to meet a guy who doesn’t ask me how far back the tainted blood goes. Sorry, Matya, Dakya, but it happens.” The first five times had come as a shock, but after that, the males had ended up trying to drink beverages that were either scalding or frozen solid, depending on her mood.

  “I know, and I wish I could regret the blood in our veins, but I don’t. Our strange talents have kept this planet free, even if only the Clan Council knows about it.” Sivin smiled wistfully, her own talent for telekinetic manipulation had saved 9

  Viola Grace

  thousands, and they would never know. She was simply a woman who was in the right place at the right time, carried on the wind by her mate.

  “I do not regret for an instant choosing your mother, and we know that you are proud of her accomplishments.” Loson reached out to take his mate’s hand and they sat for a moment in familial silence. “Isn’t it time for you to leave, Liv?”

  “Wow, you are subtle. Goodnight, Matya.” She leaned over to kiss her mother, “Goodnight, Dakya.” She kissed her father. “I will return near midnight, please be finished whatever you are doing by then.” She giggled as Loson swept Sivin into his arms and carried her into their private wing.

  Livin was still smiling as she moved in her stiffly embroidered tunic and made her way into her personal flitter. The finely tuned hum of the engine made her warm inside. Her mother had done the maintenance while she was on Drai station. Her aging flitter now achieved altitude with no trouble and gained speed like a new machine. Sivin had done it again. No one had a touch like hers on mechanical objects.

  Her smile lasted until she saw the Clan Hall looming in front of her. The occasional male looked into her flitter screen curiously, but flew off when they saw her face. She didn’t look happy and she knew it.

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  Hael’s Fury

  Her gown rustled in anticipation as she locked up her flitter and looked up at the sky. Males of every description were taking to the sky in an effort to impress the females within. Many women dreamed of their mates in flight, so having them flying in the flesh made the matchmaking process easier.

  Straightening her shoulders, Livin went to face her doom. She handed the invitation to the Council Guard at the door and was allowed entrance. The doors swung open and then closed behind her, effectively trapping the women in.

  Sighing and nodding pleasantly to the few acquaintances that she saw, she made a beeline for the punch bowl and settled in for the night.

  Leaning against one wall, she kept a column of cold air around her to deter any of the males who came in through the upper windows. She was resigned to be a councilwoman or on perpetual use to the council. Her tainted line would die with her.

  There was a cloud of women swirling around one of the males in the room. He must be the new one that she had been summoned for. There would have been no other reason for her to be sent an invitation as she had been written off as unmatched years ago.

  The ladies fawned all over him, each whispering in his ear that she had dreamed of 11

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  him. Livin felt a pang near her heart as they touched his arms and leaned up to whisper in his slightly pointed ear.

  “Livin! Psst.” Horel jostled her elbow to get her attention. She and Horel had grown up near each other and occasionally played together at school.

  There had never been any animosity between them at these events as they were both seeking opposite qualities in their men. “Have you spoken to him?”

  “No. Who is he?”

  “One of the sleepers. Really, I am not kidding.

  My mother heard it from one of the Councilwomen. He had to pull some strings to issue the Introduction tonight, but they did it.”

  They were standing with their heads together and didn’t even notice when a dark figure blocked the light.

  “Ladies, you are far too lovely to be standing here in the corner.” He reached out to take Horel’s hand and she flushed a becoming bronze. Her dark gold skin flushed in response as she returned his greeting.

  As if it was unbidden, she spoke in a whisper,

  “I dreamed of you.”

  “I dreamed of you as well. My name is Jalok.”

  “Horel.”

  “May I escort you to the dance floor?” He tucked her arm in his and together they smoothly 12

  Hael’s Fury

  crossed the floor with a smattering of applause following them. Horel still looked stunned, but in a happy way.

  A pang of sorrow hit Livin. It had been nice to think that she would not be alone as she aged, that there would be a friend nearby. She could see the match as the couple danced, it was obvious that they shared a soul.

  She continued in her quiet corner and watched the women circling the newcomer. The sleeper. He was beginning to look frustrated by the attentions and his gaze was darting around until it alighted on her. A slow smile crossed his features and he moved out of the clutch of women to make his way to her.

  Councilwoman Ratha intercepted him and he stopped for a moment to speak to her. He jerked his head toward her and when the Councilwoman turned to look, a blush flared over Livin’s features.

  She was not used to being subjected to this kind of scrutiny. Ratha had the nerve to try and hold him back as he continued along his predetermined path. He shook her off and stopped immediately in front of Livin.

  He extended his hand for a greeting and she looked at it for a long moment before she took it.

  “Livin Hael. I…” she was unable to continue as her emergency pager went off. With her right hand engaged, her left fished her pager out of her 13

  Viola Grace

  bodice. The message chilled her. “I am sorry, I have to leave.” She tried to free her hand, but he was having none of it.

  “You cannot leave, the doors are bolted until midnight. Where do you need to go? I will take you.” He flexed his wings and scooped her into his arms without another word. She clutched his neck as he bent his knees and launched skyward from a standing position. Holy hells. She had heard of a standing launch, but most males couldn’t manage it. It took tremendous strength.

 

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