Chapter 27

APO PRIME

CAFÉ DISTRICT OF TUYA

Andro let his azure eyes gaze upon the crowd below him, sweeping across the expanse of the huge Café District slowly as he took things in. He hadn’t been back to Apo Prime in some time, yet it looked no different than it had before. The dozens of small eateries and shops made up this section of Tuya and there were hundreds of men and women outside sitting at the many tables and benches as they went about their lives unknowing of the larger picture and what was happening outside of their small portion of the universe. Andro did not hold this against them in any way for all of them knew that a state of war now existed between the Lycavorian Union and the Kavalian Federation, but it did not affect them directly and the citizens of the Union had far more faith in their military and leaders than the Kavalian people did. Indeed, many of them had been at war in some fashion for the better part of their lives and they adapted now easily. The Lycavorian Union had prospered more since his father had returned to take the throne then in the two millennia before and he knew that the vast majority of the citizens of the Union adored his father and all of his mothers. The many species and citizens of the Union knew that their King and Queens would not hesitate to get down in the dirt with the rest of them for a worthy cause. He distinctly remembered several occasions as he was growing where he had gone with his father to help in building a community center or medical clinic. He had learned his lessons well from both his father and his mothers and they were lessons he would never forget. They were lessons he would one day pass on to his own children.

Andro also now realized why he so much preferred Sparta and Earth over Apo Prime. It was a much slower pace of life within Sparta and everyone was not rushing around trying to accomplish whatever it was they were trying to do. He missed his villa on Gytheio, the smell of the Laconia Gulf and the scent of his wives and mates filling his head all of the time. Events were not going to allow him to return there anytime soon, but he vowed that when they did, he would spend an entire week doing nothing but worshiping their bodies and enjoying the feel of their auras all around him. Like his mother Aricia was to his father, Sadi would always be the one to command his soul, but there were times when even Andro did not believe how much he loved and adored all of his wives and mates. He had given up trying to understand it all, only that it was, and that was all he cared about now.

As he let his eyes scan the area below, no matter much how he concentrated, Andro could not pick out the members of Marci’s personal team. As Assistant Director of the Krypteria, she was authorized to have her own team of highly trained men and women who looked after her and protected her. Marci had instead chosen men and women who could do Ops and assist her in wherever they were needed no matter the job. Marci was part of the younger generation of pureblood vampire within the Union. A generation that had all been born within the Union itself after their parents had fled the High Coven with Andro’s mother Isabella. Their loyalty and love for the Union and it’s ideals was as absolute as any pureblood wolf. Marci was also among the millions of pureblood vampires within this generation that had taken pureblood Lycavorian husbands and wives. She worshiped her husband just as he adored her, and they did not care who knew or saw this. It was not a uncommon sight at all now to see a mixed couple walking the streets holding hands and showing their affection and in many cases their children.

Andro realized that Marci had regained her focus with Armetus back at work and she had become even more wise to the way things were done with her mentor able to guide her once more. Armetus and Marci made a devastating pair Andro knew. To see them working together was enlightening to say the least as they went at a problem or issue from so many different angles and directions it sometimes made Andro’s head spin. Marci waded through the many intricacies of Intelligence problems and issues just as Armetus had taught her. Like a ghost among the shadows. Since he had returned Armetus had broken the Krypteria into two different sections to counter the many threats they now faced from all sides. He had appointed Marci as overall Assistant Director of the Krypteria but also the Director of Krypteria Internal Security. With the blessing of the Union Senate Oversight Committee chaired by For’mya’s father L’tian, the KIS was born. They would be the ones to keep the Union safe from the inside, with full authority to act within the Union borders. Ever since he had officially formed the Krypteria, Armetus had always followed one rule to the letter. It was a rule he had stuck to no matter what if he was able and it was a rule he had passed on to Marci.

“We are the eyes and ears of the King’s body. It is our sworn duty to insure the Union remains safe from all threats.” Armetus said. “We tell the King where they are, how many there are and what they are doing. We let him know if they are a threat to the Union we all serve. And if needed we let him take our people and go kill them if that is what is called for.”

Armetus had never failed to do just that. And in his passionate speech before the Senate he made it very clear that the KIS was not some secret police. He knew that the King despised such things and Martin Leonidas would insure the KIS never became such an organization. He also made sure that they knew that with the myriad of threats to the Union now, the normal police and security apparatus would not work. L’tian was respected by every member of the Senate and well known to be openly defiant when he believed it was the wrong course of action. Even after the events with his daughter For’mya, he was the first to come forward in support of the new Kavalian government under Pian. If he advocated the need for such an organization to exist then none of them could dispute it. Of course, Icho and his cronies screamed out against it, but the KIS was finally born on an interim basis with overwhelming Senate support.

As he gazed at the scene below Andro didn’t want to think of how many among the hundreds below him in the cafés were part of Armetus and Marci’s organization, but he had a guess there were probably far more then he thought he could discover. Like his father, Andro preferred the direct approach, but also like his father Andro knew the direct approach did not always work so well. That is where Marci and Armetus and their people came in.

Andro dropped his eyes when he felt Lu’ria’s arms slid around his waist and she stepped under his arm to press her supple, Drow body against his as she came around in front of him. He looked down into her quite stunning amber colored eyes and simply gazed at one of the six women who held his core being in their grasp. Her dark caramel colored ebony skin was flawless, her soft, violet lips moist and inviting as always. Her long, shimmering white hair was pulled over one shoulder and fell to just above her waist. All of his wives and mates knew that Andro loved long hair and Lu’ria had spent the last weeks and months letting it grow, as they all had. He was always running his strong hands through their hair in moments of relaxation and it was something all of them had come to adore. Her hair flowed around her facial features and was tied at the end with silk portions of cloth that matched the color of her Drow family’s symbolic history. The dark gray jumpsuit she wore clung to her muscular but very tantalizing curves in all the right places. As with all Drow across the Union, Lu’ria Leonidas was not afraid to display her ample physical assets, and the valley between her large breasts looked very appetizing, as she always unzipped the jumpsuit just enough to show a very small amount of cleavage. Andro had spent many, many hours exploring the dark, lush curves and valleys of Lu’ria’s body and he knew each bend and twist by memory just as he did with all his wives and mates. While Sadi could always incite him in ways none of them could and Ne’Veha’s delicious amaretto scent and taste of her skin was irresistibly intoxicating to him, Lu’ria’s delicious ebony skin color and her aggressive and dominant nature always served to stimulate him. Each of his wives had a hold on him Andro knew. Lu’ria’s dark skin and violet lips would never cease exciting him, and now that she was wolf, her honey melon scent was even sweeter to his nose. Carisia was a petite powerhouse of lust and desire and was not afraid to take what she wanted. Sehri projected innocence, but in reality, she was nearly as adventurous as Sadi within their bed, and she would only grow far stronger as the years passed. And even without her Alkay seeping from her pores when aroused, causing all of them to have an increased desire for each other, Caliria was sweet and delicious and uninhibited.

Lu’ria looked up into Andro’s face and smiled lustfully as she saw the look in his eyes.

Lu’ria knew that each of his wives and mates had a unique draw on Andro, and while Sadi would always attract him more because she was his Anome, each of them had begun to utilize their own very unique pull on him just as Sadi had taught them. Lu’ria smiled up at him as she pulsed him with just a very small amount of her newfound female aura. She knew this would send a tiny spike into her scent that only he would detect and when Lu’ria saw the sudden glint in his beautiful azure eyes she knew that he had detected it easily. She and Ne’Veha were becoming very good at using their female wolf skills thanks to Sadi’s expert tutelage. Their KertaGai never denied them anything and she was constantly showing them how to manipulate their new wolf senses and abilities and part of that was in how they interacted and teased their beloved husband and mate. Sadi had made it very clear to all of them that while she may have been Andro’s Anome, they were all of one mind and voice. They spoke with one voice just as Andro’s mothers did. There was no need to fight or compete for Andro’s affection because he loved them all with every ounce of himself, and there was quite a bit of their beloved Spartan husband to go around Lu’ria thought with a lustful smile.

Much like Andro’s father had done for his mothers, the power of the virus in Andro’s blood and the strength of his Etheric abilities caused certain changes in all of them, and it was these things that now tied all of his wives and mates together deeply. They shared a very special bond between themselves that even Andro would never intrude upon, and all of them were nurturing this connection deeply. Whether he was making Sadi cry out in bliss, or any one of them for that matter, they shared it with each other within their own womanly connection. When Andro made love to any of them he poured his very soul into it and this they shared with each other without question. As his Anome, Sadi was their voice, but they were all his wives and mates.

Lu’ria had embraced her new life as a wolf and Crown Princess completely. Her position had brought her much fame among the Drow people as well as much jealously from many other young Drow females who now envied Lu’ria her standing. The utter devotion of the Leonidas men to their women was famous throughout the Union and among the Lycavorian people. She knew that any number of Drow females could line up naked before him and Andro would walk past all of them to take her and Sadi and Ne’Veha and Carisia, and now Sehri and soon Caliria once more. Some Drow females laughed at her in soft whispers saying he could not love her as much as Sadi, but Lu’ria knew the truth of it. Andro loved the contrast of their skin color when she was in his arms and he was always nuzzling her soft lips. He had spent many hours just exploring her lush body, with Lu’ria crying out in bliss the entire time. Andro had been her first lover and he would forever be her only male lover. Lu’ria also deeply embraced the unique and special Etheric bond she shared with Sadi and the others. It was this Etheric bond that wound them all so tightly together as not only intense and very willing lovers, but also the very deepest of friends and Crown Princesses as well. They referred to her as their Drow Mistress, and Lu’ria knew it would never be the same without all of them in her life.

Lu’ria knew that she and Carisia were the closest in skill to Andro when it came to hand to hand combat. Her scrumptious Maya eyed slaved was even better than her Lu’ria knew, but if Carisia was gone as she was now, Andro would always bring her if physical combat was a very distinct possibility. Sadi and Ne’Veha were not far behind them in fighting abilities, but their skills made them incredible pilots first and their Etheric abilities allowed them to do things that Lu’ria and Carisia couldn’t. Sehri was showing an amazing aptitude to use her growing Etheric abilities in a defensive manner none of them could match. The youngest of them she may have been, but she was nearly Sadi’s equal within the realm of her Etheric powers and Lu’ria didn’t doubt that she would soon come to her and Carisia to put these skills to more practical use in terms of physical combat. Their Inamarno was a doctor Lu’ria knew, and when she was back among them, Lu’ria had no doubts she would find the niche she was meant to take.

As Lu’ria gazed into his beautiful eyes she reached up and traced his strong jaw with her finger. “You are far away my love.” She spoke softly.

Andro smiled at her and Lu’ria felt her heart do little flips as he leaned over and nuzzled the outer ridge of her four-inch-high elven ear. “I see KertaGai is teaching all of you to be very perceptive of my mannerisms.” He said in a whisper.

Lu’ria grinned and leaned into his nuzzle as she shivered in delight and her new wolf blood began to sizzle at his touch and his scent. “We are one.” She stammered finally.

Lu’ria felt that unique tingle in her head and then Sadi’s voice filled her mind in their private connection.

[Lu’ria Leonidas... don’t you dare make me scold you our Drow Mistress.] Sadi’s voice spoke to her from the SCIMITAR in orbit. [You are wolf now and you are our wife and mate. If you desire your husband then we expect you to act on it. You will never need my permission to have our mate tickle your senses or make you scream his name to the moon.]

[I did not...] Lu’ria began.

[No. If you desire your husband and mate... if your blood burns for him... then you let him know. I would expect any of us to have our husband when he makes our senses burn for him. I certainly would not turn down the opportunity and I would not expect any of you to. As long as you share with us when you return of course.] Sadi told her with some humor in her voice.

[I will always share.] Lu’ria spoke in reply.

[Then if the opportunity presents itself... you let your husband and mate know that you want him and that he needs to sate the burning of your blood.] Sadi replied. [When has our beautiful Alpha wolf ever let us down Mistress?]

[Never.] Lu’ria answered.

[Then you do what you must as an Alpha female. And share with us when you return.] Sadi told her. [Details our Drow Mistress. Details.]

Lu’ria suppressed the chuckle she wanted to release at Sadi’s words and she stared into Andro’s eyes. “You are our core Androcles Leonidas. Of course, she would teach these things to us.” She told him finally. “We wonder where our beloved goes when his mind takes him to places we can not see? We wonder what he thinks of? What he views when he is there?” She looked up into his face again. “We wonder what is so strong within him that it takes him from the warmth of our embrace and our bed and why only his brother Dorian, Ryner and his Bonded Sister can sooth him?”

“I tried not to wake you.” He said with a gentle smile.

Lu’ria pressed tighter against him. “What was it Andro?” She asked. “A dream?”

Andro shook his head slowly and was silent for a long, quiet moment. Lu’ria knew that he would never lie to any of them and she remained patient as he tried to find the words to explain and his arm dropped to curl around her waist and draw her closer. She reveled in the feel of his powerful body against hers as she waited. He looked at her finally. “Not a dream really... but what was in the dream. Elynth and I have had them since we were very young. They went away for a time when the nightmares of Alba Tau were all we could see, but ever since... ever since Dorian was born they have returned. Stronger and much more focused now.”

“What do you see?” Lu’ria asked.

“It’s not so much what I see my Ilythiiri Tessai, it’s what I hear. What we all hear within the dream.” Andro said softly.

“Dorian, Ryner and Elynth hear this too?” Lu’ria asked.

Andro nodded his head. “It’s a voice... like a whisper. It echoes in the background all around us, speaking to us, but so softly we can barely hear it. We only discovered last night that Dorian and Ryner have been having these same dreams for weeks now. It is why we spent the time with them after we woke.”

“What... what does it say? This voice.” Lu’ria asked.

“That’s just it Lu’ria... it’s so soft that we can hardly make out any words. Most of the time anyway. When it is quiet enough, the words are spoken in a language I have never heard spoken before. But part of me... part of me understand their meaning.” Andro said. “It is a female voice, of that we are sure, but...”

“Female, huh?” She asked with a grin.

Andro smiled at her. “Lu’ria you should...”

“We have found everyone who will share our lives Andro.” Lu’ria said. “We know that what you feel for each of us you could never feel for any another. And trust me when I say, no female will ever have what we have now. We have you. And we will not share. I was trying to be humorous.”

Andro shook his head and leaned over quickly to nibble on her pointed ear tip causing her to squirm in happiness and squeeze him even harder. He drew back and looked at her, his face becoming serious once more. “The voice is almost familiar to me. Like...”

“What?” Lu’ria urged him to continue.

“When we hear this voice, it is like... it is like when I talk to one of my sisters.” Andro said. “The familiarity with them. The love for them that I have. I feel all of that too. Like I, like we should know who this voice belongs to.”

“And you are sure it is not Eliani or Zarah or...” Lu’ria began.

Andro shook his head quickly. “My sisters have never been shy about coming to me and talking about anything.” He said. “Nor I with them. None of them approached me after these dreams so I know it is not an echo of one of them. Zarah I would know immediately because of the bond we share. Eli is like Dorian and I in a small way. She is far more perceptive than she lets on because of when she was conceived. Our father and mother Anja were still discovering everything they had. They were still deeply emotional times for them when Eli was conceived. I would have sensed it from her immediately as well. Carina and Normya would instantly share anything with their husbands, who would in turn tell me. And Lisi has never been shy about telling me anything.” He shook his head again. “No... this is very different... and it feels like it comes from across a great distance.”

Lu’ria looked into his eyes and saw confusion. “What? Speak to me Andro.”

“It feels like it is part of me.” Andro told her. “Part of us. Like it is inside us. Like it has always been inside us.”

“Do you hear it now?” She asked. “When you are awake?”

Andro shook his head. “Not the voice. But the resonance remains clear and strong. We can still feel the presence. Like it is humming gently in the background. Waiting.”

“I am not... I am not very knowledgeable about this gene within you.” Lu’ria began to tell him. “I am not as strong as Sadi or Sehri or even Ne’Veha within the Etheric...”

Andro reached up and spread his palm across her cheek seeing her eyes lift up to meet his. “You are far stronger than you might think my Ilythiiri Tessai.” He said. “As with so many others, your Etheric abilities are channeled in a different direction.”

“My physical skills?” Lu’ria said.

Andro nodded. “You and Enylarcopri both. In a fashion, similar to how Zarah’s abilities are used.”

“Because you bit me?” Lu’ria asked. “Changed me?”

Andro lowered his eyes. “Not exactly the way I would have preferred to bring you fully into my life but...”

Lu’ria reached up and placed a finger on his lips. “You will never be sorry or ashamed for making me like I am now Androcles my love. I cherish that day every moment that goes by. It made me like you and Sadi and Ne’Veha. I embrace that.”

“As do I.” Andro told her, his arm pulling her tighter.

“Then share what you see and feel with us Andro.” Lu’ria told him. “When we are all together. Dorian too. Share it with us. We love you more than our own lives, and I know Sheva loves Dorian just as deeply. Perhaps with us... perhaps we could help you to understand. See something that you and Dorian and Elynth and Ryner cannot. We are stronger when we are all together, you know this.”

Andro stared at her for a long moment in silence. “I... I never thought of that.” He said finally. “We are stronger when we are together. Perhaps...”

The male voice in his ear implant broke into his train of thought and brought an end to their conversation.

“Target has arrived. Lerkim Banak has entered the zone.” The voice spoke simply.

Andro and Lu’ria both shifted to business mode now. Their mission required their full attention and that is what it would get.

“Direction?” Andro asked as he and Lu’ria grabbed macrobinos and began to search the crowd below.

“East courtyard.” The reply was crisp and instant. “Making his way to a table. Red shirt and brown pants.”

Andro’s keen eyes found the man among the crowd and he grimaced. Lu’ria chuckled softly and shook her head as she found him as well. “Not exactly a pillar of fashion, is he?” She stated.

“Downright disgusting if you ask me.” Another female voice echoed her words on the COM channel.

“Watchers?” Andro asked aloud. He wanted to know if there were others watching their target and if it would be noticed if he was taken.

“Three possible Milord.” Another male voice answered instantly. “Two at west entrance, one on balcony above the courtyard to the north.”

It was Marci’s voice that cut in now. She was waiting at the building where they would take the vampire traitor. “Andro... we need to neutralize the Watchers.” She stated.

“Agreed.” Andro answered.

“Krypteria Two One to Teams Three and Five. Shift your positions and eliminate the Watchers.” Marci ordered on the secure COM channel. “Take them quietly into custody and move them to secure holding areas. We will confirm who they are later.”

“Confirmed. Three moving.”

“Five moving and confirms order.”

The replies were professional and instant.

Andro looked at Lu’ria. “Anything Ilythiiri Tessai?” He asked.

Lu’ria shook her head. “He seems calm and confident.” She answered instantly. She had been watching him intently through macrobinos since he had entered the courtyard. “He just ordered something from the menu but he does not appear anxious in the least. Could he suspect he is being watched Marci?” She asked.

“He has no reason to suspect that we are on to him Lu’ria.” Marci’s voice echoed in their implants. “If what Sheva told us is accurate he also has no reason to believe that she is no longer who he thinks she is. He is operating under old assumptions.”

“Sloppy.’ Lu’ria spoke.

“Very much so.” Marci agreed with her.

Andro nodded his head. “Sheva is very smart.” He said. “Smarter than this fool that is for sure. She kept her changing feelings to herself and did not make herself suspect. Especially after she discovered her feelings for Dorian.”

“Andro... could she be...?” Marci began to ask.

Andro looked at Lu’ria who met his eyes and he shook his head. “No Marci.” He replied to her unfinished question. He took no offense for it was a question he himself would have asked. “You did not see her when she came to us Marci. She reeked of fear. Fear of loss. She was terrified she would lose my brother. And I could also detect the tinge of hate. For this man as well as others.”

Andro could almost see Marci nod her head from where she was. “Well... if there is one thing I’m not going to question it’s your sense of smell and your uncanny ability to read people. You are certain he has no idea that she is Dorian’s wife now Andro?” Marci asked him over the COM. As close as they had worked in the past and now, Andro had made it very clear she was to call him by his given name. Marci was among the very few who were allowed such a thing.

“No. We kept that very quiet at her request. She did not want the Durcunusaan to treat her differently. Very few people know that Marci. Jomann and a few others on our personal detachments but no one else.” Lu’ria answered for him.

“Good.” Marci spoke.

“That will make this much easier.” Lu’ria said.

“Yes, it will.” Marci agreed. “Contact team is in place. Stand by.”

Andro studied the area around where the traitor sat but could detect no sign of Marci’s people. He shook his head at their skill and ability to blend in perfectly.

“Three. Watchers neutralized.” The voice spoke after a moment.

“Team Five. Watcher neutralized. Moving to Eastern District Holding Area.”

“Krypteria Two One acknowledges. Andro?” Marci asked.

“Do it.” Andro ordered.

“Contact Team. Execute!” Marci’s order came with no hesitation or doubt.

It happened almost faster than Andro’s eyes could follow. Banak’s waitress brought him out a mug of something and as she was setting it on the table blacking his full view of the area, someone, a male was all Andro could determine based on his size, walked behind her and right beside Banak. His left hand seemingly brushed Banak’s shoulder accidently and Andro saw Banak stiffen slightly. As the man continued to walk past, the waitress set the mug on the table along with her tray and began to help Banak to his feet almost casually. It was like they were together from the way she acted and talked to him with an animated face. It appeared outwardly as if he was heavily intoxicated and the young woman laugh gently as she slipped her arms around his waist and made it seem as if he was doing the same as she guided his arm around her slim waist. They drew no attention aside from some knowing glances from other couples Andro saw as she led him across the courtyard and into the actual café where they disappeared from sight.

“Marci?” Andro cut in suddenly concerned.

“Standby Andro.” Marci’s voice responded calmly. “Let her do her job.”

Andro felt Lu’ria squeeze his arm and he glanced at her as she pressed against him. His eyes moved back to the courtyard below and he watched as the man who had brushed alongside Banak began to make his way back towards the café. He moved very casually and eventually he walked through the same doors the waitress had taken Banak only two minutes before.

“Target is secure.” The female voice spoke now on the COM. “Red One to all teams. The target is secure. Red Five arriving. Begin extraction to interrogation site.”

“Red Five is on site with Red One. I confirm her status.” The male voice echoed. “We are moving.”

“Krypteria Two One Confirms. All teams evac to predetermined locations. Red One and Red Five will deliver the package.” Marci ordered. “Excellent work people. Perfect.”

Andro turned as the door to the room he and Lu’ria were in opened and he saw Marci enter. She acknowledged something from her implant and looked at him. “They’ll have him at the interrogation site in twenty-two minutes.” She told him.

“The Watchers?” Andro asked.

“We’ll find out who they are and if they are involved.” Marci answered as she came up in front of him and Lu’ria. “I have a Lifter on the roof. We should go together. No sense in you or Lu’ria being spotted leaving the building. It will bring questions we do not want to answer right now. If the Netnews discovers you are here on Apo Prime, Icho will be all over it.”

Andro nodded. “Superior work Marci.” Andro said. “Tell your people for me. Absolutely brilliant.”

Marci smiled. “They like to hear that.” She said. “C’mon... we want to be there when this idiot wakes up.”

Aviel moved between Chalith and Shalu as they walked down the corridor and Ch’teven moved along behind them. When Chalith had first opened the wall in the chamber he thought that the young woman was in the same facility as they were. He should have known better considering how Shalu and Chalith took their security. Ch’teven remained silent, keeping his thoughts to himself.