Malevolenci Read online

  I don’t know how to address their grievances. The healers aren’t slaves! Can’t they just talk to the healers themselves? There’s not one who’d agree they were slaves. Tank’s right – the healers are paid more than the cavali. They get the best apartments in the Capiti. They never complain. If they did, of course I’d do anything to make them happy.

  He refocused on the jinn. “Ali, I have to be honest. I’ve heard troubling rumors that the jinn are trying to influence civilian politics.”

  Ali’s brown eyes widened, and his jaw clenched. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, my lord.”

  Owen saw the three jinn men behind Ali squirm in their seats, but he kept his eyes on Ali. “I know you and Dom met as consultants with the Kansas governor during his re-election.”

  Ali’s face tightened.

  Owen looked around the room. “The Order doesn’t interfere with the outside world. Especially when it comes to using our magic to influence their lives. Anyone caught trying to gain outside influence by using their paranormal gifts will be cast out of the Order.”

  Ali, furious, turned and glared at Joe beside him. “You overhead Dom and me talking, didn’t you?”

  The tall nymph said nothing and kept his hands folded on the table.

  “You slutty snitch!”

  Joe coolly shook his head. “Nah, mate. I’m loyal to the king. You wouldn’t have a problem if you weren’t up to something.”

  The jinn sneered. “I should wring every drop of blood from your twiggy little–”

  Marybeth’s deep voice growled. “Not in my restaurant.”

  Ali turned on her. The tattoos showing on his neck and at his wrists began to glow a fiery red. “Don’t you have a bridge to watch?”

  The troll woman’s nostrils flared. Tank behind her growled.

  Ali looked fearless. He said to the whole room, “If the king bothered to rule his kingdom, we wouldn’t have to seek more power! Instead of leading our peoples, he’s running around the country, screwing his alterni!”

  “Hey!” yelled Dax. “Show some respect, jinn!”

  Ali leaned back in his seat. “Oh, like I’m gonna listen to the king’s lap dog.”

  Dax’s face went red with anger, but he looked at the king and didn’t attack the jinn.

  Ali scoffed and smoothed out his suit. “That’s what I thought, lap dog. Won’t even stand up for yourself unless the king lets you off your leash. You’re his slave as much as the vamps at the Capiti.”

  Owen’s gaze swung over to the group behind Rylet’s seat, and all were frowning. He saw the fairies standing behind Piper cling to each other, clearly fearful a brawl would break out. The jinn with Ali sat looking smug.

  Benja was watching Ali’s glowing tattoos. Calmly, she insisted, “There’s no need for this, brother.”

  He turned in his seat to glare at her. “Said another slave.”

  Now Benja’s tattoos glowed, but Owen trusted she’d hold herself in check unless she had to fight Ali, jinn to jinn. Ali’s tattoos looked red hot.

  Mirth sat and watched the jinn across the table. “Easy, now. No one here needs to be cursed.”

  A vampire in the back shouted, “We’re already cursed!”

  That did it, and several paranormals began shouting at once.

  Damn it, Ali! I had things under control. This is bad.

  Owen held up a hand. “Please, everyone calm down.”

  They continued to yell and point at each other. Teeth were bared. Jinn tattoos glowed. Joe released a breath of soothing air that wafted around the table, but it did no good.

  “Silence for the king!” Brun rose from his chair and threw his plate across the room.

  A fairy screamed as the plate crashed into the wall and shattered apart, leaving barbecue sauce dripping down the wall.

  The big alpha pointed a finger around the room. “I’ll tear apart the next pussy who dares pick a fight!”

  Everyone hushed. Even Ali’s tattoos cooled.

  Brun, breathing hard, sat again. He put his elbows on the table and held his head. “Sorry, my lord. I’m still coming off the full moon.”

  Owen’s heart was pounding. “No problem.”

  Esme, her purple eyes wide, exchanged a look with him. Then Owen glanced at his mother, who sat calmly looking at those around the room.

  I have to do it.

  “I know you think I’ve gone slack in my duties,” he said in a strong voice as he looked from face to face. “I’ve been away for months, leaving you here to sort out things on your own. But we have bigger problems.”

  Ali scoffed but was more respectful now as he glanced at the angry werewolf. “Yeah, we know…my lord. You and your alterni were closing rifts and saving the world from monsters.”

  “There’s more.” Owen tried not to glare at Ali. Instead he looked at Esme. “We’ve learned that we’re losing this war. Esme is my alterni endi, which means she’s the last alterni of my reign. If she dies, there aren’t any of her alterni left to come fight for us. The malevolenci know this, so they’re trying to kill her in order to completely overpower us.”

  He had their attention.

  Esme gave him an encouraging smile.

  “Roman first told me about this possibility years ago.” Owen faced the group of fairies in particular. “I’m sorry we kept this secret, but we were trying to find answers and not cause panic. However, it’s undeniable now that the malevolenci are after Esme – they focus on her during every battle. I brought my cavali team here tonight so you could hear it from some of your own rather than taking my word for it.” He waved for any of them to speak.

  Dax told the room, “You’ve all heard about our team’s first bentaforx and what it did. I watched it carry Esme and Owen into the sky because it was so determined to kill them. I admit I’d never fought a bentaforx before, but my alpha tells me the demons aren’t usually specific about who they go after.”

  Brun, seated in front of him, scratched his beard and nodded. “That’s true.”

  “Another time,” said Benja, “Esme had just closed a rift, and suddenly three rifts opened behind her, all angled right at her. More chiroptorx than I’d ever seen flew out of the rifts and dived straight for her. The demons didn’t care about the rest of us – they were trying to get to her.”

  Behind Marybeth, Tank grunted his agreement. “Same thing happened at our battle in Lee’s Summit last night. Chiroptorx flew at Esme. Only this time, the demons were smarter and sent a wave of crustacox to distract the rest of us.” His troll face stretched into a smile at Esme. “But our alterni is too good. She lit the flock on fire and came to help us. Then the malevolenci sent a swarm of spindlox, but she wiped them out too.”

  “I see.” Gil pulled his last bone from his lips and turned to look at Esme. “The demons know she’s our last defense. If we’re without an alterni to perform the termino…”

  Owen nodded. “The malevolenci would be free to open more rifts than we’ve ever seen. They’d invade without mercy and win this war. Nothing could stop them.”

  Well, I could kill myself and stop them. But Dax was right about not letting the paranormals know that a king’s death resets the alterni cycle. Obeying the Oath of Kings is plan B. Better not mention anything about that, or Ali will happily suggest we make it plan A.

  He crossed his hands and leaned on the table. “My cavali are a tough bunch, but the Order has always depended on alterni to hold the malevolenci at bay. Without Esme, the demons will destroy everything. So, to keep her alive and fighting against this onslaught, we all have to work together. I know you have grievances with me and the Order, but I hope you understand why we have to table those issues for the time being.”

  The angrier paranormals shuffled and looked at each other, less certain how they felt in light of this serious danger.

  Ali glared. “So drop everything and serve, is that it? Risk our lives to save your precious alterni and your kingdom?”

  Brun growled. “It’s y
our kingdom too, jinn. It’s all our kingdom. The malevolenci don’t care who’s royal and who’s not. Cat balls, they don’t even care who’s in the Order and who’s not! If they wipe us out, they wipe everyone out. You want to sit out the war and let that happen? Where’s the honor in that?”

  Ali took a breath. He faced Owen again and toned down his glare. “Why didn’t you tell us this as soon as you discovered Esme was the last alterni?”

  Joe snorted a chuckle and answered for Owen, his Cajun accent growing thick. “What, it would’ve been better if he’d told us back when Esme was horrible at this? I sure wouldn’t have felt safe, knowing my life was in the hands of the least battle-ready alterni the cavali had ever seen.” He winked across the table at Esme. “No offense, darlin’. You’ve certainly proven yourself in recent months.”

  Esme smiled back at him. “No offense taken. I quite agree.” She took a breath and faced the crowd. “Once Owen told me I was the alterni endi, I agreed with him not to tell you. I didn’t want you to feel hopeless about the fact that I’m all you have left. I didn’t know a lot about the Order – I’ve still only scratched the surface – but I knew enough to guess people would freak out. Honestly, from what I’ve seen of your behavior tonight, I’m still worried.”

  Piper nodded. “Adding panic and fear to our infighting could be a disaster.”

  “Yes,” said Rylet. “We’re at each other’s necks as it is.” He glanced back at his kind. “We vampires have age-old tensions with many of your races. But we’ve also seen enough history to understand that, at times, our differences must be set aside in light of matters that threaten us all.” He turned to Owen. “My lord, I have lived eleven generations. I’ve seen the malevolenci attacks increase and decrease. It’s always been impressed upon my mind that King Wentworth’s reign was particularly catastrophic where the demons were concerned. Am I correct in guessing that the young lady beside you is not the first alterni endi?”

  “Yes.” Owen watched as others in the room reacted with surprise. “Esme is the seventh alterni endi in Order history.”

  “And,” Esme added with more hope in her voice, “that means we’ve been able to stop the malevolenci before. It means the kings have been in this position six times before, and they’ve found ways to hold back total invasion. We can do this. I can do this.” She smiled and shrugged. “I mean, guys…I’ve killed a freakin’ bentaforx.”

  Max chuckled.

  Owen scanned faces and saw that others had heard the story of what Esme had done to the bentaforx in the mountains. A few whispered to each other. One of the jinn traced a finger in the air as he demonstrated how Esme drew the termino right on the demon. When the jinn finished, he made a face to his friends like he was impressed.

  I hope this adds to their faith in her. They might think I’m a worthless pile of troll dung, but if they trust in Esme’s abilities–

  “So what’s next?” Brun faced Owen. “If you’re telling us the truth now, I assume you have a plan?”

  Everyone’s focus was on the king.

  Owen nodded, feeling hopeful. “We need to be united if we’re going to win this war.” He looked at each paranormal leader. “I’m sorry we didn’t tell you sooner. I’m sorry the Order isn’t perfect. And I’m sorry if you feel I’ve forgotten you while I’ve been away. But I swear to every god you hold sacred that I’ve been doing everything I can to save as many lives as possible.”

  Ali couldn’t help himself. “Or at least everything you can to save your–” he used a word not complimentary to Esme.

  Dax growled.

  Piper looked offended.

  Even Marybeth turned to the jinn with her sternest scowl.

  Owen nearly rose from his chair, but he felt Esme put a hand on his leg under the table.

  Stay cool.

  He settled back in his seat and glared at Ali. “You’re on thin ice, jinn. Don’t test me again.”

  Ali squirmed.

  I hope he’s mostly talk. If he does start a mutiny, we’re all screwed.

  Owen held eye contact with the jinn leader as if staring down a tiger. “If Esme and I can’t find a way to stop the malevolenci, she will die. If she dies, we lose everything. I’m not only watching after her most because I love her. She and I are working together night and day because she’s the best and only weapon we have left.”

  Owen felt Esme staring at him, and he realized too late what he’d confessed.

  Damn it. I used the L word.

  Gil saved him. “Forgive me for nitpicking, but you said we need to unite to ‘win this war,’ my lord. Do you really think that’s possible?”

  He sighed. “If we can’t stop the malevolenci, this war is never going to end. I know some in this room have lived far longer than I have. You’ve watched king after king and alterni after alterni fight this war. You want it to end as much as I do. If we can defeat the malevolenci, we’ll be free to finally make this Order work. At peace, we’ll have time to make our world better.” He looked at Esme with a smile. “I don’t know about you guys, but I want to live. I want all of us to live.”

  Joe whistled. “You think we can defeat the malevolenci?”

  “Many of you have seen how powerful Esme is – we’ll never have a better weapon. If the rest of us work together and trust each other… Yes, I think we can defeat them for good.”

  Gil frowned at Esme. “Are you sure your magic is powerful enough to defeat the demons?”

  Max chuckled. “Clearly you’ve never been in battle with her, goblin.”

  Seated behind Marybeth, Tank matched his chuckle.

  Owen smiled and watched Esme.

  “I have magic stronger than anyone else alive,” she answered confidently. “If there’s a way to stop them, it’s within my power. My magic is strong enough to defeat them. I just need help to figure out how.”

  “Winning the war…” Rylet’s pale face looked weary. “I’ve lived through eleven generations of kings. What you seek is impossible.”

  Mirth shook her head at the vampire sire. “No, it’s just never been tried. The kings of the past fought to survive, yes. They wanted to serve the Order and fulfill their duty. Some sought to be heroes. But none of them believed they had a prayer of winning the war. They fought to hold the demons back because that’s all they hoped to do – hold the demons back until this war was the next king’s problem. But now we have an incredibly powerful alterni endi, and we can find new ways to fight.”

  Gil frowned. “Except there’ve been six alterni endi already. They were as powerful as Esme, correct? None of them could win the war. What makes you think Esme turns the tide?”

  “Knowledge,” Mirth answered without hesitation. “Even though six kings before him had alterni endi, Owen’s is the only one to know what she is.” She looked around Owen to smile at Esme. “And that means our alterni endi is stronger because she understands the history of those before her. Esme hasn’t only trained as an alterni, learning from the conjuri how alterni have fought before her. She’s learning how the alterni endi have fought before her. That’s an advantage none of her predecessors have had.”

  Owen sensed Esme taking a deep breath. He saw every eye had turned to her, and he gave her a small nod to speak.

  “We…” She cleared her throat. “We’ll all be stronger because we know the truth. We understand what’s at stake. We understand how important it is to work together. And if we pool our knowledge, I’m certain we can uncover a malevolenci weakness that will help us defeat them.”

  Joe’s expression suggested he’d realized something. “This is why you’ve been interviewing us about our home worlds, isn’t it? You’re trying to learn something from the alt-worlds about the malevolenci?”

  Everyone went silent, and those who’d been interviewed by Esme looked particularly interested.

  She nodded, her silver hair bobbing against her shirt’s lacy collar. “I’m trying to learn anything about the malevolenci that can help me defeat them. I’ve read e
verything about them in the library–”

  At least everything Roman will let us read, thought Owen with a frown.

  “–but there must be more known about them. I don’t think the conjuri have put enough value on your paranormal histories. Each of the alt-worlds knows stories and legends about the others, so at some point the alt-worlds must’ve known about the malevolenci, right? I’m hoping to uncover something the conjuri missed.” She nodded at Joe. “If I’m going to find anything new, it’ll be from you paranormals. I need your help.” She smiled at Max and Dax. “We need your brawn, yes, but we also need whatever you alt-worlders might know.”

  Owen nodded in agreement. “So, who here is with us?”

  They paused, and the underlying groups of fairies, jinn, and vampires huddled in whispery conversation. Brun even turned to consult with Max and Dax, which was something, considering they were only mixed bloods.

  Esme looked at Owen, and he reached to give her hand a squeeze.

  Brun turned back to face Owen. “My lord, you have the werewolves’ support.”

  Owen bowed his head in acceptance, forcing himself to stay calm and appear as if he expected this loyalty.

  I can’t look surprised. I certainly can’t beg the others to follow the werewolf’s example.

  Piper looked over her shoulder at her sisters. They stood with delicate arms crossed over their translucent wings. The one in the center leaned forward to whisper in Piper’s ear. Even without hearing her, Owen could tell which way this would go.

  Sighing, Piper faced the table again, stared at her plate, and finally looked back at the king. “The fairies believe that everything you’ve said only proves the Order can’t be trusted. You hid this secret about alterni endi for centuries, and the fairies do not accept that you’re telling the whole truth now. As a race, we won’t sacrifice ourselves for your war.”

  Bitchy reaction. But not surprising.

  “Damn sparklies.” Dax glared at Piper. “This is everyone’s war! You think the malevolenci will give you a pass for–”

  “I, however,” Piper interrupted, “stand with the king.”

  A murmur of surprise filled the room, starting with the fairies.