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  Brilliant Starlight

  Dark Planet Warriors Book 8

  Anna Carven

  Copyright © 2017 by Anna Carven

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Created with Vellum

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Epilogue

  Also by Anna Carven

  Chapter One

  Abbey

  I’m spying on him, just because I can.

  I should say something, or at least make a little noise to alert him to my presence, but I’m totally transfixed by the sight of him.

  Besides, with his ridiculously sharp hearing, he probably already knows I’m here. He’s just not saying anything yet. He can be sneaky like that.

  I stand in the shadows, fascinated by his expression. Even though we’ve been together for a while now; even though we’ve enjoyed heaven and endured hell and experienced everything in-between, he still occasionally manages to catch me off-guard.

  Like now, for example. He’s sitting in a chair by the observation window, staring out at the deep, dark void below. He’s perfectly still, the room is quiet, and the giant circular ‘hole’ in the stars isn’t really a hole at all.

  It’s the Dark Planet.

  A strip of blue lights runs across its surface, representing the so-called Civilized Zones. The Kordolians never had a name for their capital. It’s always just been Kythia, like the rest of their bleak planet.

  Now the river of lights is dimmer than usual. A seismic shift has occurred down there, and as always, he’s been at the center of the chaos.

  As Tarak watches his home planet, a complex mixture of emotions plays across his face. Triumph, anger, sadness.

  Inevitability.

  And something else… something I can’t quite put my finger on.

  He’s sprawled in his chair like a forlorn king, his head tilted to one side, his chin resting on one hand. It’s a rare glimpse of emotion in a man who’s notoriously hard to read.

  But he’s no king. He’s my husband, and the father of my child.

  “Abbey,” he says. His rich voice reverberates deep in my bones, sending a little shiver down my spine. The feeling never gets old. “What are you doing skulking in the shadows? Come here.”

  “I wasn’t skulking,” I say, injecting a little mock-petulance into my voice. “I was just… watching you.”

  “Oh?” He raises a pale eyebrow as he swivels in his chair to look at me, turning away from the light. The starlight dusts his profile with a faint silver outline. I can see the whites of his eyes and the stark lines of his features, but the rest of him is shrouded in shadow.

  He waves his hand, beckoning me. Come.

  Of course, he can see me perfectly well, even in the darkness. I walk slowly towards him, my bare feet silent on the cold floor. As I near, I notice the slight quirk of his dark lips. My answer seems to have pleased him.

  “And what have you seen, my amina, that makes you appear so deep in thought?”

  “You,” I say softly. “I missed you. We missed you.”

  As I come to a standstill before him, he places a possessive hand on my waist. His fingers slip beneath the stretchy band of my pajama shorts, caressing my bare skin.

  His touch does weird and wonderful things to me.

  “Our daughter is asleep?” He pulls me towards him, his fingers snaking across my skin until they’re resting on the small of my back. He traces small circles with the pad of his thumb, sending a hot little tremor through me.

  Considering what he’s capable of, it always amazes me that he can be so gentle.

  “She’s asleep. Finally.” A small sigh escapes me as I turn and sink into Tarak’s lap. “She’s been quite unsettled these last few days.”

  He wraps his arms around me, cocooning me in his warmth. To my delight, he’s wearing only a pair of loose trousers, leaving his torso bare. His scent is raw and intoxicating. It swirls around me, a potent combination of something faintly smoky and spicy and male.

  He buries his nose in my hair and inhales deeply. “I feared she might be sensitive to the disturbances on Kythia. Young ones can sense such things.” There’s a sliver of concern in his deep voice. “She fares better now?”

  “Yeah.” I pause, staring out the window at the glittering tapestry of stars. For a moment, we’re both quiet. “I hope the worst of it is over,” I say eventually, emphasizing my words. I might not be able to do anything about what’s happening on the Dark Planet, but when one’s husband is Tarak al Akkadian, a subtle hint dropped here or there can have major consequences.

  Tarak says nothing. He just holds me tighter and finds the nape of my neck with his warm lips.

  He kisses me softly. I lean into him, closing my eyes and basking in his presence.

  As usual, he doesn’t say much about his business on Kythia. I know there’s been a major coup of some sort. I know there’s been bloodshed. I know he’s right in the thick of things, and that he’s probably done a few things he’d rather not tell me about.

  I get it. He’s a former general of the Kordolian Empire, and his people are the ruthless, bloodthirsty kind. After what happened on Earth, he’s done his utmost to keep us safe. Cocooned up here in space on the deadly, super-fast, and ultra-secure warship, Silence, we’ve been given everything we need. He’s tried his best to replicate conditions on Earth, but it’s just not the same.

  Sooner or later, we’re going to have to plant our feet firmly on the ground again.

  “I will do everything to keep both of you safe,” he murmurs, running his fingers through my unbound hair. “Sometimes, I—” He catches himself mid-sentence, going quiet.

  Hesitating.

  That’s so unlike him, and for some reason, it makes me a little uneasy.

  “Penny for your thoughts?”

  “What?”

  “Old Earth saying. Tell me what’s on your mind.”

  A soft growl escapes him. It’s the sound of pent-up, tightly leashed frustration. “Sometimes I grow impatient,” he admits. “Sometimes it occurs to me that I could just destroy that infernal place and erase its wretched history in a heartbeat. Silence has the capacity to raze planets. It would be easier that way.”

  If I didn’t truly know him, his words might terrify me.

  “But you won’t do that,” I say softly, “because the man I married doesn’t do that kind of thing.” I capture his hand and squeeze it. “You don’t take the easy way out. I wouldn’t be with you if you were the genocidal type.”

  What the hell has he encountered down there on Kythia t
hat’s made him think of such dark things?

  “Abbey…” He takes a deep breath and then exhales, holding me close. We’re pressed so close together that I can feel the steady beat of his heart. “You are wise.” After a pause, he adds, “…for a Human.”

  To my relief, his tone is gently mocking. It’s as if a great weight has been lifted from him; as if he needed to confess his dark thoughts to me in order to exorcise them. He places his hand under my chin and turns my head, tilting my face upwards.

  “I love you,” he whispers.

  Before I have a chance to respond, his lips are on mine, and his slow kiss burns right through me. He’s wild and yet deliberate, fierce and yet gentle, insistent and yet patient.

  He takes his time. I respond in kind, succumbing to him.

  Surrendering myself to him.

  After all, what else is a girl supposed to do when she’s engulfed by a force of nature?

  Chapter Two

  Tarak

  I wake with my mate by my side. For the first time in what seems like an eternity, I feel refreshed.

  Sleep has never been something I do well. For some reason, the only time I ever sleep properly is when I’m with her. When she’s with me, I’m able to drift off into a deep, dreamless state of rest, and I feel at peace.

  Only with her. She completes me.

  I watch her, entranced by her softness. Her chest rises and falls in a steady rhythm, and her expression is peaceful. Her heartbeat is slow and steady.

  This is my sanctuary. Her face. Her scent. Her body.

  Her unwavering spirit.

  She never falters. She is magnificent.

  She’s steadfast in the face of darkness, nurturing our child with a singleminded devotion that brings me to my knees.

  Meanwhile, I topple empires and slay demons of my own making.

  What have I done to deserve the company of such blessed creatures when I have been the architect of so much death and destruction?

  I turn to look at the other female who has stolen my heart.

  My Ami. My very own flesh-and-blood. Along with Abbey, she is everything to me.

  She sleeps in a crib beside our pod. It is a Human-made thing, sleek and silver-colored, and lined with soft padding. Clear mesh covers the sides, allowing me to see inside. With the press of a button, one can summon a holographic image of colorful swirling stars and bright planets. These are accompanied by that pleasant, melodic combination of sounds the Humans call music.

  Not in a million cycles could a Kordolian have conceived of such a… nice thing.

  As if aware of my scrutiny, my daughter opens her eyes. She stares at me, her eyebrows slightly raised. Her violet eyes are wide and curious. “Kuu,” she says softly, watching me with the kind of intensity that only a child can summon.

  “Mm?” I extract myself from the pod, careful not to wake my sleeping wife as I run an affectionate hand over the exposed curve of her hip. She came to bed with dark circles under her eyes and fell asleep instantly. She was exhausted, and I will not allow anything to interrupt her rest, even if it means I have to wage silent war in the corridors while she sleeps.

  Ami kicks her legs excitedly as I approach. I swoop in and gather her into my arms, inhaling her soft baby scent. She goes still, staring up at me with wonder in her eyes.

  Wonder. At me. Ha. I do not deserve her innocence, but I drink it in anyway, savoring every last drop.

  “Babda.” She pokes her tongue at me and blows through her lips. Abbey calls this blowing a raspberry, whatever that means.

  “Yes,” I agree, kissing her gently on her forehead. “Now come, before you wake your mother.”

  We cross into the living space, the qualum door fusing shut behind me. Here Abbey has modified the surroundings to suit her and Ami’s needs. There are soft mats and toys on the floor. There is a Human-made heating and cooling device for milk and food. There are things called books, strange objects made from leaves of colorful parchment. They have inane, mystifying titles like: Kitty Boo Boo, Peter Possum Goes to Mars, and The Little Prince.

  According to Abbey, Ami likes these things, these books. I know next to nothing about child rearing, so I am happy to defer to my wife on such matters.

  As I clear a space on the cluttered floor with my bare foot, my comm—the tiny device directly linked to my auditory nerve—buzzes faintly. I hesitate, tempted to ignore it.

  “Babda,” Ami says again, placing a tiny hand on my chest. This time, there’s a slight growl in her voice, almost as if she’s irritated.

  “I agree,” I say solemnly. I stare back at her, raising an eyebrow. “This is… bothersome.”

  There’s a lengthy pause, during which I hope the issue—if someone’s daring to disturb me in my private time then there’s definitely an issue—magically fucking disappears.

  Then the infernal comm buzzes again. I sigh, glancing back in the direction of the sleeping pod. This will inevitably be something to do with the situation on Kythia; something I need to address personally. I should go down to the bridge, but I am busy entertaining my daughter, and I do not want to wake my peacefully sleeping mate.

  Ami’s eyes are as wide and bright as the twin moons of Mugon-Ta. There isn’t a chance in the Nine Hells that she’s going to sleep now.

  “What is it?” I open the comm-link with a silent mental command.

  “Problem, boss.” Kalan’s gruff voice filters through the link. “Didn’t want to disturb you, but—”

  “It’s urgent,” I say drily.

  “Yeah.”

  “What is it, Kalan?” I can’t help the irritation that creeps into my voice. Slowly, I lower myself to the floor, placing Ami on a bright yellow mat that is fashioned in the image of Earth’s sun. She crawls forward and grabs a soft toy—a green thing that’s meant to resemble some reptilian Earth creature called a crocodile.

  “Crocro,” she says, waving it in the air, showing it to me. According to Abbey, this one is her favorite.

  “Crocodile,” I correct, using the Earth word Abbey taught me.

  “Huh?” Confusion and consternation creep into Kalan’s voice.

  Ami giggles.

  “It’s an Earth creature,” I tell him. “Children apparently find such things amusing.”

  Kalan clears his throat awkwardly. “As I was saying, there’s a… situation on the ground.”

  “The commanders cannot handle it on their own?”

  “They’ve asked for our help. Something ugly’s going down in the Flatedge, and they need a fast resolution.”

  Ami turns and crawls towards me, clambering into my lap. She offers me her toy. “Crocro,” she insists.

  I nod, solemnly accepting her offer. She smiles and then proceeds to explore her surroundings, pawing the fabric of my trousers. Her tiny hands are everywhere at once, clutching, tugging, and grasping. I have already had to use a Callidum blade to trim her fingernails. She has inherited the Kordolian kind; they are sharp and retractable, just like mine.

  She has already drawn blood on more than one occasion. When she is old enough, I will teach her how to use her nails properly.

  “Elaborate, Kalan,” I say, growing impatient as I turn the crocro over in my hands. It has large black-and-white eyes. I do not understand why it has been designed to look so irritatingly cute, but then again, Humans will never cease to baffle me.

  Never.

  Although I worship my wife, I will never, ever completely understand her.

  “There’s been heavy fighting in the outer zones. Some Kaiin-cursed rebel group has appeared and taken control of the Flatedge. The commanders have sent the infantry in to try and contain them, but they’re struggling to limit the collateral. The place is riddled with civilians. Quiescents. Our people. You know how densely populated Flatedge is. Their soldiers are having a hard time advancing without killing people. They need quick, unimpeded infiltration. That’s us.”

  So it starts. We have just destroyed the Empire, and opportunistic ve
rmin are rushing in to fill the void.

  “Rebels? Who would dare?” My voice is sharp. Ami looks up at me with wide eyes, not understanding a thing. I place a finger to my lips and raise my eyebrows, returning her crocro. She gleefully accepts.

  “We have no idea who they are,” Kalan says quietly, “but they don’t discriminate. They’re killing Kordolians. They’re killing the servant-classes. Flatedge is a fucking mess right now.”

  “They are killing civilians?” Anger surges through me.

  “It seems nobody’s safe.”

  I keep my expression neutral as I watch my daughter play. Here on Silence, she is safe and sheltered, cocooned away from the dangers of the Universe.

  I intend to keep it that way, but there are others who aren’t so fortunate.

  “We will end this quickly,” I growl. “No quarter will be given to anyone who wages war on innocents.”

  Once, I might have been indifferent to such things, but fatherhood has changed my perspective somewhat.

  “Thought you might say that.” Kalan’s voice holds a note of approval. “What’s the plan, boss?”

  “I will deal with this personally.” Someone thinks they can start an insurrection under my watch? They have no idea how many uprisings I’ve crushed, how many wars the First Division has instigated and ended.

  We will be swift, and we will be brutal, just like we always are.

  “Thought you might say that, too. Want me to arrange a transport?”

  “Yes. I will pilot it myself. Two of you will join me. Three of you will stay to guard Silence. Decide between yourselves who comes and who stays, and tell no-one else of my decision. I want no leaks. We will go in fast and hard and have this shit over and done with before the alliance even knows what’s happened.”