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ONE
“This is a big decision. Are you sure about it?”
This was the third time the Jutak Commander had asked the question since he’d accepted the position offered a month ago. While he may have had reservations about leadership roles in the past, he’d come a long way from the wild and angry soldier he’d been. Being loved and having a family had changed him.
“I’m certain,” he answered with utmost confidence.
“And your Chosen is in agreement? What about your children?”
He rolled his eyes at the ridiculous line of questions. “Do you think I would have moved forward with this without speaking to her? As to my children, Viktor left this morning to spend the next three months with Azar before deciding if he wants to commit to the Spectar army.”
A decision he still wasn’t sure he agreed with.
“My daughter has finished her studies and has made it very clear to her maman and me that she will be the first female Jutak warrior to successfully complete the academy,” he continued.
A feat that had never been accomplished yet despite many attempts.
The large man seated behind the desk exhaled softly and cursed under his breath. “Allow me a moment. I’m having a difficult time with this.”
He grinned, dropping the formality. “Because you’re going to miss me, Torkel?”
Torkel snorted and shot him a rueful glare as he leaned back in his seat. “Irreverent as ever, Kyele.”
The two friends eyed one another and it was hard to believe the passing of time. For over twenty years, Kyele had served under Torkel Alonson’s leadership. While the others of their old Unit had gradually stepped down, Kyele had been unable to take that final leap.
At least, not until Torkel accepted the role of Jutak Commander he’d been refusing continuously. If not for Faye’s exasperation, Torkel probably would have kept denying the position which he was supremely qualified for.
Now Kyele could finally move on and it wasn’t something he took as lightly as he pretended.
“Damn it, Kyele,” Torkel muttered into the companionable silence. “The leader of this new team has to be strong enough to deal with anything that comes up with this group. They’re dangerous, unruly and exhibit a distinct lack of respect for authority.”
Which was perfect for him. “Are you forgetting who I am? I’m not like the others. I was never going to fully settle into a sedate family life.”
Not yet, anyway, and fortunately Joni supported his reasoning. He’d lucked up with her as his Chosen. Joni understood him as no other did.
“There is also another matter. Ghost Unit will act under the guidance of the Alliance and be the go to back up for the Emergency Rescue Squads.”
Kyele stilled. ERS were called for emergency rescue, abduction and hostage situations. Only the best made it on that division. They were a specialized step above Jutak warriors. Releasing a deep breath, he said, “I can do this. Trust me.”
“Fine.” Torkel blew out a breath and with a wave of his hand, brought up a dual sided holo screen. “You’ll be based at a remote station on Enotia with the location known only by a select few, including myself. All orders for missions will come coded under top clearance and approved by me.”
Kyele nodded and stared at the three-dimensional personnel files Torkel opened in the space between them. These individuals were to be his new team, working directly under his supervision. They would take on the darker missions, those not officially sanctioned by Enotia but necessary all the same with the Alliance’s approval.
“Jaron and I reviewed the files again and again to narrow it down to these four candidates. They possess skills that will be advantageous if you can get them to work together. There’s a reason the other instructors passed up on them when they completed the Jutak Academy.”
The last was another sly attempt to get Kyele to back out of his acceptance of the Unit Leader role. Kyele didn’t bother to reply but did arch his brow in admonishment at his former leader.
An exasperated sigh followed, then Torkel continued. “We dug up everything we could find on them and had Bane review the information to make sure we didn’t missed anything. These soldiers have no entanglements tethering them. They are without family or friends which makes them ideal for this project but extremely dangerous.”
Listening to the names of his old teammates Torkel had used for resources tugged at the fond memories Kyele had of working with them. “I’m surprised you didn’t reach out to V’hor instead for this role.”
Mouth twisted, Torkel snapped, “I’m glad you’re so cavalier about this. And I would have contacted Vee as well except he and Eva are still getting settled on Serpine to help Cerise transition into her reign as the Supreme Matire. Since she has no nestmate, Vee is personally screening the selection of her formal guards.”
Ever since Peshla Dahreel fell ill a few years ago, she’d been adamant about overseeing the training for Vee’s daughter as the new ruler of Serpine. The relationship between Vee and his matire had reached an agreeable point but it was the Supreme Matire’s blatant adoration of his daughter that finally closed the breach between them.
The move to Serpine had been Eva’s idea as she had no intention of letting their only daughter live so far away without her. Despite repeated attempts for more children, Eva’s body had been unable to sustain additional pregnancies and the surplus of venom produced. Not even with the blood of the royal line injections.
Sensing the worry beneath Torkel’s frustration, Kyele inclined his head. “I appreciate your concern but you know I’m the best one for this. Aside from Vee, no one else can understand the darkness in these soldiers better than me.”
“I hope you’re right, Kyele. You’re definitely better suited since Vee has never gotten over his abhorrence of harming females in any manner. This is a grave undertaking but much needed to defeat the evil acts perpetrated in the corners of the worlds around us.”
“I trust you and Jaron have picked the best.”
Torkel had run one of the most successful Jutak Units on Enotia and it was due to his and Jaron’s careful selection of each member. None of them would have been as good as they were in their role if those two hadn’t seen something special in their files.
“We tried.” Torkel stood and came around his desk. Kyele rose to meet him. “If I can’t change your mind, I offer congratulations to the new leader for the Ghost Unit.”
Kyele smiled. The scar on his face twisted with the gesture and the darker aspect of his nature that never faded surged upward in malevolent pleasure. It reveled in finally being free again.
