Protector of the Flame Read online

  Dedication

  Hugs to my fantastic editor, Christa. Thanks to Isabelle F., aka Miki, and Stacy M. for helping me come up with the title for this book. To my husband, thank you for your unwavering support whether you are at home or in Afghanistan.

  Glossary

  advenuati: Kindred raised outside of a collective amongst humans; this is extremely rare and has only been known to happen once.

  Akhet: first season of the ancient Egyptian calendar, a time of inundation, when the Nile flooded.

  anima: Kindred’s life force, energy stream, or pool of energy.

  battle-guard: higher level warriors with years of specialized training called to safeguard and defend their House from all threats.

  Blessed: a reincarnation of one of the Fallen—the original ancient beings who were cursed; bears a mark of the Fallen. Only a Blessed couple can break the curse.

  called: a formal invitation to serve a House in an official capacity, such as battle-guard; extended by a noble under the authority of the Triumvirate. It is considered a great honor.

  collective: a group of Kindred sharing energy. The shared anima of the collective helps to delay the onset of the dark veil and sangre saevitas. It is highly encouraged to be a member of a collective if not with one’s kabashem. Kindred sent away from a House to accomplish a particular mission are accompanied by others who make up their collective.

  consort: a female or male companion, not bonded for life. Consorts, who are not one’s kabashem, are common in House Sekhem and House Aten. Taking a consort when one has already been sealed has been known to create friction in households.

  consort-misère: a consort taken out of compassion or mercy. When one loses their kabashem or sealed mate, the sibling of the deceased partner will often offer this. Most commonly practiced in House Herut as it is the only union not between kabashem allowed within that House. Herut has forbidden offspring from such spiritually impure unions. Taking a consort-misère when one has already been sealed has been known to create intense friction in Herut households as one must now share their mate based on a code of honor.

  dark veil: severe melancholia with episodes of psychosis, increasing in frequency until there is a break from reality. The Psi class is usually afflicted and it hits earlier in life, often before the age of 100. In the later stages, a surge in their ingenium can be expected. Only connecting to the anima or energy stream of one’s kabashem can prevent the onset.

  eligien: offspring of kabashem, often stronger with higher level ingeniums.

  esuratus: a female’s time of fertility, occurs one to four times a year, decreasing with age; marked by heightened arousal and flashes of extreme yearning to couple. Males instinctually find females more attractive at this time. To any males she has bonded with, the allure is overwhelming. In order for a Blessed couple to procreate, more than their bodies must couple, their anima and souls must meld as one. The number of cases of unexplained infertility is growing.

  Fallen: ancient beings who walked the earth before humans. The Creator cursed them for their wickedness and hubris, tearing them asunder and splitting them into two different bodies to reduce their power.

  fulcrix: a barenpetium whip with sharpened ridges. It is used by the vadeletori when trying to subdue one with sangre saevitas.

  The Great Divide: clashing ideologies over whether or not to break the curse and risk losing their ingeniums divided Kindred, and the era of Shabanu ended. From the ashes of their unity, three Houses rose.

  glodem: an enchanted statue used for protection and/or as a weapon.

  heka: magic.

  House: a large, formally structured collective, governed by a Triumvirate.

  inamorata (f), inamorato (m): lover.

  ingenium: preternatural gift or talent; Psi class and warriors. The degree and manifestation of lower level abilities varies. Full development of one’s ingenium can only be triggered by completely merging with the anima of one’s kabashem at least once.

  Isfet: the current era of darkness and chaos, began with the Great Divide.

  kabashem: soul mate, predestined partner; does not guarantee a harmonious or happy union, and not all choose to be sealed. Fully connecting to the life force of one’s kabashem, at least once, will prevent the onset of sangre saevitas or the dark veil, sort of like an inoculation, and spark the emergence of latent powers. It is the only way for a warrior to get their wings. The sustained energy bond between kabashem produces a kinetic boost extending one’s life span, and over a long period of time can induce a drug like effect.

  Kindred: a species descended from ancient beings who were cursed. If they are able to fully meld with the anima or energy stream of their kabashem at least once, it will awaken aspects of their ingenium that lie dormant and prevent the onset of the dark veil or sangre saevitas.

  Peret: second season of the ancient Egyptian calendar, a time of emergence and growth.

  Pesedjet: the Great Council of nine comprised of the Triumvirates of the Houses. It convenes once a century. Each House is allowed to bring one hundred Kindred to bear witness.

  prodigierium: offspring between Kindred who are not kabashem—runts; they are weaker than eligien and have shorter life spans. House Herut considers them abominations, unnatural products of spiritual impurity.

  record-keeper: a servant of Lady Neith who watches Kindred, documenting major events and bloodlines; forbidden to interfere in the affairs of the Houses.

  sangre saevitas: a torment of the curse manifesting as uncontrollable blood rage, where they lose all sense of reason and compassion. Warriors are usually afflicted with this manic state of extreme violence and madness, but there have been rare cases amongst the Psi class. In the later stages, physical mutations and a surge in their ingenium can be expected. Only connecting to the energy stream of one’s kabashem can prevent the onset.

  sealed: consensual bonding for life between chosen mates, not necessarily kabashem; males and females may only have one sealed mate, but consorts are still taken sometimes. In House Herut, it is forbidden to be sealed to anyone other than one’s kabashem.

  Shabanu: age of harmony, beginning with the settlement in Rekhem.

  Shemu: third season of the ancient Egyptian calendar, a time to harvest.

  Triumvirate: a Council of three members, presiding over a House.

  uxora: a female sealed to a male as his lifelong chosen mate; not necessarily one’s kabashem.

  vadeletor: a warrior from a noble bloodline sworn to euthanize those afflicted with the dark veil or sangre saevitas and to protect Kindred from exposure to humanity. Each House has several teams of vadeletori stationed worldwide. A vadeletor is chosen by their respective Triumvirate. Vadeletori from opposing Houses have been known to work together under dire circumstances, but this is not routine. It is a temporary position due to the high stress and high operations tempo; however, it often results in one being called to serve as battle-guard.

  vitrien: a male sealed to a female as her lifelong chosen mate; not necessarily one’s kabashem.

  Whitescape: a painful episode, so excruciating it is literally blinding, followed by a brief euphoric state of unconditional love. Only Blessed Kindred experience this when their kabashem is born.

  Advenuati

  Serenity Ameliora Shaw—only child of Lord Lucien (deceased) and Lady Sothis; has ties to all three Great Houses based on her lineage, but belongs to none as she was raised amongst humans away from Kindred; Blessed.

  In addition to the birthmark on her neck, she has another identifying mark. A tattoo on her stomach of an exquisite flower with petals shaped like sharp blades and black thorns.

  CYRUS HARMERTY’S COLLECTIVE

  Cyrus Ambrose Harmerty—only c
hild of Lord Dominicus and Lady Gaea (deceased), grandson of Constantine who serves on the Council leading House Herut; Blessed.

  Abbadon Vitalis Nekheny—Cyrus’s longtime friend, advisor, and blood-sworn protector.

  Cassian Amatus Harmerty (deceased)—Cyrus’s ward.

  Talus Petra Harmerty—Cyrus’s ward.

  Vadeletori under Cyrus’s command—Spero, Ptolemy, Beset (deceased), Micah, Amon, Hotep, and Carin.

  HOUSE HERUT

  They believe in practicing spiritual purity, only mating with one’s kabashem, existing peacefully with humans and striving for redemption—no matter the cost. The afflictions of the curse, sangre saevitas and the dark veil, are devastating their species. It is only a matter of time before Kindred are extinct if the curse is not broken and their souls redeemed. If they must sacrifice their exceptional power to preserve their species, they will not hesitate to pay the price. Although they seek unity and cooperation with the other Houses, they are willing to go to war over their principles.

  The practice of heka is forbidden in their House and amongst their people. They view it as unnatural.

  They value discipline, duty before self, and above all honor.

  Primary Ingenium Class: Warrior

  Creed: Purity, Sacrifice, Redemption

  Sigil: Heru as a falcon, one eye the sun, one eye a crescent moon, holding a double bladed sword

  Key Members

  Lord Cyrus Ambrose Harmerty—chosen at birth to succeed his grandfather as a member of the Triumvirate; Blessed

  Lord Constantine Harmerty—comes from one of the noblest and purest bloodlines in Herut; sits on the Triumvirate; paternal grandfather of Cyrus

  Abbadon Vitalis Nekheny—Cyrus’s blood-sworn protector; brother of Lysandra

  Lysandra Nekheny (deceased)—sister of Abbadon; Blessed

  Lord Lucien Alcaeus Nopheros (deceased)—bloodline holds many prominent positions within House Herut; father of Serenity; kabashem and vitrien of Lady Sothis

  Lord Dominicus Harmerty—father of Cyrus; kabashem and vitrien of Lady Gaea; consort-misère of Lady Leta; no longer speaks to his son

  Lady Gaea Har-Si-Ese (deceased)—mother of Cyrus

  Lady Leta Har-Si-Ese—aunt of Cyrus, sister of Lady Gaea; took Lord Dominicus as a consort-misère, against the wishes of her kabashem and vitrien; member of the Triumvirate

  Lord Orazio Hor-Merti—comes from a powerful bloodline; member of the Triumvirate.

  Lord Phane Nefer—uncle of Cyrus, kabashem and vitrien of Lady Leta

  Caelius Khenty-Irty—trusted friend of Cyrus; Blessed

  Jude Alucio Har-Wer (deceased)—friend of Cyrus

  HOUSE SEKHEM

  The Fallen and all of their descendants were cursed, condemned to suffer the torments of the dark veil and sangre saevitas until their souls are redeemed. They also have exceptional gifts such as superior strength, longevity, and a myriad of Psi class ingeniums. House Sekhem accepts the afflictions of the curse as a necessary consequence for their greatness. They would do anything to retain their elite gifts and prevent Kindred from being relegated to the mediocrity of humanity. They often take consorts, choosing not to live with their kabashem as a life partner, or in extreme cases not mating with one’s kabashem at all. However, they will seize any opportunity to meld with the anima of their kabashem at least once, to inoculate themselves from sangre saevitas and the dark veil, and to trigger the emergence of their latent powers. Their lifestyle is a demonstration of free will to choose who they will love and their own fate.

  Primary Ingenium Class: Warrior

  Creed: All who obstruct our chosen path shall know our fury

  Sigil: A fiery sun with a double-sided axe in the center

  Key Members

  Lord Archimedes Custos—grand uncle of Serenity, brother of Arcturus

  Lord Archippos Custos—grand uncle of Serenity, brother of Arcturus

  Lord Archelaus Custos—grand uncle of Serenity, brother of Arcturus

  Darius—vadeletor, aspires to be battle-guard; Blessed

  Evane—battle-guard, being groomed to lead as Chief General; Blessed

  PALADINS: suspected wing of House Sekhem, with substantial autonomy, comprised of elite Kindred; identity of most members is unknown. Primary Ingenium, Creed, and Sigil are unknown.

  Key Members

  Lord Arcturus Custos—descended from one of the most powerful bloodlines; current leader of the Paladins, member of House Sekhem’s Triumvirate; maternal grandfather of Serenity

  Kasmira—kabashem of Abbadon

  HOUSE ATEN

  The Immortals practice heka and carry significant influence amongst all Kindred, except with the Great Historian, Lady Neith. They are very selective in the bloodlines accepted in their House. Espousing harmony and peace, they seek diplomacy in the resolution of all disputes. Their House is shrouded in mystery.

  Primary Ingenium Class: Psi

  Creed: Long may the flame burn bright and true

  Sigil: A mark of one of the Fallen, Aten, with a cobra in the center

  Key Members

  The Immortals: Nefertiti (has not spoken since the Great Divide), Seshata, and Tholitis—founded House Aten and preside as permanent Council members

  Lady Aurora Tyet—gifted in heka; maternal grandmother of Serenity; maintains a strained relationship with her kabashem, Arcturus

  Lady Sothis Callidora Tyet—mother of Serenity; strong ties to House Sekhem

  Lord Marius Usir—paternal grandfather of Serenity

  Lady Dayanara Nopheros—paternal grandmother of Serenity; granted permission to leave House Herut to join her kabashem, Marius

  Joshua—Blessed

  Scill—Blessed

  Junia—Blessed

  OTHERS

  Evan Wade—surrogate family and ex-fiancé of Serenity

  Lady Neith—the Great Historian, maintains records of Kindred history and bloodlines; once favored by Seshata, but broke the immortal’s heart when she renounced the Houses and claimed the Library; has neutrality based on conditions of a treaty made with the three Houses; Blessed

  Ravich—an immortal who was declared an enemy of Kindred by Nefertiti; seeks to undermine the political and financial stronghold of the Houses through the Gallacom Consortium

  Artemis/Lysandra (deceased)—mercenary and former second in command to Ravich

  Mrs. Carter—family friend and housekeeper of Cyrus

  Dougie Alexander—Serenity’s former business partner and friend

  Chapter One

  Serenity stood at the tree line of the woods with life in one hand—in the other death.

  Her gaze drifted from her diamond-and-sapphire wedding ring to the single crypt mausoleum flanked by weeping willows. She slid her hand across the slick green marble, tracing a finger over the name on the bronze plaque: Cassian Amatus Harmerty.

  The resting place was an idyllic spot for the young healer who’d been the closest to a brother she’d ever had. He was the first in her new family to fall under the blade of a brewing war, but far from the last.

  Now they’d be hunted to prevent salvation and the birth of the redeemer. Lofty ideas she still didn’t fully believe in, but the lives of all those she loved were at stake.

  She drew in a breath, wanting to linger a little longer. Time moved against them. They’d already taken a great risk to get married on the estate. They had to leave today or they might not live long enough to enjoy a honeymoon. She said her final goodbye and hurried back to the manor, cutting through the lemon grove.

  A gentle wind rustled the fine silk of her gold wedding gown against her skin. The breeze carried the strong scent of citrus and sweet blossoms. Weaving through rows of trees, she skimmed the coarse bark with her fingertips. Her heart ached at abandoning the home her husband, Cyrus, had built for her.

  At the edge of the grove, roses the size of her fist bloomed, marking the start of the resplendent garden which stretched for almost an acre. She rounded the bend and stop
ped.

  A statue of a hideous hunched creature blocked the path. It was a glodem, one of the enchanted statues Seshata gave Cyrus. The beguiling immortal with exquisite grace and deadly beauty had come bearing gifts said to protect them. A harbinger warning her and Cyrus of what was to come: fire and darkness and a river of blood.

  Long, pointy fangs protruded from the mouth of the three-foot statue. Ridged horns jutted from the oddly shaped head and four-inch serrated claws dug into the ground. Although the animated features were frozen in stone, something about the monstrosity prickled her skin.

  Cyrus would never read the spell to awaken the glodems. House Herut abhorred the use of heka under any circumstances.

  The repulsive hunks of concrete were a stark contrast to the necklace the immortal had given her. She stroked the charm hanging from the gold chain around her neck. The amulet of the goddess Aset’s heart bordered by colorful wings was stunning but had done nothing to protect her from an attack by battle-guard of Sekhem.

  As she veered away from the grotesque statue, dread slithered through her energy stream, raking her insides. She fiddled with her wedding ring of overlapping eternity bands and diverted her thoughts to the honeymoon.

  The courtyard hummed with activity. The vadeletori under Cyrus’s command had changed from their white linen wedding attire back into navy fatigues, strapped to the hilt with weapons. Despite their immense expertise as warriors, they all pitched in with the menial task of clean up.

  Near the table with the remaining wedding cake, Abbadon and Spero huddled like conspirators deep in conversation too low to be overheard.

  She had no idea who was now second-in-command. Their whole world had been flipped upside down, fracturing a bond that exceeded brotherhood. Abbadon, a bedrock of support for her new husband for more than two hundred years had been relegated to…something else.

  A twinge of guilt pained her at being the source of their division. To help heal the wound she would do the one thing within her power.