Defender of the Empire: Cadet #1 by Catherine Beery

something useful to make them pay.
                  For his brother, Adrian lived to see his Samuel’s vision become reality. He also took his vengeance on any Shade he came across. And there had been many. More than anyone believed existed.
                  Adrian’s brow furrowed. The only problem with his killing the Shade woman had been that there had been a witness. A witness that had gotten away. They had been small, like a child, and had run faster than Adrian.  The results that he awaited were those that his chosen men would send any moment now.
                  After he had lost the witness, he had called his aid to arrange for a clean-up. His aid believed in his brother’s vision as much as he did and was loyal. As were all the men he had under his protection. All served the Vision. He knew they would remove all signs of his presence and discover who had thrown the crowbar at the light.
                  “Incoming communication.” Admiral Knight’s personal com-link announced.
                  “Answer.” He said, moving for the first time since entering his study.
                  “Sir, we have the situation under control.” One of his men informed him.
                  “Good. And do you know who was also there?”
                  “Yes… and no.” The man answered. His tone perplexed.
                  “What does that mean? Do you or do you not know who we need to deal with?” Admiral Knight asked gruffly.
                  “We have the DNA from the crowbar. We know that it is female and that there are genetic links to the Foréss and Raven families.” His man explained. “But there are no records of this exact DNA sequence. So we have the information, but no answer.”
                  “Only that they are from a union of the Foréss and Raven noble families. So why is there no record?” Adrian muttered to himself.
                  “Sir?” His man asked.
                  Adrian shook his head before remembering the man couldn’t see him. “Is that all you have for me?” He said instead.
                  “Yes sir.”
                  “That will be all then.” And he ended the transmission. He accessed the hyper net in search of any record of Foréss and Raven unions. The most recent had ended thirteen years ago with the death of Lord Joseph Raven of Bresol and his wife Amber Foréss Raven. The Ravens had been a minor nobility for generations and the Foréss were so distantly related to the imperial family that the link had almost been forgotten. The Raven line had died with the couple’s death as they had no children.
                  Reminded of their names, Adrian remembered them. Both Amber and Joseph had been Shades who had spied on his activities thirteen years ago. He had taken offence to their nosey ways and had them hunted down and killed. His aid had been invaluable for finding them. And Amber had died that night on the streets of Coronaius. Joseph had later flown into the sun of the Medrais System.  Upon hearing that, Adrian had gone on with his life.
                  So how was it now that a young person had ties to both of them? Had there actually been a child?
                  His musings were interrupted by the entrance of his aid. Adrian saw the thin man enter in the reflection of the glass. He turned toward the man. Aid Balen was an incredibly efficient man and, as Adrian had thought earlier, very loyal to the Movement.
                  “What is it Balen?” He asked.
                  Balen smiled, his black eyes gleeful. “There is a transmission from our friends on the secure channel.”
                  “I was wondering when they would reply back.” Adrian said with an answering smile. “They are going to love this.” He