edifice was an imposing
brick construction five stories tall including the basement. Covering twenty-nine acres
and encompassing over six million square feet, the headquarters of the High Council
was an imposing site. There were ten sections—each dedicated to the defense and safety
of all of Terra. There was a section for each of the seven continents that made up the
7
Charlotte Boyett-Compo
planet, one section entirely for troops, another for maintenance personnel and workers
with the remaining section just for the use of the High Council and its Shadowlords.
Each Shadowlord had an entire floor to call his own. Behind the doors at which she
stood, the fate of mankind rested in the hands of three powerful men whose psychic
powers were immense. The most powerful of the three was the High Lord, her father’s
only son, her brother Kheelan.
“ Don’t dawdle, Argent.”
The mental command from beyond the doors rankled the silver-haired woman and
she clenched her jaw, narrowed her gray eyes and reached for the handle.
* * * * *
Reaper Eanan Tohre swung a long leg over the chair and slid down onto the seat
with a grunt. “What’s up, brother mine?” he inquired.
His identical twin Owen shot him a narrowed look. “How were things in the
Oklaks Territory?”
“Okay,” Eanan said, leaning back. He folded his arms across his brawny chest and
shot his legs out in front of him, crossing them at the ankle.
“Then why were you brought back to the Citadel?” Owen asked. “What the hell did
you do to make them recall you this quickly?”
Eanan cocked one shoulder. “How the fuck do I know? The Prime said I was to
report before the end of the month and here I am.” He glanced around the cafeteria
where he’d been ordered to meet his brother. “How does a man get a cup of coffee
around here?”
“He gets his lazy ass up and goes over to the counter to order it,” Owen snapped.
He pushed his half-empty plate away and released an irritated breath. “Why do I have
this niggling feeling that you’ve screwed up, Eanan? Arawn is ready to retire and he
needs someone out in the Oklaks to take up the slack.”
8
Embrace the Wind
Eanan snorted. “Morri isn’t going to let Gehdrin retire.” He wobbled one booted
foot atop the other. “She isn’t about to let any of us retire. Ever.”
“You did something,” Owen stated. “I know fucking well you did.”
His twin cocked his head to one side. “Why aren’t you in Wismin or Moilia? How
come you’re here busting my balls?”
“I had to bring my sons for their checkup with Healer Desden. We’ll be here for
another few days.”
Eanan’s eyes lit up at the mention of his brother’s sons. “How are our wee future
Reapers?” he asked.
“They aren’t Reapers yet,” Owen snapped, “and may never be. It will be their
choice whether or not they want a hellion when they are old enough to make that
decision and I’ll not have Morrigunia influencing them either!”
Lips twitching with laughter, Eanan wisely remained quiet and did not let the
laughter erupt. Instead, he dropped his head back and stared up at the ceiling. “I’m
horny,” he informed his brother.
Owen rolled his eyes. “What else is new?” He pushed away from the table and got
to his feet. “For the love of Alel, Eanan, toe the line, will ya? I would really hate to have
mo Regina take your ass back to Mantanuska.”
That sobered Eanan and he lowered his head. “I’d really hate that too,” he agreed.
“I rather like Terra.”
“Then don’t do anything to fuck this up. Whatever they want you to do, do it and
keep your mouth shut. And for the love of Alel, whatever you do, don’t go to extremes
with it.” Owen pointed a finger at his twin. “Understand?”
“Aye.”
After another narrowed look aimed at his twin, Owen marched off, his shoulders
hunched forward like a bull after a red flag.
9
Charlotte Boyett-Compo
“‘Whatever they want
brick construction five stories tall including the basement. Covering twenty-nine acres
and encompassing over six million square feet, the headquarters of the High Council
was an imposing site. There were ten sections—each dedicated to the defense and safety
of all of Terra. There was a section for each of the seven continents that made up the
7
Charlotte Boyett-Compo
planet, one section entirely for troops, another for maintenance personnel and workers
with the remaining section just for the use of the High Council and its Shadowlords.
Each Shadowlord had an entire floor to call his own. Behind the doors at which she
stood, the fate of mankind rested in the hands of three powerful men whose psychic
powers were immense. The most powerful of the three was the High Lord, her father’s
only son, her brother Kheelan.
“ Don’t dawdle, Argent.”
The mental command from beyond the doors rankled the silver-haired woman and
she clenched her jaw, narrowed her gray eyes and reached for the handle.
* * * * *
Reaper Eanan Tohre swung a long leg over the chair and slid down onto the seat
with a grunt. “What’s up, brother mine?” he inquired.
His identical twin Owen shot him a narrowed look. “How were things in the
Oklaks Territory?”
“Okay,” Eanan said, leaning back. He folded his arms across his brawny chest and
shot his legs out in front of him, crossing them at the ankle.
“Then why were you brought back to the Citadel?” Owen asked. “What the hell did
you do to make them recall you this quickly?”
Eanan cocked one shoulder. “How the fuck do I know? The Prime said I was to
report before the end of the month and here I am.” He glanced around the cafeteria
where he’d been ordered to meet his brother. “How does a man get a cup of coffee
around here?”
“He gets his lazy ass up and goes over to the counter to order it,” Owen snapped.
He pushed his half-empty plate away and released an irritated breath. “Why do I have
this niggling feeling that you’ve screwed up, Eanan? Arawn is ready to retire and he
needs someone out in the Oklaks to take up the slack.”
8
Embrace the Wind
Eanan snorted. “Morri isn’t going to let Gehdrin retire.” He wobbled one booted
foot atop the other. “She isn’t about to let any of us retire. Ever.”
“You did something,” Owen stated. “I know fucking well you did.”
His twin cocked his head to one side. “Why aren’t you in Wismin or Moilia? How
come you’re here busting my balls?”
“I had to bring my sons for their checkup with Healer Desden. We’ll be here for
another few days.”
Eanan’s eyes lit up at the mention of his brother’s sons. “How are our wee future
Reapers?” he asked.
“They aren’t Reapers yet,” Owen snapped, “and may never be. It will be their
choice whether or not they want a hellion when they are old enough to make that
decision and I’ll not have Morrigunia influencing them either!”
Lips twitching with laughter, Eanan wisely remained quiet and did not let the
laughter erupt. Instead, he dropped his head back and stared up at the ceiling. “I’m
horny,” he informed his brother.
Owen rolled his eyes. “What else is new?” He pushed away from the table and got
to his feet. “For the love of Alel, Eanan, toe the line, will ya? I would really hate to have
mo Regina take your ass back to Mantanuska.”
That sobered Eanan and he lowered his head. “I’d really hate that too,” he agreed.
“I rather like Terra.”
“Then don’t do anything to fuck this up. Whatever they want you to do, do it and
keep your mouth shut. And for the love of Alel, whatever you do, don’t go to extremes
with it.” Owen pointed a finger at his twin. “Understand?”
“Aye.”
After another narrowed look aimed at his twin, Owen marched off, his shoulders
hunched forward like a bull after a red flag.
9
Charlotte Boyett-Compo
“‘Whatever they want
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