The Bearens' Hope Book Four of the Soul Read online

  The Bearens’ Hope

  Book Four of the Soul-Linked Saga

  by

  Laura Jo Phillips

  Copyright © 2012 by Kathleen Honsinger

  Cover art/design Copyright © 2012 by Kathleen Honsinger

  All rights reserved.

  DEDICATION

  As always...

  For my husband, and my son and daughter, for being so patient while I spend hours, days, and weeks visiting other worlds and times, and for helping me in all the little ways, as well as the big ones.

  My dear husband, best friend, constant companion and partner in life, once again, and always, I never could have done this without your insight, knowledge, patience and love.

  For Mom, Grandma, and Great-Grandma---Thank you all for the creativity you passed along to me, as well as the heart to do something with it. There is a little bit of each of you in these books, just as there is a little bit of each of you in me

  The Gryphons’ Dream

  Book Five of the Soul-Linked Saga

  by

  Laura Jo Phillips

  Available Summer 2012

  A sneak peek

  will be available to read online soon.

  Look for it at:

  www.laurajophillips.com

  Other Books by Laura Jo Phillips

  The Dracons’ Woman

  Book One of the Soul-Linked Saga

  The Lobos’ HeartSong

  Book Two of the Soul-Linked Saga

  The Katres’ Summer

  Book Three of the Soul-Linked Saga

  The Bearens’ Hope

  Book Four of the Soul-Linked Saga

  Coming Soon

  The Gryphons’ Dream

  Book Five of the Soul-Linked Saga

  Visit the home of the Soul-Linked Saga online at:

  www.laurajophillips.com

  or email Laura Jo at:

  [email protected]

  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

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Chapter 48

  Chapter 49

  Chapter 50

  Chapter 51

  Chapter 52

  Chapter 53

  Chapter 54

  Chapter 55

  Chapter 56

  Chapter 57

  Chapter 58

  Chapter 59

  Chapter 60

  Chapter 61

  Chapter 62

  Chapter 63

  Chapter 64

  Chapter 65

  Chapter 1

  Earth, Arlington, Virginia

  Ellicia Daniels sat on the cold, hard ground, one cheek resting against the slick, polished granite wall. Though she was dressed warmly in a heavy coat, scarf, hat and gloves, her body shivered continually. She didn’t really notice her body’s discomfort, though, as her mind was far away from the dreary winter evening, remembering instead a bright spring afternoon in March, many months earlier.

  “Ell, this is your new team member, Harlan Hontza,” the Director said in what most would consider to be a cordial tone.

  Ellicia had known the Director for most of her life, so she heard the warning note buried beneath the cordiality. From anyone else, the warning, though subtle, would have had her digging in her heels immediately. But the Director was different. Ellicia respected him, and his decisions.

  Ellicia glanced briefly at the newcomer, then looked back to the Director. Outwardly, there was no change in her expression at all. Inwardly, she was stunned.

  Harlan Hontza was rather strange looking with his amber eyes, large beaky nose, and short brown hair that stuck up in little tufts all over his head. He was also tall and wiry, with long arms and legs. He was not attractive in the usual sense of the word, but there was something about him that she found compelling. What surprised her the most was the instant, sure and certain knowledge that this was the man she was destined to be with. She had no idea how she knew that. But she knew it.

  “I don’t think it’s a good idea to add any new people to the team just now,” Ellicia said carefully. She didn’t want to hurt the new guy’s feelings, or step on the Director’s toes, but she had to say it.

  “You know the rules, Ell,” the Director said. “One psychic, one comm expert, one weapons expert. That’s a team, and there are no exceptions. Harlan is now your team’s weapons expert.”

  “I’m sure he is very good at what he does,” Ellicia said. “But so was Rolph. And Lawry. I think I should work alone. Put this guy with Bobby and assign them to another psychic.”

  “You think you’re good enough to do it all by yourself?” the Director asked archly.

  “Of course not,” Ellicia replied calmly, not rising to the bait. “But I do think that enough men have died because they worked with me.”

  “Jack and Dwayne didn’t die because they worked with you, Ellicia. They died because this we engage in covert operations against ruthless adversaries and your team has the most success, which makes you a prime target. They knew that going in, and accepted the risks. Just like you do.”

  “I accept the risks for myself,” Ellicia corrected. “Not for others.”

  “I understand how you feel, Ellicia,” the Director said. “But there are rules, and they are in place for good reasons. Right now, the rules say you get two team members.”

  “What if I don’t want to go by the rules?”

  “Then we have a problem,” the Director replied. “You are under contract Ellicia. If you refuse to uphold your end of it, you could be sent to a Secure Facility.”

  “You’d do that?” she asked in surprise.

  “No,” the Director replied. “I would not do that. But the people to whom I answer would. Neither of us has a choice in this. You have a job to do, and so do I.”

  Ellicia stood up and wandered over to the window, gazing out at the spring sky. It was so much bluer now than it had been when she was a child. The air was clearer, and there were more plants and trees. One day soon the entire planet would be beautiful again, like in the old images she had seen from before the Bolkin Wars. She wondered idly if she would live long enough to see it fully restored.

  “Mr. Hontza, are you sure you want to work with me?” she asked, not turning from the window to look at him. “I assume you are aware of what happened to my other team members.”

  “I’m aware,” Harlan replied. “I am also aware that your team has the highest success rate in the history of the Directorate, and that you, personally, have
the strongest talent in the Directorate. Also that you are loyal, honest, and protective of your team members.”

  “You make me sound like a Girl Scout,” Ellicia said.

  “I think it makes you sound like a good person to partner with.”

  “For reasons that have not been determined, it appears that I have a rather large target on my back,” Ellicia said, turning away from the window to face Harlan directly. “About a year ago my sister was abducted and tortured by someone who thought she was me. Since then, about a dozen attempts have been made to either kill or capture me. Attempts that have caused the deaths of two of my former team members, and serious injury to a third which he will never fully recover from. We have been unable to determine who is after me, or why. If you partner with me, you are putting yourself directly in the line of fire.”

  “I understand the risks, and the dangers,” Harlan said when Ellicia finished speaking. “And I’ve already made my decision.”

  “Fine,” Ellicia said. “But I don’t want you putting yourself in danger to protect me.”

  “Forget it, Ell,” the Director said. “That’s the job, and Harlan knows it. Psychics are valuable, and the really good ones, like you, are priceless. Part of your team’s job is to keep you safe.”

  “Why?” Ellicia demanded. “Are their lives less important than mine? Because they aren’t psychic, that makes them disposable?”

  “In a sense, yes,” Harlan said before the Director had a chance to respond. “We understand that, and we accept it. Like the Director says, it’s part of the job.”

  “Well I don’t understand it or accept it,” Ellicia retorted stubbornly. She turned to the Director. “There has to be a way that I can still do my job and not put other people at risk.”

  The Director leaned back in his chair and sighed. “Not right now there isn’t,” he said. “You are needed to help shut down this rash of new crime lords that have sprung up in Loggia’s absence. Once we’re able to put a few of them out of commission, we can discuss putting you behind a desk.”

  “A desk?” Ellicia asked with a scowl. “That’s the best you can do?”

  “Ellicia, it’s either a desk or the field,” the Director replied, holding up a hand, palm out. “I don’t want to discuss this further. I have other matters to tend to this morning. Harlan is your new weapons man and that is not negotiable.”

  Ellicia opened her mouth but the Director had heard enough. “Dismissed,” he barked.

  She closed her mouth, shot a glare at Harlan and stormed out of the office.

  Ellicia sighed inwardly at the memory of that day. She opened her eyes to release the past, not as surprised as she should have been to see Harlan standing nearby, watching her.

  “Hello, Harlan,” she said softly.

  “Hello, Angel,” he replied.

  “I didn’t expect to see you.”

  “I couldn’t help it,” Harlan said with a sad smile. “I’ve been watching you come here for the past month, ever since you got out of the healing tank. It just wasn’t enough to watch any more. I’ve missed you so much; I just had to talk to you.”

  “Can you stay long?” Ellicia asked, knowing she sounded hopeful yet unable to hide it.

  “No, Angel,” Harlan replied. “I’m afraid I can only stay a few minutes.”

  Ellicia nodded. She had expected as much.

  “Why are you sitting out here in the cold?”

  Ellicia turned her head to gaze at the polished granite wall she had been leaning against and ran her fingers over the names carved into it. “Just saying good-bye,” she said. “So many lives lost.”

  “Yes,” Harlan said. “But not yours. You need to take better care of yourself.”

  Ellicia smiled. “Always worrying about me,” she said as she struggled to her feet.

  “Well, you need worrying about,” Harlan replied. “How’s the leg?”

  “Oh, it’s fine,” Ellicia said. “Just a little stiff now and then.”

  “That’s good. It was a bad injury.”

  “It looked worse than it was,” Ellicia objected.

  Harlan chuckled. “Little liar.”

  Ellicia arched a brow at him but did not argue further. He was right, after all. It had been a bad injury. She’d spent nearly three months in a healing tank, and even with that she was lucky they were able to save the leg at all.

  “You still staying with the Director?” Harlan asked as Ellicia bent awkwardly to brush the dust from her knees.

  “Yes, but this is the last night,” she said. “I’ve had Lariah’s place, the one we grew up in, remodeled. It’s finished now, so I’m moving into it tomorrow after work.”

  “Work?” Harlan asked. “When did you return to work? You aren’t back in the field are you?”

  “Yes, I started back yesterday, and no, not in the field,” Ellicia replied. “You didn’t know?”

  “No, Angel, I didn’t know,” he replied.

  “Well, I’m working from behind a desk now, which, all things considered, works best for me anyway.”

  “The babies?” Harlan asked.

  “Yes, the babies,” Ellicia agreed. She began walking, cutting across the wide expanse of carefully maintained lawn to the stone pathway, Harlan at her side.

  “I’m sorry, Angel,” Harlan said suddenly. “More than I can tell you.”

  Ellicia stopped walking and turned to face him. “There is no reason for you to apologize, Harlan,” she said. “It wasn’t like you had a choice.”

  Harlan gazed into her eyes for a long time. “I need to go now,” he said.

  “Yes, I know,” Ellicia said.

  “Do you mind if I visit again, now and then?”

  “Of course not,” Ellicia replied.

  “I love you, Ellicia Daniels,” he said softly before turning and heading back the way they had come.

  Ellicia watched after him for a long moment, waiting until he faded into the growing darkness. Then she turned and headed for her ground-car.

  Chapter 2

  Jasan, Berria, Hidden City

  “Lariah, what is troubling you?”

  “I’m worried about Ellicia,” she said. “Her last message said she was fine, and then she spent ten minutes rattling on about remodeling the old apartment. She didn’t say a word about what happened, or why it took her so long to heal. Believe me, listening to Ellicia talk on and on about furniture and house wares is just...weird. I know she’s hiding something, but I don’t know what. If I could just talk to her real time instead of sending messages back and forth, I know I could get her to tell me what’s really happening.”

  “Sharali, the Director told us the attack was very bad and that many of their people were killed,” Garen reminded her. “I am sure that your sister is having a difficult time with that, especially since it happened in her home.”

  “Yes, but why did it happen in her home?” Lariah asked. “Ell has never hosted a party in her life. Why were there so many people there and why were they attacked?”

  “Those are not questions we can ask the Director, little love,” Trey said as he joined them at the window. “The Directorate is a secret organization. Asking questions about it would violate operational security. Besides, even if we asked, he would not be able to tell us. I think he’s already told us everything he can.”

  “I understand all of that,” Lariah said. “But I already asked Ellicia those questions. Do you think that’s why she didn’t answer them? Because the answers are classified?”

  “In all likelihood, yes,” Garen replied. “Did she look well on the vid?”

  “Yes, I suppose,” Lariah replied. “She looked pale and a little too thin, but after a few months in a healing tank that’s to be expected.”

  “Don’t forget that even though the attack occurred several months ago, for her, it’s much fresher,” Garen added. “She’s only been out of the healing tank for a few weeks. Give her a little more time.”

  “Perhaps you should invite her
to come and visit you,” Val suggested as he, too, joined them. “We will provide her with a first class ticket so she can travel as comfortably as possible. Maybe a few weeks here on Jasan would be good for her.”

  Lariah smiled at Val. “Thank you for that,” she said. “But I already invited her. She said she’s not up to traveling right now, but promised to think about coming next year.”

  “I think next year would be a good time,” Garen said. “You don’t need to be worrying about entertaining visitors right now anyway.”

  “That’s another thing,” Lariah said suddenly. “I keep getting this feeling like people are supposed to be arriving here. It’s like I expect them to show up any moment, but they never do.”

  “What people?” Trey asked.

  “I don’t know,” Lariah replied with frustration. “Just...people. Women. I’m sure they’re women.”

  “Women you know?” Garen asked.

  “I don’t think so,” Lariah replied. “It’s really very irritating.”

  “Have you told Saige about this?” Trey asked.

  “No, why would I...?” Lariah paused. “Oh, I see, you think Riata can help?”

  “It can’t hurt to try,” Trey replied.

  “That’s a good idea,” she said, stretching up on her toes to give him a kiss. “Thank you.”

  “You are welcome, little love,” Trey replied.

  “Shall we try to get some sleep now?” Garen asked as he swung Lariah up into his arms and headed for the bed.

  “It’s almost morning already,” Lariah pointed out.

  “Yes, but you need more rest,” he said. “We have a busy day ahead of us, and you are resting for four now.”

  Lariah sighed contentedly as she placed her hands over her still flat stomach. “All right,” she agreed, “though I’m not sure why you say it’s a busy day. What’s happening besides the meeting this afternoon?”

  “We are meeting with a few of the other Consuls to view the remains of the Xanti, and those of the reptilian being the Katres brought back from Li-Hach-Cor,” Garen replied as he slipped her into the bed and climbed in after her.