Risen (Rise of the Iliri, #10)

by Auryn Hadley

True strength is knowing where the line is. We all deserve respect, not excuses. Everyone screws up. Not everyone deserves forgiveness. Make them earn it. If they won't, set them free.

"Nice," Blaz told him. "No wonder you're still single." "Kinda not," Tyr pointed out. "I'm the Kaisae's mate. At least for a little bit.

Do you think you're ok or was Joevar right and you need us to be your mates?" "Blaec said I need you to be my mates," she admitted, but the words were little more than a whisper.

"I feel like a teenager trying to get all touchy-feely with his first girlfriend, but I can't stop."

Lol! Poor Tyr!

Tyr chuckled once. "A horseman without a horse, a heavy-armsman without a real sword, and a Kaisae without a pack. Yep, this sounds like exactly what elites are good at, right?"

"I need to talk to Arctic," Sal reminded them both even as she stripped off the shirt. "So keep your dicks in your pants long enough for me to figure out how we're getting out of this hole, ok?" "Sal," Tyr groaned. "No talking about dicks and holes while you're naked on my lap. That's not even fair."

Now where’s the fun in that?

I dunno, Sal. I'm starting to think that life is completely fair, it's just not always what we expect."

Truer words...

I think you did it, Sal, he thought, broadcasting it to everyone in camp. Her reply came back filled with relief. I'm no longer alone. Na, kitten, Jase thought to her. Ya will na ever be alone. Na even if we have ta trust those two humans ta take care of ya.

We - the four of us she left on the other side of this line - need you and Blaz to sacrifice a little. Tyr's confusion came through strong. What do you mean sacrifice? Fall in love with her, Tyr. Fall so hard you'll fight us for her. Treat her like the most amazing woman you've ever known, a queen and a friend, all at the same time. Seduce her mind, love her body, and push her to her limits. Argue with her. Do all the things you want to, and never let the idea of us get in your way. Don't worry about what we'll think. Don't hold back because we used to do something. Tyr, right now, the Kaisae of three species has only two men to keep her from going insane. You and Blaz. That means you need to be everything we can't.

Man, I fucked your wife. Tyr dropped that out, not caring that it sounded harsh. I fucked her harder than I've ever fucked a girl, and you're sitting here acting like this is perfectly normal? You're not even pissed at me? No, Kolt promised. You saved her life. Never mind that Jase and Zep were fucking her before I was, and Gage is fucking her after. No, Tyr, I don't give a shit about that. You think her pussy's going to stretch out and expire or something? They kinda don't work that way. I'm saying she's yours.

Is it weird that I kinda think it's hot to tag team her with another guy? Kolt had to shove a hand over his mouth to keep from laughing out loud. Nope. No, that's not weird at all. See, that's how the link works. One man and one woman is nice. Add in another man, and it's exponentially better. Get like four of us on the same girl? It will change your life.

Yeah, Tyr agreed. Thought I was going to blow my load through the back of her head. Head? This time, Kolt wasn't fast enough to smother his laugh.

Fuck that, Tyr said. She's a healer. Blaz is a healer. My dick will survive, and damn. Dunno where that girl learned her tricks, but yeah. I'm so ok with it.

Jase's reply came back sounding gentle. I know. Ya did na think; ya just did what ya had ta. That is why I know ya will be a good mate. It is also why I am telling ya this now, so ya have time ta come ta terms with it. If ya want Sal, then ya want her on her terms, and she is more than just a woman. She is... Everything good in the world, and everything bad, all wrapped up into one woman trying desperately to carry it all, Blaz finished for him.

That woman lifted an entire species up because she did na know she could na.

I'm not that special, Blaz reminded him. Yeh, Jase said, ya are. Ya are a human who convinced the Kaisae of all Anglia ta live again. I think that makes ya the most special person on the continent.

"I'm trying not to turn into some stupid human man fawning over his celebrity crush, ok?

Oh but it’s so fun! Fan girl it up boyfriend!

"I know you're not a man, Sal," he said softly. "I was willing to kiss Blaz to get to you. I think I'm willing to kiss your disguise to do the same, ok?" "It feels weird," she told him. "Like I don't know what's going on." His smile grew a little more. "Kinda tingly down between your legs?"

Blaz groaned. "I never thought I'd say this, but Tyr, get your hand off her dick."

I just died... lmao!!!

"How the hell do you react when someone grabs your dick?" "Man, I've had girls want to write their name in the sand with it. Completely different, and doesn't cause problems anymore." "Yeah. Anymore. And the first time a girl touched your pee-pee?" Blaz teased. "C'mon, you know that thing got hard so fast your brain was begging for some blood. Hell, a girl looks at it and it's gonna get hard. You think touching it's not going to have the same effect?"

I think I've always liked you a little. I think that's why I made you like it when I had to bite you, because I just wanted you to want me a little."

Aww... Sal all cute and vulnerable...

See, love? It's not a thing that has to be split. Giving more to one person doesn't mean there's less for someone else. No, that's how time works, not love, and if anyone can love that much, it's you: the woman who loved so hard she saved an entire species."

"You," he breathed, "are so beautiful when you cum. I could watch that all day long." "Mm," she mumbled, pressing her face against his neck. "Pervert."

So if that's why Hax thinks he deserves to be her mate, then I guess she doesn't need him anymore, huh?"

As if she could only possibly need him for his sperm... Cause obviously all her other mates are perfect and never fucked up putting themselves first... Though Blaec did and already gave a been there done that speech. So why not kill Hax off? At this point he seems superfluous.

"He has Jad," Razor pointed out. "His own brother, and he ignores half of what Jad tells him. Hax doesn't want to learn; he wants the shortcut.

We haven't seen enough of Hax to know that!!!!

"He reminds me of the Emperor."

There is so much wrong with this whole conversation... Why even have the character of Hax if only to make him into someone like her brother ended up being? What, he has no human at all so he's not good enough? That is the only impression that is ever given off when it comes to purebred males. Either they are related and therefore are just (ick) or they’re Hax...At this point I'm so fed up with the chain jerking and these "ultimatums" that I'm tempted to say fuck how the story actually ends.

Let Ran deal with Hax.

At this point I'm kind of wishing Hax had been killed off.

"I gave him one of Sal's shirts. It's ok. He's sleeping soundly enough that you won't wake him." "A shirt?" Razor asked, making sure he heard that right. "A shirt," Ran agreed. "One she'd thrown on the floor of your tent, covered in the smell of all of you. Jase gave it to me. We figured it might help him relax a bit. I mean, it works for puppies." "Iliri are not puppies," Razor reminded him sternly. Ran actually chuckled. "No, but he was having trouble with her not being close. Jase said the need to be near her spirals around in their heads - his, Kolt's, and evidently Hax's -

Seriously should have just put the poor bastard out of his misery. This is beyond sad and I am in utter disbelief that Sals mates are near gleeful that this poor guy is in agony. While it’s never directly stated of course, the implications are everywhere! Jase occasionally says something that makes him appear almost to be a decent being...

"Come. Push me. Hit me if ya need ta, because I wanna get my cessivi back, and there are men ta kill."

Now, this man - the kind she'd always thought ruled the world - honestly believed that she was too good for him. It felt good, but it also felt really, really bad.

"Fine." Razor pushed back. "I'm a strawberry, then. Kolt can be a grape." "A grape? Why a grape?" "Because he's all slick and fancy-looking, but a lot better when he's fermented a little." Razor flashed a boyish grin. "Because he thinks he's such a tough shit, but he's really squishy on the inside?" "Definitely a grape," Zep agreed. "And why a strawberry?" Razor's smirk only got bigger. "Because I'm all sweet and tasty. Good enough to suck on."

Tyr reached over to rub lightly at Sal's shoulder. "Baby, you're not going to win this one. Just accept that you're pretty damned impressive and go with it." Then he waved the plates closer. "And eat. You get mopey when you're too tired."

"Sal, what is it that's so wrong?" "I miss my mates." He blew that off. "Me too. What else?" Well, that certainly put things into a different perspective. "I'm not sure Tyr and Blaz are happy with me." He scoffed. "That's pretty much the dumbest thing you've ever said.

Never did care for Sals constant “I am not good enough” view of herself. I get it... life as a slave and all that PTSD stuff that just creeps up even when you’re the most powerful being in the world, I really do get it! It doesn’t come across as anything other than a plot with her “humans” though. Especially spending 90% of the series saying how she doesn’t do humans...

It does na have ta make sense ta us, Jase explained. Ghost knows his mates. He also knows who would be good fer her, and that na all men want ta be with a woman fer her sake. Like Hax,

Okay, the Hax horse is dead... Stop beating it.

I'm just a temporary thing to hold you together, and we both know it."

Such a cop out!!!!

"I'm not going to wait around for you, Sal. I can't leave the Dogs. You can't leave the Blades. We have our families - our packs if you prefer - and we're loyal to them. So, I figure that if you can fuck around with your guys, that should mean you won't get mad if I do the same?"

Oh wow.... Just keep digging there Tyr... who are you anyway???

"I can't imagine sitting around, wondering when the Kaisae of all Anglia will decide she has time for me. Being faithful to a woman who's getting it from all sides? That's not really fair."

Again wow... I mean i get what he's saying, but seriously? Who are you and what have you done with Tyr???

"Means you can invite me over for playtime, right?" He lifted her face. "I mean, since I am your official sex toy now."

This actually hurts my heart to read.

"Sal," he said again. "I do want this to work. No matter what you think, I really do.

Bullshit!! You are running scared you giant pussy!!! So much respect lost with all this bullshit dribbling out of his mouth. I don't care if it is a defense mechanism.

"Believe it or not, I'm damned good at making things work.

No your damned good at back pedaling and playing both sides against the middle.

"It is ok," he promised. "I'm still yours. You're still mine. We're just making treaties because our uniforms don't match.

Such a damn cop out!

"I'm a proud man, Sal. I'm trying really hard to ignore it because I know you need me. Right now, more than ever. But, baby, the fucking chemistry between us isn't enough."

This is just fancy way to say he's going to have his cake and eat it too. Oh... I can't commit so I’ll be wishy washy and I’ll be balls deep in whoever I want until you come calling... Then I'll drop that skank so fast she won’t know what hit her to come stick my dick that still smells of whore in you baby... Bitch please

"I kinda think that everyone tells you yes. No one says no.

Fucking asshole!!! You say you care, then try to use guilt and other manipulations to be able to have side chicks cause you can't commit. You are contantly sending mixed signals and right now i truly think she's better off without you. If she's with someone they should not be looking for a reason to say "no". So much respect lost... where the hell did Tyr go because this imposter is not someone I want anywhere near Sal.

"Yep," he said, "that's one way to end a fight." And then he kissed her again.

Guess he really can't say no either... His big talk and ranting is so much bullshit. Wtf???? Never have enough of listen to my words not my actions right? This is like a game of ping pong. I feel this way, no I feel that way... no now I feel somewhere off the table completely.

He wanted to please her, but he wasn't willing to change who he was to do it. All he wanted was for her to accept that, to take him.

Umm... It would be different if he wasnt telling her he wants to fuck whoever whenever cause he wont wait round to be scraps. Fucking ruined an amazing character by turning him into a wishy washy selfish prick while all but accusing her of the same, and now his mind is all of sudden playing a different tune? Sorry, it doesn't work that way... even though this is fiction.

To have someone who could tell her when she was wrong, who wouldn't run away.

So not even remotely what he's been doing. Not with actions or words. He’s running like the damn Energizer Bunny while trying to say he’s stuck like glue baby!

"Baby, I won't wait around like I'm desperate, but don't you ever doubt that I'm not yours first, ok? Anyone else in my life will just be a placeholder, because this?" He squeezed her fingers. "I want it so bad, but the cost is too high."

Oh fuckin hell no... Just hell no

"While we're trying, maybe we should do it in that bed."

Or maybe you should become an adult and not horny self absorbed teenager??? The whole purpose of her having mates is to give her a reason to hold on. Why the fuck would she want to hold on to a guy that wants placeholders in some immature notion of not wanting to come across as desperate.

"Or maybe he needs a man he can talk it out with.

Yes Blaz, please go beat sense into Tyr so I can have my favorite supporting character back!!!!

I point out the human perspective.

No, you're being an asshole.