The Kainnan Wager: Pure: The Kainnan series, #8

By Belinda Stott

BOOK 8 OF 9 IN THE KAINNAN SERIES. An epic Christian urban fantasy series, set between two worlds.

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The wedding of Florentine to Gabriel will be Kainnan's event of the century, uniting two royal families to finally provide Santtu and Cereise with leaders who can be trusted. With King Ochran keeping to himself, and his siblings Viggo and Lucretia dead, peace appears possible at last. Even Lilyanna, devastated over Jonas's impending marriage to the Loyalist leader Nina, has met someone who might heal her broken heart.

Yet within days, Ochran's drugs and manipulations, the growing threat of the Loyalists and a tragedy of unimaginable proportions will shatter the fragile peace. Stretched to breaking point by the losses that result, both Lilyana and Damon make the deadliest of decisions. For the only way forward is to face the past – but it just might kill them.

From a miraculous wedding to a brutal attack, Pure is a roller-coaster ride of longing and heartbreak, hope and despair, guilt and grace – and the need to face a shameful past to secure an innocent future.

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Praise for the Kainnan series…

"Like Narnia with guns! And more romance…A parallel world controlled by cruel rulers, and in their defeat, you learn life-changing truths to help you cope in the real world too." Junita.

"Full of unexpected twists and deeper meanings, Kainnan will take you on a wild adventure while communicating incredibly valuable lessons about mental health and emotional wellbeing. The plots are truly unique; unlike any series I have ever come across." Olivia.

"Simultaneously engrossing as adventure novels and mentally challenging as I started to identify with the characters in my own life! Belinda truly does have a way of taking you by the hand and leading you through your emotions." Lucy.

"Each book provides new twists, new heroes to love and new heart-wrenching battles. Thrilling writing and excellent character development, you find yourself cheering them on." Jenn.

"Action-packed adventure underpinned with great life values…the best series I have ever read." Isaac.

"Like an action movie captured in print – fast-paced, exciting, full of twists, unpredictable – but with fantastic character development, romance and fantasy too. If you liked Suzanne Collins The Hunger Games, or Ted Dekker's novels, this will be right up your alley." Natasha.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Belinda Stott
• Release date: Feb 8, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393832201

Belinda Stott

Belinda Stott is a novelist, counselor and international speaker. With her husband Matt, she runs a course called Soul Tour which combines psychology, philosophy and theology to help young adults better understand their own mind, emotions and behavior.  A prolific traveler (81 countries and counting), Belinda reads obsessively, loves fairs, Jacuzzis, castles and feisty heroines, and watches movies which inspire her to create high-stakes stories that visit other worlds and kingdoms. She is particularly passionate about sagas that bypass the mundane to explore what God and life are really all about, describing her style as a blend of spy stories like 24, Alias and the Bourne novels, with a sprinkle of Narnia and the intensity of a Ted Dekker novel. Belinda lives in Christchurch, New Zealand with Matt and their two creative, adventurous kids, Jasper and Scarlett, (who cameo in Kainnan: The Uncovering).  Find out more about Kainnan and Belinda's upcoming, cult-based trilogy at Belindastott.com.

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Publisher: B.S & M.J. Stott, Christchurch, New Zealand

Website: www.belindastott.com

Copyright © Belinda S. Stott, 2019

The moral right of the author has been asserted

This is a work of fiction. All characters and events in this publication, other than those clearly in the public domain, are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. All statements, stunts, activities, descriptions, information and material of any other kind contained herein are included for entertainment purposes only and should not be relied on for accuracy or replicated as they may result in injury.

All rights reserved except for the purpose of fair review. No part may be stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including recording or storage in any information retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. No reproduction may be made, whether by photocopying or by any other means, unless a licence has been obtained from the publisher.

Map created by: Joseph Norris

Reader warning

Please be advised, this novel contains content around grief and suicide.

Acknowledgements

PURE has been my favorite novel to write so far because I so adore the way God is constantly revealed through the conversations, events and miracles that take place throughout it. Some of these are based on real-life miracles (like the healing of self-harm scars which occurred to a dozen teenagers during a Christian camp in Christchurch during Easter 2016). Many are entirely fictional and yet I feel like God helped pen them anyway. Indeed, I couldn’t write many of the more beautiful, poignant, moving scenes without Him - and nor would I want to. Thank You.

Patricia and Suzanne – you are the two that make my novels technically possible. Thank you for the work you do, how professional you are and how very, very supportive.

Matt, Jasper and Scarlett – I love that we prioritize both God and mental health as a family. I hope that the way we seek to live out this combination is embodied in my Kainnan novels.

As I began writing Pure, a terrible tragedy took place in Christchurch, New Zealand, where a young Christian woman, (well-known, greatly loved, very involved in ministry) took her life. With my husband, I was privileged to be part of the recovery process subsequently undertaken by her community. This horrific loss and the way it was faced, motivated the suicide storyline in Pure. To those who battled at that time (and since) both to face their own grief, and to support the grieving of others around them, I salute you. You have been a remarkable inspiration of compassion and honesty.

There are many bands I listen to while I write. They inspire me emotionally; help me immerse myself in a scene. I was listening to a lot of Linkin Park when I wrote Pure. It so is poignant now as front-man Chester Bennington just took his life. Thank you for the music. I pray my books will help turn back the tide of suicide in some way.

The Kainnan series

Book 1 - The Prize

Book 2 - The Uncovering

Book 3 - The Switch

Book 4 - Redemption

Book 5 - The Challenge

The Kainnan Wager series

Set 25 years after the conclusion of The Kainnan series.

Featuring the children of the main characters from The Kainnan series.

Book 1 - Brave

Book 2 - True

Book 3 - Pure

Book 4 - Free

Character list

INHABITANTS OF EARTH

Milla - Twin to Aidan

Aidan - Twin to Milla, dating Alexa

Alexa - Older sister of Sienna, dating Aidan

Sienna - Younger sister of Alexa

Cairus - Friend of Damon

Damon - Younger brother of Kabe

Kabe - Older brother of Damon

Ryder (deceased)/Summer - Aidan and Milla’s parents

Katerina/Noah - Sienna and Alexa’s parents

Ravyn/Zavier - Damien and Kabe’s parents

Luke - Milla’s admirer

Brad - Damon’s friend

Liam - Damon’s drug dealer

Kelly - Reporter murdered by Liam

Bill - Kelly’s partner at the time of her murder

INHABITANTS OF KAINNAN

Elletra - Former ruler of Kainnan (deceased)

Viggo - Former ruler of Santtu, oldest son of Elletra (deceased)

Lucretia - Former ruler of Cereise, oldest daughter of Elletra (deceased)

Ochran - Ruler of Zana, youngest son of Elletra

Evangeline - Ruler of Velcharn, youngest daughter of Elletra

Gabriel - Oldest son of Lucan and Willow

Raffael - Youngest son of Lucan and Willow, ex-member of Archan Underground

Florentine - Oldest daughter of King Magnus and Queen Sybilla

Lilyana - Youngest daughter of King Magnus and Queen Sybilla

Jonas - Leader of the Resistance movement, assisting the rebuild of Kainnan

Thorian - Lilyana’s admirer

Crispin - Leader of the Loyalists

Neena - Member of the Loyalists, pledged to marry Jonas

Trinity - Cairus’s girlfriend

Aaron - Priest

Mannix - Lilyana’s assailant

Adaline - King Ochran’s assistant

Eman - King Ochran’s assistant

A close up of a map Description automatically generated

Previously in True...

WHEN BROTHERS RAFFAEL and Gabriel, Florentine, Milla, Damon, Cairus and Sienna surrendered to Archan Underground leader Jolyon, he promptly handed them over to Lucretia, the selfish, pleasure-seeking ruler of Cereise. The queen immediately imprisoned all but Sienna, toying with them at her whim.

Having pledged to follow Lucretia in exchange for her freedom, Sienna in particular found herself at the mercy of the queen’s games, even as she tried to find a way to secretly help her imprisoned friends. Milla fared no better; infected with a virus that stole her memory and nearly killed her.

But assistance was on its way under the leadership of Viggo’s ex-lover Lilyana, and Resistance leader Jonas. Creating a disturbance at Lucretia’s Consient Festival obtained the freedom of all but Gabriel and Florentine, who were kidnapped by King Ochran. Although Jonas and Lilyana eventually rescued them from Saint Sacredos, like Milla, Florentine was left with huge gaps in her memory.

The chaos which ensued at the festival also enabled Sienna to touch Lucretia and return to Earth where she was confronted with the fallout from her pleasure-seeking, shallow life. When she nearly died, it was a catalyst for an emotional turn-around that led to Sienna facing some hard truths and Queen Lucretia perishing.

Now, with two of his siblings dead, King Ochran just wants to be left alone. A new threat to Cereise and Santtu has arisen however; the Loyalists, a group threatening violence if they are not allied with Gabriel and Florentine through an Influir – the marriage of one of their own to Jonas...

1.  Pressure

The sky was fading to velvety dark blue, stars appearing like specks of glitter flung across the vast expanse. It was so beautiful Lilyana took long, hungry breaths as if she could draw that beauty into her thirsty, weary soul. She could hear a woman’s voice calling her name but chose to ignore it. Here, in this sheltered alcove, she was hidden, safe from the constant pressure she felt everywhere else.

Pressure to help her sister, Florentine, retrieve her memories; memories lost when Florentine was injected with Bataldor, one of King Ochran’s many soul and life-destroying drugs. Although some memories had returned in the four months since, they were hazy, disconnected from each other, out of sequence. Sometimes Lilyana saw the sister she adored, sometimes it was a stranger who greeted her.

Pressure to help Sienna, the girl from Earth who had chosen to stay in Kainnan, continue her astounding transformation from shallow, image-driven brokenness to honest, real healing. At least that had turned into a pleasure as they became friends.

Pressure to answer what felt like a constant stream of questions about her previous partner, the now deceased King Viggo, in the hope that she knew something – anything – that would help them trap his brother King Ochran. Four months ago, some of them had made an agreement with Ochran to leave him alone if he would release her and several others, and since then they had searched frantically for a way to get around that agreement without outraging the people of Kainnan, who took such vows very seriously.

Pressure to change, to face her own grief and pain over Viggo, to face the earlier loss of her parents.

Pressure from Aaron, the priest whom she and Jonas had freed from imprisonment. He meant well but she had learned to avoid him so she could avoid the pain his gentle probing surfaced.

Pressure from Jonas. Seeing him, spending time with him, still being his friend despite the fact that tonight she was expected to attend his engagement to someone else. After four months Lilyana was resigned to his imminent wedding. He had only agreed to marry Neena to prevent the mercenary group known as the Loyalists from killing many of their friends. The marriage, called an Influir, was really a treaty between the Loyalists and Cereise’s rulers whereby they would share power and have access to each other’s resources. For four long months, they had tried to extricate Jonas from the agreement without success. Indeed, the Loyalists had promised war if they pulled out. The best Gabriel and Raffael had managed to do was delay the engagement till now and hopefully the wedding indefinitely.

Early on, for the first few weeks, she had believed Jonas when he reassured her that the wedding would never take place. They had worked together on restoring order to Cereise following the demise of its former ruler Lucretia. It had been fun and rewarding and they had both been able to pretend that nothing had changed. Until Neena returned to the palace and demanded to know when they would take the next step in the process: the engagement ceremony, when they would exchange an initial level of access to each other’s resources. Then Lilyana had barely seen Jonas for several weeks as he and Raffael negotiated frantically with the Loyalists. In the end Jonas had returned sheepishly to admit they hadn’t found a way out of the Influir yet. She had seen the despair behind his explanation and withdrawn into herself. She was still friendly, but her guard was now firmly back in place.

The only thing she felt pleased about was that he had no idea how painful she was finding it all. Although Sienna seemed to think Jonas saw through her facade, she was certain he was too immersed in everything else that was happening to notice.

Not that there was a reason to be so sad, she reminded herself fiercely. They had kissed once to evade capture but that was it. Nothing more had ever happened between them, nor would it. She just missed her friend.

Lilyana, I know you’re there! Sienna’s voice broke through her dreary thoughts. She sighed reluctantly and rose to join her.

After she had faced what she needed to on Earth and returned to Kainnan, Sienna had made the difficult decision to stay there for a while. She needed time and space to change her thinking, to get permanently free of the unhealthy atmosphere she had lived in as a successful, pampered model on Earth. Being part of the rebuilding of Cereise and Santtu had done wonders for her, bringing a joy she had never experienced before as she focused on others. She had grieved a lot, sometimes alone, sometimes with Lilyana and sometimes with Damon, her cousin, who had grief of his own at the loss of Milla.

Like Florentine, Milla had been given a drug which had robbed her of all memories of Kainnan, including the time she had spent with Damon there. Unlike Sienna, she had chosen to return to Earth and was continuing with the life she’d had prior to her trip to Kainnan. Although Damon didn’t talk about Milla anymore, Sienna could see how close to the surface his grief still was. She shared her own pain partly because she trusted he would understand and support her, and partly in the hope of encouraging him to face his own.

As she waited for Lilyana to appear, it occurred to Sienna that Damon was not the only one she was intentionally vulnerable with. She knew Lilyana was struggling with many things and she desperately wanted to help her friend face them. But Lilyana was more stubborn than she had ever been, keeping busy with the rebuilding rather than admitting to her pain.

The thought made her hug Lilyana tightly as she emerged from her hiding place. I’ve been looking all over for you! she exclaimed. The ceremony starts in an hour and you can’t be late – unless you want Jonas to see how upset you are.

I’ll be on time, Lilyana muttered. I don’t know what you’re talking about anyway, I’m not upset, she added grumpily.

Whatever you say. Come on, I have Esta waiting to do our hair.

Are Cairus and Damon back yet?

I heard they arrived an hour ago. They’re probably getting ready too, Sienna threw over her shoulder as she led the way through the complex web of passageways in the palace.

How long is it since you saw Cairus? Lilyana asked innocently. She was rewarded by the sight of Sienna’s back tensing.

But, Not long enough, was all Sienna said. True to their agreement, she and Cairus had stayed away from each other, giving her time to heal. He had been with Damon and some of Raffael’s men in Zana, Ochran’s kingdom, for the last fortnight. They had been trying to covertly gather information on Ochran’s latest experiments. Sienna had expressed concern once over his safety there, then not spoken of him again.

Tell me again why Damon and Cairus decided to stay here on Kainnan rather than go home to Earth? Lilyana continued.

"Damon was in some kind of trouble back home. I think he just wanted a break and a chance to be part of something...meaningful. Rebuilding a kingdom isn’t exactly something we’d ever get to do back on Earth."

And Cairus?

You know I don’t know that, Sienna stopped and glared at Lilyana, her blue eyes flashing with frustration. He barely talks to me and when he does, it’s certainly not about his choices. The state of the weather and the progress we’re making in Cereise is about the extent of our conversations. And I’m happy with that! she added before the other woman could speak again. At the dismayed look on Lilyana’s face she sighed and made herself calm down. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to snap at you. I know you don’t believe me, but I really am over him. He was just a nice idea, a support when everything was so dangerous here – nothing more. After Gabriel and Florentine’s wedding I’ll go back home to Earth and find myself someone else, someone stable and nice that I have no messy history with.

I will miss you when you go, Lilyana said suddenly.

Sienna studied her beautiful, elegant friend. So will I. You’re the best friend I’ve ever had. I’m not sure how I’ll cope without you... she broke off because tears threatened. She had never had many real friends. Just other models who competed with her, cutting her down to bring themselves up; girls who were jealous of her looks and lifestyle. Lilyana was neither. Instead she was brutally honest, kind to anyone who needed defending, and fun – when they got away from the palace, Jonas and Florentine.

It’s still a few days until my sister’s wedding and then you have to stay for the festivities afterwards, Lilyana said with a sudden cheeky grin. You haven’t seen a party until you’ve seen how we do it.

As long as it’s nothing like the debauchery Lucretia used to encourage, Sienna said with a shudder. Come on, time’s getting away from us.

They had to cross several wings of the palace and a large lawn to reach the area where their respective bedrooms were. They were speeding through the wing nearest to the kitchens, both deep in thought, when Lilyana collided with a man emerging from a side corridor. She grabbed at him to catch her balance, automatically apologizing. When there was no response from him, she paused to look up into his face and frowned with puzzlement. I know you, don’t I? she asked. His face was familiar but she couldn’t place where from.

Beyond the man, she saw Sienna freeze at her words and turn back. Lilyana knew why. There had been several incidents now where Lilyana had been verbally abused by the families of those she had imprisoned when she was the warden at Viggo’s prison, Vulmaro. One woman had even attacked her physically. She still bore the fading scratch marks from that up her arm, for she had not defended herself. She had recognized the woman even as she attacked, as the wife of a man killed in the prison. There were three children left behind too. Lilyana didn’t blame the woman for her fury for she deserved it.

It made her search her mind to see whether she knew this man from prison.

He looked like he wanted to flee but she was still holding his arm. He said, I know who you are but we’ve never met.

How do you know me?

He shrugged. The movement pulled his arm free and he began to subtly back away. You’re famous. You helped free half of Vulmaro, you helped kill Lucretia, you’re helping rebuild Cereise – despite your earlier life.

She frowned, asking, What does that mean? because although it sounded like a compliment, it felt like he was subtly insulting her. She studied his deep brown eyes and rugged face carefully as she waited for a response, fixing it in her memory to work out later where she had seen him. For despite his protests, she was certain she had.

You were Viggo’s woman, he shrugged. You don’t get much more notorious than that.

Let it go, Lily, Sienna murmured. She was at her side, tugging on her arm. She said to the man, Enjoy the festivities...?

Thorian.

Enjoy your evening Thorian, Sienna said again, politely, and tugged Lilyana away. As they rounded a corner and Thorian was lost to sight she asked, Why do you let them bait you? You made a mistake being with Viggo, but you’ve put it right...and it’s none of their business anyway.

It feels like it will never go away. The heaviness behind her tone didn’t escape Sienna.

It will, she reassured. The foolish things I’ve done, the men I’ve been entangled with are slowly becoming a faded memory for me now. That will happen for you too. When Lilyana sighed with resignation, she asked, How do you know that man anyway?

I don’t know, maybe I don’t...I mean I can’t place him...

I’m sure you’d remember him, he’s pretty handsome – despite being such a jerk. It doesn’t matter anyway. You really need to forget it all and focus on having a good time tonight with me. She paused, frowning because Lilyana didn’t look convinced. She tried again, eliciting a nod this time. Come on, what he thinks of you isn’t important. You’ll probably never see him again anyway.

Neither of them had any idea how wrong she was. 

{

2.  Engagement

Y ou’re in a foul mood , Raffael commented as he watched Jonas put on his dark blue suit. It complemented his wild black curls, currently untamed as if to reflect his mood, and his intense green eyes, now glaring at Raffael.

I’m doing this, aren’t I? I don’t have to be happy about it.

I’m sorry, Raffael said for what must be the fifteenth time. I can’t think what else to do to extricate you.

I’m not blaming you...

I convinced you to marry her...

"I made the choice, not you."

But I haven’t got you out of it, Raffael’s frustration showed in his tone. Indeed, they had argued and discussed options repeatedly over the last four months. The problem was there were only four ways out of an Influir and in Jonas’s case, none was viable.

Because they had initiated it, the Loyalists could withdraw from the agreement without consequences. There seemed little chance of that – they gained too much power and influence from the arrangement.

Jonas could walk away too, but that would lead to probable imprisonment and the censure of the people of Cereise and Santtu whom they were still trying to win over.

The Influir obviously became null and void if either of them died. However, Jonas had vetoed assassinating Neena, declaring That’s what the other rulers do, not what we do!

The final option was either party having an affair and when Jonas studied Lilyana covertly, the way her long creamy white-blonde hair framed her lovely face, her deep brown eyes alive with compassion as she helped the needy or flashing with outrage at his teasing, he was sorely tempted to pursue that path. That he hadn’t was due to many things: her withdrawal from him, his own integrity, the fact that it could land both him and Lilyana in prison, his respect for her which would not allow him to place her in such a position. It was bad enough that half of Cereise was still judging her for being with Viggo and running Vulmaro Prison, despite how much good she did among them all now. He didn’t want to add an affair leading to a probable war with the Loyalists to her list of crimes.

And above all that, there was the ever-present fear of retaliation from the Loyalists if the Influir fell apart. They had moved into the city in droves, setting up strategic positions of power before Jonas, Raffael or his brother Gabriel had realized what was happening. Despite this, it was highly probable they could defeat them, yet Jonas didn’t want to risk more unnecessary bloodshed. There had been enough in Kainnan under Lucretia and Viggo.

He sighed and studied himself in the mirror although he hardly cared how he looked. Raffael was studying him too. He asked abruptly, This is about Lily, isn’t it?

I’m worried about her, Jonas admitted. He knew Raffael did not approve of his friendship with her, of her, but he didn’t care. He had never been one to care too much about the censure of others when he believed something was right.

His companion observed, "You’ve given her so much time to get over this, get over you."

I’ve told you it’s not like that between us...

And I’ve told you it’s obvious there’s something more between you than just friendship. Why else would she still be so upset with you? And why else would you be so constantly worried about her?

The words struck Jonas and he frowned. You’re right, I do spend too much time worrying about her. It’s exhausting.

The Jonas I used to know would never waste this much time on a woman’s tantrum.

I never met anyone like Lily before, he shrugged. It was true – she was a wonderful enigma to him, a source of fascination. Spending time with her while trying to rescue her sister had been both stressful because of the circumstances and joyful because they were together. He sighed and deflected, At least I’m not in love with an unattainable queen.

This time Raffael scowled. I told you never to speak of Evangeline. We can’t be together until Ochran is dead too.

Jonas shrugged. You swore me to secrecy when you told me, and I will not speak of it to anyone. I just question whether she really loves you as you claim. Why does she never contact you? Why didn’t she help us when we needed her, when you were imprisoned and her sister was threatening to execute you?

I told you, she was monitoring things but she didn’t want to tip her hand by intervening unless she needed to.

Jonas nodded but his mind was whirling. He had agreed to the Influir because Raffael claimed to be spoken for and couldn’t. Afterwards he had demanded that Raffael tell him who he was intended for since Jonas was making such a sacrifice. When Raffael informed him he was in love with Queen Evangeline, the youngest sibling of Lucretia, Ochran and Viggo, he could not have been more shocked.

Apparently Raffael had met Evangeline when he was searching for a missing girl a few years earlier. They had hit it off and according to Raffael, fallen in love. At the time, he had needed to keep up the search for the missing child – and she was concerned that if they went public with their love her siblings would have him killed. Raffael was from a royal line too, so if he were to marry her, she would gain considerably more power than her siblings would like. As a result, the two had agreed to keep their love secret and now, despite his concern, Jonas was sworn to secrecy too.

None of this helps me get out of this engagement party tonight, Jonas sighed. Let’s go get it over with.

We need to stop into the war-room on the way. Damon and Cairus are back. I would like an update on Ochran immediately.

As Lilyana had, Damon stared out the window pensively as they waited for Jonas and Raffael to arrive. Cairus was deep in conversation with Trinity, one of the women who had accompanied them on their mission into Zana. She had sleek dark, bobbed hair, pale blue eyes, an athletic figure and an attitude. Personally he had clashed with her, finding her bossy and too opinionated but Cairus appeared fascinated, spending as much time with her as she would permit. It was hard to tell what she thought of him however, as she hid her emotions so well. Damon imagined she probably would not be averse to his friend though, for Cairus still looked like a rock star with his blond tousled hair, sharply defined cheekbones, striking blue eyes and charisma.

It was strange, because on one hand he was relieved that Cairus finally appeared to be getting over his heartbreak at letting Sienna go, yet he was sad too, for it felt like his friend was being pulled away from him. Or perhaps he was just lonely. He’d had his share of interest shown him by various women but he could not stop thinking about Milla, particularly about the way she had come to trust him before she lost her memory, particularly about the kiss they had shared before she got ill. He kept replaying everything, wondering what he could have done differently. If only he had taken the drugged drink instead of her, or better yet, realized what it was and thrown it out! Not that these speculations helped.

He was beginning to question why he was even still here on Kainnan, rather than back home trying to win Milla over again. Yet the moment he had that thought he rejected it as always. Not only would Milla never consider someone like him on Earth, there was also the unavoidable fact that it was his fault her father was dead. He had involved Ryder in a crime he had witnessed and hours later Ryder was murdered in a car accident. He had no real chance with Ryder’s daughter.

The main reason he was re-thinking his decision to stay on Kainnan however, was that he could not see a purpose in being there anymore. Zana had been a bust. They hadn’t found evidence of Ochran’s drug experimentation increasing. In fact the king seemed to be lying low, avoiding the public eye, shut away in his castle or his factory. They had seen some fallout from Ochran’s experimenting: fresh attacks in the streets, a range of people with their memories wiped – some wandering around asking questions about their identity, a group of children with rotting skin, more blind or deaf people than was normal. But not enough direct proof to give them cause to deal with Ochran; to break the agreement they had made to leave him alone if he left them alone.

He heard the door open and turned expectantly to see Jonas and Raffael entering. He ignored Raffael to greet Jonas warmly. Their friendship had grown as they had worked together and he had enjoyed finding a kindred spirit – someone with a determination to do what was right regardless of what was expected by others, regardless of what was safe.

They sat on low couches and he filled them in on what they had found in Zana. He could see the frustration rising in Raffael as he spoke and wondered, not for the first time, what the man’s true agenda was.

When he had finished explaining, Raffael rose and began pacing. So, we’ve still got nothing! No reason to go after Ochran. And you didn’t see him at all?

Several people told us he’s not been seen in public for weeks.

Maybe he’s settling down, now we’ve agreed to leave him alone, Jonas suggested. We could just forget about Zana for now and keep our focus on Cereise and Santtu. We’re doing well here, people are recovering, their trust in Gabriel and Florentine is growing. Once they marry...

Ochran is a serpent lying in wait! Raffael interrupted sharply. We daren’t turn our backs on him or he’ll strike when we least expect it.

What do you propose?

What if we used the Loyalists? Think about it, he said hastily as Jonas opened his mouth to object. Once this engagement ceremony is over, we’ll have access to some of their fighters to command as we wish.

As they will to some of our people.

Exactly! Don’t we want to keep as many of them as busy as possible? Far away from here?

But they are unpredictable, they could stir up trouble for us with Ochran!

And...?

You want to provoke him! Jonas realized. You want a reason to take him out!

If the Loyalists provoke him, they can fight it out over there and we will pick up the pieces.

No! Too many innocent people could get caught in the crossfire!

Raffael said dismissively, I will discuss it with my brother.

You will listen to me too, Jonas snapped.

Of course, Raffael soothed. The thought crossed Damon’s mind that the man didn’t mean it at all. We’d better get going, Raffael continued. The party starts in fifteen minutes. I will talk with Gabriel afterwards.

{

Lilyana was trying her hardest to push the sadness back and enjoy getting ready with Sienna. Her friend usually cheered her up at least a little with her newfound appreciation for life. Four months ago, after medically dying for a few minutes, Sienna had come back to life with a story of encountering Jesus and receiving grace and forgiveness like she had never known. Since then she had radiated with a kind of joy, a bubbling excitement, like she had some new incredible secret.

She had tried to explain it to Lilyana once. It’s almost like I see everything through different eyes. Like the Earth and Kainnan we see are no longer just Earth and Kainnan. Like we’re part of something bigger and more important, some grand adventure.

What? Lilyana had asked. Part of what?

Sienna frowned as she struggled to explain, God’s dream to make Earth and Kainnan like Heaven; His dream to infiltrate them with His presence, with love and light. Now I understand that I get to choose to be part of it. It’s like the most incredible adventure you could ever embark on!

The idea had comforted Lilyana. Not because she felt the same way but because she was pleased her friend was finally happy after what had obviously been a long time of brokenness and pain with no direction or purpose – all the things Lilyana felt now.

Sienna chose an icy blue-gray dress for herself which made her eyes look startlingly blue. She refused all makeup but mascara and wore her hair loose with a simple dragonfly clip pulling a few strands back. She took pleasure in under-dressing after years of having to look a certain way to feel good about herself. For Lilyana, she chose a scarlet-red dress that fell gracefully to the floor highlighting Lilyana’s olive skin, naturally red lips and blonde waves. When Lilyana objected to looking too dramatic, Sienna exclaimed, You need to! You need to make a statement to Jonas that says, ‘Despite what’s happening here, I’m fine!’

Lilyana resisted the urge to point out that she wasn’t. Instead she let Esta thread crystals into strands of her hair before weaving some of it up on to her head. Even she had to admit then that she looked beautiful.

After that she plastered a fake smile on her face as she followed Sienna through the palace to the huge ballroom, now transformed from the dark place it had been as Lucretia’s judgment hall into a room of light and color. It sparkled with multiple strands of crystals strung between pillars and catching the light reflecting from at least a dozen chandeliers recovered from Lucretia’s treasury. There were silk and satin screens partitioning off areas containing low couches covered with cushions where people were chatting. There was a huge dance floor, surrounded with flowers that looked like they were growing from the marble floor itself. Many were dancing to a soothing melodic song that hung in the atmosphere behind the noise of dozens of people talking.

Lilyana knew many of them. The groups that caught her attention, as they captured the attention of many, were the Loyalists. They had dressed for the occasion; the men in suits, the women in ball gowns, but all were in black. They were a brooding presence staining the glorious color everywhere else.

She found the figure she was looking for after a few minutes. Jonas was standing amidst one of the groups in black, his navy suit blending well with them. Neena was beside him, her long blonde hair and bright red lips stark against her form-fitting black dress. They saw her at the same moment. Lilyana watched as Jonas’s eyes widened and swept her body momentarily before re-focusing on her eyes. Moments later Neena leaned over and kissed Jonas lingeringly on the lips. When she stepped back, she left them stained red as if they were bleeding.

Not particularly kind, is she? a voice murmured beside Lilyana. Surprised she looked up for the second