Nouveau Lich: Abaddon, #2

By Christina Winds

Spy. Assassin. Inventor. Phillip Lichner is used to knowing what needs doing and how to do it with skillful efficiency. But with a big brother who is the king of Abaddon and the acknowledged strongest lich ever known, Phillip has always felt second-best. Still, when his brother, King Eric, asks him to come to Earth to get a spy network established before the banished Abaddonites are allowed to return, Phillip can't refuse. He has always supported Eric to the best of his ability and he knows an efficient network will be critical in maintaining Eric's control over the volatile races of Abaddon. But how long is it going to take to recruit spies for magical beings in an unfamiliar world full of magically-blind humans? Then he meets Rebecca and he is no longer quite so impatient to get his task done so he can return to Abaddon.

Rebecca Smythe fought hard for her job with the FBI—against the good ol' boy's club, controlling relationships, and even her own father. She's not about to give it up just because she finds Phillip so intriguing. Minor flirting is all she'll allow rather than risk forming an attachment that would have her defending her life choices yet again. But when a case goes sour and Phillip is the only one she can trust, his unconditional support makes her question her view of relationships—if she can get past the fact that he's not quite human.

Then again, it's not only the banished races that can be monstrous. The humans she chases are far more 'monster' than the handsome lich helping her.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christina Winds
• Release date: Apr 30, 2020
• ISBN: 9781733679640

Christina Winds

One day, an introverted young girl sat in her high school classroom, listening to the teacher instruct her about things she had already learned from the books she loved to read. Not being the social type, she decided to combat her boredom - and pretend to be working - by writing her own book instead. That initial story ended up being hundreds of hand-written pages long. And had absolutely nothing resembling a plot arc. But the stories and characters stuck around as the girl grew up - her saviors in times of stress or boredom...or work meetings which are often both. They entertained her, distracted her, and both kept her out of and got her into trouble. Eventually, they told her that they were tired of being stuck only inside her head. They wanted a change of scenery. When they started to yell loudly enough, Christina gave in and agreed to put them all into their own books.   It's going to take a while to get to them all - it's crowded in there. Currently, Christina Winds spends her days wrangling databases and her evenings as a mother of two teens, mom-taxi driver, cook, handyman, woodworker, dog-toy thrower, cat servant…and prolific reader. In what spare time she can squeeze out, she writes novels. Her favorite stories are the ones in which the bad guy isn't all that bad—if only you understood his point of view. Everyone is the hero of their own story. It is her belief that we should all look for that hero in everyone we meet.

Book preview

~~ Chapter 1 ~~

You want me to go where? Perhaps not the wisest tone to take with a king known for impaling his enemies with red-hot obsidian spikes, but to Phillip's mind, centuries growing up with the man should afford some leeway. His big brother hadn't always been king. Nor had such skill with obsidian.

Eric apparently felt the same because he only raised a brow as he repeated, Earth. I need you to cross the portal and spend some time there.

I can't leave Abaddon now, Phillip protested. Noya is still out there, people are concocting schemes right and left to try to force their own way across the portal once you get it open, and the factions that despise Earth now will despise you even more when you make it public that the portal is open. Your only spymaster can't be gone right now. Ian is learning at a remarkable rate, and I thank you sincerely for the help, but he's still new. And Claudius is an excellent organizer, but he's no spy.

You're missing the larger picture, Phillip.

Phillip hid his flinch. Way to make me feel utterly incompetent at my job, big bro. He had obviously failed somewhere, or he would have anticipated where Eric needed him. He needed to do better. But first he needed to know what he'd missed.

Smirking at Eric as if amused by the implied-yet-unintended criticism, Phillip bowed and asked, What do you need, Oh Great Leader? I thought the 'big picture' was identifying threats that would take your over-accomplished ass off the throne. Noya is definitely one of those threats.

Eric rolled his eyes. "You have done an excellent job at setting up an information network in Abaddon. Your contacts can report to Ian for a while. Claudius can manage everything else and send you questions. If anything comes up that they can't handle, you can slip back over here. But I need you on Earth to set up a similar network there.

As you pointed out, Ian is new. He doesn't have the experience you do with establishing contacts and setting up a network for information. I can't send him, so it has to be you. I need that in place before I allow too many of my subjects across. The rules of behavior will be stricter than they are in the realm, so I need a way to catch issues early before they become problems. Any problems with Abaddonites on Earth have the potential to shut down the portal for everyone. I can't let them fester just because I don't know about them. I didn't spend five hundred years working to get that portal opened only to have some idiot piss off the Maker and get it slammed shut again. I need you over there.

The compliment helped soothe the earlier sting. Still...Noya is –

Noya is a minor inconvenience. He doesn't hold the power needed to take me on. He showed that clearly when we battled. Plus...

What?

Eric shook his head. Never mind. Not important. Regardless, Noya isn't a major concern right now. Earth is the priority and I need you there.

Phillip knew when he was defeated. In truth, he didn't know why he was resisting. He wanted to visit Earth, like almost every other resident of Abaddon. It was just...he was useful here.

On Earth, he would be blind and deaf in comparison. He had no spies there. No network. Yes, the point was to create that network...but until he did, he'd be useless at getting Eric the information he needed. And worse than useless at keeping Eric apprised of essential Abaddon intel, of which there was a constant stream.

The traitor, Abram Noya, was still at large, having escaped during his battle with Eric just weeks ago. Even though the Maker's permission to open the portal to Earth hadn't been made public yet, Eric's Concordia bonding was the hottest gossip in the realm, so everyone knew the portal couldn't be far behind. Phillip's informants from all over the realm were telling him about groups and individuals planning various means to slip past the Guard in the palace and through the portal. Once Eric made the public announcement, it would kick those groups into a frenzy. Phillip needed to be here to stay on top of them. To know where the biggest threats were coming from and when.

And there was always another plot to assassinate Eric to be foiled. There seemed to be no end of those.

It was vital he be here.

Yet Eric asked him to be elsewhere. So, he would go.

Adopted by the same ogre mother with only fifty years between them, Phillip and Eric were almost twins by Abaddon standards. But Eric had always been larger than life to his younger brother. Powerful and humble, ruthless and compassionate, he'd been Phillip's role model his entire life – the impossible standard Phillip knew he'd never reach but was determined to keep trying for.

Phillip had been terrified for his brother when Eric had battled King Zed, his relief when Eric won turning to pride when Eric took the crown. Phillip vowed then to do all he could to help him keep it. If Phillip could make it happen, his big brother would remain king through eternity. So, when there were gaps in his intel – like Noya's location or the fact that the man had been hiding a cellar full of slaves in the first place – Phillip couldn't help feeling like a failure. Eric had accomplished so much good and Phillip couldn't even find one man.

When Eric won permission to return to Earth along with three others, a test to prove they could earn back the Maker's trust and win the whole of Abaddon the right to return, Phillip hadn't been among the group Eric chose. It had devastated him, gutted him that his brother didn't think Phillip was worthy of being included or didn't trust him to be an asset.

Phillip could understand Colin being included. As king, Eric needed his Captain of the Guard with him and Colin would have lost his mind with Eric exposed and out of his reach. The gryphon was obsessively protective of his king.

Bas has been understandable as well. Regenia Bashore was notorious in her caustic derision of her king, but the banshee was a skilled healer. The skill worked better diplomacy among the fractious Abaddon races than any royal proclamation ever could. It made sense the same diplomacy would work as well on Earth and it had. And the centuries of close contact with Eric had even softened Bas's dislike of royalty into respect and even admiration for Eric, which she displayed in typical Bas fashion as sibling-like sniping at him.

It was the final member of the group chosen that had been the hardest to take. Brenden, the obnoxious púca, might be the king's Treasurer and excellent at his job, but he was also an unrepentant jokester who delighted in pranking those who it annoyed the most. Bren had seemed to Phillip to be a downright dangerous choice to include on such a critical mission. It wasn't like the Maker was going to give second chances, so why bring someone along likely to piss off the natives? Especially when Phillip was available and was always willing to help and support his brother in every way he could. It had felt like a slap in the face.

Then Eric had come to Phillip and explained. The only reason Eric hadn't included him was because he, Phillip, was the only one Eric wanted overseeing the realm in his absence. He hadn't invited Phillip along because, though Eric would be able to cross the portal back to Abaddon at need, he wouldn't actually be in the realm the majority of the time. So he appointed Phillip as Regent in his place; when Eric was unavailable, Phillip could make what decisions were needed and – being almost as magically strong as Eric – Phillip could defend the crown against almost any threat, at least long enough for Eric to take over the battle.

Phillip had been flattered beyond belief. Hurt transformed into pride…and then terror. Eric left giant shoes to fill. But Phillip channeled the pride and terror into the job, determined that, even with Eric gone much of the time, he wouldn't miss getting critical information. Phillip had spent those centuries expanding his spy network. Taverns across the realm were seeded with invisible spells keyed to specific words like 'Eric' or 'king' and designed to send the data back to Phillip's office in the palace, recording onto scrolls at first, and then bound journals more recently, for Phillip to read through.

Live spies had followed to augment the spy-spells, a scant few at a time with loyalty to Eric rigorously enforced. Phillip deployed them to particularly troublesome spots to supplement the spells and collect first-hand data.

Above all, Phillip made it his life's mission to ensure his brother had all of the information needed and was as protected from all threats as Phillip could make him because in the entirety of Abaddon's existence, it had only ever had two kings, so there was no established method for the transfer of authority. In a realm of immortals, waiting for age to remove the first sadistic King Zed hadn't been an option and Eric had to kill Zed for the good of the realm, but Phillip was determined regicide would not become the norm in Abaddon. Eric would rule forever, if Phillip could make it happen.

But Eric needed him for another job now. He'd have to continue his duties long-distance. Really long distance.

All right. When do you want me to go?

Tamara and Caitlyn are putting together a class for everyone who will be in this first group. I'm telling the Counsel about our change in status tonight and making the public announcement tomorrow. Two Counselors will be chosen to cross with you and the rest of the spots available in this first batch will be taken up with King's Guard. I want a police force over there and acclimated before we get too many Abaddonites on Earth. Between that and requiring the class for everyone, it should keep Raphael happy enough to make nice reports to the Maker. We only get one shot at this.

What are the rules? Phillip asked. You never did say.

Eric sighed and pulled up a seat. I know. Sorry about that. I meant to fill you in, but...

But you were on your honeymoon, Phillip returned with a grin. You and Tamara only took a couple of days for yourselves after completing your bond. I didn't expect you to interrupt it to satisfy my curiosity.

I appreciate that, Eric said dryly.

But I am curious, Phillip prompted.

All right. Well, first, completing the bond with Tamara was the final piece of the puzzle.

The Maker required you to win your Concordia before He would allow the rest of us on Earth? How was that related?

That's exactly what He did. And as much as that prissy Angel Raphael annoys me, after he explained it makes complete sense. Tamara is human. She's taking on my powers as any Concordia would, but at the core, she will always be human. And Earth is her home. It would hurt her too if Abaddon goes to war with Earth or if Abaddonites are hurting or killing humans.

Phillip nodded and concluded, "So therefore, you won't let it happen because no one would ever let their Concordia be hurt if they could prevent it. Not that you would have allowed it anyway.

I wouldn't, Eric agreed, but that's only how I feel right now. We live very long lives. Who's to say I wouldn't get bitter after a few more centuries or maybe just apathetic about keeping the peace. Without Tamara there to be my conscience...

The light dawned. So, the Maker assured you would always have her there for you. Tying your immortality to her through the bond.

With us bonded, I'll never be without her. Eric’s face softened at the thought of his mate. It is insurance I will always take care that Abaddonites do not exploit or kill the humans.

What's it like? Phillip asked on impulse.

The bond? Eric's lips curved in an expression Phillip had never seen before but was instantly envious of. It's...indescribable. It's still new, still growing stronger, but even now, I can tell precisely where Tamara is and how she's feeling. I can always sense her—like one of Mata's hugs always wrapped around me. I can feel her love for me. It's a constant, steady warmth, no matter what I'm doing.

Phillip hoped he wasn't as green as their Mata got when she was angry. He was sure abject jealousy wasn't a good look for him. Not because he wanted Tamara, though she was a lovely woman as far as he could tell, but for his own Concordia. Over the centuries, he'd thought of taking a mate. Like Eric, Phillip had been convinced liches were exempt from the Concordia agreement with the Maker. And while he'd thought of taking a mate without the bond as most Abaddonites did, there had never been anyone special who could accept him and his job with its odd hours and sudden emergencies.

A Concordia would understand and accept him.

He shook the thought off. Concordias were only granted to the best of people. The ones who pleased the Maker the most. Like Eric. Phillip was only...Phillip. The Maker wasn't likely to place a perfect mate in his path for simply being so...ordinary.

You made history again, he remarked to his brother instead.

You mean being the first lich to win their Concordia? I almost didn't, Eric admitted. I was convinced we liches weren't included in the Concordia promise because none had ever been given one. But as I was reminded, most liches do not quite have the morals and temperament the Maker is trying to instill in us. It is no wonder they have not been so rewarded. But those of us raised by Mata and the other ogres...I have high hopes all of my siblings will find their Concordias as well. I'm just the oldest, so I was lucky enough to be first. You're next-oldest, so possibly beginning with you. Maybe you'll find your own mate on Earth.

Phillip felt his heart leap, and ruthlessly reminded himself it was highly unlikely. Perhaps. He shrugged as if it didn't matter to him one way or the other. So, the bond was the final key for authorization. What are the rules for passage?

Eric hesitated and Phillip willed him to accept the change of topic. Thankfully, his brother seemed to receive the silent plea.

The Maker is maintaining control of the portal by means of the Concordia bonds. In addition to the four of us originally allowed passage, any bonded pair may travel at will through the portal. But unbonded Abaddonites are required to be touching someone with a completed bond in order to be allowed through. And the numbers are limited to no more than six unbonded for each Concordia pair on Earth. Or three per individual Concordia.

So, because the Maker grants us our Concordias, He is in control of our rate of return.

Exactly.

Which means...how many are going over in this first batch?

Because they were the original group, I took with me to Earth, Colin, Brenden, and Bas are counted as bonded even though they do not have their mates yet. With Tamara and myself, that gives us five people counted as Concordias. We might get a few more after I make a public call across the realm, but for now, we can send over fifteen unbonded. Two will be from the Council. You're the third. The other twelve will be King's Guard.

And you mentioned a class? How long is this class supposed to be?

Earth rules and rituals are different. The class is designed to help ease the transition and prevent any major cultural gaffes. Tamara suggested making it required before anyone crosses over and I think it's a brilliant idea. It starts the first of next week and you need to be in it.

But an actual class?

There is a lot to learn, Eric said. Earth rules of behavior are going to cause you problems if you're not aware of the differences. It's scheduled for a full week to help minimize your culture shock.

Phillip suppressed a sigh. He supposed that made sense, so he'd just have to fit it in. Somehow. No matter what Eric said about Noya not being important, the man had still committed treason and attacked Eric; Phillip was going to find him. Understood. I'll be there. He'd use every trick he knew to establish the contacts he needed on Earth as quickly as possible so he could get back to the task of tracking down Noya. Phillip would find the man if he had to place recording bugs in every home across the realm.

Eric smiled as he turned to leave. Thank you, Phillip. Having you on the job is what's going to make this possible.

~~~~~

Massey should get the counterfeiting case, Rebecca Smythe told her boss. Hall and Purcell the kidnappings. Schrader and Hines should work together on the money laundering and terrorism cases. They're linked.

As she watched Jay take down notes about how to assign the new cases, Rebecca marveled again at how wonderfully odd it was to have someone give her 'feelings' such credence. Though she never claimed to be psychic, Rebecca had always had very strong instincts about when things were right or wrong. From the time she was a toddler, every instance she could ever remember when she ignored or dismissed her instincts, things ended badly.

No one else had ever understood...until Jay. When she first came to work for Jay almost two decades ago, she didn't mention her 'little parlor trick' as her father called it. It helped her close an impressive number of cases, but she didn't share her feelings with others. Until one day when there was a team organizing for a major strike operation and she was hit with a feeling so strong she couldn't let it pass without at least attempting to get Jay to listen. Every fiber of her being was convinced that if a fellow agent—Sandoval—went on the op he would die.

She'd cornered Jay in his office and told him what she felt, knowing in her heart that he'd ignore her warning and possibly even send her for a mental evaluation before firing her for being unfit. To her utter shock, he'd listened instead. Sandoval had been majorly pissed at being pulled off the op. He hadn't known she was the cause, but he knew she'd met with Jay in his office right before he'd been pulled so he'd blamed her anyway, accosting her in the hall with a blistering tirade. She'd accepted it because she was to blame.

Then, as they sat in a conference room listening to the radio transmissions from the op in progress, Sandoval had abruptly clutched his chest and hit the floor. Agents around him had swarmed to start CPR, call an ambulance, and grab the defibrillator from its case on the wall. As the ambulance had wheeled Sandoval away, shaken and weak but breathing on his own, Jay had come up to where Rebecca had been standing to watch and placed a hand on her shoulder. He'd spoken softly, only to her.

Thank you. He wouldn't have made it if he'd been on that op. Help wouldn't have reached him in time. And the op would have been compromised, besides, possibly costing even more lives. I know it must have been difficult to come to me, but I want you to promise you'll continue to do so if you have any more feelings like that. I may not change plans because of them, but I promise it won't be because don't believe you.

When Sandoval and his brand-new quadruple bypass had returned to work, he hadn't apologized for yelling at her...but a vase of flowers had mysteriously appeared on Rebecca's desk. Two days later, Sandoval tentatively asked for her help on his next case. She had readily agreed. 

That had been the start of her reputation as 'Sixth Sense Smythe'—or 'Triple-S'. It got her respect and derision in equal measure.

But Jay had never wavered in his belief of her. Eventually, Jay had started asking for her input before he assigned cases to begin with. Leading them to where they were now.

Jay looked up then. Thank you, Smythe. Anything else for today?

She hesitated but finally answered, No, sir.

He raised a brow. That wasn't convincing. What is it?

Nothing. I mean...not really. I just have this sense that something big is coming. I can't tell when or even if it's a good-big or bad-big. Just...something is coming. She shook her head. Never mind. It's probably just my imagination. Or wishful thinking, she added with a grin. I've only caught minor cyber-embezzlement cases recently that have been committed by morons. No challenge at all.

Jay eyed her for a long moment, then nodded. All right. But if the feeling clarifies, you let me know immediately.

Yes, sir.

Unfortunately, her instincts weren't quite as helpful against minor annoyances as they were against major catastrophes. If they had been, Rebecca would have known to turn left out of Jay's office instead of right.

Still sucking up to the boss, Smythe?

She inwardly groaned. Rick Floyd had come to the local agency office almost a year ago as a deputy director under Jay. Rumors held that he'd been granted the promotion as a means to shut him up about seducing his previous director into an adulterous affair. Rebecca could believe it. He'd certainly not won it on merit. And his blatant misogyny and regrettable good looks spoke to someone who would find it easy both in practice and on his conscience to callously use a woman to advance his own career.

She stepped around him. I don't need to suck up, Floyd. That's the last refuge of someone who's so awful at his job, sucking up is the only way he can advance. I don't have that problem.

The subtle insult turned his face the approximate shade of an overripe tomato and he stepped forward to loom over her. If you weren't sucking up, then what did Jay want? Or is this more of that 'Sixth Sense' crap you've been peddling? You've got Jay snowed with your stupid shit.

Rebecca refused to be intimidated. Why don't you go ask Jay? If he wants you to know what we discussed, I'm sure he'll tell you. I have work to do. A feint to the left, then slipping around him to the right got her past the barricade of stupid. She saw him begin to reach for her, then stop himself as he glanced over to where Jay's administrative assistant watched them with interest. Rick had tried to subvert the woman early on after he'd arrived, but Miss Simmons was unshakably loyal to Jay. A fact for which Rebecca was grateful right now as she made her way back to her desk unmolested.

~~~~~

The primary difference you all will need to understand about how things are done on Earth is that humans consider attacking each other to be criminal. You may defend, but not attack. You all must remember that humans are physically weaker than all of you and they are not immortal. Nor do they have magic to heal their wounds. What this means is, they are easily injured, and they take a very long time to heal—if they are not killed outright. Queen Tamara stood in front of the group of Abaddonites looking entirely too serene for Phillip's peace of mind. Didn't his brother's mate understand that any one of the other people in the room could break her in half without trying? Why wasn't she the least bit wary?

Yes, Phillip knew that Eric had supplied her with a magic shield to keep her safe, and yes, everyone in the room was