Madaxa's Heir: The Saoirse Saga, #3

By Teagan Kearney

"All in all, it was an excellent finish to the series. I enjoyed the books and hope to see more."

".I absolutely loved this series. Hats off to the author!"

"Beautifully written, great world building, believable characters and exciting story. I recommend to read all three books, you won't regret it."

 

When the one you love betrays you, who can you trust? 
Protected by a holy warrior and pursued by bounty hunters and the emperor's assassins, Kia is hiding a secret the emperor can never find out—she is carrying his grandchild. After giving birth, Kia has to leave her daughter and resume her duties as a member of Prince Rial's personal guard.
Discovering Rial has betrayed her shatters her trust in him, but when a rebel force attacks the emperor's fleet, Kia must put aside her personal feelings and stand by Rial's side as he aids his father. During the battle, she seizes an opportunity to free herself, and the galaxy, from the emperor's tyranny. Is this one throw of the dice a mad gamble that will result in her death, or can she—against all odds—achieve the ultimate success?

Madaxa's Heir is the final explosive episode in the fast-paced action-packed Saoirse Saga. If you like determined heroines who refuse to give up fighting for those they love then you'll love Teagan Kearney's epic conclusion.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Teagan Kearney
• Release date: Jul 21, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223826040

Teagan Kearney

I was born in London of Irish parents, and I write paranormal urban fantasy and commercial women's fiction. I also write short stories in the science-fiction, magic realism, crime and romance genres. I love traveling, and enjoy photography, drawing, theater, film, reading, and when there are no gales blowing, I like to walk. I'm a fair-weather gardener, and am compiling an ever increasing bucket list of places I want to visit from Iceland to Australia.

Book preview

The Saoirse Saga: Episode Three

Madaxa’s Heir

By

Teagan Kearney

The right of Teagan Kearney to be identified as the Author of the Work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means without the prior permission of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchases.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Copyright Teagan Kearney © 2018

Cover photo: Shutterstock

Dedication

To Tim, as always, for your loving support. It means the world.

Acknowledgment

Grateful thanks to my wonderful editor, Lois Dacus,

without whom this book would not be the same.

And to every single one of my readers—a great big heartfelt thank you!

Sign up for the author’s mailing list to receive a free copy of Hekate’s Chalice, Book One in the Adept Solutions Series, and information about new releases, discounts, and advanced reading copies: https://tinyurl.com/yale54pw

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: An Unexpected Event

Chapter 2: Sleight of Hand

Chapter 3: A Little Help From a Friend

Chapter 4: The Holy Warrior

Chapter 5: Going Where?

Chapter 6: On Being a Naofa Soturi Apprentice

Chapter 7: Space Tourists

Chapter 8: Not a Problem

Chapter 9: The Ice Planet

Chapter 10: To Be a Pilgrim

Chapter 11: More Masquerades

Chapter 12: Life is Cyclic

Chapter 13: Hunted

Chapter 14: The Price of Freedom

Chapter 15: Bliss & Bitterness

Chapter 16: Broken Promises

Chapter 17: The Slingshot

Chapter 18: A Cheerless Reunion

Chapter 19: Beloved No More

Chapter 20: Chenjerai Buddies

Chapter 21: A Reluctant Player

Chapter 22: A Paradigm Shift

Chapter 23: Mending Bridges

Chapter 24: End Game In Sight

Chapter 25: Hit and Run

Chapter 26: Reconciliation

Chapter 27: Looking To The Future

FROM THE AUTHOR

Chapter 1: An Unexpected Event

Kia stood beside Rial, the heir to the Nadil-Kuradi Empire, in the command center of the royal flagship the Kadaugan, relief flooding through her as she watched the flickering wormhole beacons disappear in the rearview screen. Rial had insisted she share the piloting and, although she might never attain his level of skill, she was improving. Despite Rial sitting beside her, ready to assist if needed, hurtling past the pulsing walls, expanding and contracting in some unfathomable rhythm was still a mind-numbing and nerve-wracking experience.

She pushed a gold-blonde curl behind her ear. Her hair was tied back, but strands always wriggled free. As the pilot, Tamaiko switched to the forward real-time viewscreen, she bent down to get a better look, brushing Rial’s arm. Their destination, Matautia—the fifth and largest planet orbiting an old yellow dwarf in the Shineal System—dominated the screen.

Feeling anxious, Consort? Rial glanced sideways at her, a teasing smile on his lips, his green eyes playful.

She elbowed him in the ribs. No, and don’t start with the titles again.

The recent visit to Djem, the capital of Xarunta from where Rial’s father, the Emperor Teyrn, ruled the Nadil-Kuradi Empire, had been peppered with references to her status as Rial’s consort—not a welcome experience when it was the emperor himself who’d dropped most of the comments. They’d hardly been planetside long enough to stretch their legs before Teyrn ordered his son to join two of his leading space fleet generals and defeat a new rebellion brewing in the Osidantal quadrant. That was three weeks and two wormholes ago. Negotiations with Matautia’s governor and a strategic planning session with the two commanders was on the agenda for the upcoming meeting.

ETA, five hours plus, Tamaiko announced.

You’re one of my best pilots. Rial peered at another screen, Can’t you cut an hour off that?

There’s a strict lockdown while this conference takes place. Tamaiko tapped the control panel. It appears even you, my lord, must wait for clearance.

Final call for anyone wanting to reassure themselves they’re alive again, a voice barked from the tannoy, making everyone jump.

I’m off. Kia didn’t need confirmation she was alive as, thanks to the nanobots in her and Rial’s bloodstreams, they were immune from the psychotic effects that staying awake had on normal people transiting a wormhole. The rest of the Chenjerai had to be sedated during these crossings. Nonetheless, rather than stand and watch Matautia incrementally fill the screen, she preferred the physical release that the adrenaline rush of action provided.

Tell Toinen not to bellow when he makes an announcement, Rial called after her as she disappeared out the door.

Kia slid into the gym. The room was tiny when compared to the fully equipped gymnasium at Rial’s palace on Djem, but it was sufficient to allow the heir and the throne’s personal guard, the Chenjerai, to practice and maintain their skills and levels of fitness during the many space flights the emperor required his heir to undertake.

Kia slipped in next to Shaba, nodded and smiled at her friend.

The tall thin woman winked a greeting. He’s allowing a free session, but no punching or kicking, she whispered.

Shame, but I’ll manage. Kia eyed her friend, noticing the pasty hue of her flawless complexion and, instead of her usual tightly bound plaited topknot, she wore her light brown hair in a loose plait. You okay? Kia asked.

Shaba nodded. I’m fine. It’s a wormhole thing. I’m checking up on him, not practicing. She tilted her chin at Toinen, the broad, stocky instructor with the booming voice.

The Chenjerai were a close-knit group and, while casual affairs among them happened, a few had developed more serious relationships. Shaba and Toinen had been partners for a long time.

The two dark-skinned warriors at the center of attention, Farih and Ilo, both originally came from the Urrun star system and were in a permanent relationship, but when it came to proving their combat expertise, both wanted to win. Farih pressed his knee deeper into Ilo’s back, forcing him further backward.

Kia watched Farih tightening his chokehold on Ilo’s neck. She caught Toinen’s movement out of the corner of her eye and knew he was getting ready to end the fight but kept her gaze fixed on the pair of heaving, sweating men.

Kia, along with the dozen others ranged around the room, held her breath. Ilo wouldn’t be able to withstand the pressure for long. Would Toinen finish the fight before Ilo passed out—the decrease in oxygen feeding his brain must surely be having some effect?

Bout to Farih, Toinen announced, and Farih released his killing hold and grinned, flush with victory, his dark eyes flashing. He stuck out his hand, pulling his partner to his feet, and both offered quick bows to their mentor.

Toinen’s gaze raked the men and women leaning against the walls in deceptively relaxed stances. Feeling alive again, are we? His gaze raked the group, Let’s see how alert Kia is this morning.

Kia sucked in a deep breath, held it and blew it out softly as she took her position opposite Farih. Kia had half the weight and muscle of the man she faced, but she was twice as fast and not without skills of her own. Before the Empire’s forces appeared over the skies of her home planet, Emankora, she’d been a dedicated adherent and champion of srilao, a martial arts discipline that was no longer used in warfare but practiced as a sport. Training with the team had added a number of other techniques for hand-to-hand combat to her repertoire

Farih turned to the group, his charming grin encompassing his audience. I’d better not hurt—

He didn’t finish his sentence because Kia swiveled on her right foot, brought her left heel up and stomped the side of his knee, giving the tall man a sweet smile as he staggered a few steps.

No kicking or punching, Toinen barked.

Strictly, stomping was neither kicking nor punching. Oops, sorry, Farih, she said as he recovered and the bout began in earnest. She moved in fast and grabbed his tunic, yanking him forward, twisting to the side as she toppled backward, pulling him with her. As they fell, she trapped his leg between hers rolling him over as they hit the floor with Farih underneath her. Sliding one arm under his chin, she grasped his shoulder and pressed down hard on his chest, breathing fast as she tried to control him. Farih wriggled, trying to escape. She shifted with him, but he thrust his hips up and she slid off him.

Farih was no longer smirking as Kia bobbed around him, feinting in and away, alert to the minutest of lapses when she would dart in and attack, but she’d caught him once and, judging by the glint in his eye, it wouldn’t be happening again soon. He wanted revenge. Good, because his opening remark had stung. If he’d been teasing, cracking a joke about taking it easy on her because she was Rial’s consort, he did her no favors. She thought her fellow Chenjerai would have learned that lesson by now. She shook the thoughts off; but too late, Farih shot in and gripped her neck, pushing her sideways, and before she could react, he bent, grabbed her leg and she thudded to the floor. He fell with her, landing on top of her, the force of his weight crushing her and squeezing the breath out of her lungs. For an instant, something in her lower belly twinged, then she dragged in a lungful of air and was about to perform the same movement Farih had used when trapped, but the short blast of a siren over the tannoy froze them in place.

Prepare for shuttle arrival in thirty minutes, Tamaiko announced. They've cleared us.

The tension ratcheted up as everyone hustled for the door. As Kia followed the others along the corridor, someone up ahead asked, Isn’t Matautia the home of the Naofa Soturi?

She perked up. The Naofa Soturi? Whatever or whoever that was sounded intriguing.

They’re also called shadow warriors, the Scáth Soturi? somebody else replied.

The first opportunity I get, I’m going to look up that name on a comunit, Kia decided. She could, of course, ask Rial, but he would have a lot on his mind with the upcoming meeting. He was never impatient, answering her numerous queries about the empire and its running in as much detail as she desired, but apart from enjoying the research, discussions were livelier when she challenged him from a position of knowledge.

Kia pulled on her dress uniform, but the pinch in her gut when Farih landed on her was developing into stabbing painful cramps. She staggered and fell sideways onto the bed, trying to catch her breath and biting her lip to stop from screaming as she waited for the excruciating spasm to pass. She wished the nanobots would hurry and heal the bruising or whatever was the problem.

Although initially resenting the unwanted addition to her bloodstream, she’d eventually welcomed the advantages of greater speed and strength, combined with the healing properties they endowed. Few people knew that Rial possessed these wonders of scientific advancement, and he was fiercely determined that no one, especially Teyrn, should find out that the specially designed nanobots had adjusted to Kia’s system. She wondered if her body was rejecting them.

Two short sharp blasts of the siren warned Kia she had five minutes to be dressed and up at the assembly point. She lurched to her feet and was reaching for her boots when a series of vicious spasms tore her guts in half. She doubled over and collapsed on the floor.

When she came to, she was lying on the bed with a couple of pillows under her feet. You’re sure? Rial asked. You’re one hundred percent positive?

Kia kept her eyes closed and listened. Rial had a habit of withholding information from her if he thought she might be endangered in some way.

You do remember authorizing updates for our medical equipment whenever we return to Djem, don’t you?

Kia recognized Cheydii’s voice. The faithful lieutenant was one of Rial’s longest-serving Chenjerai. She opened her eyes as Cheydii waved the tiny device she was holding in her hand at him. And tests as simple as assessing CG levels were perfected millennia ago.

What does CG mean? Kia pushed herself up on her elbows, looking from Rial to Cheydii as they faced each other at the foot of the bed.

Cheydii gave her a great big grin. Congratulations, she said and walked out.

Congratulations? For what? Surviving a cramp? She’d lived through worse.

Rial walked slowly around the bed and lay down next to her, stretching out and making himself comfortable. He slid an arm around her shoulders and drew her close. How are you? He placed a hand on her stomach and spread his fingers.

Kia sighed, relaxing against him. He was her haven in the world she found herself in after the life she’d known was destroyed. She hadn’t been aware at the time, but Rial had worked with her father, Madaxa, laying plans to defeat Teyrn’s expanding empire. But a traitor in their ranks betrayed them, and Kia had stood and watched an imperial soldier shoot and kill her father in front of his fellow citizens. She’d later learned that her mother and young twin sisters had also been murdered. Aren’t we supposed to be getting you to an important meeting? And I'm fine. The pains had faded. The nanobots had healed her more slowly than usual but her insides felt exactly as they should. She moved as if to get up, but he tightened his arm, holding her still and preventing her from leaving.

Kia?

She studied his face. What is it? What’s wrong? The governor’s waiting for you to arrive. We should get moving. I feel normal. Honest.

Nothing’s wrong, my sweet Kia. It’s that—

Oh, something’s wrong all right. You don’t use those words unless you’re about to say something you know I won't agree with. Rial, how many times have we had this conversation? C’mon, be truthful with me.

Kia, he kissed her forehead, her nose, one cheek and then the other and pressed a soft kiss against her lips. We’re going to have a baby girl. You’re pregnant.

Kia lay still, her heart suddenly beating faster. Had she misheard him? She must have misunderstood him. What did you say?

Rial drew back, observing her. You heard me correctly, Kia. You’re going to be a mother and I'll be a father.

She shoved him away, and when he tried to pull her close again, she raised her arm and slapped him hard. Shocked, he loosened his grip, and she backed away from him, moving off the bed and stopping with her back to the wall.

Kia, calm down.

Calm down? Her voice rose. I’ll show you calm down.

Rial stood and walked around the bed toward her, his hands held up in surrender.

Stay away from me. She glared at him, two high spots of color on her cheeks, and he stopped, his eyes never leaving her. What century are you living in? Is this some kind of barbaric Xaruntian practice? Who has unplanned babies anymore? No one. Except you. She wasn’t screaming—yet—and she knew she sounded hysterical, but she couldn’t believe this had happened. Did you forget both parties have to take ormomeds? I can tell you I’ve been taking mine faithfully. Her glance skittered away from him and around the cabin.

Rial took a step toward her, then a second.

No, stay away from me. How will I perform my duty as a Chenjerai? How can I fight? How am I supposed to protect you? You’ve ruined everything.

Rial took another couple of steps, and before she could escape, his arms were around her and he squeezed her tight.

What happens next? she whispered into his chest.

He rubbed his chin on the top of her head. I never lied to you, Kia. I always said I wanted to have babies with you. When I was younger, Teyrn arranged numerous liaisons for me, hoping he could acquire a grandchild possessing nanobots; and, in the end, he thought, despite the nanobots, I’d inherited his infertility. Don’t you want this child?

Kia sensed his tension. What would he do if she said no? Aborting an embryo was no more difficult than a targeted medpatch, but Emankorans believed where there was growth, there was life. And it seemed that a life was growing inside her.

Cheydii thinks when Farih landed on you, it started a miscarriage, and I suspect the cramps were the nanobots repairing the damage and saving the baby.

I hate you.

I know, and it’s not me you hate, Kia. You hate that life keeps taking turns over which you have no control. Believe me, I'm well acquainted with that sense of helplessness.

She tilted her chin up and stared intently at him. Tell me you love me, she said fiercely.

Kia, you are everything to me, and I cannot live without you. I have joined my life with yours, taken vows with you in a Falaichte blessing in front of my grandmother. I love you with everything that I am and more. I will not break my vows to you. I will not allow anything to harm you or our child. I give you my word.

The fight went out of her, and she leaned against him. What did the future hold for her now?

Chapter 2: Sleight of Hand

Tamaiko and a skeleton crew, including Shaba, remained on the Kadaugan in its geostationary orbit to perform routine servicing and maintain readiness to make a speedy departure if necessary. The Chenjerai took their places and escorted Rial aboard the waiting shuttle.

Matautia was not an advanced world, and the battered old space vehicle rattled and shook Kia’s bones as they descended toward the surface, but she hardly noticed. Her brain was stuck on repeat. I’m going to have a baby. After their fight—her fingers tracing the red mark on Rial’s cheek as she apologized—he held her for a long time, unwilling to release her. After a while, she needed the bathroom and he reluctantly let her go. He instructed Nagavi, the team commander, to give the governor an excuse and tell him to send the shuttle early the following morning.

Kia's mind still churned. Now Cheydii’s congratulation made sense. Knowing Rial, she couldn’t help but wonder how much of the situation he’d engineered. He planned everything; a survival technique born out of the need to retain a little freedom in the face of his father’s restrictive control. Life with Rial was never dull, but Kia often found herself gnashing her teeth in frustration. She was pressed into the seat as the shuttle plunged through Matautia’s turbulent atmosphere, and