Killian Read online

  Table of Contents

  Killian

  Blurb

  Copyright Acknowledgement

  Map

  Foreword

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  MLR Press

  Killian

  Whispers from a Hidden World – Book One

  T.N. Tarrant

  www.mlrpress.com

  Blurb

  Regent Killian Larrestes survived a harrowing attack and the betrayal of his family by his mother, and has since worked to help them all recover, learning the complexities of protecting and commanding a large, sprawling Clan.

  Shiloh Zahirris is seeking Sanctuary from a marriage he doesn’t want when he ends up under the protection of Killian Larrestes. Killian takes him in, and they find themselves falling in love. But will social objections, personal insecurities, and someone seeking revenge destroy their chance at happiness?

  Copyright Acknowledgement

  This book 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 2018 by T.N. Tarrant

  All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.

  Published by

  MLR Press, LLC

  3052 Gaines Waterport Rd.

  Albion, NY 14411

  Visit ManLoveRomance Press, LLC on the Internet:

  www.mlrpress.com

  Cover Art by Melody Pond

  Editing by Amanda Faris

  eBook format

  Issued 2018

  This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of International Copyright Law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines and/or imprisonment. This eBook cannot be legally loaned or given to others. No part of this eBook can be shared or reproduced without the express permission of the publisher.

  Foreword

  What if humanity wasn’t the only sentient humanoid species on the planet? What if they hadn’t been for over thirty thousand years? And what if this other species came from the stars…?

  The second of two species that had evolved separately on the same planet, Rimalians were all that remained of Rimalia, a planet long since consumed by its dying sun. Forced to land due to dwindling supplies and deteriorating spaceships, they made Earth their new home, their new hope for the future. With them, they brought the last children of the Ancients and what little science they found useful.

  A matriarchal society, Rimalians had learned from the errors of the Ancients. They would not despoil this new planet, or themselves, through war and ever-escalating technology. Instead, they would be an agrarian people, caretakers of this gift Deity had given them.

  Remaining completely separated from the evolving humans, they thrived, partially because Rimalians were physically and mentally mature after fourteen Terran years, and partially due to the Lessons they had brought with them from their doomed home world. In time, the last children of the Ancients died—some having lived over four or five millennia—content in the fact that those few they had trained would continue to guard and guide the Rimalian people.

  These Sennrojai, especially strong psychics whose normally recessive Ancient genes were dominant, could be born of any Rimalian family, although generally, larger numbers of Ancient ancestors meant a stronger likelihood of a Sennrojai birth. The fact a Sennrojai usually lived more than a millennium, combined with the decisions they were often called upon to make, and the violent fear their abilities sometimes evoked from the other Rimalians, led the Sennrojai to retreat from the general Rimalian populace for their own protection. Watching those you love die year after year while you remained healthy and young would break the strongest of hearts. Eventually it came to pass that a Rimalian could live their entire life without ever seeing one of these fabled beings.

  Eventually, humanity spread across the globe, and a hard decision needed to be made. Rimalians would either have to live side-by-side with humans, close but separate, outwardly adapting while remaining true to themselves, or stay immured on their island, which could not support their growing population and so was unfeasible. Thankfully, human societies of the time considered a child to be an adult by the time they reached their early teens, making integration easier.

  Efforts were made to preserve their society, Rimalians adapted by living mostly in Rimalian-only enclaves, and life went on.

  By the twenty-first century, as humans reckoned it, human children were no longer considered adults so young. Now, eighteen was considered the threshold of maturity. Had Rimalians matured at the same rate, this would not be any trouble. However, the Rimalian homeworld had a shorter year, about tenth months, instead of twelve. It meant that the equivalent of eighteen Rimalian years was only fourteen Terran years. As long as Rimalians stuck to their own, this was not a problem. However thanks to social security numbers, a governmental policing system, and an interconnected computer system, issues with humans arose. Most of these problems were circumvented by home schooling and self-policing, even with the rapid growth of Rimalian young. A Rimalian of fourteen looked like an eighteen-year-old human and had adult responsibilities.

  Still much the same as they had been when they first arrived on this planet so long ago, the Rimalian people lived, laughed, and loved, hidden in the midst of a younger, more volatile species. As humans became more technologically capable, Rimalians prayed to Deity for their human “neighbors” to outgrow their more violent inclinations before they, like the Ancients, destroyed their planet of origin. Earth.

  Glossary

  Artris- Matriarch, Clan Leader. Usually a woman, but title, or formal address of “Lady” does not change if holder of the rank is male.

  Senki- Mother. Variations: Sebki, Secki

  Senka- Father. Variations: Sebka, Secka

  Masenki- Grandmother

  Masenka- Grandfather

  Mysen- Beloved child

  Mysena- Beloved grandchild

  Myseni- term of affection or comfort for a small child

  Sennrojai- Rare type of Tii-su, with far more diverse psionic abilities, a kind of Guardian of Rimalia and its culture and citizens. Often work to protect Rimalians from humans, but also to protect humans from Rimalians when needed. Facilitate communication, and even travel through telekinetic abilities.

  Miisen- Pronounced (me-ee-sin) Lifemate. A psionic bond so powerful that that those who experience it will die together. It cannot be mind-blocked, or prevented, and attempts to reject the bonding can be devastating, even fatal. The bond supersedes all others and is not subject to rules and agreements concerning marriage, or any other relationship. Is usually only between two people, without regard to gender or sexual orientation, but is known to occur in three, or more rarely, four people.

 
; Verification- procedure by which the memories/knowledge of a person or persons is psionically examined by qualified Tii-su and, oftentimes, members of the Artris Council, or the entire Council. On occasion, the participants of this procedure may be limited. In rare cases, after a special vote which must be unanimous, a Verification may be forced, although there can be severe consequences to such a decision

  Tii-su- (tee-ee-su) Healer. Title earned by all practitioners of the medical arts. Applies equally to nurses, physicians, counselors, surgeons, etc. An earned rank, without bias toward male or female, although some Tii-su earn the rank through the need to protect their own well-being, not out of wish to go into medicine. All Tii-su are very strong telepaths and/or empaths, and are expected to act for the health and safety of their patients, and others in general.

  Nameless- those who have been disowned by their Clans, or that have disowned their Clans. Usually male, but females are among them as well. Most likely to have the most unwanted duties within a community and most likely to be abused, due to their lack of family ties and rank.

  Rimalians- humanoid alien species almost indistinguishable from humans due in part to small genetic adaptions upon arrival, evolution, and some interbreeding. Rimalians are psionic in nature, with varied levels of sensitivity, are generally stronger than humans, have a distinct size difference most of the time between males and females (females being larger), and exhibit a skin color range in both “human” tones, as well as their original colorings of deep shades of purple, red, green, black. Rimalians that display such coloring and/or the iridescent shimmer of their evolutionary past are called Ancient-skinned or throwbacks, and in recent centuries, as prejudice against darker skin became more prevalent, have been hidden away in protected enclaves in Africa or on the Island.

  Rimalia Island- the large island the Rimalians colonized initially when they arrived on Earth and named after the planet they came from. While Rimalian enclaves exist all over the world, Rimalia remains the center of their culture and government. Every Clan has a House there. The Council Building, the Medical Complex, which includes the Asylum and Baths, and the Archives built on a large plain not too far from a very large natural harbor are there. The island has been continuously occupied since arrival, and despite having no standing army or navy, has never been conquered. The Island of Rimalia is located in the Atlantic Ocean, not far off the coast of Africa. Basically, a micro-continent formed much like Iceland, near the countries of Angola and Namibia area of the mid-ocean ridge, but is considerably older, and thus not near as active geologically. The channel between the island and the Necropolis territory on the African continent claimed by the Rimalians upon arrival is slightly more than one hundred miles at its widest point.

  Chapter 1

  Thirteen-year-old Killian Larrestes limped down the hall to his mother’s study, followed by his little sister and little brother, as well as his father. He was bleeding from his cheek, shoulder, and groin, and his knee was twisted, but he still had his virtue, at least. His mother would not allow this insult to go unpunished. How dare Anan touch him without his consent!

  He knocked on the door, ignoring the rest of his family as they asked what had happened. He looked at his father, and then glanced at his younger siblings and shook his head. His father caught on and shooed the younglings off. Whatever had happened wasn’t for young ears. Killian promised them he was okay, and he’d talk to them later. His mother finally answered the knock, telling him to come in. His father followed him, for which he was glad. This way he’d only have to say it once. He felt shaky as it was.

  His mother, Janet Larrestes, stood up behind her desk, with a surprised look on her face, when he and his father came in. “Killian, what happened? Were you attacked?”

  He nodded grimly. “Yes, Senki, I have been, but I fought back well enough to escape Anan.”

  “Anan?” Janet’s expression was puzzled. She shook her head. “I don’t understand. Are you saying Anan attacked you?”

  Killian nodded as his father put a comforting hand on his shoulder. “Yes, Senki, Anan attacked me. She attempted to rape me, Senki.”

  “Surely there must be some mistake, Killian. Anan is your fiancée. This marriage has been arranged for a year now. I thought the two of you liked each other.” Janet sat down again, not even bothering to ask how bad his injuries were.

  Killian nodded again. “I thought so, too, Senki. I mean, I liked her. She has always acted properly, even if I haven’t always liked the way she treats me. But this is different. This isn’t a misunderstanding of two people needing to learn how to deal with each other. She tried to rape me. I had to walk home from the park in the square because I wasn’t getting back into that car. Who knows what she would have done then? I had to slash her face with my dagger to get her off of me long enough to get away.” His knee really hurt, but his mother had not given him leave to sit. His father had taken the first aid kit out and had busily began to clean Killian’s face, and carefully removed Killian’s shirt to look at his shoulder.

  “Janet, this wound on his shoulder needs stitching,” David Larrestes told his wife softly, as he gently checked the wound. Killian hissed and barely managed not to say every cuss word he knew.

  “That can wait until we settle this.” She picked up the phone. “I’m calling Anan here. We’re going to sort this out.”

  “Can I at least take the boy to get him cleaned up and dressed properly?” David asked, silently warning his son to be quiet. Killian obeyed, giving his mother a respectful look. She was a good woman, but a bit of a martinet.

  Janet held her hand up for silence. She spoke briefly on the phone, ordering Anan and her mother to come to the house to sort out this obvious misunderstanding. A cold chill went through Killian as he listened to those words. Surely, his mother believed him, didn’t she?

  Janet hung the phone up and looked at her husband and son. “Anan is getting her face stitched up. Apparently, you’ve done some damage to your fiancée.” She spoke sourly.

  “Good, maybe she’ll learn that no means no,” Killian said. “There’s no misunderstanding, Senki. On my honor, I promise you. She attempted to rape me. I ran as soon as I was able to get away, and the only way I could make her let me go was to use my dagger.”

  “Go get cleaned up. David, see to his shoulder and get him back down here in two hours. That’s when Anan and her mother will be here. We’ll deal with this then,” Janet ordered.

  Killian opened his mouth to protest, but David gave him a quick pinch, warning his son to hold his tongue.

  “Of course, Janet, two hours,” David agreed.

  Killian bowed his head. “Yes, Senki.”

  David gently led his son out of the study and helped him up the stairs. Taking his son to his own bathroom, he gently sat the boy on the side of the tub, helping him strip out of the torn and bloody pants. When the boy was nude, David saw bloody scratches on the boy’s groin, including what looked like scratch marks on the boy’s penis. Killian was beginning to shake. Wrapping a thick towel around his son, David hugged Killian, and then knelt in front of him.

  “Look at me, Killian.” He waited for his son to focus on him. “Janet isn’t likely to accept your version of this incident.” Killian started to protest, but David gently covered his mouth with his fingertips. “I believe you.” He closed his eyes. “But she won’t. Your mother just has no use for males, other than marriage fodder and to keep her comfortable.”

  For the first time, Killian realized there was no love in his parents’ marriage—just vows honored to bitterness. He wanted to say something, but he had no idea what.

  David had more to say. “Listen to me carefully. Males have rights your mother’s not taught you, as she should have. But my Senki taught me, and now I’m telling you. Any male has the right to ask any woman of age to speak for him, if no one in his family will. I hope I am wrong about your mother, but I don’t think I will be. Your sister isn’t old enough. Normally, you could ask Anan, as your
fiancée, but you are accusing her of attempted rape. You can’t ask her, and her mother is unlikely to agree to. Do you understand me?”

  “Speak for me how?” Killian asked, confused.

  “Speak on your behalf to the Magistrate or the Council, or an Artris. Actually, you can speak to the Magistrate on your own in this case. You’ve been assaulted. This should be brought to the Magistrate. I don’t think that your mother will do it. Get in the tub.” David had started the water running as he spoke.

  “Isn’t this washing away evidence?” Killian asked without moving.

  “The Tii-su can look into our minds, Killian. If it is brought to Magistrate, you’ll be your own witness. So will Anan. Get in, my boy.”

  Killian obeyed this time, with his father’s assistance. His knee hurt like a bitch and it was badly swollen.

  David whistled. “You walked home on that? From the square?”

  “Marabel Solentai offered to give me a ride, but...” Killian didn’t finish. His father didn’t need him to; he understood that Killian wouldn’t want another female to touch him.

  “That was very good of Marabel,” David said neutrally.

  Killian reassured him. “I was polite to her, told her I’d be okay, that I’d rather walk. She just followed me in her car until I got to the house.”

  David nodded. He wouldn’t be surprised if Marabel’s husband Lyle had some questions for him the next day. Marabel wasn’t an idiot. The whole village knew that tonight was the first unchaperoned date between Anan and Killian. At twenty, Anan was older than David would have liked for his sensitive son, but Janet hadn’t asked his opinion. When he’d tried to give it to her anyway, she’d reminded him of his place with the back of her hand. He quickly planned on how best to help his son, just in case. While his son was in the tub, washing, almost scrubbing himself raw, David quickly went to the nursery room. His younger son Jaden was almost too old for the nursery, but his daughter Araminta would be there for another year. He gathered them close and hugged them.