Free Defiance (Rise of the Iliri Book 3) by Auryn Hadley Page B

most spoiled pups ever."  Sal smiled down at her friend.  "And you may not be a gerus, but as far as I'm concerned, you've more than earned the title of ilus."
    Ilus?
    Sal shrugged a little too innocently.  "It's a title for any iliri who has earned respect.  Since we don't have any Kaisaes left – well, except me – it's a way to show that someone has proven themselves.  I figure if you're a member of an iliri pack that makes you iliri, right?"
    I like that.   Roo wuffed at the thought, letting her tongue flop from her lips.  And maybe my pups will want to be iliri, too.
    "I hope so."  Sal glanced down at her friend's waist, aware that the bitch was still sleek and trim.  "Just tell me you aren't going to have a whole litter, ok?"
    Just two, Roo assured her.  We always have twins.
    "This is all new to me.  I don't even know how fast they grow.  How old are grauori before they can hunt with the pack?"
    Usually when we're about two we get to tag along, but we stay with the helpers.  How long does it take iliri?
    "That fast?  It takes us years.  We're old enough to hunt around eighteen, although many think they can before that.  We usually begin breeding when we're in our twenties.  Iliri often live to be near eighty."
    Roo's eyes were wide.  So long?  We're considered full packmates by the time we're five.  We usually begin breeding when we're about fourteen.  Although, I'm only twelve.
    Sal knew her friend was young, but not that young!  "How long do the grauori live?"
    By forty we're showing age.  Few live past fifty, but most often it's humans that take our lives, not age.
    "So basically, you just mature faster than we do.  With you being a linker, there's no reason you couldn't travel with us and keep the pups in camp on the safe missions.  When they're old enough, if you let me, I'd be happy to help train them."
    You would?  The Kaisae would be willing to train my pups?  Roo's eyes were wide, and she buried her head against Sal.  Her stubby fingers wrapped in Sal's shirt as she hugged her.
    "Roo, your pups would be like my own."  Sal hugged her back.  "There's no way I'd let them make their first kill without me there to protect them!"
    That's when she realized just how well Roo had distracted her.  Speaking about killing brought Sal's mind back to Jase's mission.  Right now, he was making the most important assassination without her.  She knew he could do it, but it still felt wrong.  Sal stopped herself before she could reach out and check the men again. 
    The sky was truly dark and the stars glittered above them.  She knew they would let her know if something happened, but she hated this.  Hated being stuck at the camp waiting, hated not knowing how to make the new king love them, hated being so far from home, stuck on a mountain, and surrounded by snow.  At least she had one good friend to keep her from going insane.
    Fuck, Jase's voice suddenly broke into her mind.  Roo sat up, and Sal knew they both heard it. 
    Sal, we have a complication.

 
    Chapter 9

     
     
    Jase slipped across the battlement, his dark clothing hiding him against the night sky, a cowl covering his pale face.  Slowly, step by step and hand hold by hand hold, he made his way closer to the Palace.  Finding a vantage point, he hid in the shadows and checked his quiver again.  Each arrow was made from raven feathers.  The black fletching was only used by the Terran archers.  If he wasn't caught, this assassination would only give Anglia more reasons to fear and despise Terric.
    Through the window below, Jase watched figures moving, waiting to see the aged king.  The Myrosican ambassador walked into sight, talking to someone on the other side of the room before moving away.  After a long pause, the Chancellor did the same.  Jase checked his surroundings again, making note of the guards and which path they traveled.  This section of the wall seemed nearly abandoned, but as he turned back to the