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  DEATH WALTZ

  A Praestani Novel

  A. M. Hargrove

  Death Waltz

  1st Edition

  Copyright © 2014 A.M. Hargrove

  All Rights Reserved

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the author, addressed “Attention: Permissions Coordinator,” at [email protected]

  You must not circulate this book in any format. If you are reading this book and you did not purchase it from the author/publisher, or it was not given to you directly by the author/publisher, then this book is pirated. Piracy is a crime. Please delete any pirated book and purchase it through an authorized distributor. Thank you for respecting the rights of the Author. This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the Author’s overactive imagination. Any resemblance of characters to actual persons living or dead is purely coincidental.

  Table of Contents

  Acknowledgements

  Foreword

  Cast of Characters

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Epilogue

  About The Author

  Other Books By A. M. Hargrove

  Acknowledgements

  For those of you who waited patiently for this sequel, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Writers sometimes hit obstacles and with this book, I hit way more than I can tell you about. Every time I went to write this, so many things happened I finally set it aside. But when the right time struck, boy did it smack me in the head. So I’d first like to thank you, dear reader, for waiting, and I hope you find it worth the wait. Next I’d like to thank Terri Thomas and Kat Grimes for their valuable input and Jurek love. This was truly a hit and run book, because it even took me by storm. Thank you, Ellie Folden, for your editing services. And I can’t do this without sending out hugs to my super awesome street team—thanks Fan-Attics. You are the BEST! And, as always, a special thanks to my husband for putting up with me.

  Other Books by A. M. Hargrove

  The Guardians of Vesturon Series:

  Survival, Book 1

  Resurrection, Book 2

  Determinant, Book 3

  reEmergent, Book 4

  Dark Waltz, A Praestani Novel

  Death Waltz, A Praestani Novel (December 2014)

  The Edge Series:

  Edge of Disaster

  Shattered Edge

  Kissing Fire

  The Tragic Series:

  Tragically Flawed, Tragic 1

  Tragic Desires, Tragic 2

  The Hart Brothers Series

  Freeing Her, Book 1

  Freeing Him, Book 2

  Kestrel, Book 3 (expected release March 2015)

  Exquisite Betrayal

  Dirty Nights, The Novel

  Foreword

  Dear reader, it has been a while since Dark Waltz was published, so I thought it would help if I gave you a few reminders of what occurred when you last visited Jurek and Liasare. If you’ve recently read Dark Waltz, then you have the option of diving straight into the story. If not, here is a brief update.

  With the help of her brother’s best friend, Shandro, Liasare went to Earth to find her brother, Tommy, who mysteriously vanished.

  While on Earth, Liasare met Jurek and his team of Praestani warriors, who were investigating the disappearance of thousands of people. She joined them in their efforts to uncover these mysteries.

  During their investigations, Liasare was taken hostage by Abaddon’s Dark Creatures and almost died. In order to save her, Jurek had to transfer some of his power to her. That power continued to manifest until she bore the full marks of the Praestani.

  Jurek and Liasare finally located Tommy, who had been taken by the Xanthians and had a nanochip implanted in his brain. They transported him to Lare-Stell Base and January (Liasare’s sister), with the help of the robo-medics, removed the chip. They believe the Xanthians are creating an army of minions out of the abductees through the use of the nanochips.

  Liasare discovered that she is the Key to the Light, but Abaddon, the destroyer, wants her. With her by his side, he can somehow steal her power and use it to unleash his evil across the universe, allowing him absolute control over everything.

  So now, the fight against the evil continues.

  Cast of Characters

  Jurek (Alaric) Herdekian, King of the Praestani

  Liasare Davidson, Jurek’s Queen (formerly known as Sarah Liana St. Davis)

  Lexus Herdekian (Jurek’s Mother)

  Jurek’s Praestani Team

  Tak

  Naroo

  Marik

  Ludo

  Talos

  Faxon

  The Guardians of Vesturon

  Tommy St. Davis (Liasare’s brother)

  Shandro Tellus

  Rykerian Yarrister

  January St. Davis Yarrister (Liasare’s and Tommy’s sister)

  Rayn Yarrister

  Maddie Yarrister

  Xarrid Yarrister

  Saylan Yarrister

  Tesslar Yarrister

  Rowan Yarrister

  Other Praestani

  Brinna (house servant to Jurek and Liasare)

  Themis, Nikoleta, and Demokritos (The Praestani Triumvirate)

  Arastas

  This book is dedicated to all my readers …

  Death Waltz

  Prologue

  The beam of energy hovered briefly, then took the form of a man. The hooded creature stood to the side, wondering exactly what kind of bargain the Praestani wished to strike.

  “Well Praestani, you have peaked my interest. You are the last one I expected to hear from.”

  “I imagine so,” the Praestani replied.

  “Tell me, what brings you to my realm?”

  “I come to offer you your greatest desire.”

  Abaddon paused for a moment, stunned. “How can I believe you? Your actions in the past have shown it would seem you would want to prevent this.”

  “She needs to be removed,” he snarled.

  Abaddon laughed, his evil reverberating and sending icy chills crawling down the Praestani’s spine. For a brief moment, a very brief moment, he wondered if he had erred.

  “Your jealousy is potent. I can smell it. It tinges the air with its acridity.”

  “I’m not jealous. Just tired of the foolish games,” the Praestani spat.

  “And I am no fool. This jealousy you deny rules you and will destroy you. So, tell me. What exactly is your price?”

  “I give her to you and she disappears. You are never to reveal how or where. You get what you
want and I get what I want.”

  “And you ask for nothing in return?”

  “Oh, I will have everything I want when she is gone.”

  “You are a fool. He will know.”

  “Don’t worry. He will be occupied with other things. I will see to that.”

  Abaddon contemplated the Praestani’s offer. This could accomplish what he wanted, but he trusted him not at all. Petty jealousies could quickly turn into bitterness or even worse and perhaps this one would come to regret his actions. Remorse could be as deadly as jealousy.

  “I shall think on this and give you my decision.”

  “Don’t make me wait too long or the offer won’t stand.”

  Abaddon laughed. “You dare to threaten me?”

  “Not at all. Let’s say it’s only a little heads up.”

  Abaddon snarled, “Listen to me well, Praestani. I will be the one who controls this scenario, if and when it takes place.”

  The Praestani found himself back in his own world before he had an opportunity to respond.

  Chapter One

  Lare-Stell Base

  Liasare stood like a sentry outside the medical unit observing her brother, Tommy. She had refused to leave and when she did, it was only for brief periods at a time. A week had passed since the Xanthian nanochip had been removed from Tommy’s brain. He was in a medically induced coma, recovering. He had awakened earlier, but his reaction had been so violent, January (their sister who was also a physician) had felt it best to place him back in the coma to let his brain heal. But today, January deemed it was now safe to bring him out of sedation. As Liasare watched him, she was flanked by Shandro, her brother’s best friend, and Jurek, her mate. Liasare squeezed Jurek’s hand as she waited for her brother to wake up.

  “Are you trying to break it?”

  “Wh-what?” She whipped her head towards Jurek.

  “My hand. Are you trying to break it? Because it sure feels like it.”

  “Damn. I’m sorry.” She let his hand go.

  He immediately picked it back up, laced his fingers through hers, and then kissed them one by one.

  “I didn’t mean for you to release it. Only to ease up a bit. You don’t realize your own strength, Liasare.” He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “He’ll be fine, love,” he tried to reassure her.

  “You keep saying that. When this is over, do you think we can practice our fighting again so I can see if I’ve advanced any more?”

  She’d hardly finished speaking the last word when a commotion from the med unit grabbed their attention. Tommy was awake and cowering in a corner. He looked like a frightened squirrel as he stared around, wild-eyed. The color had drained from his face and he appeared to be trying to assess his surroundings.

  “It’s okay Tommy, you’re safe. It’s me, January, your sister. You’re safe with us. Everything’s good and you’re going to be fine.”

  His eyes darted around the room as he crouched in the corner, trembling.

  Liasare looked at Jurek and started sobbing. “Oh God, this is not what I had hoped for.”

  Shandro said, “Maybe I should go in there. He might recognize me.”

  “Not yet Shandro. He’s in shock right now. Think about it. He’s been in a coma for almost a year,” Jurek said. “His brain needs time to adjust.”

  “He looks so terrified,” Liasare said. The purple crescents beneath her eyes coupled with the constant fingernail biting were proof of the stress she’d felt. Tommy was her constant, her everything when she was growing up.

  Jurek tried to soothe her. “Liasare, maybe you should go to him. You were closest to him. He may remember you over anyone.”

  She nodded, then slipped inside the room.

  “Tommy, it’s me, Sarah. Your sister.” She slowly inched her way toward him. He looked at her for a minute and squinted. He cocked his head to the side and kept eyeing her.

  “Say something more,” January prompted. “He seems to know your voice.”

  “Tommy, I know I look different from the last time you saw me and I’ll explain all that later, but just talk to me. Tell me you remember me and all the stupid stuff we used to do when we were kids. Please, Tommy, come back to me.” By the time she was finished speaking she was directly in front of him. She knelt down so she could be face to face with him. “Please come back to me. I’ve missed you more than I’ve missed breathing just about and, well, goddammit, I’m gonna kill you for what you did. How could you go off and do something like that and not tell me? You left me without saying a word, dammit.” His arms crept up around her and suddenly they were hugging and squeezing each other.

  She couldn’t recall how long they held each other, but eventually they separated and sat on the floor facing each other.

  In a broken trembling whisper he said, “I didn’t dare tell you.”

  “What? You mean you were afraid to tell me that you were going to let yourself get captured by the Xanthians on purpose?”

  Tommy nodded.

  “But why? Why would you do such a crazy thing?”

  “We needed to know what they were doing with the captives.”

  “Shit, Tommy.”

  “I didn’t tell you because I knew you’d come charging after me, hell bent on stopping me. My mind was made up and that was that. The Guardians needed more information and as a Guardian, I felt it was my duty.” His hands were clasped together and he was rubbing his thumb over and over.

  “Do you remember anything?”

  “Only being taken by those smelly bastards. They strapped me onto a table and I felt the sting of a needle in my neck. Then nothing after that.”

  Liasare put her hands on his and just held them. “Did you even know about the nanochips?”

  His hand shook as it reached for the place on his head where the chip had been. “Of course I knew. But I thought I’d have some control. And that January and Rykerian could at least pull some data off that thing. Do you know if they were able to?”

  Liasare looked down at his knotted hands. “Yes. We uncovered information on where the colonies are and how they’re creating the army. But, Tommy, I have so much to tell you. I think I’ll have to do it a bit at a time though. How do you feel? Are you thirsty? Hungry?” She looked around the room for January only to find that they were alone.

  He rubbed his head again. “No. I’m fine right now.”

  “Did you recognize January at all?”

  He shook his head. “No. When I came to, the bright lights hurt my eyes. It was your voice I recognized before I knew who you were.”

  She threw her arms around him again, “I’ve been so worried about you. I can’t even tell you. I swear to God, if you ever pull a stunt like this again, I’ll kill you Tommy. You hear me?”

  “Yes ma’am,” he said and gave a half-assed attempt at laughter. Though it was pathetic and a shadow of what it used to be, it was the greatest sound she’d heard in ages.

  “I guess now I get to return the favor for when you took care of me after the crash.”

  “You don’t look like that same girl. What happened to her?”

  Liasare half-snorted. “It’s a long story. Gah, I have so much to tell you. How’s your head?” She reached out her hand to cup his cheek and then ran her fingers lightly across the incision on his scalp.

  “Bloody sore. Beating like a drum.”

  They were interrupted by January, who suggested he lie down and rest.

  Their reunion, although sweet, was not anywhere near his and Liasare’s.

  “I don’t want to rest. I feel like I’ve been resting for a year.”

  “Yeah, well, I’m throwing down the healer card here,” January insisted. “Your brain has been through so much and needs to recover. And you need a day of rest before you resume any activity. I’m going to give you some medicine to restore your muscle strength.”

  After he agreed, January medicated him and he fell back to sleep. January also reassured her sister that Tommy would b
e ready to chat the next day. Liasare watched him as he slept. She massaged his forehead, in the same way he did to her when she was recovering from her crash. She hoped it would bring him pleasant dreams.

  In the morning, Liasare was there ready to awaken him. As soon as January saw her sitting outside the door, she laughed.

  “What? You couldn’t wait for him to wake up on his own?”

  Liasare growled. “No! He’s been away for so long, I need to speak to him.”

  January shrugged and they both walked into his room. After a thorough examination, Tommy was released from medical care, but was told to take it easy for the next month. His body had to readjust and it would take at least that long. Liasare, being the eager one to have her brother back, didn’t waste any time on dragging him out of the medical unit.

  “Come on, let’s go eat!” Liasare grabbed his arm and tugged him down the corridor, arm in arm.

  “By the way, where the hell are we?” he wanted to know.

  Liasare burst out laughing. “Oh gosh, I forgot. We’re on Lare-Stell base. It’s Jurek’s space station for his business, LS Enterprises.”

  “Who’s Jurek?”

  January looked at Liasare and said, “I’ll leave this up to you and I’ll see you both in a few minutes at breakfast. I’m going to get Rykerian.”

  Liasare looked thoughtfully at Tommy and said, “It might be best if you meet him. And Shandro’s here too.” She sent out a telepathic message to Jurek and moments later, he popped in the dining room.

  “Whoa! No teleporter?” Tommy asked.

  “Not necessary for my kind,” Jurek said. “I’m a Praestani. My species are energy shifters. I can shift from energy to mass and am comfortable in both forms. It’s the way I travel as well.”

  Liasare introduced them and then explained to Tommy about how she met Jurek. “When I couldn’t find you and didn’t get any help from the Guardians, I took it upon myself to head to Earth to track you down.”