Novels by Samllen

Ethan woke to the smell of incense and antiseptic.His eyes cracked open to unfamiliar ceiling, white plaster crossed with wooden beams carved with intricate runes that pulsed with faint blue light. The symbols hurt to look at, like staring at the sun through closed eyelids.He tried to sit up. His body refused to cooperate."Don't move." Selene's voice, hoarse with exhaustion. "You've been unconscious for three days. Your meridians are... compromised."Ethan turned his head, the only part of him that seemed willing to obey and found her sitting in a chair beside his bed. She looked terrible. Dark circles shadowed her eyes. Her silver hair hung limp and unwashed. Blood still stained her robes from battles he could barely remember."You look like hell," he croaked."You look worse." But relief flickered across her face. Through the mental link, still there, still functioning, he felt her genuine worry mixed with exhaustion. "Welcome to Academy Safehouse Theta. We've been here for seven

The first hunter died before he realized they were coming.Selene's blade took his head in one fluid motion, her body moving with deadly precision. Through the mental link, Ethan felt her combat instincts and matched them, his body responding to threats he hadn't consciously seen.A gunshot. Ethan ducked, no, Selene had felt the shooter's intent through the link and warned him. The bullet whined past where his head had been a heartbeat earlier."Left side!" Selene's voice rang in his mind and aloud simultaneously.Ethan spun, his fist crashing into a hunter's jaw. Bone shattered. The man dropped.They moved through the ruins like a single organism, each covering the other's weaknesses. When Selene's wounded side slowed her, Ethan was there. When Ethan's inexperience left him open, Selene's blade filled the gap.But th

Ethan stared at the data chip, his mind already racing with plans for revenge. Vincent. Claire. The people who'd wrapped their hands around his throat and watched him die."We're leaving," Selene said sharply. "Now.""But my mother""Is alive. For seven days. Which means we have time to plan and prepare to not throw our lives away on a suicide rescue." She grabbed his arm, her grip surprisingly strong. "Move. Eddy gave us a window to escape. If we waste it, we deserve what happens next."They climbed back through the tunnels in tense silence. Ethan's body screamed with exhaustion, every muscle protesting. Blood still dripped from his nose, the physical cost of pushing his unprepared meridians beyond their limits.Through the mental link, he felt Selene's pain. She was hiding it well, but her left side throbbed with agony. One of the bounty hunters must have landed a serious blow.They emerged to find the courtyard had transformed into a defensive position. Sera and four remaining esta

Selene's blade shifted, angling toward Eddy. "You're lying. Whitmore wants the Xore intact. He'd never risk damaging it by extracting it from a corpse.""True." Eddy tilted his head, conceding the point. "But he'd risk it if the alternative was letting the heir grow strong enough to challenge him. Better a damaged Xore than a living enemy."Ethan's hands clenched into fists. Silver light flickered around them, the Xore responding to his rage. "I'm not surrendering. Tell me where my mother is.""You're not in a position to make demands." Eddy's smile never faltered. "But I like your spirit. It reminds me of your father.""You knew my father?""Marcus Cross? Of course. Good man. Weak, but good. He actually believed love could protect you from people like me." Eddy laughed, the sound echoing off ancient stone. "We had such interesting conversations before he died. Did you know his heart attack wasn't natural?"The world tilted."What?""Whitmore couldn't risk him telling you the truth ab

The tunnel shook with another distant explosion. Dust rained from the cracked ceiling as Ethan ran back toward the estate, his mother's screams echoing behind him.“Turn back,” the Echo urged. “She's buying you time with her life. Don't waste it.”“Negative,” the Academy seal countered. “Returning guarantees host's death. Recommend immediate extraction to surface.”"Shut up!" Ethan snarled at both voices. "Both of you, just shut up!"His chest burned where the Core pulsed with frantic energy. Through the mental link Selene had created, he could feel her presence above ground, focused, deadly, efficient. She was winning her battle. His mother was losing hers.The sound of Lydia's combat grew fainter. Either she was being driven deeper into the tunnels, or…Ethan refused to finish that thought.He rounded a corner and slammed directly into an Abyssal Guard.The impact sent both of them sprawling. Ethan recovered first, his enhanced reflexes snapping him to his feet. The guard was older,

Dawn came too quickly.Ethan stood in the ruins of the Hardy Estate, watching the sun paint the devastated courtyard in shades of gold and red. Smoke still rose from collapsed buildings. The meditation gardens were churned mud and broken stone. Twenty-three bodies had been recovered, defenders who'd given their lives protecting a man they barely knew.Because of bloodline. Because of duty. Because his mother had asked."We'll rebuild," Lydia said softly, appearing beside him. She'd changed into traveling clothes, her silver hair bound back in a severe braid. "The Hardy legacy has survived worse than this.""Has it?" Ethan gestured at the destruction. "How many estates have you lost to Whitmore? How many people have died for a war I didn't even know existed until yesterday?"Lydia's expression tightened. "Forty-three estates over thirty years. Seven hundred and twelve confirmed deaths." She met his eyes. "I've kept count of every single one. Every sacrifice made to keep you hidden, to