Cloak & Silence
Book 6 of First Generation
Sherrilyn Kenyon
For my husband for too many reasons to count.
For my boys who make me laugh and fill my life with joy.
For my friends who keep me sane.
And for my readers who mean so much to me.
Thank you all for being a part of my life and for filling my heart with love.
Author’s Note
First, I want to be completely upfront and say that Cloak & Silence is about Ture and Maris, two men whose story captured my heart while I was writing Born of Silence. My books are always about the people who inhabit them and their struggles in life. Anyone who knows me will tell you that I respect all points of view. My father, and many members of my family, have shed their own blood and given their lives for our freedom to live our lives and to pursue are happiness as we see fit. And while I might not agree with the opinions of others, I would never spit on the sacrifice made by those who have given their lives for freedom by telling someone else they are not entitled to their beliefs.
I was very blessed that I was raised in a culturally mixed environment where I was able to grow up well versed in many different, often opposing opinions and lifestyles. It opened my eyes to many things. I didn’t write this story to change anyone’s opinion about anything. Again, I cannot stress enough that I believe we are all entitled to whatever viewpoint we hold.
I simply wrote this for Maris and Ture, and for those fans who wanted to know more about them and their relationship. If this is not your cup of tea, I respect that. I have many other books written about more traditional relationships and families. My own personal view is that life is hard for everyone. No one has an easy ride. But when you find that one person who will stand by your side while hell itself rains down on your head, that one person who won’t betray your trust no matter what, then life is much easier to suffer through. Those people are like unicorns— magical, and far too rare. But when you find your unicorn, then you need to hold onto it. I grew up not believing in such mythological beasts. I thought them a lie told by others. Until the day when I found my own unicorn in the most unlikely of places— a late night college classroom. Over the years, my husband has more than proven to me that there are real people out there who have true integrity. People who will fight for others and who will stand strong against enemies and all the horrors life throws at you.
My one hope is if you don’t already have such a special person in your life that find one soon. Everyone, no matter who they are or where they come from, deserves to be loved and cherished for who and what they are.
CHAPTER 1
“I’m telling you, Ture, he will come for us.”
Ture scoffed bitterly at Zarya’s blind optimism and devotion. “Honey, the only one coming for us is death, and I just hope the petty bastard stops on his way here and brings us a biscuit.... Sooner rather than later.”
Zarya rolled her eyes at Ture’s acerbic tone and facetious humor. She wasn’t sure at this point how long the two of them had been held. Since there were no windows in hell, she couldn’t judge night from day, and while they slept between their torture sessions, she had no idea for how long. It never seemed to be more than mere snatches that were interrupted by severe pain and utter misery.
Her entire body aching, she winced at the sorry condition Ture was in. He’d always been so fastidious with his appearance. Never so much as a strand of dark reddish brown hair out of place.
But today that hair was matted with blood and gnarled with tangles. His gorgeous face was bruised with one eye swollen completely shut. Someone had left a perfect image of a handprint in the form of a bruise along his chiseled jawline. Worse were the handprints where he’d been choked.
Repeatedly
Guilt racked her. But for her and her stupidity, he wouldn’t even be here. It’s all my fault.
Under no circumstance should she have asked him to don a Resistance uniform. For that one favor to her, the League had assumed him to be one of her men and no matter how much she tried to tell them the truth, no one listened. They continued to torture him for information he didn’t have, and her for information she refused to give.
“I’m so sorry I got you into this.”
Ture wanted to curse Zarya for her naive stupidity in thinking she could pull off a peace mission between lunatics. He really did. But as he looked at her and saw the sincerity in her gaze— her agonized guilt over the pain she’d caused him— his anger vaporized. In all the universe, she was the closest thing to family he’d known in a very long time. And that was how he’d gotten caught up in this mess.
For her, he would do anything.