Retribution (Kall Alien Warriors #3) - Sue Lyndon Page 0,5
when she’d left the apartment, he had been sleeping. He was probably still sleeping. Another human man who hated the Kall must’ve done it. Someone who was in deep with the rebels. Not Michael.
Please please please don’t let it be Michael.
Chapter 2
General Zamek stared at Shessema’s lifeless body. His wife. Grief consumed him, as well as the unyielding need for vengeance. He stepped forward and placed a kiss upon her cold forehead.
How could she be gone?
She was so young, so innocent, and she’d had her whole life ahead of her.
His throat burned.
“I will find the ummkka who did this to you, wife,” he promised, “and I will make them suffer.” Video images had been captured of the human male who’d killed her, and it was only a matter of time before he was spotted again on a surveillance camera. Kall authorities were under orders to contact Zamek the moment they got a lead.
He straightened and continued gazing down at Shessema. They’d been married for but nine moon cycles. She was his second wife, and he could scarcely fathom that he’d been widowed yet again. Had the ancient gods cursed him?
A thick black sheet covered her body, concealing her wounds. He drew the cover down to get a better look, even though the sight made him sick to his stomach. He took note of each stab wound, resolving to make the human male who’d killed her suffer tenfold this amount.
Shessema. I’m sorry.
The words clogged in his throat. He should’ve been there to protect her. He should’ve known the area where they lived still wasn’t safe enough to enjoy a walk during the daytime.
As the post-war reconstruction efforts in DC had gotten underway, he had permitted her to walk to and from a nearby park, where she liked to gather with other Kall wives who’d come to Earth—wives of commanders and generals and ambassadors.
Fluxx. But it hadn’t been safe, even though Kall forces maintained a heavy presence on the streets. He ought to have hired a personal guard for her. Guilt ravaged him. Heartache pierced straight to his soul.
He covered Shessema back up and took several steps away, his hands clenching into fists. His wrist comm buzzed several times. When he finally checked the message, rage swelled within him.
SUSPECT HUMAN MICHAEL DENNIS FOUND DEAD
No. No no no.
A growl ripped from Zamek’s throat.
How cruel were the ancient gods, that he would be denied his revenge?
“I’m sorry, Shessema,” he said. “I am so sorry.” He said a prayer for her soul before finally departing the morgue. He would take her body back to planet Kall and bury her on the mountainside near their home.
In a daze, he walked the darkened streets, to the house on the outskirts of DC that he’d briefly shared with his new wife.
Knowing that he would likely stay on Earth for several moon cycles, even once the humans surrendered, he had opted to bring Shessema with him. Many high-ranking officers in the Kall army had brought their wives and children with them. Unable to bear parting with her, he had done the same, believing that she would be safe, believing that the humans’ inferior weapons would pose no threat even while the battle still raged.
But now she was gone, her life taken by a dishonorable human male. A male Zamek couldn’t even torture since he was already dead.
He arrived home to find Ambassador Merokk waiting on his doorstep. The former Kall commander looked subdued and nodded deeply in Zamek’s direction.
“General Zamek, I am very sorry for your loss, and I am also sorry that the human scum who took your wife’s life has died before you could exact your vengeance, as is your right.” Merokk, who was an old friend of Zamek’s, stood underneath the porchlights.
“Do you know how Michael Dennis died? Did someone else kill him?”
“I regret to inform you that he took his own life. His body was found in a river not far from here. A surveillance video was discovered that showed him jumping off a bridge and into the water.” Merokk frowned and shook his head. “Every Kall I’ve spoken to is deeply shocked by the events of today. We had no idea anyone involved in the rebel cause would strike out at one of our females. It was a cowardly act.” The ambassador looked as though he wanted to say more but was holding back.
“What else do you know?” Zamek demanded, coming face to face with his friend. At this hour, there was no one