Allegiance of Honor Read online

  Berkley titles by Nalini Singh

  Psy-Changeling Series

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  MINE TO POSSESS

  HOSTAGE TO PLEASURE

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  BLAZE OF MEMORY

  BONDS OF JUSTICE

  PLAY OF PASSION

  KISS OF SNOW

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  ALLEGIANCE OF HONOR

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  ARCHANGEL’S ENIGMA

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  AN ENCHANTED SEASON

  (with Maggie Shayne, Erin McCarthy, and Jean Johnson)

  THE MAGICAL CHRISTMAS CAT

  (with Lora Leigh, Erin McCarthy, and Linda Winstead Jones)

  MUST LOVE HELLHOUNDS

  (with Charlaine Harris, Ilona Andrews, and Meljean Brook)

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  (with Angela Knight, Virginia Kantra, and Meljean Brook)

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  (with Ilona Andrews, Meljean Brook, and Sharon Shinn)

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  (with Ilona Andrews, Lisa Shearin, and Milla Vane)

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  TEXTURE OF INTIMACY

  DECLARATION OF COURTSHIP

  WHISPER OF SIN

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  This book is an original publication of Penguin Random House LLC.

  Copyright © 2016 by Nalini Singh.

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  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Names: Singh, Nalini, 1977–author.

  Title: Allegiance of honor / Nalini Singh.

  Description: First Edition. | New York : Berkley Books, 2016. | Series:

  Psy-changeling novel

  Identifiers: LCCN 2015050507 (print) | LCCN 2016006696 (ebook) | ISBN

  9781101987766 (hardback) | ISBN 9781101987773 ()

  Subjects: | BISAC: FICTION / Romance / Paranormal. | FICTION / Fantasy /

  Paranormal. | GSAFD: Romantic suspense fiction. | Fantasy fiction.

  Classification: LCC PR9639.4.S566 A77 2016 (print) | LCC PR9639.4.S566

  (ebook) | DDC 823/.92—dc23

  LC record available at http://lccn.loc.gov/2015050507

  FIRST EDITION: June 2016

  Cover art by Rita Frangie.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Version_1

  CONTENTS

  Berkley titles by Nalini Singh

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Cast of Characters

  Author’s Note

  Tesseract

  PART 1 Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Letters to Nina

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Letters to Nina

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Letters to Nina

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Letters to Nina

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  PART 2 Chapter 20

  Letters to Nina

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Letters to Nina

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  PART 3 Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  PART 4 Chapter 33

  Letters to Nina

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Letters to Nina

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  PART 5 Chapter 39

  Letters to Nina

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Letters to Nina

  Chapter 42

  PART 6 Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Letters to Nina

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Letters to Nina

  Chapter 47

  Letters to Nina

  Chapter 48

  PART 7 Chapter 49

  Letters to Nina

  Chapter 50

  Letters to Nina

  PART 8 Chapter 51

  PART 9 Chapter 52

  Chapter 53

  Chapter 54

  Chapter 55

  Chapter 56

  CAST OF CHARACTERS

  In Alphabetical Order by First Name

  Key: SD = SnowDancer Wolves, DR = DarkRiver Leopards, BC = BlackSea Changelings, RF = RainFire Leopards

  Abbot Arrow, teleport-capable telekinetic (Tk), married and psychically bonded to Jaya

  Aden Kai Arrow, telepath (Tp), psychically bonded to Zaira

  Adria SD Senior Soldier, in permanent relationship with Riaz

  Amara Aleine Psy member of DR, former Council scientist, twin of Ashaya, mentally unstable

  Andrew “Drew” Kincaid SD Tracker, mated to Indigo, brother of Riley and Brenna

  Aneca Rat changeling, child

  Annie Quinn Human member of DR, mated and married to Zach

  Anthony Kyriakus Former Psy Councilor, part of the Ruling Coalition, head of PsyClan NightStar, father of Faith, Tanique, and Marine (deceased)

  Ashaya Aleine Psy member of DR, former Council scientist, mated to Dorian, mother of Keenan, twin of Amara

  Ava SD, mated to Spencer, mother of Ben

  Bastien Smith DR, mated to Kirby, in charge of DR’s financial assets, brother of Mercy, Sage, and Grey

  Ben SD pup, son of Ava and Spenc
er

  Bowen “Bo” Knight Human Alliance Security Chief (and effective leader), brother of Lily

  Brenna Kincaid SD Tech, mated to Judd, sister of Riley and Andrew

  Carolina Arrow child

  Clara Alvarez Manager of Haven, former Justice Psy (J)

  Clay DR Sentinel, mated to Talin, adopted children: Noor and Jon

  Cooper SD Lieutenant, mated to Grace

  Council (or Psy Council) Former ruling council of the Psy race; no longer extant

  Cruz Forgotten child

  Desiree (Dezi) DR Senior Soldier

  Devraj “Dev” Santos Leader of the Forgotten, married and psychically bonded to Katya, guardian of Cruz

  Dorian DR Sentinel, mated to Ashaya, father to Keenan

  Elias (Eli) SD Senior Soldier, mated to Yuki, father of Sakura

  Emmett DR Senior Soldier, mated and married to Ria

  Ena Mercant Psy, matriarch of Mercant family group

  Evie Riviere SD, sister of Indigo

  Faith NightStar Psy member of DR, cardinal foreseer (F), mated to Vaughn, daughter of Anthony, sister of Tanique, cousin to Sahara

  Forgotten Psy who defected from the PsyNet at the dawn of Silence and intermingled with the human and changeling populations

  Grace SD Tech, mated to Cooper

  Hawke SD Alpha, mated to Sienna

  Indigo Riviere SD Lieutenant, mated to Andrew, sister of Evie

  Ivy Jane Zen President of the Empathic Collective, married and psychically bonded to Vasic

  Jamie DR Senior Soldier

  Jason DR medic-in-training

  Jaya Empath, married and psychically bonded to Abbot

  Jojo RF cub

  Jonquil “Jon” Duchslaya Forgotten teen, member of DR, adopted by Clay and Talin

  Judd Lauren SD Lieutenant, Psy, mated to Brenna, brother of Walker; uncle of Sienna, Toby, and Marlee

  Julian DR cub, twin of Roman, son of Nathan and Tamsyn

  Kaleb Krychek Cardinal (Tk), part of the Ruling Coalition, psychically bonded to Sahara

  Katya Haas Psy, former assistant to Ashaya Aleine, married and psychically bonded to Devraj Santos, guardian of Cruz

  Keenan Aleine Psy member of DR, child

  Kirby DR, mated to Bastien, lynx changeling

  Kit DR Soldier, brother of Rina

  Lara SD Healer, mated to Walker, raising Marlee and Toby with Walker

  Leila Savea BC, marine biologist

  Leon Kyriakus M-Psy, father of Sahara

  Lily Human Alliance, sister of Bowen

  Lucas Hunter DR Alpha, mated to Sascha, father of Naya

  Malachai BC, Lieutenant

  Marlee Psy member of SD, daughter of Walker, cousin to Sienna and Toby

  Max Shannon Human, Security Chief for Nikita Duncan, married to Sophia

  Mercy Smith DR Sentinel, mated to Riley, sister of Bastien, Sage, and Grey

  Miane Levèque BC Alpha

  Ming LeBon Former Psy Councilor, military mastermind, cardinal telepath (Tp)

  Nathan “Nate” Ryder DR Senior Sentinel, mated to Tamsyn, father of Roman and Julian

  Naya Hunter DR cub, daughter of Sascha and Lucas

  Nikita Duncan Former Psy Councilor, part of the Ruling Coalition, mother of Sascha

  Noor Hassan Forgotten member of DR, adopted by Clay and Talin

  Pax Marshall Psy, Head of the Marshall Group

  Remi RF Alpha

  Ria Human member of DR, mated and married to Emmett, executive admin assistant to Lucas

  Riaz SD Lieutenant, in permanent relationship with Adria

  Riley Kincaid SD Senior Lieutenant, mated to Mercy, brother of Andrew and Brenna

  Rina DR Soldier, sister of Kit

  Roman DR cub, twin of Julian, son of Nathan and Tamsyn

  Ruling Coalition Formed after the fall of Silence and of the Psy Council; composed of Kaleb Krychek, Nikita Duncan, Anthony Kyriakus, Ivy Jane Zen for the Empathic Collective, and Aden Kai for the Arrow Squad

  Sahara Kyriakus Psy (uncategorized designation), psychically bonded to Kaleb, daughter of Leon, niece of Anthony Kyriakus, cousin to Faith

  Sakura SD pup

  Samuel Rain Psy, genius, robotics engineer who developed experimental biofusion

  Sascha Duncan Psy member of DR, cardinal empath, mated to Lucas, mother of Naya, daughter of Nikita

  Sienna Psy member of SD, cardinal X, mated to Hawke, sister of Toby, niece of Judd and Walker

  Silver Mercant Psy, senior aide to Kaleb Krychek, in charge of worldwide rapid response emergency network that spans all three races

  Sophia Russo Former Justice Psy (J), married to Max Shannon, senior aide to Nikita

  Stefan (Tk), Commander of the deep-sea station Alaris

  Talin (Tally) Human member of DR, mated to Clay, adopted children: Noor and Jon

  Tamsyn “Tammy” Ryder DR Healer, mated to Nathan, mother of Roman and Julian

  Tanique Gray Psychometric, son of Anthony, brother of Faith

  Tavish Arrow child

  Teijan Rat Alpha

  Toby Lauren Psy member of SD, brother of Sienna, nephew of Judd and Walker, cousin to Marlee

  Vasic Zen Arrow, teleporter (Tk-V), married and psychically bonded to Ivy Jane, great-grandson of Zie Zen

  Vaughn DR Sentinel, mated to Faith, jaguar changeling

  Walker Lauren Psy member of SD, teacher, mated to Lara, father of Marlee, brother of Judd, uncle of Sienna and Toby

  Xavier Perez Human, priest, friend of Judd and Kaleb

  Yuki SD, lawyer, mated to Elias, mother of Sakura

  Yuri Arrow, telepath

  Zach DR Soldier, mated and married to Annie

  Zaira Neve Arrow, telepath (combat), psychically bonded to Aden

  Zane Second in command of the Rats

  Zie Zen Psy elder, great-grandfather of Vasic

  AUTHOR’S NOTE

  Dear Readers,

  Thank you for coming with me on this journey into the Psy-Changeling world. It’s been a wild and unpredictable ride, hasn’t it? I’ve had so much fun, and with every new story, I’ve fallen more and more in love with this world and the characters who live in it.

  Shards of Hope closed what I think of as the first arc, or season one, of the series, while also opening season two. Before we dive fully into the next arc, however, I want to take a look back and see how far the world and its characters have come since Slave to Sensation.

  Not only that, but I want to explore the myriad connections that bind these disparate characters together. In writing this book, the hardest thing was not how to bring characters in so everyone had a chance to shine, but where—because there is never simply one connection. Each and every character is linked to multiple others through bonds of pack, of friendship, of blood, of loyalty, and of course, of love.

  So this book, while continuing the Psy-Changeling storyline—because nothing is ever static in this world—is also a walk through the interconnected lives of many of the characters who’ve become important to us over the past books and novellas. With a cast this sprawling, not everyone gets a mention or page time in each book (imagine how long the books would be if that happened!), but in this story, we get an update on a whole lot of people.

  Even then, not everything I wanted to add made it into this book, so I’ll be sharing more than one deleted scene in my newsletter over the coming months. You can subscribe to the newsletter for free at my website: nalinisingh.com.

  I hope you enjoy Allegiance of Honor—and here’s to the next book and season two of the Psy-Changeling series.

  ~ Nalini

  Tesseract

  NO ONE COULD’VE predicted this moment in time.

  And, as the clock ticks onward in 2082, no one knows what is to come. The worl
d has changed in countless ways since the day a cardinal empath sat across from a changeling alpha, the empath trying to hide her emotions, the alpha trying to see under her skin.

  There has been war, destruction, piercing love.

  Loyalties have been tested.

  A way of life overturned.

  Blood has run red as those who would hold on to power cut down innocent lives.

  Soldiers have died.

  Children have been born.

  Bonds have formed.

  Hearts have entwined.

  Old enmities have been forgotten and there is a fragile peace . . . and the world stands at a critical crossroads.

  Will the bonds hold?

  Or will chaos reign?

  PART 1

  Chapter 1

  LUCAS HUNTER, ALPHA of the DarkRiver leopards, ended the comm call with a touch of his index finger against the screen. The outwardly calm action belied his current state of mind: his jaw was a grim line, his claws shoving at the insides of his skin as the black panther within snarled.

  He was still battling the urge to release that snarl when one of his sentinels stuck his head into the room. That room was Lucas’s private office at the pack’s Chinatown HQ, from where they ran their myriad business enterprises. Pitch-black hair and dark green eyes vivid against the deep brown of his skin, his shoulders solid, Clay was officially the Chief Construction Supervisor at DarkRiver Construction, but before that, he was one of the most trusted members of the pack, a man Lucas knew would always have his back.

  Today, the sentinel was dressed as if he planned to go to a site, his pants of a tough black material appropriate for the outdoor environment and his T-shirt wild green with DarkRiver Construction in white on the back. But when he spoke, he said, “Jon and his friends found something down by the piers.”

  Lucas scowled, not in the mood for juvenile high jinks today. “Why aren’t they in school?”

  “Half day off. Some big citywide teachers meeting.” Clay’s right T-shirt sleeve lifted as he braced his hand against the doorjamb, revealing the slashing lines of the tattoo that echoed the hunter marks on the right side of Lucas’s face. Lucas had been born with those jagged, primal marks that identified him as a changeling hunter, born with the ability to track down and execute changelings who’d gone rogue, submerging totally into the animal side of their nature.