Rise from Ruin

RISE FROM RUIN Guardians of the Fae Realms: Book 14 JL Madore CONTENTS Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Afterword About the Author Also by JL Madore Copyright © 2023 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, without prior written permission. JL Madore Cover Design: Gombar Cover Designs Note: The moral right of the author has been asserted. 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. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the author, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent buyer. The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the author is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated. Rise From Ruin : Guardians of the Fae Realms JL Madore -- 1st ed. ISBN: 978-1-990853-53-1 CHAPTER ONE Lark It’s said that in moments of extreme danger, your life flashes before your eyes. I’m not sure how dire that danger has to be because I’ve got nothing. With possibly twenty-six enemy super soldiers bearing down on us, my mental viewscreen is showing me nothing except the flashing lights of the bunker’s alarm and the worried faces of the seven men around me. “How many?” Mac snaps, ejecting the magazine of his gun to check his ammunition. “I have sixteen entering the warehouse up top,” Link says, his fingers dancing across the interface console. “Four standing guard. Twelve advancing.” “So, only a dozen super soldiers closing in to kill us,” Lukas gripes. “And here I was, almost worried.” He fusses with his tactical watch, cursing, and then pulls out his phone. “Communications are down.” Mac grunts, raking rough fingers through his russet hair as he watches the numbers of the elevator tick off as it’s called to the surface. Other than his free-flowing red waves hanging to his shoulders, Mac is all military might. He’s built and skilled and so damned confident in a crisis I’d actually believe he might not be afraid of anything. “Wait! What about Alpha and Beta?” I ask, glancing at Flash. “They are still in their stasis cylinders on the fourth floor. How long would it take to power them up to help us?” Flash frowns, his expression tightening as he tilts his head. “Power them up?” I wince. “I’m sorry. That was insensitive. I meant to say activate them… you know, bring them online to help us.” Lukas holds up a hand. “And before you do that, can we be certain they would even be on our side?” Link throws Lukas a dirty look. “They would be on the side of surviving and working with us. I can’t say if that is on your side, but it is on ours.” Flash lets off a throaty grumble at his brother. “We are all on the same side, Link. And to answer your question, my lovely, they will be quick to engage. Link has initiated their waking sequence.” Lukas’ head swings around on a pivot, his eyes wide. “You did what?” Link flicks his hand in the air, his attention still focused on the interface console. “Yes, I took the initiative to release our brothers from the torment of endless night. You’re welcome. They might be the added force needed to save your lives.” Lukas doesn’t look like that makes him any less angry. Dune grips Lukas’ arm and gives it a squeeze. “That’s an argument for later, magic man. One we might not even have to worry about if we don’t get out of here.” “They’re in the elevator,” Link says, his hands moving at a blurring speed. All conversation stops as the elevator lets off a sing-songy bing and I jog over to see what’s happening. Two soldiers remain in the elevator car while ten exit onto the first floor and spread out. “Are they looking for us?” I ask. “Considering that they just opened those desk drawers, I’m going to say no,” Dune says. We watch the monitor as the team spreads out and searches the floor before making their way back and gathering in the elevator once more. The elevator mechanics hum in the shaft and the soldiers descend until the quiet bing signals their arrival on the second floor. We watch as they repeat the same process. Ten soldiers spill out onto the third floor while two remain inside and secure the elevator. That makes no sense to me. “If they’re not here for us, what are they searching for?” Lukas frowns. “I think we’re likely on the list, but yeah, what else are they searching for?” “And why stop one floor at a time? If we can tap into the feeds and see them, surely they can tap into the feeds from up top and see we’re down here.” Shift nods. “Likely so, but if they come straight down to the fifth floor and we have someone on two or possibly three, we could slip past them and escape or double back.” Mac nods. “Aye, maybe or maybe they’re after somethin’ besides us.” Tundra leans in to look at the screen and frowns. “And by them sending a dozen