High Demon Series by Connie Suttle

The High Demon race is dying, and nothing short of a miracle will save it. Kifirin has promised to provide that miracle, in any way he can.Reah has worked in the kitchens of her family's restaurants since the age of eight. The only daughter among Addah Desh's 27 children from eight wives, Reah has been ignored, belittled and abused all her life. When the conscription notice comes from the Regular Alliance Army, Reah is more than happy to report for duty in order to escape her family... moreThe High Demon race is dying, and nothing short of a miracle will save it. Kifirin has promised to provide that miracle, in any way he can.Reah has worked in the kitchens of her family's restaurants since the age of eight. The only daughter among Addah Desh's 27 children from eight wives, Reah has been ignored, belittled and abused all her life. When the conscription notice comes from the Regular Alliance Army, Reah is more than happy to report for duty in order to escape her family. Unfortunately, her liberation is short-lived... less

(Reah, I know you're not happy with us right now, but we didn't order the firebombing. RAA moved without consulting us.)(And I'm supposed to believe that?)(Reah, you're being disrespectful with a superior.) I didn't answer him. If he knew how disrespectful I wanted to be—I was staring at Xiri's bones, after all. I sobbed. (Reah? Reah, are you still there?)(You be respectful, Vice-Director, the next time a friend's bones lie beneath your hand.) I cut off the communication... more(Reah, I know you're not happy with us right now, but we didn't order the firebombing. RAA moved without consulting us.)(And I'm supposed to believe that?)(Reah, you're being disrespectful with a superior.) I didn't answer him. If he knew how disrespectful I wanted to be—I was staring at Xiri's bones, after all. I sobbed. (Reah? Reah, are you still there?)(You be respectful, Vice-Director, the next time a friend's bones lie beneath your hand.) I cut off the communication. Lendill didn't try again.The Drakus seed trade is threatening to destroy the Alliance as an old enemy reemerges. Reah is placed in the thick of that battle, with no experience and little help from her superiors. Unexpected betrayals and alliances are formed, and Reah must use every bit of her strength and wit to protect those she loves. less

"Reah, we have good information on Zellar." That had me jerking my head up to stare at Lendill. Zellar. Just the sound of that name had every member of the ASD seething. Zellar—the rogue warlock who left drained planet cores in his wake. For years, he only worked on worlds outside the Alliance—the ASD had gotten too close to him on too many occasions. Burned him a few times—Ry had almost gotten him once, but Zellar had used the very last of a planet's power and escaped... more"Reah, we have good information on Zellar." That had me jerking my head up to stare at Lendill. Zellar. Just the sound of that name had every member of the ASD seething. Zellar—the rogue warlock who left drained planet cores in his wake. For years, he only worked on worlds outside the Alliance—the ASD had gotten too close to him on too many occasions. Burned him a few times—Ry had almost gotten him once, but Zellar had used the very last of a planet's power and escaped. Ry always insisted that he'd wounded Zellar, though. I thought he could be right—we hadn't heard anything from the murdering bastard in two years.While battling personal grief, Reah is sent after Zellar, who has become one of the worst enemies the Alliance has ever faced. While determined to take down the rogue warlock, Reah learns that Zellar has trained other rogues to follow in his footsteps. Forced to work with the unlikeliest of allies, she pursues Zellar's trained rogues in and outside the Alliance. less

After Reah's brush with death, she is understandably distrustful of most of her mates. Striking out on her own, she is determined to investigate a rash of child disappearances across the universes, in and outside the Alliances. The evil she discovers in the course of her investigations could bring all worlds to their knees if Reah doesn't find a way to destroy it.

Wizard Bel is missing, after investigating two crimes on Surnath. Reah agrees to work this special assignment for the ASD, and discovers that Bel's disappearance is linked to far deeper and much darker crimes. The criminals behind these crimes hold the survival of both Alliances in their grip and it is up to Reah to expose them before their final plans become a reality.

Reah's mental health is compromised, new enemies appear and Teeg's control of the Campiaan Alliance is threatened. While Reah struggles to regain her health, her mates work to redeem themselves and reclaim her trust. Meanwhile, signs begin to appear—are the god wars imminent? Only time will tell…