"Yeah. Think so. You?"
"Aside from your mother choking the life out of me ... yeah."
Galene nipped his chin before she pulled back. "You ever die on me again, Fain Hauk, and I'll kill you."
"Well okay, then. I'll keep that viable, sane threat in mind."
"Commander?" the engineer closest to them said insistently. "We've got to clear this area. We're still venting atmosphere!"
"All right. Clear it and seal it."
As they pulled out, she saw the looks on Hadrian's and Nero's faces as they gaped at the new Trisani. "Jayne?" she whispered. "What's going on?"
"I think they know him." Jayne slowed to wait on her husband.
Galene stayed with her.
But it wasn't until they were clear that Nero grabbed the mysterious Tavali and slammed him against the wall so hard, Galene was surprised it didn't leave a dent in it.
When he went to hit him again, Hadrian caught him and held him back. "Stop it!"
"Stop it? Are you kidding? I haven't even begun the ass-kicking I have planned!" He glared at the Tavali newcomer. "How could you?"
The hood dissolved to show one of the most ruggedly handsome human faces Galene had ever seen. While Nero had dark blond hair and Hadrian brown, they were fair and angelic in appearance and features--similar in ways to Ushara.
But Trajen was as beautifully dark as an Andarion. With dark hair and eyes. He looked nothing like any Trisani Galene had ever heard of. "Don't you dare judge me, brother. You're lucky I haven't already killed you. Touch me again, and I promise you I will not show restraint."
Hadrian's jaw went slack. "He really is related to us?"
His breathing ragged, Nero nodded. "Yeah. You've always asked me what our brother was like. Hadrian meet Trajen." Nero's silvery blue eyes turned brittle. "How could you let me think you dead all these years? I have spent my entire life trying to find some trace of what happened to you and Julia. Wanting closure. Damn you for it!"
Bitterness curled Trajen's lips. "And I've spent my life trying my damndest to forget every moment of it all. Damn you." With those cold words spoken, he turned and left them.
When Nero started after him, Ushara cut him off. "Give him some space. Please."
He opened his mouth to speak, but she shook her head.
"Listen to me, Nero. I know him better than anyone. He didn't lash out at you. That's a good sign. Especially since you attacked him. Trust me. No one strikes him with immunity. No one."
Tears glistened in Nero's eyes. "What happened to him?"
Ushara hesitated before she answered. "When Trisa fell, your uncle sold him and your sister into slavery."
"He was supposed to protect them!"
"Yes, he was. Be glad you didn't make that last escape shuttle. Your mother was killed brutally in front of them as she sought to save their lives."
Hadrian winced.
"Thaumarturgus," Nero whispered. "I should have known the first time I heard his name."
Galene frowned at the word. "It's the name he uses. Does it have a special meaning?"
Hadrian nodded. "They were a sect of Trisani priests who voluntarily withdrew from the world. It was said that they were able to master their powers and do things with them that made a mockery of the rest of us." He looked at Fain and Talyn. "Apparently, it wasn't a myth."
Nero shook his head. "And here I just thought he took our term to use because he thought it was badass."
Hadrian snorted bitterly. "Well, a lot of people use it for that reason. Who would have thought?"
Sighing, Nero returned his attention to Ushara. "Is Julia a part of your Nation, too?"
Sympathy darkened her eyes. "No. I'm sorry. She died a long time ago from their cruelty. It left Trajen shattered and brittle. Completely mistrustful and withdrawn. Just be patient with him. He's harsh, but he is a good man."
Dancer scoffed. "Brothers, huh? What a minsid pain in the ass they are."
Fain draped his arm over Galene and laughed. "Tell me about it. You should have mine."
Hadrian flashed a grin at Talyn. "Feeling left out, little buddy?"
"Yeah, I got nothing to add to this. No ability to relate."
Jayne laughed. "You and Sway. My two lonely onlies."
"Ah, it's fine. I don't mind."
Hadrian sucked his breath in sharply. "Ooo, T. Have a care with that word. It always gives me chills."
Talyn frowned. "What word?"
"Fine. I hate it."
"Seriously?"
"Uh, yeah. Are you out of your mind? I live with Jayne and two daughters. The most terrifying four-lettered f-word a woman says in my house is 'fine.' I swear, every time I hear it, I cringe."
Nero laughed. "Jayne? What have you done to my brother?"
Kissing her cheek, Hadrian flashed a teasing grin. "Let me put it to you this way ... God forbid anything should ever happen to her, but if it does I'm under orders to chain and lock her coffin shut during the middle of the funeral just to freak everyone out."
They all laughed.
Until the engineers sealed off the damaged part and cleared the brig.
"How many did we lose?" Galene asked.
The head engineer pulled his face mask off. "None this time, Commander. High Admiral Thaumarturgus saved the ones who were trapped. We were extremely lucky he was here."
"Yes, we were," she agreed. She gave Fain a hard stare. "We have to arrest Malys."
"I know. Believe me, I could kill her myself right now." Fain sank his hand in Talyn's braids. "No one threatens what I love."
This time, Talyn didn't protest when he hugged him. He actually hugged him back.
Galene choked on her tears as she watched Talyn and Fain embracing.
Jayne put her arms around her shoulders and hugged her. "It's so sweet I could barf."
Galene laughed. "You're awful."
"I know." She kissed Galene's head. "Now let's go kick some Tavali ass."
Together, they headed for Venik's quarters.
By the time they reached them, Ven was there with his oldest daughter, Circe.
Fain hesitated just inside the door. "Where's Malys?"
Ven swept his gaze over their group. "You know I can't let you arrest her."
Fain tsked at him. "Ven, she planted bombs on your station. She almost killed Hermione, thinking she was having an affair with you. She's plotted with Eriadne. You don't want the blowback from this to land on you, too."
"We've already banished her. Stain and Payne have taken her off-station where she can't cause any more trouble."
Galene gaped. "Are you serious?"
"She's my wife. I can't let you hurt her. Sorry." He passed a smug look to Fain. "I know you understand."
Fain slugged him.
Circe stepped forward, but Galene cut her off.
"Honey, you're not that big or tough. To get to him, you have to get through me."
The Tavali held her hands up and wisely stepped back.
Galene sighed. "Well ... given everything that has transpired, I think you'll understand my next course of action." She tapped her link to an all-alert status. "Attention all troops and commanders, this is Prime Commander Galene Batur-Hauk. Effective immediately, we are pulling out of the Porturnum station. I want all gear packed and all ships capable of flight to be launched within the hour. I'll transmit our new base coordinates on a secure channel in twenty-three minutes. Prime Commander out."
Ven made a pain-filled noise. "You can't do that!"
"Oh yes, I can. We're not safe here. We can't trust you. Furthermore, I want the kill switch you have for Fain, or so help me gods, I'll shoot you myself."
"The who, what?" Dancer gasped as the others burst into similar exclamations.
Fain cringed as she exposed his secret. "Precious, you weren't supposed to talk about that."
"And I'm not leaving you at his mercy for another second." She faced Venik with steely determination. "Hand it over or your wife will never again have to wor
Ven glared at her. "Fine." He pulled the trigger out and held it up for her to see. "Take it. But before you do there's something you should know."
"What?"
He pressed it.
"No!"
Fain cringed and waited to die in a painful burst.
But nothing happened.
Nothing.
"What the hell, man?" It was his turn to glare at Ven.
Ven tossed the switch at Fain, who caught it in one hand. "When you became Rogue, it deactivated it."
Fain gaped at that. It actually made sense that the neuromapping might have bypassed the programming and deactivated the device, but ... "You knew and you didn't tell me?"
"Of course not. I'm not stupid. You would have killed me without hesitation."
Fain digested that slowly. "Then out of curiosity, how did you find out it was no longer working?"
Ven turned sheepish. "Really rather not answer."
Rage exploded inside Fain. That could only mean the bastard had tried to use it to fry his brains. Furious, he grabbed him by the shirt. "I just might kill you yet!"
"You can't. You still owe me a tithe."
"You canceled my tithe."
"Did I?"
Fain narrowed his gaze. "Ven..."
He cracked an arrogant grin. "Just jerking on you, Hauk. Get a sense of humor." He broke Fain's hold. "Go on. I gave you your freedom. Now would you rather risk it by attacking me, or do something better with it?" He cut his gaze toward Galene.
Honestly? Fain wanted to beat the crap out of him until his fury was spent.
But ...
Ven was right. He'd much rather let it go and be grateful he was alive and had his family with him. "You're fortunate I have to help my wife pack her gear, and mobilize an army. Otherwise, I'd be slipping on your entrails right now."
And with that, they left Ven to tend his own house. There was nothing more they could do here. It was time for Fain to put it all behind him, once and for all.
"Well," Caillen said with an amused grin, "we've destroyed half of Venik's base. I think our work here is done. Chayden will feel extremely vindicated when he sobers up. Anyone know how to fly his ship?"
Fain passed an amused stare to Galene. "Qory."
Talyn shook his head. "Nah, that's not a good idea. He was beyond past drunk when I left them. So much so, he couldn't even make confident obscene gestures at Venik."
Morra let out a tired laughing sigh. "I'll get them. I can tractor beam Chay's ship to mine. So long as someone covers me."
Nykyrian inclined his head to her. "We have your back, little sister. Always."
"Thanks, boss. So who wants the hernia that comes with helping Qory walk?"
Laughing, Talyn lifted his hand. "I'll take it. I already had one large object fall on me today. What's another?"
"Yeah, you should be careful," Nero warned. "We can't do another round yet to lift him off you. We have to have a good day of down time to nurse our head wounds, and I doubt Ushara can talk Tray into another heroic deed." He passed a questioning brow to the Fyreblood, who was being strangely quiet in their wake.
"Yeah, I'm not the safest bet on that. Jullien has much better luck when it comes to moving the immovable object known as Trajen, than I do." She screwed her face up into a becoming frown. "Not sure how he does it."
Nykyrian actually stumbled at that. "Really?"
Ushara nodded. "Your brother can be quite the diplomat when he wants to."
Nyk passed a frown to Dancer. "One day I hope to meet this Jullien you describe."
Dancer snorted. "Hope you're not disappointed by the little bastard when you do."
Jayne slapped him on the stomach. "Play nice."
Grimacing, Dancer rubbed his stomach and grumbled. "I was. That was actually the edited version of what went through my thoughts."
Laughing, Jayne rolled her eyes.
When they reached the landing bay, Galene stopped Nykyrian, Syn, Dancer, and Jayne. Ushara paused alongside them.
"So where do we set up now, Highness?" Galene asked.
Nykyrian swept his gaze around the bustling ground crews as they rushed to prepare the ships to launch. "My grandmother still holds Andaria. We can't go there."
"Lorens has taken Xera V back. For now, they're holding the outpost. I have reinforcements en route to them."
Nykyrian stroked his chin in thought. "Until this ends, I want our families secured and out of harm's way."
Ushara rubbed her stomach protectively as if she couldn't agree more. "I know a place, but you won't like it. And I will need assurances from you and your mother that my people will be granted amnesty from your troops and laws."
"We are not my grandmother. Neither my mother nor I bear any malice toward the Fyrebloods."
"Then I can offer you shelter in our lands. No one will find you there."
Nero exchanged a bitter grimace with Hadrian. "Won't Trajen protest?"
"Probably. But he needs his brothers. Sooner or later, his shell will crack and he'll let you in." She paused. "Or he'll kill you."
"Oh goody!" Hadrian said in a falsetto. "I can't wait! Jayne? Can we go get slaughtered by my brother I never knew I still had? Can we, please?"
She snorted at her husband. "Yeah, he has a head injury. And he's about to get another."
Nero ignored him. "Is Trajen married?" he asked Ushara. "Does he have kids?"
Ushara shook her head. "He's completely celibate. He claims it's how he maintains his wizard powers. As I said, he lets no one near him. Ever."
Nero scoffed. "He is Thaumarturgus. Old school."
While they fell silent, Saf came up to them to speak to Nykyrian. "Hey. I got Maris packed and stowed on Fain's ship. I'll run point. I figured he'd be carrying Felicia, Galene, and Sumi?"
Fain inclined his head to him. "You know it, drey. Wouldn't trust anyone else.... Maybe Talyn. But he only has a fighter."
Saf saluted him. "All right. I'm on standby."
Ushara narrowed her gaze on him as Saf walked off.
Fain arched a brow at the odd light in her eyes. "What's wrong?"
"Are you sure we can trust him?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Strange feeling."
Syn glanced after Saf. "He is Kyr's brother, but there's no way he'd ever shit on us for Kyr. His loyalty has been tested and proven."
"And yet there is still someone on the inside feeding information to our enemies."
"We caught her," Fain reminded the Tavali vice admiral.
Ushara arched her brow. "You sure?"
"Well, not now. Thanks."
Ushara laughed. "Just doing my job, Commander." She glanced to Galene. "I'll send the specs to our base over to you as soon as I get on board." And with that, she headed off to prepare her own ship and crew.
Aggravated, Fain turned toward Nykyrian and Dancer. "I hate when they plant suspicion. Here I was all happy. Now..."
Nyk clapped him on the back. "Welcome to my world. I trust no one."
Talyn nodded in agreement. "I'll go pack up our gear while you prepare everything else."
"Be careful." Galene kissed his cheek.
Fain watched as they split up to make arrangements. Alone with his wife, he took her hand and kissed it. "What a day, huh?"
Galene walked into his arms and savored the warmth of his long, muscled body that was alive and restored. His clothes were still torn and bloody from his fall. She couldn't believe how close she'd come to losing him and Talyn only a short time ago. It terrified her. "I'm just glad you're still here and whole."
"Me, too, Stormy. Me, too."
"Don't you ever die on me again, Fain Hauk. I've lived too much of my life without you in it. You owe me at least sixty years."
"I don't know what you're talking about, Stormy. I'm planning on being immortal. So far, it's working."
*
Nero hesitated as he entered his brother's dark domain. The sleek, intergalactic class speed-cruiser was as black as the powers Trajen had mastered. There was something on the ship that seemed alive.
As if the walls themselves were a living, breathing creature.
"Why are you here?"
The disembodied voice might frighten a non-Tri, but Nero still remembered what it was like to live in a world where such things were common. "I wanted to talk to you alone."
"There's nothing to say. You chose the brother you wanted to save."
"That's not fair, Tray. I didn't choose Rian over you. He was seven months old. He could barely walk."
"Fine, then. You're sorry you left me behind. Blah, blah, blah. Apology accepted. Please leave." His tone was flat and emotionless.
"That's it?"
"That's it. I'm not a social creature. I crave solitude in all things. Especially in so-called family gatherings."
"Then I shall leave you to it. But I want you to know that though our blood family is fractured, we are here for you. Rian, Jayne. Me. Darling. Drake and Annalise. We are all that is left of the Scaleras." Nero hesitated, but when it became obvious that Trajen had withdrawn, he let his brother's bitterness hang between them as he made his way from Trajen's ship back to the exit.
But as he left the ship, he realized something. Trajen had fostered in the Tavali under Ryn's grandfather....
In that moment, he wanted blood.
Furious, he went to Ryn's quarters and knocked hard on the door.
Ryn answered a few seconds later, completely disheveled and in a state that said he hadn't been packing. Rather, he'd been appreciating the fact that he had his wife with him. He pulled his shirt on to cover the scratches and teeth marks she'd left over his back....
And other places.
"What is your problem?" Ryn demanded.
"Right now? You."
He widened his eyes. "What'd I do?"
"Did you know Trajen was my brother?"
The shocked expression on his face actually saved his life. "No. Honestly, I never thought about it. I guess I should have known if I had, but I never spent much time around him. He became Tavali when I was a baby and ran a crew for my granddad." He brushed his hand through his hair. "No offense, you guys are old. You don't age like we do. In fact, I don't even know how old you actually are. You're what? Nine thousand or something?"
Nero playfully slapped him. "I'm not that old, asshole. Barely three years older than your father. Who wasn't that old when he had you. And I'm younger than your mother."
"Now you're just being mean."
"Anyway," Nero said, trying to drag him back to the point. "I'm glad to know you didn't keep this a secret from me."
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