"No worries." Ryn scratched at the whiskers on his chin. "He's really your brother?"
"Yeah. I had no idea he was still alive." Nero cursed as his nose started bleeding again. He needed to rest. His head was killing him from what they'd done to save Fain and Talyn. After using that kind of power, he'd be weak for days. Rian would heal faster, but Nero had never been as strong as either of his brothers. "How did Trajen get to your grandfather, anyway?"
"He was cargo on a ship that my uncle raided. It was one of Varys's first takes and Varys was the only one who survived it. When he came home, he had Trajen in tow. That's all anyone knows. Neither of them would ever talk about it. And all my mother's ever said is that Trajen was like a rabid animal in those days. He didn't even speak to anyone until after he'd earned his Canting. Only then, to issue orders. He worked for my grandfather long enough to earn his tithe, then he challenged for the command of the Gorturnum and became a hermit."
Nero winced at what had become of his brother. Having survived his own rounds of hell, he could only imagine how much worse it'd been on Trajen, who was much younger. And in the back of his mind, he saw that horrid night with crystal clarity.
"Where's the baby?" His mother had been frantic as Nero had come on board the shuttle with Trajen.
He'd glanced at his beautiful sister who'd been quietly sobbing, but trying her best to hold it together. Younger than Nero, but three years older than Trajen, she'd taken Trajen's hand to comfort him.
"I thought you had him already."
"I told you to get him! He was with Tray!"
"No. The nursery was empty." Frantic, Nero had cringed as more explosions had sounded from the fighting.
"It was Augustan you told, Mother," Julia said. "Not Nero."
"Where's Augustan?" She'd started for the ramp.
Nero had caught her. In her formal gown and heels, she wasn't dressed for searching and she couldn't run through the assassin squads who were looking for royal family members to slaughter. "Let me go get them. I'll be right back."
"No!" Trajen had screamed, running to latch on to Nero's leg. "You promised to stay with me!"
Nero had pried his brother's grip off and returned him to Julia's arms. "I know, sprout. But I'll be right back. I have to make sure that Auggie and Rian are safe, too."
Tears had welled in Trajen's eyes. "Don't leave me. I'm scared."
"We're all scared. But I won't let anyone hurt you. I swear it."
Sobbing, Trajen had stared up at him. "You promised to protect me, brother. Don't go."
"I have no choice." Nero had gone down that ramp and into a future that still haunted him.
Maybe Trajen was right. Maybe he had chosen one brother over another. But had he not gone back, Hadrian would have been slaughtered.
Just like Augustan. The assassins had been on top of his brother and were in the process of killing him when his older brother had used the last of his powers to teleport Hadrian to him.
Run!
And Nero had. With everything he had inside him. Only Hadrian had escaped the horrors of the downfall of their race intact. Too young to remember anything, he'd been hidden away and knew nothing of it.
Meanwhile, he and Trajen couldn't forget.
Nero had been there to see the death of their father and older brother. Trajen to see the death of their mother and Julia.
"You okay?" Ryn asked.
"Yeah." But that was a lie and he knew it. He hadn't been okay since the night his family had been brutally executed.
Trajen had been five. He'd been eleven.
And both of them had been lost ever since.
Nothing and no one would ever bring them home.
*
"You were harsh on your brothers, don't you think?"
Trajen paused as he heard Ushara enter the flight deck while he ran the last of his safety checks. "You're questioning me?"
"Always."
"Brazen, little girl. When did you become suicidal?"
"Your mistake for not killing me when you had the chance."
He didn't comment on that. It had been one of the very few acts of mercy he'd shown anyone in his lifetime, and he still didn't understand why she'd evoked that peculiar emotion from him when no one else ever had. "Shouldn't you be preparing for launch?"
"My crew's on it. I came to tell you where we're heading."
"I already know." He turned around in his chair to glower at her. "Another suicidal act of defiance on your part."
She approached him slowly. "Which is why I came in person. I knew it would anger you."
"Yet you didn't run from my wrath."
"It's not in me to do so."
One corner of his mouth lifted in bitter amusement. "No, it isn't." She was brazenly stupid with her courage. And that was what he admired most about her.
She paused to cock her head. "You're hiding something from me. What is it?"
And that was what he hated most. She, alone, could read his thoughts better than any Trisani ever born. He had no idea how, yet her powers were undeniable. "You will find out soon enough. For now, you need to focus on our evacuation."
Ushara frowned at him. She opened her mouth to speak at the same time his ship's security was breached.
Normally he'd have vaporized the miscreants. But the moment he started to attack them, he pulled back and opened the doors to give them unfettered access to his flight deck.
Instead of enemies, two adorable little girls came running in and jumped on him with giggles and hugs as they climbed up his body like feral monkeys. "Uncle Tray! Uncle Tray! Vasi said you were here!"
"Can I fly your ship?"
"No, I want to fly it!"
"Let me!"
"Let me!"
Smiling, he scooped the twins into his lap and held them. "I swear, I think you both grew a foot since you left home. What has your mother been feeding you? Fertilizer?"
Viv leaned into his chest and squeezed him tight.
Pressing his cheek against her hair, Trajen cupped her head in his hand and held her close.
Ushara felt her throat constrict at the sight of the dark, lethal Tavali lord holding her children with so much obvious affection. Only they were allowed to approach him.
No one else.
Trajen abhorred all physical contact. Of any kind. He normally kept an invisible force field around his body so that no one could even get near him. Yet from the moment the girls had first reached out to touch him as infants, he'd allowed them to so do.
It gave her hope that he wasn't as far gone as he liked to pretend. That inside the bitter darkness of his soul there was still a chance he could find a way back to humanity, and be a part of the world again.
"Have you two behaved for your mother?"
"We tried," Mira sighed. "Do we still get points?"
Trajen used reward points for them that they could use to pick things from his "treasure" room. They were items he bought for the girls and gave to Ushara. He spoiled them so much that she'd been forced to put a stop to it for fear he'd ruin them with it. Between him and Jullien, the girls were absolutely rotten.
He smiled. "You do, indeed. Now, if you don't mind, we need to leave and get you both home."
Gasping, they widened their eyes. "We're going home!" Viv turned toward her mother. "Can we ride with Uncle Tray? Please?" She folded her hands under her chin and begged in the cutest manner imaginable.
Damn, it was hard to say no to that face.
Yeah, okay, she was as responsible for ruining her daughters as they were.
But she couldn't give in on this. Trajen had a nasty tendency to pick fights, and she didn't want her daughters on board a ship that was likely to be in the middle of a bloody battle on the way back.
Ushara tsked at her. "It's probably best that you ride with me, precious. I would miss my girls."
They pouted in unison.
"Besides, if you stayed with me, I'd make you go to bed." Trajen wrinkled his nose playfully.
"No!" Mira jumped from his lap. "Love you, Uncle Tray!" She ran for the door.
Viv remained to stare up at him. "Why are you so sad, Uncle Tray? You look like you have a hurt in your heart."
He brushed the hair back from her cheek. "I'm fine, mina yahee. Never worry for me. Now go and catch up to your sister. I'll give you both bonus points for riding home with your mother." He kissed her head.
She scooted off his lap and ran after Mira.
Ushara paused as she noted the way Trajen stared after them. "Why did you really expose your powers to save Fain and Talyn?"
When his gaze met hers, the deep painful torment there seared her. "Because no one should have to hold the hand of their loved one and watch them die because of someone else's selfish cruelty."
*
Galene paused as she saw the expression on Fain's face as he stared out the window at the Porturnum station they were leaving. She couldn't quite read it, but then he was leaving a part of his life behind. While Venik might not have been the best to him, he had been the closest thing to family Fain had had for the last few decades.
"Are you okay?"
Fain startled at her voice. "Yeah. Just ... thinking."
"About?"
"How glad I am Nyk's an asshole."
She frowned at his unexpected comment. "Pardon?"
Smiling, he turned and pulled her into his arms so that he could give her a scorching kiss that set her blood on fire. "If Nyk hadn't been an unreasonable asshole, I wouldn't have taken this assignment." He cupped her face in his hands. "I wouldn't have you now. Or Talyn. So I owe everything in this universe to my friend. The asshole."
"Maybe you shouldn't call him that, then." She rubbed her hand down his hard biceps. "And isn't he technically your brother?"
"Yeah, I guess he is."
Suddenly, a loud curse rang out.
Fain pulled back, expecting it to herald an attack of some kind. He gripped his blaster and went to check on Talyn in the corridor.
His expression horrified, his son stood by the equipment locker with Gavarian and Brach. But there was no sign of threat.
"What happened?"
Talyn slammed the door shut. "Um ... nothing. Nothing at all."
All three of them appeared rattled.
Frowning, Fain exchanged a concerned look with Galene. "What is it?"
"Talyn?" Galene stepped over to him. "Should I be worried?"
He glanced from her to Fain, then cringed. "Um ... probably."
"What do you mean?"
Sheepish, Talyn opened the locker and stepped back. "I'm not sure you want to see this, Mum. But I think Paka is one sick bastard."
She glanced inside at the same time Fain realized what Talyn had seen. Oh yeah. It was that bad.
Pressing the heels of his hands to his eyes, he cringed at the same time she looked inside. "I can explain."
She said nothing.
Terrified and dreading her reaction, he slowly lowered his hands to face her arch stare. She had her arms crossed over her chest as she waited. It was a pose Talyn duplicated with an annoying impatience.
With a sigh, Fain realized there was no way out of this, except to confess the truth. "Don't look at me like that. It's not like it's anatomically correct or anything. She's just the ship's mecha unit. That's all.... Storm? Animate."
A perfect duplicate of what Galene had looked like in school, the mecha blinked and stepped out of the locker. "May I be of assistance, Fain?"
Talyn screwed his face up. "Oh dear gods, it even sounds like Mum."
"I do not sound like a porn actress."
Talyn looked really uncomfortable as Gavarian and Brach burst into laughter. He glared at them. "You two hyenas better stow that."
They sobered instantly.
Fain growled at all of them. Then he gentled his voice for his ship. "Storm. Deactivate."
The unit returned to her locker and shut down.
Trying not to feed into their overreaction, Fain closed the door. He searched his mind for some explanation, then finally decided on just telling her the honest truth. "There was only ever you for me, Galene. And while she isn't you, I couldn't ever imagine a home without you in it. So there you have it. That's why she's here. I can't live without you. I never could."
Galene sniffed back tears.
Talyn grabbed Brach and Gavarian and hauled them away to give them privacy.
With a weepy expression on her face, Galene returned to Fain and pulled him close. "And may the gods grant that you never have to live without me again. For I know I cannot live without you either. All I can do is exist."
CHAPTER 19
Galene followed Fain off his ship with Sumi, Vega, War, and Felicia by her side. Ushara and the others had landed only a few minutes before them. But something wasn't right. The bay was too busy and everyone seemed to be in a tizzy of some sort. And there was a strange mood in the air. A deep sense of foreboding.
Confused, she headed to Nykyrian. "What's going on?"
"I'm not sure."
"Daddy!"
"Mama!"
"Dada!"
Suddenly, the whole place truly exploded with activity as Nykyrian's, Caillen's, Darling's, Syn's, and Maris's family ran out to greet them. Galene was completely overwhelmed by the sheer number of people.
Sumi laughed in her ear. "I know what you're feeling. It's scary. But believe it or not, you get used to it."
Kalea ran from Dancer's arms to embrace a little blond boy named Jayce while Darice greeted Nykyrian's eldest daughter, Thia. Then he took War and Vega around and made introductions between them and all the kids. Before long, they were mixing like old friends.
Galene swallowed. "How do you keep them all straight?" she asked Fain.
"It's not as hard as you think."
Relieved to see Jayne's familiar family, she headed for them.
But her joy was short-lived as she realized that Ushara wasn't sharing their happiness. In fact, she became more worried as each second went by. "Where's Jullien?" she asked Darling.
That sobered their group instantly.
Vasili came up to stand at his mother's back while Trajen picked up Mira and held Viv's hand. The look on his face as he stood behind Ushara said that he already knew the answer.
Cairistiona was the one who approached Ushara. "It's an honor to meet you, daughter. You are as beautiful as Jullien said you were."
Ushara swallowed hard. "Where is he?" she growled.
The tadara bit her lip as tears welled in her eyes.
"He's here ... right?" Ushara looked past them. "Jullien! This isn't funny!" she snarled. "Show yourself! I mean it!"
Approaching them slowly, Aros cleared his throat. He tried to speak, but he couldn't.
It was Nykyrian's beautiful wife, Kiara, who took Ushara's hand. "He distracted our pursuers so that we could get safely away. He said to tell you not to worry. That he wouldn't break your heart."
Aros finally found his voice. "He saved Kiara's and Zarina's lives, Nykyrian. And mine. None of us would be here without him."
Nykyrian kissed Kiara's hand. Then stepped back. "Ready my fighter!" he announced to the nearest ground crew member.
Kiara visibly cringed at those words, but she didn't try to stop him.
Sumi let out a tired sigh as she turned to Dancer. "I know..." She kissed him. "Do not get hurt. If you do, I'm naming your son something awful in your absence."
He laughed.
Shahara handed her sleeping son to Ture and kissed his cheek. "We'll be back."
Syn kissed his son's head before he took Shahara's hand and headed after Nykyrian and Dancer.
Maris hesitated at the tormented look on Ture's face. "I'm sorry, baby."
Ture nodded. "I know. Be careful what you wish for. I wanted a soldier. I should have said I wanted an artist. Just remember, it's really hard to get blood out of your uniform."
Maris kissed him, then Devyn and Terek. "I'll be home soon. I promise."
<br /> "I know you will. Otherwise, I'll send Zarya after you and you won't like that."
Zarya kissed Maris's cheek before he left, too. She held Darling's hand when he started to leave, keeping him there for a moment longer. "I hate for you to fight without me."
"I know. You're the better shot, but you haven't been cleared for battle yet. And you're still nursing. If I could feed Cezar in your stead, I'd let you go, but I think our son would be seriously pissed at us both if I tried to suckle him."
"You're not funny."
With one last kiss, Darling left them to join his brethren.
Desideria growled in equal frustration at her brother and husband. "It's not fair!"
Caillen kissed her and then his daughter and son. "Don't worry. Shahara will nag me to death before I ever get hurt. She still thinks I'm five years old."
Chayden gave Desideria a light hug. "I know, sis. Guard your man-meat from harm. Don't worry. If anyone kills Caillen, I want the honors."
Qory signed to her that he'd take care of them both.
"I love all of you!" Desideria called after them. "Come back soon!"
Hadrian began protesting like a champ, but Jayne forced him to stay with the kids so that she could leave with the others.
"Don't worry." Nero hugged his brother. "I've got her back for you. Nothing's getting through me."
Only then did Hadrian relent. Scooping his son up, he held Sway and watched as Nero and Jayne walked off and left him with his daughters and son.
Fain started after them, but Galene stopped him. "Not without me, Hauk."
He looked at the others who stood around them. "You have a base to set up, Commander. You're needed here."
She turned to Talyn. "Commander Batur? Take the camp and make sure everyone is safe and accounted for. You're OOD until my return."
Defiance blazed in his eyes, but her son was ever a military officer at heart. "Yes, ma'am."
Saf clapped him on the shoulder. "Don't worry, Talyn. I'll keep her safe. Besides, your father isn't about to let anyone get near her." He hugged Ture and kissed his nephew Terek, before he led Fain and Galene toward the others to mount a rescue for Jullien.
Talyn felt sick as he watched them launch. They all needed to sleep before they did something this dangerous. But at the end of the day, they were soldiers.
War was what they knew best.
Felicia took his hand in hers while Vega, War, and the rest of the kids played in their blissful ignorance of what was going on around them.
Savoring her touch, Talyn let it ground him so that he could focus on what needed to be done. He turned to issue orders, then stopped as he saw Ushara and her daughters. For the first time, the admiral appeared bewildered, and honestly, lost. The agony in her white eyes was searing and made his throat tighten.
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