Born of Betrayal (35 page)

“It's fine, my heart. But Mama has some important things to do.” She kissed Mira's cheek before she gently guided her out of the room.

Nykyrian rose to his feet, then turned toward Galene. “All right, Commander. We put you in charge for a reason. My brother has given us a rare opportunity.”

She nodded. “We will take full tactical advantage of it.”

*   *   *

As they left Ushara's ship,
Scythian Nights,
they met Ryn and his mother, who were leading a small, regal group of Wasturnum toward them.

Fain couldn't help smiling as he noted how markedly different Ryn's group was from Venik's Porturnum, and even the Gorturnum group they'd just left. But then each Nation of the Tavali tended to draw a certain caliber of individual to it. And everything from their style of ship to their Canting, names, markings, flightsuits, and battlesuits tended to reflect those various personalities.

The Septurnum, like Chayden, were their in-your-face, annoying gutter rats—an almost psychotic lot who sought the more questionable jobs that others passed on. If there was danger to be had, they were the suicide jockeys who wanted to embrace it with both arms, and cock out. They were the Tavali troublemakers who lacked all semblance of self-preservation. And if a Tavali was running afoul of someone's laws, and in particular The League's, you could lay odds they owed tithe to Gadgehe Hinto.

Venik's Porturnum were much more cautious, as a rule, and very paranoid because of the enemies they gleefully toyed with. They tended to be double-dealers, con artists, and fast-talkers. Always plotting something and out to make a quick cred. You had to watch your back with them, and were never quite sure where you stood. If you gambled with the Porturnum, you'd best count all your fingers when you left the table, 'cause you'd probably be missing one.

Maybe two.

Next were the Gorturnum—the original Nation that all the Tavali had evolved from. And as such, they were held with a certain reverence by the other pirate Nations. But that being said, their members were mysterious and extremely antisocial. So much so that their motto claimed they played hard to get along with. Like mythical phantoms, they moved swiftly and silently through the galaxies. In and out, quicker than anyone could blink. If you needed something done fast and with no witnesses left alive, you contracted with them. While others sought fame, the Gorturnum kept to themselves to an almost psychotic level.

Out of all the Tavali, they were the most loyal and secretive to their order.

And then there were the regal blue-bloods … the Wasturnum. Dignified. Honorable. They lived by Tavalian Code and Council, and brooked no slackers. Their members bled decorum and refinement, and yet there was also a barbarian undertone that said they could and would cut your throat while smiling in your face. That dichotomy was actually extremely unsettling. Like sitting down to have dinner with a lion, and you were never quite certain if you were going to eat with him or become part of his dinner should you say the wrong thing.

Or use the wrong piece of cutlery.

Even so, Fain had a lot of respect for the Wasturnum. As a rule, they operated aboveboard and you didn't have to constantly stand with your back against the wall for fear of a cheap shot.

And they were led by the infamous Hermione Dane. The ruler of their United Tavali Nations.

It'd been a long time since Fain had last seen her, yet eerily, she never seemed to age a single day. She was still youthful and seductive. Lethally graceful and elegant. As the supreme admiral of the Universal Tavali Council, she was their version of a queen. But it wasn't a position she'd inherited. All of the ruling Tavali positions were earned by deed, combat, service, and honor, and they were held by maintaining those, and could be taken away at any time.

By one mistake or challenge.

Citizenship, names, and Canting were honors that all members of their Nations held in sacred trust. You didn't violate Tavali Code. Not if you wanted to live.

Fain struck his Tavali salute and bowed his head respectfully to one of the few political leaders he truly revered. “My Lady Grand Empress and Supreme Admiral.”

Her golden eyes were bloodshot from the tears she visibly struggled to hold back. To pay further tribute to the passing of Darling Cruel and his family, the white stripes of their black leather Wasturnum battlesuits had been electronically dulled to a dim gray—a Wasturnum custom of mourning, along with the red ribbon that was tied around their sleeve Canting.

For her and Ryn, the ribbons held a memento of Darling's that was special to them. Hermione's was a lock of red hair she must have kept from Darling's first haircut—another Wasturnum tradition. Ryn's ribbon held the ring from an explosive device marked with Darling's Sentella insignia. Darling's signature FU that he'd always left for the League prime commander to make Kyr lose his mind.

Fain was amused by Ryn's choice, and he recognized it for what it was. Not just a memento of Ryn's beloved brother, but a promise of vengeance against Kyr for daring to take Darling's life. While Ryn and Darling hadn't always gotten along, and though they were only united in blood by their father's lineage, they were forever brothers.

And they would kill or die for one another, without question.

Likewise, Hermione couldn't have been more upset had she been Darling's birth mother. Ever elegant and regal, with her cape slung casually over one shoulder, she was fiercely defiant and a creature of absolute power. Her long, dark red hair was braided down her back and she kept one hand casually draped over the blaster on her left hip.

“Commander Hauk.” She bowed her head in greeting. “It's a pleasure to see you again.” She placed a kiss to Fain's cheek. Then she grabbed Nykyrian into a motherly hug and choked on a sob. “I'm so sorry for your loss and ours. I can't believe Darling's gone.”

Ryn stepped forward in case she needed him.

Nyk held her and whispered in her ear.

While Nyk did that, Fain pulled Ryn back from them.

When he started to protest, Fain cupped Ryn's jaw and leaned down so that he could whisper intimately to the Tavali ambassador without anyone else overhearing him. “What Nyk's telling your mother is something you cannot react to. Brace yourself and stow your expressions to show no emotions whatsoever.… Darling is alive and well. As are his wife and son. Everyone was pulled out before The League bombed the palace. Now act upset.” Fain stepped back.

Like an award-winning actor, Ryn choked on a sob and patted Fain on the arm. “Thank you, brother. I appreciate your sympathy in my darkest hour of need. I won't forget it.”

Fain inclined his head, but he saw the relief in Ryn's eyes as well as the fire that had returned to Hermione's. Now
that
was The Tavali queen he knew and loved.

Hermione clutched at Nykyrian's hand. “From the moment he drew his first breath in this life, Darling has always been a son to me. For his father alone, I would have given up my Canting and name, and renounced Tavali citizenship.” She cast a furious glower around the bay. “May the gods have mercy on the soul of whatever Tavali dared bring harm to Darling and his house, for I will not. Rather, as my esteemed ancestor Hestia Waring-Dane once did, I will rain down Hell's wrath upon them and take not just their Canting and name, I will have their throat. Tell Brax he better deliver their heads to me or else I will have his on my wall, and his balls as my earrings.”

Ryn smirked at Fain. “That's my mom. Now you know why I'm still single.”

Hermione passed an irritated glare at her son.

He gave her a charming wink. “Just like you, Mom. Independently owned and operated.”

Chayden laughed. “Hey, it's better than me. I can't tell if I'm still single 'cause nobody likes me, or because I like nobody.”

Caillen snorted at that. “That's easy. Definitely the former more than the latter.”

Chayden passed a threatening look at him, which Caillen must have caught, along with a sudden memory of the fact that before Caillen had married Chayden's sister, he'd slept with Chayden's fiancée, and that was the sole reason they'd split up.

And why Chayden remained unmarried to this day.

Caillen quickly put Fain between them for protection.

Ignoring them, Hermione released Nykyrian and met Galene's gaze. “I stand at your ready, Commander. Let us know when and where to attack. My forces are at your disposal.”

While Hermione headed up the ramp to greet Ushara, Ryn stayed behind.

“You're sure about Darling?” he asked Fain in a barely audible tone.

“Absolutely. He wanted us to make sure you didn't do anything stupid—his words—while he was in hiding, and cost him his empire.”

Ryn cracked a half smile. “That's my little brother, Dumbass. And not like I could screw it up any worse than he did. I'm not the idiot who declared war on The League by telling their prime commander that I was going to raid and pillage the village and burn that—and I quote—motherfucker to the ground and there ain't nothing you bitches can do about it—end quote.”

Dancer laughed. “Yeah, not one of his better days. But definitely one of his more entertaining speeches.”

Ryn snorted. “Yeah, right. Let's hear it for the Cruel family's standard of diplomacy.”

“Brother, I hear you. There's no problem so large that it can't be solved by an adequate supply of explosives,” Chayden finished for him. “That's always been one of my favorite things about Darling.”

Fain shook his head. “Yeah,
you
would like that, Psycho Bunny.”

“And you…” Ryn swung around toward Talyn, who met him with an arched brow. “I hear that we have a new son to welcome to our family group. It's an honor to see you again, boy.”

Talyn extended his arm. “It's good to see you, too, Ambassador.”

Taking his hand, Ryn pulled him in for a hug. One that Talyn accepted without complaint. “Family don't shake hands. We maul like the gods intended … and I'm so glad I kept Ven from shooting you all those years ago.”

Talyn clapped him on the back. “Me, too. It would have seriously screwed up my future plans.”

Laughing, Ryn stepped back, then remembered he was supposed to be in mourning. He cleared his throat and sobered instantly. “Congrats on the unification.”

“Thank you.”

As Fain turned toward Galene, a sudden explosion rumbled and then rocked through the station. Alarms blared and lights dimmed. Their comms went off with warnings and summonses.

Fain paled as he read his link and his entire world tilted out of control.

No …

“It's the orphan decks … where War and Vega are housed.” Without waiting on anyone, Fain took off at a dead run. His heart pounded in terror as he tried to call them.

No one answered.

Over and over he told himself they were all right as he kept trying to get through to them. That the lines were down or overloaded by others trying to contact loved ones.

Yet when he reached the section where they lived and saw the cordoned-off area that had been blown out and sealed so that the rescue teams could help the few survivors, he knew better.

No one in their building was left alive.

No one.

 

C
HAPTER
14

Fain fell to his knees as pain racked him harder than any blow he'd ever felt since that day in the locker room when Galene had shattered his heart and left him barren and alone. He couldn't breathe for it. All he could see were the faces of the kids when he'd first found them, starving and terrified.

It's okay. I've got you. No one's going to hurt you again. I promise.

How could he have let them down, too?

“Fain?”

He blinked at Galene's voice, but couldn't speak past the agony that choked him.

She brushed her hand through his braids as aid workers and Hadean Corps soldiers rushed around them to put out the fires and help survivors. “Come with me.”

“I've got to search for them. Maybe they're trapped. Maybe—”

“Come with me,” she repeated in a tone that brooked no argument or resistance.

He glanced past her to see Talyn watching them with a peculiar expression he couldn't read. “You want to listen to her, Hauk. Trust me.”

Numb, he nodded and allowed them to lead him back toward Talyn's condo.

By the time they reached it, silent tears blinded him as guilt flayed him for having left the kids by themselves. Damn Venik and their laws. He should have kept the kids with him and screwed Tavalian law and custom. This was all his fault. And he would never forgive himself. Never get over the loss of two lives that were solely on him. Two lives he'd sworn to protect and take care of. He was all they'd had.

And he'd failed them. He would never forgive himself.

Talyn opened the door to his condo.

“Paka! Paka! Paka!” War came running to almost tackle Fain with an unexpected hug.

Fain's breath left him with a loud whoosh as War's small body collided with his and filled his arms with squirming spindly limbs.

“See! I told you he wasn't caught in it.” Vega frowned as she approached and saw Fain's tears. “Are you okay, Paka? Was someone hurt?”

Unable to speak, Fain grabbed both of them into his arms and burst into tears as he sank to his knees and held them in a crushing embrace. Relief and love exploded through him while he rocked them, knowing they were safe and alive. That by some unexpected miracle they'd been spared the horror of the day, and consequences of his stupidity.

Thank you, gods, thank you!
He would never miss temple again after this. He owed Ornul and Eri prayer lights for the rest of his life that They, in Their divine mercy, had spared his kids.

It wasn't until he'd thought they were dead that he realized just how much he loved them. How much of his heart he'd allowed the two of them to claim. Since the day he'd lost Galene, and his parents had callously thrown him away, he'd done his damnedest to live the rest of his life without any kind of emotional entanglement. To keep everyone, even Omira, at arm's length.