Nykyrian inclined his head toward Vasili's door. While the girls were obviously of an age to be Jullien's, and both had their father's dark hair, darker complexion, and greenish eyes, Ushara's son was another matter. He was as blond as his mother. "Vasili ... I take it you were married before Jullien?"
"I was. Not that it matters to Jules or Vas. They've been completely devoted to each other from the very beginning. Yet even so, Jullien has always taken care to not try and replace his father in his affections." She swallowed hard. "Chaz was a good male. Strong and proud. Just like his son."
Sadness darkened her eyes as she opened the door to the girls' room. "Unfortunately, Chaz died long before he could see what a wonderful son he gave me." She touched the heart-shaped, winged necklace, marking it as significant to her, before she spoke again. "I never thought to find another male who would win my loyalty or heart." Releasing the medallion, she passed an amused grin at Nykyrian. "And never one of your ilk."
"Meaning?"
She led him to a bunk where Viveka was sleeping and pulled back the blanket for him.
Nykyrian carefully placed Mira in bed and tucked her in. She immediately burrowed toward her sister, who unconsciously turned over and wrapped her arms around her as if she knew it was her twin, and, even in sleep, sought to protect her from any harm.
"An eton Anatole." Ushara spat the name as if it were poison on her tongue. "Your bitch of a grandmother brutally slaughtered my entire family and the rest of us Fyrebloods to the brink of extinction. Chased us to the very ends of the universe and has left us all haunted and scarred. Terrified of being found again. Honestly, there's a part of me that still feels as if I've betrayed their memories by being with your brother."
"Then why are you?"
She lifted her chin. "Why are you married to your wife?"
Nykyrian hesitated before he spoke the honest truth. There was no need to withhold something everyone already knew about him. "I can't live without her."
"Nor I without my Jullien. As I said, he is not the same boy you exiled, and he paid a steep price for all that was done in his past. It was only by losing everything he had that he gained his soul."
Nykyrian glanced down at the children and nodded. "Sadly, that seems to be the case more times than not. For us all."
As he left the room, he paused to stare at Ushara, who appeared both innocent and yet world-weary. "And you were right earlier. No matter how much we lie to ourselves about what a good person we are inside, sooner or later, we are all someone else's nightmare. Let us hope, for all our sakes, that history judges us with far kinder labels than what we've used to judge each other."
*
Fain couldn't sleep. Not while he had Galene's naked body nestled in his arms. He was too afraid to close his eyes and wake up to find this all a cruel dream. Even now, in the quiet hours, he couldn't believe that just a few feet away, contained in these metal walls that had once been his bitterest hell, in crew quarters that were normally empty, slept a family that belonged to him. A family that actually claimed him as a member.
Even better, a family that had been waiting for them on their return, to celebrate their unification.
Closing his eyes, he savored the memory of their impromptu surprise party. Talyn had been the first to pull him in for a hug. "Darling called and told us about your interesting union in the middle of disarming an IED. Don't think you're off the hook for a real ceremony. Either of you. If I have to suffer one, Hauk, you do, too." He'd released Fain to kiss his mother. "I'm a firm believer in spreading the misery."
"Talyn!" Felicia had chided. "You're so awful! What he means to say is share our joy."
"Yeah." Sarcasm had dripped from Talyn's tone. "That's exactly what I meant. So much so that I'm even willing to pay for the entire event. Whatever my mother wants, she gets."
Galene had kissed Talyn's cheek. "Thank you, but your father has already promised the same. He even told me he'd paint himself pink and wear feathers just so long as I actually showed up this time. Right, keramon?"
"Yeah, well, what the hell. You already left me standing naked in an auditorium full of strangers. What little dignity I have left is all yours to abuse."
Laughing, Talyn had passed him a bottle of ale and then toasted them while Vega and War had dusted Galene with "good luck" glitter that still clung to her skin and the sheets.
Fain continued smiling as he remembered the first family dinner he'd had since his parents had thrown him out. It'd been incredible.
And it terrified him. He had too much to lose now, and that reality tightened his gut. Anxiety made worse by the fact that Talyn, Gavarian, and Brach had gone out afterward with Chayden and Qory to help comfort their friends' loss over the deaths of their Septurnum brethren. Even though Chayden was a Rogue, both he and Qory had been fostered under the Septurnum Nation and had been adopted by Gadgehe as young teens--raised in the Tavali pirate lord's own household, as part of his immediate family.
And unlike Ven with Fain, Gadgehe had treated them like his very own blood-sons. Jory and Mack thought of them as siblings, and Chayden and Qory felt the loss of Mack as if she'd been their real sister.
War, misery, and death spared no soul, and took pity on no family. Today they had come for Ryn.
Tomorrow ...
"Fain?"
He kissed Galene's shoulder. "I'm right here, Storm."
"Can't you sleep?"
"Not really."
Rolling over, she cradled him with her body. "I could have sworn I wore you out."
He smiled at the reminder of how thoroughly she'd made love to him. No inch of his body had been left unexplored or unpleasured. But even so, the mere scent of her skin, or sound of her voice was enough to make him hard all over again.
Kissing her, he took her hand in his and led it to his cock. "Obviously, I'm broken. 'Cause it won't go down for more than a few minutes at a time."
With a sweet laugh, she nipped his chin. "Apparently. My goodness, akama ... However did you survive without me?"
"Never well. Always in abysmal misery."
"Mmmm." Dipping her head down, she kissed the skin below his slave's collar. "Is Venik ever going to remove this thing from you?"
"I'll have him remove it tomorrow. I'm hoping it slipped his mind, and that he hasn't reconsidered."
She froze. "He wouldn't dare. Would he?"
Brushing his hand through her braids, he swallowed as doubt stabbed him. "It wouldn't be the first time he's changed his mind about something he promised to do. Especially where I'm concerned."
"I'll kill him!"
Fain smoothed her furrowed brow with his thumb. "At least make him sign my manumission papers first. Trust me, we don't want to deal with his wife. She's even more unreasonable and unhinged than he is. There's no telling what Malys might do. She's forever spinning out of control. And in extremely unpredictable ways."
Fire sparked inside Galene's eyes as she stared up at him in the dim light. "No one will hurt you again, Fain. On my honor. I will kill for you. Anyone. Anywhere. Any time."
Savoring every syllable, he kissed her and slid himself deep inside her body. This was where he belonged. Only here did he feel sheltered and welcome. She was his fortress of strength. His sole haven. And when she rolled him over so that she straddled his hips, he really did want to die before something came and robbed him of this, and left him alone again. He wouldn't be able to stand another day of living without her.
With hooded eyes, he watched her ride him and let the warmth of her body wash away his bitter memories and replace them with the promise of a better future. It'd been so long since he had something to look forward to that he wasn't even sure how to cope with it.
He was treading new, unfamiliar ground now and it terrified him.
Galene watched the emotions play across Fain's face as he gently cupped her breasts and arched his back to drive himself deeper inside her. Even scarred, he was still the most delectable male she'd ever seen. There was
nothing better than wrapping herself around his hard, muscled body and feeling it flex against hers, and under her hands. No male had ever been made more perfect.
He awakened a hunger in her she hadn't even known she possessed. If she didn't know better, she'd think herself as stralen for him as he was for her. Impishly, she reached down to trace the line of his lips that held some of the glitter the kids had thrown over her earlier. He would probably die to know how much of it was on his skin and in his hair, too. But it looked good on him.
Fain nipped her fingertip with his fangs. Then he caught her hand and held it to his lips so that he could tease her palm with his tongue. Chills ran up her arm at the sensation of his breath on her skin. His eyes turned eerily bright red in the darkness before he rose up to kiss her.
With a deep, guttural laugh, he flipped and trapped her beneath him. He had that intense, predatorial stare now that she recognized. It meant playtime was over.
Rising up, he slid back inside her. This time, his strokes were deep and long. Desperate. He held her as if terrified of letting go.
"I'm not going anywhere, Fain."
He laced his fingers with hers and laid his cheek to hers. "If you do, swear that you'll shoot me between the eyes before you leave."
She sucked her breath in sharply. "What?"
He lifted himself up on one muscled arm to stare down with a sincerity that was chilling. Then he placed her hand against his wildly beating heart. "I mean it, Galene. You have always been with me, but now that I have you back ... I would rather you put your dog out of its misery than leave it caged in the hell it's called home all these years."
"You are not a dog, Fain!"
With a cocky grin, he kissed her. "Of course I am. But I'm more than happy to be your bitch. You're the only one I will gladly let command me, and whose hand I would never bite."
She groaned at his humor. "Gah, you are so terrible. I hate the way you view yourself. I wish you could see yourself as I do. Just once."
Cupping her chin, he kissed her then and quickened his strokes until she was breathless from it. Then, in one blinding wave, she cried out as she came.
His eyes flared even brighter an instant before he joined her. He buried himself deep inside her and held her close as he nibbled and teased her ear. His whiskers teased her flesh.
It felt so good to have him in her bed. To have him with her. Period.
Galene held him tight in her arms. "Felicia was right. I just want to wear you like a blanket." She tugged his muscled arm over her breasts.
He arched a brow at her. "Should I ask why you were discussing that with our daughter?"
She laughed. "We weren't talking about this. Rather how aggravating males are in general."
"Not sure that's a better answer. Either way, I seem to come out a loser."
"Are you trying to pick a fight?"
He kissed her shoulder. "I would never pick a fight with you while you're naked. If I say something stupid, you have to remember that you've drained all the blood out of my brain hours ago, and left me with no ability to think clearly."
"Oh, you clever charmer. You've become far more debonair over the years." Her gaze fell to the collar on his neck and she felt a wave of sadness again at what he'd been through.
Alone.
And all because she hadn't stayed and fought for him ... the one person she should have fought hardest to keep.
But never again. That was one promise she wouldn't break. Not ever. She would never again allow anyone to ever divide them.
Fain's breath caught as he saw the haunted expression on her face. Every time she glanced at the symbol of his slavery, it stole her joy. He couldn't stand it.
She deserved nothing but the best. And all happiness.
Kissing her lightly, he rolled from the bed.
"Where are you going?"
He reached for his pants. "To get this minsid collar off. I will not be the cause of your sadness anymore. I've given you enough tears. You will never shed another over something I've done. I promise you."
Galene choked on a sob as he entered the bathroom to wash. Not from sadness, but over the sheer joy she felt. Yet as she listened to the sounds of his dressing, a horrible dread consumed her. She'd meant what she said.
The gods had conspired against them from the beginning, and stolen too many years that should have been theirs. And though she didn't want to believe it, a part of her couldn't help wondering if they weren't cursed. If they weren't meant to be divided.
Her link buzzed.
Frowning, she pulled it over to see that it was the notification she'd set for Jory Hinto's arrival.
She flinched involuntarily before she returned it to the table and went to join Fain in the small bathroom. He was just leaving the shower as she entered.
"Something wrong?" He lowered the towel with a worried frown.
How she treasured that note of concern in his voice. The knowledge that she finally had someone to lean on. While she was strong and could stand on her own, it was nice to have someone at her back. To know that Fain would catch her should she ever stumble.
"Jory just requested clearance codes."
Fain cursed. "Is he coming in this bay?"
"It's what I told them to do. We have a few minutes before they arrive." She stepped past him.
Fain caught her hand. "Have I told you how proud I am of the commander you are? 'Course, you were always bossy...."
She laughed at him. "And you, Fain Hauk, do honor to your forefather and namesake. In your eyes and form, I see that brave soldier who stood so valiantly and fought with his family to hold back an invading army to save our race. He had nothing on you."
Fain couldn't breathe as she spoke those words. It was the kindest thing anyone had ever said to him. "I love you, Stormy."
"And I, you. Forever and a day."
He heard a knock on his door.
"Fain?"
Reluctantly, he pulled on his pants and left her to open it, and greet his brother who was in the hallway outside Fain's quarters. "What do you need?"
"The Septurnum are arriving. I thought you'd want to join me in the bay."
"I'm just waiting on Galene."
She stepped out of the head, fastening the cuff of her formal suit.
Fain pulled his jacket out of his closet and shrugged it on, then followed Galene, Sumi, and Dancer off his ship and into the bay. Hermione and Ryn were already there, waiting with Nykyrian, Jayne, Syn, Maris, Saf, and Caillen, as well as Venik, Ushara, and a small welcoming party of somber Tavali. Ryn's eyes were red and swollen, but they were the only thing that gave away his broken heart. The rest of his composure was that weird mixture of rigid aristocrat and lethal warrior that was uniquely his.
Except for his left hand, where he finally wore a black wedding band that he idly stroked with his thumb.
Fain paused beside Ven and Ushara. Ven grimaced as he saw the collar on Fain's neck. He passed a covert glance to Hermione and Ryn before he quickly put himself between them to block their view and removed it. Had they seen it, Ven would have had some interesting questions to answer from the UTC, since the contract he'd made with Fain for the kids was technically illegal and in total contradiction to Tavali law. He was lucky Fain wasn't the type to rat him out. But having made the pact with full knowledge of what he was in for, he was Andarion enough to abide by the terms, no matter how appalling they were.
"Thanks." Fain rubbed at his neck where the skin had been chafed and bruised from it.
Without responding, Ven quickly slid the collar into his pocket before the Danes saw it. Yeah, you should have thought about that before you locked it on my throat, huh, genius? That was the bad thing about Ven, he didn't always think things through completely. He had a bad tendency to react first and then live to regret his impulsiveness.
Dancer moved to Ryn. "How you doing, buddy?"
"Gutted." His tone was emotionless and hollow. His eyes, however, betrayed an anguish that ran soul deep
.
Fain hated to see anyone in that kind of pain.
Dancer placed his hand on Ryn's shoulder. While Fain had known Ryn for years now, it was nothing compared to how long and how well Dancer, Jayne, Syn, and Nykyrian had known him. Since Dancer was one of Darling's closest friends and his wingman, they shared a special bond. And given that the four of them had been protecting and training Ryn's little brother Darling since he was a teen, Ryn felt indebted to them and considered them an extension of his family.
And family stood together. Always. Blood with blood. Especially during times of grief and need.
As Jory's ship pulled in and docked, Ryn closed his eyes. Jayne took his hand and rubbed his arm to comfort him. True to his princely bearing and tough Dane heritage, Ryn didn't show any emotion as he waited in somber silence. The only clue to his pain was his rapid breathing and the tight fists that he kept clenched at his side.
Hating that Ryn had to go through this, Fain took Galene's hand into his as the ramp lowered and a small party started down it. He immediately recognized the tall, blond, muscular Tavali dressed in the red and black colors of the Septurnum Tavali Nation at the rear of the group.
Vice Admiral Jory Woods Hinto, or Jupiter as he was better known. The code name, which literally translated to "godfather," had been given to him because when it came to making the impossible happen, Jory was almost Trisani with abilities. Had his father been anyone other than Gadgehe Hinto, Jory would have most likely been Gorturnum instead of operating under the True Red Flag Nation.
Yeah, he was that good.
As with the Gorturnum's nefarious pilots, Jory flew like a phantom beast through the most treacherous zones, undetected and never caught. In and out with a speed that left everyone wondering what kind of engine powered his ship. It was inhuman the things he could do, and his skills were legendary. Many speculated that his mother had to be Trisani or some other similar psionic species. No one could just develop the talent he had by sheer skill or experience.
But right now his movements were slow and methodical as he came off his ship, cradling his sister's limp body to his chest.
Fain winced at the same time Ryn's facade slipped and he stumbled back, then caught himself and straightened.