Part 10 (1/2)

She inclined her head to him. ”Thank you for taking care of my baby.”

Fain choked on his grief at the fact that she refused him the honor of claiming Talyn as his. But then, what could he really expect?

Talyn was right. All he'd done was donate some DNA. He'd never once been there for either of them.

And that hurt most of all.

”If you want, I can show you to your new quarters. Help you carry your things?” He gestured toward Talyn's room. ”He was dressing when I left him a second ago.”

She pulled out her link and texted Talyn. After a brief pause, a blush stained her cheeks. ”He's checking in with Felicia. They have so little time together that I try not to intrude on it.” Biting her lip like she'd done as a girl, she put her link away and headed back toward her room with the s.e.xiest military swagger any soldier had ever possessed.

Now that was the sweetest a.s.s he'd ever laid eyes on or hands to. And it set fire to every part of him. But then Galene had always made him salivate. Always made him appreciate the cut of her body...

Knowing better than to pursue any of those thoughts, Fain had to quicken his stride to catch up to her. His Stormy had always moved forward, at full speed. With purpose.

He searched his mind for something to distract himself from the hard-on that was killing him. ”So... do you approve of Talyn's female?”

She paused to open the door to her quarters. ”Would it matter if I didn't?”

With Talyn's defiant att.i.tude, not really.

Fain cursed as he glanced past her and saw the paltry cell she'd been a.s.signed. While her room was slightly larger than Talyn's, it was still a dive-hole. This was ridiculous and it made him want to beat the s.h.i.+t out of everyone who'd had a hand in it. So much for Tavali hospitality, and it didn't help that it reminded him of his early days with their order when he'd been a slave, or what The Tavali snidely referred to as a slag the lowest order of their society that was The Tavali equivalent of an Andarion lack-Vest.

Yeah, those were memories he'd rather not have. The Tavali could be as cruel and nasty as anyone else in the universe. Especially to Andarions.

”I'm really sorry about this.” Fain reached for her duffle on the small desk. ”Is this everything?”

”Yes.”

He lifted her gear. ”Then follow me.”

Galene tried her best not to notice how incredibly s.e.xy Fain moved as she reluctantly obeyed. Honestly, he was huge and devastating, and she hated how badly her body reacted to his presence. How much she still ached for him in spite of what he'd done to her.

I so want to hate you.

No, she needed to hate him. But he didn't make it easy on her, especially when he was being kind. Just like when they were kids. It was what had made her love him to begin with. Unlike his older brother, Fain had never bragged about his heritage or used it to belittle those around him.

Ever respectful of others, he'd even given his school jacket away to a fellow student who'd torn the only one his parents had been able to afford for him. Because he was a War Hauk and more was expected of him than others, Fain had been severely punished by school officials for not having his uniform jacket. He'd taken it in stride and never breathed a word to anyone what he'd done or why. He'd simply said he misplaced it and couldn't remember where he put it.

She only knew what he'd really done because she'd witnessed him doing it from a distance.

And he'd borne far worse than that from his father who'd expected him to be a fierce military officer in their proud family tradition. His mother who had constantly berated him for any act of kindness or charity.

You're a War Hauk, Fain! For the love of the G.o.ds, remember that. Only the tahrs himself stands above you in caste!

But Fain had never cared about that. His heart had been one of honor and decency. And while he'd been as fierce a fighter as any Andarion male she'd ever known, he was always respectful and sweet to her. He'd rip anyone else apart, but the moment he laid eyes to her, he'd calm down to a quiet peacefulness.

Like a tamed battle-lorina.

As they walked on and on, she slowed. ”Should I be worried? Where exactly are you taking me?”

He cracked a charming grin. ”To the side of the station where we put creatures we actually like. You and your guard were a.s.signed slag quarters.”

”By your father's orders?”

His smile fading, he opened a door and sighed. ”I'd like to say no, but given what I know of Venik, it wouldn't surprise me. He's not exactly fond of Andarions. The last time any were here, they blew up half his station.”

”Yet he adopted you?”

”What can I say? I'm irresistibly fluffy.”

She snorted at that as she swept past him, then froze at the opulent suite of rooms. ”Is this... correct?”

He nodded as he set her bag on the floor near a leather sofa. ”It is, indeed. If you don't like it-”

”No,” she said quickly, afraid he'd return her to the c.r.a.ppy side they'd just come from. ”It's very nice. Thank you.”

He inclined his head to her. ”I'll have Talyn put in the room that's adjacent to this one.” He gestured toward a door on his right. ”You can open the door between your quarters. That should keep him in line with his barracks restriction.”

Sadness bit her hard at the reminder. ”Thank you. The last thing I want is for him to lose his rank. Again. He's worked and suffered enough already.”

Fain opened his mouth to speak an instant before a blaring alarm sounded.

Galene scowled at the highly unpleasant shrieking noise. ”What's that?”

”We're under attack.”

All the color faded from her face. For a moment, Fain thought she might pa.s.s out as she placed her hand against the wall to catch her balance.

Worried about her, he closed the distance between them. ”Stormy?”

She didn't even react to his old nickname for her. Instead, she grabbed the front of his battlesuit in two desperate fists. Tears swam in her pale eyes as she stared up at him. ”Don't let my Talyn fly. Ground him!”

He scowled at her uncharacteristic behavior. ”I'll try.”

”No,” she choked, shaking her head as she tightened her grip on him. Her breathing was labored and panicked in a way he couldn't fathom. He'd never seen her like this before. ”You can't... I-I-I can't... Talyn has to stay here! On the ground. Do you understand? In the station. You hear me!” She was absolutely hysterical. ”He can't fly into battle. Not again! Never... Never!”

”Shh, Galene. It's all right.” Fain pulled her against him and held her close. She was literally shaking like a child. ”I'm not going to let your son be harmed. I swear.”

And still she sobbed hysterically.

What the h.e.l.l had happened to Talyn?

Her armband buzzed with the warning, summoning her to take command of the battle. Her breathing ragged, she stepped back to silence it. ”I've got to go.” When she met his gaze, he saw the terror that ran soul deep. ”He's all I have in this universe, Fain. Please, don't let him fly into an attack again! Please! Keep him on the ground. Whatever it takes.”

What did she want him to do? Shoot the kid? He had a feeling that was the only way to stop Talyn from doing what he wanted, and given the size and rage-factor of their son, that would probably only p.i.s.s him off more. ”You're his commander. Order him to stand down.”

She snorted at that. ”He's too much like his father.” She glared hatefully at him.

Wiping at her eyes, she pulled herself together to rush to the command center for her post.