Part 23 (2/2)
Not even for broken bones.
All his life, Fain had been charged with taking care of others. But not once had anyone ever taken care of him.
It was time for that to change.
”Come back with me, Fain.”
His scowl deepened. ”Why?”
”Because I want you there.”
His eyebrows shot north. ”For?”
She had to force herself not to roll her eyes. He was so much like Talyn it was criminal. Laughing at him, she took his hand and tugged at him. ”Not for what you're thinking. You need someone to take care of you.”
He snorted at that. ”I'm more than capable of taking care of myself.”
”This isn't about being capable or need. I want to take care of you. Now get on your feet, Pirate, and follow me.”
Fain started to argue, but the tone of her voice told him it would be all kinds of stupid. Besides, he didn't want to fight with her anymore.
Deep down in a part of his heart he didn't want to admit existed, he wanted what he'd seen tonight. That kind of camaraderie. Kins.h.i.+p.
Family. Just once in his life, he wanted to belong to someone.
Sliding his link into his pocket, he got up and pulled his boots on, then he shrugged his jacket on and locked down his s.h.i.+p.
”Why aren't you using your Tavali quarters?”
He shrugged nonchalantly. ”It's not home.”
”Where is?”
”My s.h.i.+p.”
This time, she did roll her eyes. ”I'm serious, Fain.”
”Yeah. So am I.”
She paused to stare up at him. ”You honestly live on your s.h.i.+p?”
He nodded. ”Dancer lets me crash in his guesthouse sometimes, but I don't spend a lot of time on Andaria.”
Because until recently, it would have meant his life if he'd been caught there. As an Outcast, he'd have been imprisoned by law should anyone have recognized him and reported him to their authorities. It said a lot that he'd risk that to visit his brother, especially given his mother's hatred of him.
”I'm surprised your mother never turned you in.”
”She tried once. Nyk put the fear of the G.o.ds into her. And now that I've been returned to caste, thanks to Cairie, it's a little easier to visit, but I still don't spend a lot of time there. Too many bad memories.”
”But you have addresses on different planets?” She'd seen them in his file.
”They were just mailboxes, over the years. I always lived in ports, unless I was under Tavali orders and doing illicit activities for Ven or Eriadne.”
”You never put down any roots?”
He shook his head. ”Never had a reason to. Dancer's the only family I have and he's always been mobile with The Sentella. I tended to stay within a few days' reach of whatever address he had.”
In case his brother needed him. He didn't say it, but Galene knew the reason. Dancer had always come first with him. ”You talk to him a lot?”
”Not really. Just kind of grunt at each other in pa.s.sing.”
Laughing, she opened the door to her flat and let him enter first. Everyone had already left, and Talyn was cleaning up the last of their dinner and snacks as they came in.
He scowled at Fain as he closed the fridge.
Fain drew up short at the sight of his son, who was wearing nothing but pajama bottoms. But the wardrobe choice wasn't what shocked him. It was Talyn's bloodred eyes that he'd kept covered with contacts up until now.
Stralen.
s.h.i.+t.
Like father, like son. Whereas Talyn's must be permanent, Fain's had faded a few hours after Talyn's conception. Had he ever slept with Galene again, it might have become permanent. But there was no way of knowing now.
”You going to say something?” Talyn challenged him in that deep, angry voice.
”Are you?”
”Boys!” Galene warned. ”Play nice.”
Talyn jerked his chin at Fain. ”Why's he back?”
”I asked him.”
Grabbing his water, Talyn snorted and headed for his connecting room. ”Thought I raised you better.”
Galene shook her head and sighed. ”I swear he's your clone.”
”Not really.”
”You think not?”
”No. I'd have kicked my a.s.s.”
Sighing heavily at him, she took his hand and led him to the couch. ”Come on, Fain. Let me show you your son.”
He had no idea what she meant until she connected her link to the monitor and spent the next few hours showing him countless photos and videos of Talyn from birth to adulthood.
<script>