Part 34 (2/2)

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 amba.s.sador 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 citizens.h.i.+p.” She cast a furious glower around the bay. ”May the G.o.ds 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 h.e.l.l'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 b.a.l.l.s as my earrings.”

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

Hermione pa.s.sed 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 n.o.body likes me, or because I like n.o.body.”

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

Chayden pa.s.sed 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 fiancee, 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, Dumba.s.s. 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 motherf.u.c.ker to the ground and there ain't nothing you b.i.t.c.hes 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, Amba.s.sador.”

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 G.o.ds 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.

Chapter 14.

F.

ain 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.

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