Part 35 (1/2)

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. d.a.m.n 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 crus.h.i.+ng 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, G.o.ds, 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 d.a.m.nedest to live the rest of his life without any kind of emotional entanglement. To keep everyone, even Omira, at arm's length.

Only Dancer and the memory of Galene had stayed with him.

Until the day War and Vega had wiggled their adorable little ways through his s.h.i.+elds.

”Paka... I. Can't. Breathe,” War choked out as if he were in absolute misery.

Snorting an irritated laugh, Fain let go of them finally.

”I think Paka went crazy,” War whispered loudly to his sister.

Bug-eyed, she nodded.

Galene laughed at them before she stroked Fain's cheek with a gentle, understanding hand. ”No. Paka had a bad scare. He thought you both had been killed in the explosion. I know from all the years of having your brother Talyn in similar situations that the only way to breathe again after such a horrible shock is to have the babies in your arms and feel with tangible proof that they're safe and whole.”

Only then did Fain let go and take Galene's hand. ”Thank you. But how did they get here?”

She jerked her chin toward Gavarian, who was watching him as if he was as crazy as War had proclaimed him. ”Talyn sent Vari and his brother to secure them after the attack on us.”

Fain finally saw that Felicia had been sitting at the table, doing schoolwork with them, on his arrival. ”Thank you, Vari. And thank you, Felicia, for watching over them.”

Before they could respond, Vega touched the tears on his cheek.

Fain met her haunted gaze. Her small hand trembled as she wiped at his tears.

”I'm sorry we scared you, Paka.” Then Vega did something she hadn't done since she'd hit p.u.b.erty she sank down in his lap and laid her head on his chest to cuddle against him like a small child.

Closing his eyes, Fain held her and brushed his hand through her dark hair. ”I'm just glad you're all right. And if you want to date, I promise I won't gut the little... male.”

She laughed at that. ”I can wait until you're ready. I don't want you in jail for it.”

Fain smiled. ”Very well. I'm told ninety is a prime dating age for a human female.”

”Paka!” she snorted.

Gavarian moved to stand in front of them. ”Well, since you're here... if you'll give me the new key card to your half of the condo, I'll get the kids moved in for you.”

Fain scowled as he finally realized that all of Vega's and War's personal items were packed in bags and lined up against the wall. He glanced over to Galene in confusion.

Her features softened into the kind of smile he'd never thought to receive from her again. She pulled out her link and scrolled through it for a minute before she handed it over to him. ”It went through earlier. I was going to tell you about it but then all h.e.l.l broke loose.”

Stunned, he felt his jaw go slack. ”You legally adopted them?”

She nodded. ”And named you as their paternal guardian. I found the loophole that allows you to legally be their father, and there's nothing anyone can do to stop it. It was the least I could do for you, after what you did for Talyn and Felicia.”

Another tear slid from his control as he saw his own name listed as their father. He couldn't believe it.

A family of his own... The only thing he'd ever wanted in his entire life. A dream he'd been forced to give up so long ago that he'd refused to think about it. The pain had always been too raw and biting.

Now...

Rising to his feet, he pulled Galene into his arms and kissed her. ”Thank you, Stormy.”

She smiled up at him. ”Don't thank me so soon, War Hauk. Parenthood is an equal share of awe and ah, c.r.a.p.”

”Thanks, Mum,” Talyn said drily. ”Way to nurture that healthy ego in your son.”

She laughed at him. ”Oh please! As if you need any help in that regard. Your ego is granite. I've seen the way you dress when you're not in uniform.”

Talyn staggered back and covered his heart as if she'd shot him. ”Ah, now that's just painfully mean.” He turned toward Felicia. ”And you're the one who should really be offended since you buy most of my clothes.”

Felicia let out the most feminine and strangely sweet snort Fain had ever heard. ”True, but you seldom wear the ones I buy for you. Rather you live in those old things you've had since the day I moved in. Every time I try to throw them out, you find them again and return them to the closet.”

Gavarian and Brach burst into laughter.