Part 51 (1/2)
And it wasn't really lost. Only temporarily misplaced.
Come the morrow, they would evict the b.i.t.c.h and take Andaria back. Of that she had no doubt. And if Jullien still lived, they'd save him too.
After all, they were The Sentella. Impossible miracles were their specialty.
Epilogue.
F.
ain frowned as he kissed Galene's hand. Gently, he brushed his fingers over her bruised and scuffed knuckles. ”What happened?”
”Nothing.”
He turned the lights up and saw that she had scratches and more bruises. Furious, he growled. ”Who hurt you?”
”No one. Rather, I hurt someone else.”
”Pardon?”
A becoming blush stained her nude body as she bit her lip in a way that never failed to make him hard. ”I didn't really go shopping today.”
Obviously. Unless there had been some ma.s.sively discounted sale on female shoes guarded by a herd of rabid lorinas. ”Where did you go?”
”To visit an old friend.”
She was being purposefully vague and he didn't like it. ”Stormy...”
Galene let out a long sigh. ”I went to see Malys Venik.”
Fain gaped at her. ”What?”
Reaching up, she traced the line of his jaw with her fingers. ”You didn't really think I'd let her get away with hurting you and Talyn, did you? I merely went to explain a few things to her.”
”With your fists?”
She gave him a lop-sided grin. ”I am Andarion, you know? You and Talyn don't have the marketshare on that. No one threatens what I love. I promise you, she won't be back again in our lives. And neither will Venik.” She handed him her link. ”I have your papers. He signed them.”
Stunned disbelief filled him as he read through them. ”I don't understand.”
”He was with her while I was there.”
Shocked, Fain gaped even more. ”You fought Ven, too?”
”No. Him, I shot.”
”Stormy! Are you serious?”
”It was just a flesh wound. I'd already cleared that possibility through Hermione.”
Fain couldn't believe what he was hearing. ”And she was all right with that?”
”Given that Malys almost killed her daughter-in-law with her betrayals and actions? Yes. Mack's pregnant, by the way. So Malys almost killed Hermione's daughter-in-law and grandbaby. I could have pretty much gutted them both and Hermione would have been okay with it.”
With a nervous laugh, he brushed the braids back from her beautiful face. ”You are insane, Galene Batur.”
”Galene Hauk.”
”Ger Tarra Hauk,” he corrected with a smile.
Biting her lip seductively, she s.h.i.+fted her hips and ran her feet down his legs. ”I like that even better.”
His heart pounding, Fain stared down at her as he slowly slid himself inside her warm body. ”And this?”
”Mmm. I definitely like this.” With the tenderest expression, she ran her hand over the tattoo on his arm.
Fain savored that look and the feeling of her holding him. Of having her in his life. Forever. ”Thank you.”
”For what?”