Part 39 (1/2)
Bastien turned to Ember. ”Looks like I'll be taking the aptly named s.h.i.+p of Fools.”
”All right.” Fain stepped back to leave.
”But my s.h.i.+p's prettier!” Chayden pouted.
Fain growled at him. ”There is something profoundly wrong with you, human.”
”Yes”-Chayden slid his gaze to Fain-”and he's standing on my left.”
Fain shoved him away from him.
Ignoring them, Bastien said goodnight to Florian before Ember's sisters took his son to wait for them in the bay.
As they headed out, Ryn pulled Bastien to the side. ”Syn also came across some data while gathering those files you asked about that he wanted me to give to you personally.”
Bastien paused at the odd note in his voice. ”What?”
Ember returned to listen.
A dark shadow haunted Ryn's blue eyes as Jory stopped by his side. ”Go ahead, cade. 'Tis something he'll want to hear.”
Still Ryn hesitated.
Ember knew Bastien dreaded the words. But both of them were completely unprepared for the bomb he dropped on top of them.
”Your brother Quin? He's still alive.”
CHAPTER 15.
Bastien couldn't breathe as Ryn's words slapped him. Hard. Unable to comprehend them, he shook his head. ”No. I saw my brother die. In front of me.”
Ryn's expression darkened. ”And I swear to you that he's alive. We would never play with you that way. There's not a one of us who hasn't been through h.e.l.l for their family. And of all people, Syn isn't the one to take the death of a sibling lightly.”
No, he wasn't. It was common knowledge that he'd lost his sister to suicide. So no, he'd never toy with anyone about such a somber topic.
”He's sure it's Quin?”
Ryn nodded. ”You and Ember come with me and I'll explain it.”
Bastien hated to let his son go back home without them, but if his brother was alive, he needed to find him.
Sick to his stomach, he went to where Florian waited by the door.
”I know.” He flashed a grin at them. ”Rian, go with Aunt Cin. Be good. Brush your teeth. Do your homework.”
Ember cupped his cheeks and kissed him. ”Love you, precious.”
”You, too. Be careful.”
Bastien held his hand out. ”When this is over, you and me, bud ... long camping trip. No one else. Male bonding. Uninterrupted. Lots of p.o.r.n.”
”Bastien!” Ember snapped at him.
Florian smiled. ”Promise?”
”Absolutely ... minus the p.o.r.n, though, as I don't want your mom to hurt us.” He hugged his son. ”And a Cabarro never breaks his word.”
”That's what Mom says.”
Bastien held him a little longer even though he knew time was of the essence. It was hard to let go. But he had no choice.
Kissing the top of his son's head, he forced himself to do the last thing he wanted.
He released him to Cin's care. ”Thank you.”
She hugged Bastien. ”Don't worry. We adore little Bastien as much as we do big Bastien. It was Alura we voted out of the family.”
He laughed. ”I always loved all of you. Really missed you.”
Cin kissed his cheek and hugged him. ”We missed you, too, little brother. And just so you know, Tasi and I told Alura that we'd take you up on that threesome any time you wanted.”
He burst out laughing until he realized that his son might have heard her. A quick check told him that Florian was thankfully out of range. ”You're lucky you didn't find yourself in jail alongside me.”
That sobered her. ”No. We found ourselves left for dead and under a.s.sault by the Eudorans and under friendly fire. Trust me, there's no love for Alura among us anymore. She killed it the day she betrayed us all for your uncle. Go kick her a.s.s, with our compliments.”
”Don't worry,” Ashley said as she came up behind Bastien. ”I plan to cut her head off and hand it over to all of you to play ball with before everything is said and done. Just like our ancestors did.”
Bastien had to do a double take since they were both dressed up for the party. When they were in battle clothes, it was easy to forget how much Ashley and Cin favored. When they were dressed up and not standing side by side, it was hard to tell them apart. He'd gotten into trouble a couple of times for mistaking them. Which he'd felt terrible about until Tasi had told him that she'd accidentally groped Ash by mistake a time or two herself, for the same reason.
With a curt nod to her sister, Ash and Cin took Florian out, and Bastien and Ember followed Ryn to get the details he had.
Ryn led them to the North Bay, where he'd docked his s.h.i.+p. Without a word, they went to the flight deck. Ryn's first officer, Yra, materialized in front of them, ready to shed blood. Though not very tall, the blue-skinned, red-eyed Starken was tougher than nails and more than capable to take down an entire League hit squad.
Until she saw Ryn. Then she relaxed into a smirk. ”One day, Amba.s.sador, I'm going to shoot you, thinking you're here to steal your own s.h.i.+p. When are you going to start warning me?”
”Probably one day after you shoot me for not doing it.”
She rolled her eyes.
Bastien laughed. ”Your crew is a little paranoid, Dane.”
”And with reason.”
”How so?”
”It's how he met his wife,” Yra said drily. ”She took our entire s.h.i.+pment while he had his pants down.”