Born of Defiance (19 page)

His handsome face appeared instantly. He was the spitting image of their father, except for his hair. While their father wore the short style of his political station, Lorens, like Talyn, had warrior braids that he pulled back from his face with a red band. “Felicia? Really? Who died?”

Rolling her eyes at his droll tone, she blinked away her tears. “Are you still a giant Ring fan?”

“Always. Why?”

“Do you know who the Iron Hammer is?”

“Oh hell, yeah. Of course.” Now he sounded a little more normal and not the snot he was around her. “Am I breathing? Everyone knows who he is. The fact
you
know his name says it all. Why do you ask?”

“How would you like to have dinner with him?”

Her brother gaped. Then he turned deadly serious. “Who do you want me to kill?”

She laughed, even though she actually considered it. “Colonel Chrisen Anatole.”

“Done. Spill-kill. Quick-kill. What are we talking? You want his head as a trophy? Penis? Just tell me what body part you want delivered, how many pieces to cut him into, and it's done.”

Snorting, she wiped at her eyes. “Talyn is a fighter pilot stationed at Anatole Base with a major's rank and Anatole is his CO. Can you get Talyn transferred to another post, out from under the beast?”

Lorens arched a brow. “I don't have to really kill Anatole?”

“Not unless you can't get Talyn transferred. Then I want his head on a platter or pike … I'm not that picky.”

Lorens nodded thoughtfully. “Transfer's easy. I don't have to risk jail time or court-martial for that. Where do you want me to assign Batur?”

Felicia hesitated. This was entirely too easy and way out of character for her eldest half brother. “Why are you being so cooperative? You're scaring me.”

“You're offering me dinner with
the
Hammer, Felicia. There's really nothing I
wouldn't
do for that. Are you kidding? That male is my one true hero. I'd sacrifice my young to meet him. Even a testicle. Maybe both.”

Still, it seemed so weird to her. “He's an Andarion soldier. You could just order him to eat with you.”

“Not the same. Besides, I didn't know
that
until you told me. Had no idea he was a fighter pilot. But I can easily get him transferred to the Tadara's Guard or any place else. Hell, the Guard's where he
should
be with his skill set. I don't understand why he's not. And why are you crying, anyway?”

Wow, he only just now noticed that. Typical.

She sniffed. “Anatole propositioned me. He's threatening to hurt Talyn unless I meet with him.”

Lorens screwed his face up as if he couldn't fathom what she was telling him. “Can I ask why he's threatening
you
about the Hammer?” Now there was the condescending tone she was used to.

She glanced over to Galene before she cleared her throat. “I'm Talyn's female.”

“Ah, hell, no, you're not…” He gaped. “Are you really?”

The doubt in that one word offended her. “Yes, I am.”

“And you're just now calling me? You. Suck. So hard.”

“Well, you've never been this nice to me before. Why would I have told you?”

“Yeah, well, you weren't sleeping with the greatest fighter to ever step into the Ring. This changes things.”

Offended, she growled at him. “Thanks, Lorens.”

“What? You want me to lie?”

She narrowed her eyes at him. His honesty was the
only
good thing she could say about him, sadly. “I would call you an obnoxious ass, but I don't want to insult obnoxious asses or for you to reconsider transferring Talyn.”

Lorens laughed good-naturedly. “Not going to happen. I'll put him wherever you tell me.” He signed something before he glanced back to his monitor. “Can I bring my oldest boy to dinner, too?”

“You get my baby transferred away from Anatole's control and you can bring both boys.”

He flashed a fang-tinged smile at her. “Have I told you how much I love you, Felicia?”

“Never.”

“Bad oversight on my part. I'll put in for an immediate transfer. And I'll do you one better. The Hammer wins his next fight, I'll personally give your male a promotion in rank.”

And for that, she would kiss her obnoxious brother's cheek, and those of his evil spawn, too. “There is one condition to all of this.”

“I still have to kill Anatole?”

She laughed, even though she wanted to say yes. “No. Don't tell Talyn I requested this from you. Ever.”

“Then how are you getting him to dinner?”

“I'll worry about that. You get the transfer and I'll get you your dinner with Talyn.”

“Deal. I'll put it through today.”

“Thank you, Lo. I won't forget this.”

“Hey, I'm just glad you called me and not Paka. He wouldn't have invited me along. He's selfish that way.” Lorens inclined his head to her. “I'll see you soon.”

“Bye.” She hung up and met Galene's stunned expression.

“Your paka is Satrapehs Saren ezul Terronova?
The
male head advisor for Tadara Eriadne? And your brother is Lieutenant Commander ezul Terronova, the second-in-command of the
entire
Andarion armada?”

“Yes,” she said sheepishly. “I told you my father was high-lineaged.”

“You did, but you left out those vital details at the hospital when we talked about this.”

Nervous over the nondisclosure, Felicia twisted a strand of her hair around her index finger. “I didn't know if Lo would do it. He really is a big jerk. Normally.”

“Yes, I know. I've dealt with him on several unpleasant occasions. And he's
never
sounded that nice before.”

“I know, right? But he's been a huge Ring fan all his life. It's the only thing our paka ever did with him, growing up. Lorens fought some, but he sucked at it so he quit within his first year of primary school.”

Galene shook her head. “Do you really think he'll do it?”

“He usually has good follow-through. Especially when it's something he wants. And he definitely seems to want this.”

An evil glint appeared in Galene's eyes. “I would love to see Chrisen's face when those orders come through. He'll be livid.”

“You think he'll fight them?”

That stole the happiness from the commander's face. “Sadly, I do. He's a spiteful bastard.”

Felicia released her hair as a new fear went through her. “What are the odds that he might be successful?”

“I don't know. Your father is the head male advisor for the tadara. Chrisen's mother is the tadara's head female advisor and niece. If it comes down to it, the tadara will side with her blood relations. That I know for a fact. And God help Talyn if it comes to that.”

Felicia's stomach tightened.
Please, don't let me have made it worse for him by trying to make it better.
She'd never be able to live with herself if she hurt him.

 

C
HAPTER
9

“What are you doing?”

Talyn froze instantly at Felicia's peeved tone, wondering what he'd done to piss her off. “The most obvious answer seems to be getting into trouble with my girl. But against my better judgment and common sense, I'm going with the typical male response to female ire, and answer with … nothing.”

She stood up from the couch and put her hands on her hips. “Nothing? Really? Then why are you up?”

He frowned, even more confused than before. “I was thirsty.”

She cursed under her breath. “What did the doctors tell you, Talyn? You're not supposed to be out of bed! What were you thinking?”

“That I was thirsty, and unless I wanted to drink out of the toilet, I needed to come to the kitchen to get water.”

He could tell by her expression that she was struggling not to laugh at him. “Did it not occur to you to ask someone to get it
for
you?”

Talyn snorted at her sarcasm. “I dare you to try that in the barracks. When I get my ass kicked, I expect to get paid and be applauded for it.”

“You are a sick male … in more ways than one. Now get back in bed where you belong, and I'll get the water for you.”

“Yes, ma'am.” He trod back toward the bedroom, then paused. “Would I be pushing my luck to ask for a snack, too?”

“Yes, and yes, I'll bring you something to eat. Now go!”

“Gah, bossy thing. You should work for Command.”

“I heard that!”

“I should hope so, given that I didn't whisper it,” he groused as he returned to bed.

Felicia joined him there a few minutes later, with a small tray that she set on the bed beside him. Frowning, she tested his temperature with the back of her hand. “How are you feeling?”

“Good.”

“Just good?”

“I felt better till I got yelled at for trying not to disturb you while you were studying for your exams.”

“Sorry,
mi keramon
. I'm just worried about you. You've slept for almost thirty straight hours.”

His jaw went slack. “What?”

She nodded. “Your mom was about ready to call an ambulance for you.”

“How'd you keep her from it?”

“Your vitals were good. I told her that your body must need it, and that you were better off here than in the hospital where they annoy you, and you bark at them constantly.” She fed him a bite of chicken.

Raking his hand through his hair, he frowned as he chewed and considered that. “I need to call my CO. I'm sure they've notified him that I'm at home, and—”

“We took care of it for you. All you need to do is focus on getting better.”

Fear lacerated him. What had he missed? “Took care of it, how?”

“Your mother and I talked to Anatole.”

Fear turned to a sick feeling of dread. “Shit. I'm screwed, aren't I?”

“No.” She handed him the water. “Have a little faith.”

Yeah, right. Faith was a heartless bitch who hated him worse than Anatole did.

“I know nothing of this faith you speak of.” He took a drink and sighed at the inevitable. There was no way to fix it until he faced the wretched bastard.

What's done is done.

Instead of focusing on it and being mad, he changed the topic to something much more pleasant.

Felicia.

“So how are your tests coming?”

“I have one more tomorrow. Your mom has graciously volunteered to babysit you while I take it.”

He rolled his eyes as he reached for bread. “Is she going to change my nappies, too?”

“If you need it.” She fed him a bite of fruit.

The lift buzzed.

Talyn frowned at the sound.

“It's your mom returning.”

“Oh.”

Felicia went to the door to let his mother know that he was finally awake.

Grimacing, Talyn leaned back and pulled the tray closer so he could reach the food easier.

His mom swept into the room with a huge smile on her face. “Guess what I have?”

“I can't imagine, and that look on your face kind of scares me.”

Scoffing at his irritable tone, she moved to his side and duplicated Felicia's gesture of checking him for a fever.

“Satisfied I'll live?”

“Very.” She smiled at his sarcasm, then handed him the files she held. “I have a present for you.”

He glanced at the Andarion military badge on the folder and bit back a snarl. Just the mere glimmer of a thought of returning to Anatole's “tender” care put him in a shitty mood. “Work!” he said in an exaggerated, sarcastically happy tone. “Just what I wanted! Thank you, Mum. How thoughtful!”

She jerked at his braids. “When you open that, you're going to feel like the ass you're being.”

He doubted that. With a grimace, he licked the grease from his fingers, then opened the file to see what order he'd violated now that would be on his record forever.

The moment his gaze fell to the words, he gasped. “Is this for real?”

“It is.”

He started to get up, then remembered why he was in bed as pain ripped through him. He cursed and grimaced.

“Talyn!” Both his mother and Felicia started toward him.

“I'm okay. I just wanted to hug you. How'd you get me transferred?”

She glanced to Felicia. “I know people.”

Grateful beyond belief, he took his mother's hand, led it to his cheek, and held it there. “You're right. I feel like a total asshole. Oh gah, Mum, I can't thank you enough for this.”

Felicia smiled at his heartfelt happiness and gratitude. That tone of voice told her just how bad Anatole had treated him. Her eyes tearing, she met Galene's grateful gaze.

Until guilt for taking credit for the transfer darkened Galene's eyes. By her expression, she knew his mother was about to tell him the truth.

Felicia shook her head to let her know it was all right to keep this secret. They'd decided that this would be best. While she was still learning about him, one thing Felicia knew for a fact was that Talyn didn't like to feel beholden to anyone. He hated being in debt, even in favors.

“What is it?” she asked Talyn, feigning ignorance.

Opening his eyes, he grinned at her. “I'm being transferred to the Royal Guard Corps as soon as I'm cleared for active duty again.”

Now that was something she hadn't known for sure. Lorens had been frustratingly short on the exact details of what he was doing for Talyn. “You'll be at the palace?”

He nodded. “I don't know my CO, though. Commander ezul Nykyrian?”

“He's a cousin of the former sýzygos,” Galene explained. “Stern, but fair. I think you'll like him. I know he'll adore you … you'll be guarding the tahrs and his court.”