Born of Legend (90 page)

More ships dropped in on them. Not just fighters. Cruisers and attack squads.

“What the hell?” Jullien skidded to the side of his control panel and twisted as he watched Thrāix going in hard for a group of them. “Hey,
Coracinus Anima
? What you doing? There's no need in you going
Psycho Bunny
on us. Stay with me.”

Thrāix didn't answer.

Jullien cursed silently as he saw more ships closing in and he realized what Thrāix intended. “Buddy, listen to me. I know you're hurting, and I know that hunger in you to die and to take them with you. I've been there. We all have. But you're my brother, Thrāix, and family's something I don't have a lot of. Don't make me watch you die. You hear me? We will get through this. And we will find the exact ones who hurt Mary and make them pay for it in the worst way imaginable. Together. C'mon. Don't do this. I need you in this fight. And remember, you're not on that ship alone.”

Thrāix let out a guttural cry that came from deep inside his soul. Splintering and soul-wrenching, he rolled away and fell in behind Trajen.

Ushara bit back her tears as she watched Jullien calmly handle himself and face their attackers during the worst circumstances, all the while dealing with Thrāix and keeping him under control. His ability to handle and push people never failed to impress her.

Of course, he normally pushed them over the edge and past the point of homicide. But when he chose to be diplomatic and caring …

There were few better at it. Even while facing death. He always kept his wits intact and emotions under an iron restraint that amazed her. It was why he was the only one she trusted to fly and train Vasili for his citizenship.

Jullien was an exceptional commander. And it was a shame his parents had failed to see what an incredible leader he would have made. That they never gave him a chance to take his place in history. For all of Nykyrian's abilities, Jullien would have been a valuable asset to his brother and his races. It was a shame his parents had deprived the brothers and their empires of Jullien's extraodianary abilities.

It broke her heart for him. But it made her glad that he was part of their Nation. Most of all, she was grateful that five years ago, Trajen had seen in Jullien the potential no one else had. It said a lot for her boss.

Five years …

In some ways, it seemed like yesterday—and in others, a blip. So much had changed.

If they weren't in battle, she'd hug her sexy beast. Actually, she'd like to do a little bit more than that. A slow smile curved her lips as a very naughty thought went through her head while she watched him maneuvering.

The one thing about carrying a son over being pregnant with her daughters …

She had an elevated libido.

“Shara?”

“Yes?”

Jullien glanced at her, over his shoulder. “You've really got to stop thinking about what you're thinking right now. 'Cause you're really distracting me at a time when I need to be focused on what I'm doing.”

Heat exploded over her face, especially when the others turned to look at her. “Sorry.”

Cyprian arched a curious brow.

Ushara quickly looked away.

But they remained quiet while Jullien fought off their attackers. When the fighting picked up, Ushara moved to take over communications for him.

She'd done it so seamlessly that Jullien hadn't realized it until the fighting was over and he collided with her. Frowning, he cupped her chin in his palm.

You are such a part of me.
He sent the thought to her.

She blushed before she kissed him.

As soon as it was safe, they returned to base to regroup. Cyprian, Wynne, Trajen, and Jullien went to the conference room while Ushara led Thrāix and Davel to her parents. Unira and Zellen took over the temporary relief aid for the rest of the Mavericks, with the help of Sheila and several other Tavali.

Trajen shook his head as soon as they were secure. “So, someone is posing as us to set us against each other.…”

Cyprian crossed his arms over his chest. “Had I not been with you, Tavalian, I wouldn't have believed it.”

“Do you think it's The League?” Wynne asked. “They've been after us for a while now.”

Jullien sighed as he considered that. He met Cyprian's gaze. “Your father doesn't have a lot of friends there, that's for sure. However, I don't think The League would risk alienating an ally right now. Especially not one as powerful as the Probekeins, given that the Gourans are part of the Alliance. It'd be political suicide. Like it or not, the Probes are the Arhana System. You lose them, you lose Paradise City, Starken, and too many other resources The League needs right now for their team. If anything, I'd think Kyr would be kissing your asses to keep your father deliriously happy, and firmly attached to his hip.”

Cyprian sighed. “Then who?”

“I have my suspicions, but I want confirmation before I say. Can you give me time to investigate it?”

He nodded. “Right now, I just want to see to what remains of my people.”

His eyes sympathetic, Trajen stood. “I've got transports headed in that'll take you to your father's territory, or wherever you want to go. As well as volunteers to protect you until you're back on your feet.”

“I won't forget this. While we've never really been allies before, that changes after this.” Cyprian held his hand out to Trajen. “You ever need us, say the word. We're there. So long as I have shelter and food, you have shelter and food.” For a Maverick, that was the highest testament of friendship.

“Thank you.” Trajen shook his hand.

Cyprian turned to Jullien. “And you … you saved us.” His gaze went to his wife. “From this day forward, you are family. You ever get tired of your Canting, call me. You'd make a fine Maverick.”

“Hey now,” Trajen groused. “Poaching one of my best while I'm standing here? Really?”

“Would you rather I poach him behind your back?”

“Rather you not poach him at all.”

Jullien laughed. “No worries. The new wears off me real quick. Which is why I have to stay with Tray. He knows what an asshole I am.”

Cyprian snorted as Trajen opened the door and had Ushara's receptionist escort them back to the bay, where the rest of their people were awaiting transports.

When Jullien started to leave, Trajen stopped him and closed the door. “Do you really think it's Nyran?”

“Worse. I think it's Braxen Venik.”

“Explain.”

“Something Nyran and Varan said when all this started.” Jullien turned on the wall monitor and pulled up the star chart for Venik's territory. The Ports were based in the same system as the Andarions. “I'm thinking Venik and my grandmother are working together to overthrow my mother and brother, and to come after
you
.”

“Jules…”

“Yeah, I know. I'm accusing a HAP of treason. It's why I didn't say anything. I need evidence.”

“Yes, you do.
Hard
evidence, or it's your ass. And there won't be anything I can do to save it.”

“Trust me, I know. But think about it. Who else would impersonate you and me? Why bother? And to what end?” Jullien walked to the maps. “Unless they broke us
and
the Mavericks.” He marked it on the monitor. “Then they'd control the largest shipping routes in all the Nine Worlds. Everyone would cow to them. They'd be invincible. Forget Justicale Cruel. They'd be
the
shit.”

Trajen narrowed his eyes on Jullien's notes. “They don't know I'm Trisani.”

“No. Nor do they know about Thrāix.”

“And they think you're dead.”

Jullien nodded slowly. “Yeah, but they have some doubts.”

“Because you won't keep your damn fool head down.”

Crossing his arms over his chest, he screwed his face up. “I'm a little stubborn. But anyway, I think it's why Nyran's been so bold. If his father's leading this…”

“Makes sense.” Trajen looked back at the monitor. “Too much, actually. Ven's always been in it for the profit, and for himself.”

“Yeah. He's an entitled bastard.”

“You know why, don't you?”

Jullien shook his head.

“C'mon, Jules. You're more intuitive than that. You know how assholes think. Especially entitled ones. What motivates them. Why do you think he's got the issues he has?”

Scowling, he ran over in his mind what little he knew about the pirate bastard. “He's a hybrid. That screws with you, in and of itself.”

“And…”

Jullien felt really stupid as he drew a total blank. “I got nothing.”

“Here, let me make this easy on you. His father was Serus of the Warring Blood Clan Venik.”

Gaping, Jullien stared at Trajen as he finally saw the point with crystal clarity. “You're shitting me.”

Trajen shook his head.

Yeah, that was a name he knew well. Serus had been disowned by his mother when he broke pledge with his Andarion fiancée and married a human. But that wasn't the most shocking part. The shocking part was why Jullien knew their names.

Serus had been a distant cousin of his.

More to the point, Serus's mother had been born Alya of the Warring Blood Clan of
Hauk
.

Which made Braxen Venik the second cousin of Fain Hauk. And put him firmly in the ranks of the single most prestigious military family on all of Andaria, and gave him royal blood.

Shkyte ykel.

“By that lovely expression on your face, I'm going to assume you got the relationship bingo.” Trajen leaned down until he was eye level with him. “And now I'll screw you one better. His wife, Malys, is the cousin of Chayden Aniwaya's mother.”

“What?”

“Yeah. Chayden's mother is the Qill queen, Sarra Denarii. Malys's mother is her aunt, Shea Denarii. That's why Brax has entitlement issues and believes himself royalty.”

Because he technically was.

“
Titana ræl.”

Trajen nodded. “Yeah. You put four egomaniacs with serious entitlement issues together, and what do you get?”

“Fun times for the rest of us.”

Trajen nodded slowly. “But it's all speculation.”

Jullien ground his teeth as his emotions churned and his anger rose. “You know we're not going to be able to stay out of this war.”

His stare turned brittle. “Your son is seventeen. The day I declare it, he'll be among the first to strap a blaster to his hips and sign on. Think long and hard before you drag me to that fence. Unlike you, I've been on a front line. Ask Bastien or Thrāix about the nightmares you carry for the rest of your life. You think you had fun in prison as a prince? It's a birthday party compared to time spent as a POW when your parents are the commanders for the enemy, and they think you have information they can leverage. Or they can use you to get to them. And you don't want to know what happens when your government falls to someone not related to you.”

“I do know. And I know what it's like to take a life when you're too young to cope with the guilt of it. And I also know what they'll do to us if we don't stop them.”

Closing his eyes, Trajen ground his teeth. “I hate war, Jules. Everything to do with it.”

“And it takes two to make peace. When one side is determined for war, you have no choice but to fight back. If we don't fight now, they'll take Vasili anyway. I'd rather he have a chance for survival, than die on his knees, begging.” Jullien clapped him on his back as tears and grief choked him. “Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go help my wife and her family bury their daughters.”

Trajen flinched. “They're going to blame you for this.”

“I know that, too. But I'm not a coward. And maybe it is my fault. Petran said it in the beginning, and it's true—the history of my family is written in blood. Perhaps that's the real Anatole curse. Rather than carry a genetic defect, ours is that our bodies aren't diseased so much as our souls.”

Trajen watched as Jullien left him alone in the room with memories and premonitions he wished he could purge from his brain. He didn't know which ones were worse.

Things that had already happened he couldn't change.

Or the ones to come he couldn't stop.

 

C
HAPTER
35

Jullien stood beside Ushara as she laid the small farewell bouquets in her sisters' memorial capsules. Unlike the funerals he'd grown up with, the Demurrists believed in celebrating the lives of the departed—in remembering only the good about them. They saw death as a new beginning where there was no pain or worries—where the departed soul was able to be reborn with a clean slate into a better life.

It was only sad for those who were left behind, who had to live on without them.

Honestly, he felt like shit.

This was all because of Eriadne and Nyran. But for him and his family, Mary and Ryna would still be here, laughing and dancing among their sisters and brothers.

“Don't.” Trajen put his hand on Jullien's shoulder as Ushara went to hug her mother.

“What?”

“Blame yourself for this.”

Jullien looked at Thrāix, who sat across from them, holding a sleeping Mira. “How can I not?”

“If you weren't here, Jules, Vasili wouldn't be either. Neither would those twin girls or Thrāix. And you don't want to know what would have happened to your eldest son. But I think you have a good idea what the slavers would have used him for.”

He winced involuntarily. “Why does it have to be a trade-off?”

“I don't know, but you saved a lot of lives two days ago. Cyprian sent a message saying that they're temporarily settled with his father. They're still doing their own inquest, and they're sending over their second-in-command in a few days to help us with our investigation. He also wanted me to tell you that he and Wynne are planning on naming their daughter Julia Thrāixia in honor of you and Thrāix, for saving them.”