Authors: Sherrilyn Kenyon
Born of Betrayal (51 page)
“What?” Nykyrian asked in shock.
“Yeah,” Darling concurred. “I heard your mom apologize to him for it while we were in hiding. Apparently, they got so caught up in their own grief they forgot they still had another son. Whenever he tried to see your mom, her secretary told him she was indisposed, and when he called the Triosan palace, they refused to put him through, as they didn't want to risk upsetting his father during his bereavement period. And your aunt apologized for throwing it in his face that his parents had no time for him.”
“Who tended him, then?”
“Staff ⦠your grandmother.”
Nykyrian looked at Galene.
“I was banned from the palace then, too. But they're right. When I returned to duty, Jullien wasn't allowed to see her. Those were my orders. It always upset her too much. Whenever he came around her, she would only ask him about you. Most of the time, she'd attack him for keeping you from her. Blame him for your death.”
Nykyrian cursed under his breath.
Fain sighed heavily. “Now that you mention it, I don't really remember his parents ever coming to school events for him. Maybe a time or two, but rarely. He always had a reason why they couldn't be there.”
“Yeah,” Dancer said. “It was rare. I do remember how Merrell and Chrisen would mock him over the fact that his father would promise to visit and then back out at the last minute with some lame excuse. How often they all looked at him like he was shit. Of course, I thought he was shit, too, and deserved it. But he was just a kid, surrounded by selfish assholes who didn't give a minsid hell about him. It's why he was angry all the time. Why he lashed out.”
Nykyrian's features turned to steel as he faced the Andarion guard. “I want this a priority. Find my brother.”
“And your grandmother?”
“Kill the bitch.”
Galene saluted him. “Yes, sir.” Turning, she went to carry out her newest orders. And though she relished going after Eriadne, she couldn't believe how bad she felt for what had been done to Jullien. A male she'd wanted to kill herself just a short time ago.
But the more she remembered about how he'd been treated when they were kids, and what had been done to him while she'd been stationed at the palace, the more she realized that he'd been trying to survive his grandmother's cruel reign, too.
Royal politics were hell.
While they had reclaimed the Sentella's families, ferreted out the Porturnum traitor, and established a new Alliance base, there was still a war to be fought.
They had won part of it. But lost Andaria.
“What are you thinking?”
She paused at Fain's question. “I was thinking about what we lost this week. You?”
He pulled her against him. “What I gained that I never thought I'd have. You by my side. And the beautiful sons and daughters you've gifted me with.”
Closing her eyes, she received his kiss and let those words wash over her. He was right. They had gained far more than they'd lost.
And it wasn't really lost. Only temporarily misplaced.
Come the morrow, they would evict the bitch 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.
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Fain 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 massively 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 shifted 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?”
“Bringing me home after I'd lost my way and forgot where it was.”
“You don't have to thank me, Fain. I was out in the cold, too. Every bit as lost in the dark. And sadly, I didn't even know it. I thought I was all right alone. That I was happy and fine. But the truth is, every ship needs a hangar. And every heart needs a haven. You are that light that saves me from the darkness, and I don't want to dwell there ever again.”
Cupping her cheek, he placed a gentle kiss on her lips. “My oath to you, Galene Hauk, you never will. For wherever you go, I will always follow. To hell and back. Forever and beyond.”
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New York Times
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A
LSO BY
SHERRILYN KENYON
THE LEAGUE
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CONTENTS
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This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously.
