Born of Vengeance Read online

  "Hold on that order," Kindel said quickly, then handed him her earpiece so that he could hear the pilot.

  "Drake? That you?"

  "Yeah ... can you tell these lunatics to back it down a notch?"

  "You alone?"

  "Here with Jari. On Kimmerian business. We were sent as your backup."

  By that, Bastien knew Drake didn't want him to let the others know he was the Caronese prince or that Safir was a former League assassin. "Gotcha, drey." He glanced over to Kindel. "They're friendly. Can we not blast them out of the sky?"

  She relayed the orders on Cin's link while Bastien returned to the call. "Who sent you?"

  "Was the least we could do after everything you've done for our families. Since they were all tied up with official business, Saf and I decided we couldn't let you do this alone. We picked up your tail after you left the Gort base and were planning to hang back until your League friends showed. Nice fireworks, by the way. Learned from Darling?"

  "Hauk, actually."

  "Nice." Drake laughed.

  And their presence here touched him a lot more than he would have thought. "By the way, I appreciate you coming."

  "Think nothing of it. It's what families do."

  "Hey, I don't mean to interrupt," Safir Jari said, cutting in. "But as the resident League expert here, I can tell all of you that our friends will be sending reinforcements. A lot of them with a ton of warheads. We need to evac that base immediately. If you don't have a safe place, we need to locate one that can jam them from identifying lifeforms."

  Bastien turned toward Ember.

  She looked to Kindel.

  "I'll get it started."

  "We'll need a ship," Bastien reminded her. "You know, mine kind of exploded."

  Ember groaned at the reminder.

  Drake laughed in his ear. "I have a small ship that can seat five. You want me to take passengers?"

  Bastien didn't hesitate to accept. "Yeah. Thanks."

  "Let me get clearance and I'll be down in a few."

  As soon as he cut the transmission, Ember gave him a peeved glare. "You trust him?"

  "With my life." Coming from him, that was the highest testament.

  "You're sure? What if they're the ones who led The League here? Isn't Saf Jari the younger brother of Kyr Zemin? The League prime commander?"

  She had a point. "He is, but Kyr captured and tortured him because he helped their brother Maris, who is the best friend of Drake's brother. Then Kyr had him stripped of his League rank and declared a traitor. Given that, I don't think Saf is likely to be working with them."

  "But you said they had a spy...."

  "I did. However, Saf would be too easy a target to spot and suspect. Kyr's more devious than that."

  Ember wasn't so sure, but they did need to get out of here as soon as possible. So when Florian returned to the bay with her sisters, she sent him off with Kindel for the base evacuation. Just in case. The last thing she wanted was to take a chance with her child staying with her when he'd be safer with Kindel, since she and the others were planning to head for battle.

  She and Bastien went with Drake.

  Ember pulled up short the moment she saw the youngest Caronese prince. Unlike his brother Darling who had short red hair, Drake's was jet black and as long as Bastien's. He also bore that same innate regal aura undercut by strict military training that said he tolerated no fools and would sooner kick ass than kiss it. Yeah, this wasn't a typical aristo or politician.

  Drakari Cruel was no one's puppet or pawn.

  Dressed in an elite Kimmerian assassin's uniform, he greeted Bastien like a brother. But his blue eyes glowed with suspicion as they narrowed on her.

  "Ember Wyldestarrin, meet Drake Cruel."

  She had the impression that he could read her soul with that slow, probing stare. "Your Highness."

  A friendly smile lightened his dark demeanor. "Please, no formalities. I don't want to hear that unless I'm at court, and even then it gets on my nerves." He shut and locked his ramp, then gestured for her to follow him. "Come, my lady. Make yourself at home."

  As they headed for the flight deck, he shook his head at Bastien. "What is it with uncles? Fucking bastards, all. I'd say to kill them, but being one myself ... I don't want to die."

  "Well, I assume you've no intention of killing off your nephew for his throne."

  "Minsid no to that. He's adorable. Plan to teach him everything I know to make Darling crazy. Payback's a bitch. Besides, I had a chance to take the Caronese throne. Don't want no part of that."

  She didn't miss the sadness in Bastien's eyes. He'd never wanted to inherit either. Especially not over the bodies of his family.

  Wanting to cheer him, she quickly changed the subject. "Nice ship."

  "Thank you. Designed her myself. Kimmerian code, all the way."

  "Rather unusual occupation for a prince."

  Drake flashed her a charming grin. "We had an unusual upbringing." He paused to touch his link. "Merksaker, here." He listened for several minutes. "Aye, Lady DR. We can pull the rear. If you'll send the coordinates, Saf and I will make sure no one follows. Saker Mara, out."

  "Saker Mara?" Ember asked with a frown.

  "Name of my ship. It's Caronese for Outlaw Nightmare."

  "Ah ... and Merksaker?"

  "Dark outlaw." He waited for them to strap in before he launched and followed the rest of the Dread Reckoning toward their remotest outpost, where they retreated any time things got hot for them.

  Once they were clear of escape velocity, Drake turned to smirk at Bastien. "When was the last time you slept?"

  "Not sure."

  "No offense, it shows." He checked his headings. "We've got a while. Why don't you and Ember head to the crew quarters, shower, and take a nap. Eat. If you need a change of clothes, I'll unlock the door to my room. Take whatever you need and don't worry about it. My sister's room is the last one on the left. She's a little taller than Ember, but she should have something in there that she can change into, too. Believe me, Ana won't miss anything. Woman has more clothes than a department store."

  "Thanks, drey."

  "Any time."

  Bastien unbuckled himself and headed for the back with Ember one step behind.

  As they walked in silence, she couldn't help noticing just how gorgeous he was. But as Drake had noticed, he was tired. She could tell by his slow, methodical movements.

  "You okay, Bas?"

  "Been a heck of a day."

  It had indeed.

  When they reached the first room, Bastien turned around and gave her a kiss so hot that it left her breathless.

  "Been dying to do that. And I would kill to make love to you, but I have got to have a nap."

  She laughed. "You have been running on empty."

  "You have no idea." He gave her one more searing kiss before he pulled himself away and went to literally flop on the bunk.

  Ember laughed at his actions.

  He didn't even bother to remove his boots. Feeling sorry for him, she moved to disrobe him while he lay there like a corpse. At first it reminded her of undressing Rian when he was too tired to bother, but as she uncovered more of his delectable body, all thoughts of their son fled her mind.

  Bastien had always possessed one of the best physiques she'd ever seen on any male. He still did. Every sleek, hard muscle of his body was clearly defined and honed like steel. It beckoned her with a hunger that was undeniable.

  Unable to resist it, she quickly stripped and slid herself into bed beside him and snuggled up against his warm, bare flesh.

  He let out a contented sigh, but he was already asleep.

  Smiling, she took her time playing with his hair and listening to him breathe. Took her time running her hand down his muscled arm and ribs and buttocks. When she reached the short hairs at the center of his body, she started to leave him alone, but that had also been one of her favorite things to caress. And it'd been too long since she last had him like this.

  At least any place other than in her dreams.

  Before she could stop herself, she sank her fingers into the crisp mat and ran her fingernails through it. He grew hard instantly. And yet he didn't wake. Which told her exactly how exhausted he was. In the past, he'd have awakened instantly and been inside her within a few minutes. Foreplay be damned.

  One of his more irritating habits. But it'd been one that she'd decided she could live with as it'd always proven to her how much he desired her. How much he loved her.

  Her humor over that died as her gaze dipped to the Ravin mark that marred his abdomen. The injustice of it all enraged her to a level that made her want to kill everyone involved with what had been done to his parents and hers.

  Wrongfully convicted. She'd spent hours over the years trying to imagine the horror he'd lived through having seen his family slaughtered, and then having been arrested and sentenced for it.

  How could Alura do that to him?

  Ember had never understood, and still didn't. There was nothing in the universe that could compel her to harm someone that way.

  Sure there is.

  You'd do it to save your son.

  But only for that reason. Alura had had none whatsoever. None. It'd been heartless and cruel. Especially after Bastien had given up his happiness with Ember to marry Alura over a lie that she knew would destroy them both internally.

  How selfish could one human being be? But then her sister had always been that way. She'd always held her needs out as greater than those of the rest of them. A congenital birth defect.

  I swear, Alura, if I ever get my hands on you, I will strangle you for this.

  Her days of protecting her sister were over.

  *

  Bastien slept for two full days. He didn't stir until they were landing on the Dread Reckoning outpost. Even then, Ember had to practically inject him with adrenaline to wake him.

  Like a languid cat, he opened his eyes and stretched. "Where am I?"

  "We landed about half an hour ago.... I've been trying to wake you."

  "No wonder I have to go so badly." He flashed a grin before he rushed from the bed.

  She laughed as she waited for him to return.

  And waited.

  By the time he came back, she realized he'd taken a quick shower first.

  He flashed that devilish grin at her. "I was rather ripe."

  "No comment."

  Stretching, he yawned. "Where's Drake?"

  "They went into the main hailing room to talk to Tasi's mom. Apparently, he's known her for a while, but she didn't realize who he was until now. And had never given her his call sign before."

  "Good thing or bad thing?"

  "Appears good."

  Bastien let out a relieved breath. They could use some good.

  And speaking of ... He swept a hungry gaze over her lush body. She'd always made him hungry.

  Hard.

  He didn't know what it was about her, but damn. An image of her long dark hair in his lap really didn't help the mood, either.

  "I know that expression." She tsked at him. "We can't. Rian's waiting for you."

  "I know. And I need to make plans with Drake and Saf. Which I meant to do instead of sleep the entire trip."

  "You must have been exhausted."

  He nodded. "Been a long time since I had someplace really safe to sleep."

  "Safe because of me or Drake?"

  "You." His eyes darkened. "Definitely you."

  "So you trust me?"

  His gaze turned warm as he began to slowly kiss his way around her neck. "I've always trusted you, Ember. You were the one who lacked faith in me."

  She looked away, letting him know he'd struck the truth with that comment.

  But before he could pursue it, Drake came on board.

  "Ember?"

  Bastien pulled away from her with a frustrated hiss.

  "Yeah?"

  "You're Hadean Corps, right?" Drake asked from outside, in the hallway.

  "I am."

  He opened the door to see them, and grinned at Bastien. "Nice to see the dead has risen."

  Bastien rolled his eyes.

  Ignoring him, Drake returned his attention to Ember. "I'm intercepting some strange Tavali stuff, and I can't get ahold of my brother, Ryn. But I swear I heard his mother's name mentioned and it concerns me. Can you take a listen and see what you think?"

  "Absolutely."

  She and Bastien followed him off the ship and outside to the primitive base that had once been a mining facility. But it'd petered out centuries before and been abandoned. Since no one had come here and it seldom showed on maps, the DR had decided it was a great place to use for emergencies.

  Like now.

  The old shed appeared abandoned on the outside. But inside, it was crisp and clean, outfitted with the latest technology. She tried not to let her thoughts wander to how good Bastien smelled when freshly bathed as they went to the comm room where Cin and Kindel were waiting.

  At first, she couldn't understand the thick accents of the speakers over the channel. It wasn't Gorturnum. But the longer she listened, the more she began to understand.

  Finally, she deciphered it.

  Drake had been right. It was about Hermione Dane and it did involve the Tavali.

  She felt the color drain from her face as she met his concerned gaze. "They're planning to bomb Hermione and kill your brother Ryn."

  CHAPTER 13

  Drake went ramrod stiff at Ember's declaration that the message he'd stumbled on was the plot for Hermione Dane's murder. "What?"

  She nodded. "Sounds like they're going to try for it in two days."

  "You're sure?"

  She squinted as she continued to listen. "The accents are thick, but yeah, I'll stand by that. It sounds like a major strike they're planning against all of The Sentella."

  Drake cursed. "I have to find my brother and warn him."

  "And Darling," Bastien reminded him.

  "Yeah. And Darling," he agreed. "Definitely Darling." He bit his lip. "You're one hundred percent sure about this?"

  "Absolutely."

  "Then may the gods be with us."

  But as the days went by, it began to feel like they weren't. While they were able to save Hermione's life, The League made a devastating run against the Porturnum Tavali StarStation, they hijacked a Caronese freighter that had been carrying medical supplies to orphans, hit the Wasturnum West Fleet that was being led by Drake's sister-in-law, and bombed the Andarion palace to the ground.

  Their casualties included Drake's sister-in-law, Mack Hinto-Dane. Nykyrian's family--wife, children, and parents. Drake's older brother Darling and his wife and son. Syn Wade's wife and son, along with his sister-in-law, and basically the families of the entire Sentella High Command.

  Even Saf's nephew and brother-in-law went down with the palace.

  And Jullien and Thraix.

  None of them had been left unscarred by the waves of attacks against them.

  Bastien reeled from the pain. It was too much to contemplate. He couldn't breathe. Couldn't function or plot.

  Neither could Drake. Their anguished grief rendered them useless.

  Ember had never seen Bastien like this as they sat in the living room of Kindel's small cottage. It was as if he were reliving the death of his parents and siblings, only worse. He had latched on to Rian and wouldn't let him go.

  "Should we call someone?" Cin whispered as she watched him with a worried frown.

  "Yeah, like a priest?" Ash wasn't joking.

  Chewing her nail, Ember debated what she could do to help him. "I don't know."

  Bastien finally wiped at his eyes and shook his head. "This is bullshit!" He met Drake's gaze. "Jullien isn't dead. Not with Thraix by his side. I know better."

  Drake scowled. "What are you saying?"

  "I know my cousin. He's a gutter rat, like me. You don't go through what we've been through and die like this. You just don't." He kissed Rian's head and stood. "Where's a link?"

  Kindel handed him hers.

  Bastien tried Nykyrian and couldn't get through. So next he called Ushara. She picked up immediately. Silent tears fell down his cheeks. "Shara, I just heard."

  "Shh, Bas. It's not what you think."

  His heartbeat sped up as he felt some hope. "The Dagger still flies?"

  "Yes. Until I lay hands on its hilt. But yes, the Dagger has sworn to return to its sheath where it belongs, along with the rest of the forks and spoons. They're a little bent, but whole."

  He let out a half laugh as she threatened to kill Jullien when he got home with the others. "And Kere?" he asked, using Darling's Sentella call sign.

  "You can't stop the god of death. You know that."

  His breath left him in a loud rush at the confirmation that everyone had survived. And that he had understood her code for what it was. Thank the gods that for once, they were merciful. "Tell Nyk that we're coming in, to watch for us. We'll be loaded for League."

  "Be safe and careful. I don't need another scare like the one I just had or else I'll be in early labor."

  "No worries." He cut the transmission and returned the link to Kindel. "Darling's alive and so's Jullien."

  Drake shot to his feet. "What the minsid hell! I'm going to gut him!"

  Bastien snorted at his fury. "And this after you were crying over losing him three seconds ago?"

  "Yeah, 'cause they'd crowned me emperor. I don't want that shit! You know how much responsibility comes with a throne? No, thank you!" He shuddered. "I can barely tolerate being prince."

  But Ember saw through his bluster. Drake adored his older brother and the relief in his eyes was tangible. "So what's the plan, Captain?" she asked Bastien.

  "I'm planning to lend a hand with their rescue efforts."

  "Count me in."

  "And us," her sisters each agreed.

  Bastien nodded. "They'll need every hand for a few days."

  Drake let out a ragged breath. "Just when we were about to strike at your uncle. I swear that bastard has nine lives."

  "A temporary reprieve. We secure our families and then in a week, we go for him. His defenses'll be down. With all this, they'll think The League is in a position of strength and that The Sentella is weak. It actually works in our favor. He won't be expecting anything right now."

  Drake nodded.

  Bastien and Ember said a reluctant good-bye to Florian before they and Drake rallied Kimmerian and Dread Reckoning forces to lead them toward the Porturnum Station and join The Sentella forces there.

  Whatever Nyk and his crew needed, they'd do.

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