He hesitated as they descended the stairs. "You sure about this? You're not going to try and kick open the door when we go to launch, right?"

She laughed. "I'm good. Thank you, Basha Jules."

"My pleasure. As long as you don't get me killed." Jullien winked teasingly at her.

Until they turned the corner toward the exit and came face-to-face with his father.

Tall, blond, and handsome, Aros was an almost identical copy of Nyk, except he lacked the facial scarring Nyk had from his brutal childhood and battles.

Scowling, his father glanced between them. "Is something wrong? Are we under attack again? I was just told that Nyk had granted you clearance to land."

Yeah, because Jullien knew better than to make the request to his father, who'd banned him from landing privileges here more than a decade before-after his father had disinherited him and abandoned him to every a.s.sa.s.sin in the Nine Worlds who'd been hunting Jullien for his grandmother's thrill-kill warrant. He was so used to his father coldly rebuffing him that he'd long ago stopped reaching out to him in any way.

But Thia didn't know anything about their b.l.o.o.d.y history, and the last thing he wanted was to taint her relationship with her only surviving grandfather. "Basha Jules is going to train me to be a Tavali."

Aros looked even less enthused about her leaving than Nyk as he met Jullien's gaze. "You weren't planning to tell me you were here?"

Not really. And why should he? Not like his father hadn't banned him from all Triosan territories.

And Jullien's birthright.

Jullien tried his best to ignore the sick feeling in his stomach he got whenever he spoke to his father-like someone had just kicked him in the stones. "Didn't see the need for it, any more than I thought you'd grant me docking privileges if you knew it was me trying to land here."

A harsh dig at his father, but then considering the last time Jullien had requested those privileges he'd been bleeding out from an attack a.s.sa.s.sins had made on him, and his father had coldly denied the request, it was a well-earned one as far as Jullien was concerned.

"I see." His father cleared his throat, then turned back to Thia. "Stay in touch, my precious little one. We'll all miss you."

She kissed her grandfather on the cheek before Jullien began to lead her away.

"Jullien?"

His gut tightening even more, he paused at his father's call to look at him.

"Take care of yourself and your family."

Like you really give a s.h.i.t what happens to me, old man.

"I intend to." With that, he left, hating the fact he hadn't been able to make a clean exit. d.a.m.n it. Last thing he'd wanted was to see either parent.

Their total lack of care for him while he'd been a kid and cold att.i.tudes toward him as a teen and adult had left him with a bitter hole that could only partially heal so long as he stayed far away from them. The moment they came around, those old wounds ripped open anew, and he despised the fact that they still got under his skin and hurt him.

Why couldn't he put their past to rest? Why did it have to continue to burn so much? So often?

"Are you okay, Basha Dagger?"

He smiled at Thia's warm concern. "Always. Just don't do anything that makes your father kill me," he repeated.

She laughed. "Is Vasili on board?"

"No, sorry. He's studying for the first Tavali exam he has next week so that he can go for his Hazard in the fall. And his pilot's license."

She gaped. "He's that close to becoming a Canted citizen?"

Jullien smiled as he opened the ramp on his ship. "He is."

"You must be proud."

"Honestly? Scared s.h.i.tless. Last thing I want is for him to be able to request a transfer to another crew."

"You think he'll do that?"

Jullien scratched at his beard. "You know how you're fleeing your father's cloying grasp to join The Tavali because you feel stifled by his overprotective ways?"

"Yeah."

"Let's just say I make your paka look careless with his progeny."

"Oh dear G.o.d!"

"Exactly."

"And I suspect ole Jules here will be even worse with you."

Thia let out a shriek as she heard Chayden Aniwaya's voice as they entered the flight deck where he was waiting for them. "Chay-Chay Poo Bear!" She ran to hug him.

Bemused, Jullien locked gazes with his first mate and brother-in-law Thrix, who'd flown in with him and Chayden. "Chay-Chay Poo Bear?" he repeated.

"Don't even start, Dagger," Chayden warned. "My girl can call me whatever she wants. But you two better not."

Thrix snorted. "Word to the G.o.ds, I will never call you Chay-Chay Poo Bear. Especially if there's anyone else around to hear it."

Laughing, Thia moved to kiss Thrix's cheek. "Basha Tray! How's Sphinx?"

"Growing way too fast for my peace of mind."

"Please! He's barely two months old." Jullien shook his head. "I don't want to hear it, since my girls are now school age. I swear, I blinked and they're ready to start piloting lessons."

"They're not quite that old." Thrix shoved at Jullien. "And speaking of babies, Thia ... have you heard Dagger's latest news?"

"About Vidar?" she asked. Which made sense since Vidar was Jullien's youngest child.

Chayden snorted. "Sort of."

She screwed her face up at his cryptic response. "What's that mean?"

Jullien turned bright red as Thrix answered for him. "He's going to have a little brother."

"Pardon?" She gaped.

Jullien cleared his throat as he shifted uncomfortably. "Ushara's pregnant again."

Both of Thia's eyebrows shot up. Not that he blamed her. He'd had the same reaction when Ushara had told him. While he'd been thrilled with the news and was overjoyed to have another baby on the way, he was worried about his wife's health.

But it was what Ushara had wanted. And she'd insisted that she was fine to be pregnant so soon again after Vidar's birth. He, however, was terrified for her.

"Vidar's not even on solid food, is he?" she asked.

Starting the ship, Jullien sighed and rubbed at his forehead. "No. We were using birth control, but..."

"Only abstinence is one hundred percent foolproof, Andarion. Didn't you learn anything useful in school?" Thrix laughed. "We've all been giving Jules h.e.l.l over it. Feel free to pile on with us."

She tsked at them. "I think it's sweet. Besides, it's not his fault. Everyone knows that Andarions redefine the term 'fertile.'" Winking, she moved to hug Jullien in his chair. "Congratulations, Basha. I always wanted to have siblings close to my own age. Can't wait to meet the newest addition."

A dark shadow fell behind Thrix's eyes at her innocent comment. Jullien felt for the man. Thrix's siblings had all been killed during the hostile war that had left his entire race on the brink of extinction.

But Thia had no idea, since it was something Thrix only spoke about whenever he was extremely drunk, or his wife pried details out of his wounded soul.

Chayden flashed his famous c.o.c.ky grin. "I still say that if Thrix is right and this one's a boy, too, we ought to revoke Dagger's naming privileges. Vidarri Samari." He choked. "Poor kid's going to strangle you the day he realizes his name's a nursery rhyme."

Jullien glared at him. "Shut it, Qill. Least we can p.r.o.nounce his name. What was your last name again? Any Who Yippee Yah?"

"Ah-nah-WAH-yah," Chayden p.r.o.nounced slowly and in a surly tone, since he took issue with the fact that no one off his home world knew how to spell or say his name. "You're such an a.s.s."

Yes, he was. Chayden should have never let him know he had a weakness when it came to his own name. Jullien was a little brother, after all. Irritating others came with that birthright.

Laughing, he glanced at his niece. "If you'll strap in, we'll launch."

Thia ran so fast to her seat that Jullien felt bad for his brother. He prayed his own children were never so eager to leave his company. While Vas's b.i.t.c.hing about being left behind whenever Jullien deemed a mission too dangerous for him could wear thin at times, he'd take that over Thia's eager break for freedom any day.

Hours later, Jullien docked them on the Cyperian StarStation that was the Gorturnum home base. He took a minute to marvel at the fact that here on this remote outpost of Tavali outlaws and pirates lay the only true home he'd ever known. Yeah, he'd grown up in palaces, but none of them had ever been nearly as beautiful as this metal-and-gla.s.s structure that floated serenely far away from the court life he'd been groomed for.

This fabricated structure placed here by Tavali pirates centuries ago was truly the only peace he'd ever known. Best of all, this was where his real family was waiting.

The sight of their eager faces in the North Bay brought a smile to his lips and a deep warmth to his heart. Even though he'd been flying missions from here for years, he could always count on Ushara to greet him with their children and extended relatives in tow. The only times she missed was when she was with him or some intergalactic threat kept her locked in her office. Then her relatives would be here in her stead, welcoming him as if he were their real son.

After a lifetime of suffering a family that didn't care where he was concerned, he still couldn't believe this was real. That she was really his wife. She had no idea how much it meant to him to see all of them there.

Or maybe she did.

Either way, her thoughtfulness was just one of many reasons he loved her and couldn't imagine returning to a life where she wasn't the best part of his day.

As soon as they had everything locked down, he opened the ramp and cleared Chayden and Thrix to leave.

Thrix used his Trisani powers to teleport from the ship to where his wife and son were waiting next to Jullien's.

Thia gaped at him. "I didn't think the Trisani used their powers around others."

Jullien smiled. "Normally they don't. But we're all family here. And if I had that particular set of skills, I'd use them to get to my wife and kids, too."

Chayden grabbed her gear to carry it for her. "Take it to your place?" he asked Jullien.

"Yeah. Thanks."

Thia pouted. "Is there any chance I could get my own apartment or flat?"

Jullien burst out laughing. "Remember, I make your paka look careless. I won't even let Vas live alone."

"Am I going to regret this?"

"Probably," Jullien snorted. "Most beings regret being around me, sooner rather than later." He winked at her. "But as my new Crew c.o.c.k, I own you and am responsible for everything you do."

Chayden shook his head. "Don't take it personally. Your uncle's insane."

Jullien snorted. "You know, Psycho Bunny, she's not the one you need to worry about taking that personally. I'm the one who's currently armed."

"Yeah, but you love me."

Jullien rolled his eyes as he left the ship and was swarmed by his daughters and nieces. He knelt on the ground so that they could each have a turn at hugging him.

Thia hesitated at the sight of the banners that welcomed her to their Nation.

Jullien watched her while he returned jubilant hugs and kisses. He stood up to kiss Ushara and take his infant son from her arms so that she could greet Thia.

Thrix's wife-Ushara's youngest sister, Mary-came over to him. "You want me to babysit while you get Thia settled?"

Jullien wrinkled his nose at her. "Appreciate the offer, kisa, but I haven't seen my boys or girls in days." He cradled Vidar under his chin so that he could hold him with one arm while he cupped his daughter Mira's head with his hand. Any time he returned, Mira always clung to his leg for two to three days. It was amazing to him how well he'd learned to walk with her as a symbiotic life form attached there. She was even standing on his boot so that she could stay in place while he moved.

Mary rose up on her toes to give him a kiss. "Love you, drey. Remember that I offered." She flounced off to return to Thrix, who was as eager to get her home as Jullien was to be alone with Ushara.

But that would be hours away-after the kids were all settled.

His adoptive mother, Unira, approached, laughing. "Want me to hold Vidar for you, precious?"

He cracked a shy smile. "Nah, Mata. You know I live for this."

Rubbing his back, his mother kissed his cheek, then went to greet Thia and welcome her to their family. As a high priestess, she had the warmest heart of anyone Jullien had ever met.

Except maybe Ushara.

As soon as Unira spoke to her, tears welled in Thia's eyes. An instant later, she caught a sob and dashed off toward the work area.

Stunned, the entire crowd turned to stare at him like he'd been the cause of it.

Every bit as surprised, Jullien finally handed his son to his mother, then picked up Mira. "Paka needs to see to Thia, bug. Can you stay with your mum for a minute?"

"Okies, Paka."