Bitter and p.i.s.sed, he glanced past her shoulder to where Venik stared curiously at them. Brax was just one of many reasons why he couldn't let anyone close to him. "I don't know what I was thinking. It was a stupid dream."

And he'd been an idiot to believe for one minute that he could ever have a normal life again. She was the prime commander for the Andarion armada. Best friend to the Andarion queen.

He was an Outcast.

Yes, Cairistiona had adopted him, but that wasn't real. She'd only done it to strike at his mother the b.i.t.c.h she hated who had embarra.s.sed Cairistiona when they were young.

I'm done being a p.a.w.n. It was time to remove himself from the game before he brought any more shame to his family. And hurt to himself.

His heart breaking with a reality he could never change, he left and headed back toward his ship.

For a few heartbeats, he thought he was home free. Until he heard Galene approaching him from behind.

She pulled him to a stop. Her hesitant touch and the longing it brought wrung more pain from him than he would have thought bearable. It took everything he had not to crush her against him and run as far away from here with her as he could.

But Ven and the others would find him. They'd drag him back. There was no escape. He'd never been free.

He could never be free.

Galene's breath caught as she saw the utter misery in Fain's eyes. The unguarded pain on his face. "Chayden and Morra pulled the logs on your ship and doctored them before The Tavali got to them. They told me what you risked for me. And I told Kareem that I a.s.sisted you in the battle and with the flight. I didn't know why he asked until the interview was over and Chayden met me outside to tell me that you weren't supposed to show me what you did. Why would you risk a death sentence?"

"You know why, Stormy."

"No, I don't." She scowled up at him. "You confuse me so much, and..." She cursed as her earpiece went off. Stepping back irritably, she tapped it. "Commander Batur."

Fain watched the emotions play across her beautiful face. Galene had never been able to hide her feelings well. It was one of the things he'd loved most about her. He never had to guess. She let everyone know exactly how she felt about everything.

"Is there a problem?"

"Another transmission." Biting her lip, she hesitated. "I want to finish this discussion."

He snorted bitterly. "I'm not going anywhere."

To his shock, she took his hand in hers and led it to her soft cheek. Closing her eyes, she nuzzled his fingers and placed a tender kiss to his palm that left him hard and aching. "What did Venik mean when he said he did things to you that he regretted?"

"He turned me into a cyborg."

She shook her head. "No. There was more to it than that."

Looking away, Fain dropped his hand as old memories surged. "I don't want to talk about it. It doesn't matter."

She cupped his cheek and forced him to meet her gaze. "Yes, it does. You can try to bury it, but it always comes back to hurt you. No one knows that better than I do."

He winced at her words. "I never meant to hurt you. I thought you'd forget about me and have a better life. I swear to the G.o.ds, I did."

"I know that now. And it wasn't that bad. Not really. My fears for Talyn notwithstanding, we had a good life for the most part. The best memories of my life have been because of you, Fain, and the son you gave me. You would have been so proud of him. He has been an honor to us both."

"Spoken like a true Andarion mother."

She laughed. "Come with me. Learn about the son you haven't known. The two of you have been strangers long enough."

He swallowed hard at the sensation of her hand on his as he felt the old surge of protectiveness. .h.i.t him. The ferocity of it was overwhelming. For a full minute, he couldn't breathe. It was a fire in his blood unlike anything else he'd ever experienced. And only Galene had ever made him feel it.

d.a.m.n. It was why he would always be stupid for her and her alone. She owned him more than Venik ever could.

And she didn't need a kill switch. One frown could gut him. One harsh word was like a knife to his heart.

Hating how much control she had over his life, he followed her back to the command center, where Talyn and Gavarian were again on duty. Only this time, they had Tavali with them, so they were much more guarded with their words.

Talyn pa.s.sed a warning glance to the one Tavali to let them know whom he was most suspicious of before he greeted his mother. "Commander." He handed his band over to her. "The League seems to be in retreat, for now."

"Thank you, Commander." She smiled at her son and his military decorum. "Why don't you and the major take your breaks?"

"Yes, ma'am." As he started for the door, it slid open to admit a small human male.

Galene was stunned at the boy's presence.

The nine-year-old was bashful and adorable. With brown hair and sad blue eyes, he quickly scanned the group and stepped back at the sight of Gavarian and Talyn, who were giants in comparison to his small size.

Talyn scowled at him, but gentled his tone when he spoke. "Civilians aren't allowed in here."

The Tavali closest to the boy laughed. "It's all right. I'm sure he just wants his dad."

Fain sucked his breath in sharply as Talyn arched a brow.

"His father?" Talyn asked.

The Tavali pointed to Fain. "Hauk."

If expressions were lethal, Fain's guts would be smeared all over the instrument panel behind him. He wasn't sure who hated him most in that moment, Galene, Talyn, or Gavarian.

The only one who didn't hate him was Warwyk as the human boy ran toward him and leaped into his arms for shelter.

Fain cuddled him to his side out of habit. Dreading their a.s.sumptions and anger, he faced the Andarions and cringed. "I can explain."

That familiar tic started in Talyn's jaw. "Forgive me, Commander. I was going to tell you about this later. It seems Hauk has a mistress on the station. I knew she had a boy who lived with her. I a.s.sumed the child had another father. Otherwise, I would have forewarned you."

Galene's gaze darkened as both Tavali began laughing.

"Shut up," Fain snapped at them. He let out a tired breath as he faced Galene, Talyn, and Gavarian. "You three, follow me."

Galene shook her head. "I'm not about to meet your mistress, you b.a.s.t.a.r.d!"

Sighing, Fain met War's wide-eyed stare. "War, tell the lady who you live with."

"M-m-my sister," he whispered. "Why are they so mad at you, Paka?"

Fain shifted the boy to his other hip. "It's a misunderstanding. Now what has you so upset?"

War's lips quivered as tears welled in his eyes. He fisted his hands in Fain's braids for comfort. "It's Vega... she done threw me out and locked the door. She said she don't want no man around her ever again and that so long as I have a p.e.n.i.s, I can't come in anymore. I like my p.e.n.i.s, Paka, but I love my sister. Do I really have to choose between them? I mean, I guess I'll choose my sister, but I'd really like to keep them both if I could."

Fain let out a long sound of frustration. "Oh dear G.o.ds."

War's hands tightened in Fain's hair. "Can I come live with you, Paka, if she don't let me back in?"

"Don't worry, mi tana. I'll get you back in with her." Fain rubbed the boy's back as he glared at the three Andarions who were still glowering at him.

Ignoring Talyn and Gavarian, he focused his attention on Galene. "Since I know nothing about being a p.u.b.escent girl, would you mind helping me find out what's going on with his sister?"

That took some of the ire out of her gaze.

"Excuse me?"

"His sister just turned fifteen. Apparently something must have happened at school today. And since I'm male, I don't think she wants to see me, either. Never mind tell me what has her so upset as it's probably something to do with being a female. So please, can you help us figure out what's going on with her and why she wants to turn her little brother into a sister?"

That took the anger out of all three of them as they exchanged curious frowns.

"Okay," Galene said slowly. "Let me see this Vega."

With a smug stare, Fain carried War and led the three of them down to The Tavali family quarters.

When they reached the children's deck, Galene slowed down. "Is this an orphanage?"

"Yeah."

Galene glanced at Talyn, who looked as sheepish as she felt. "Sorry, Hauk," he said sincerely. "When I saw the report that you were paying for their place to live... I leapt to a bad conclusion about you."

Fain set War back on his feet and took his hand. "It's fine, but next time, ask." He knelt down in front of the boy. "War, this is Talyn and Gavarian. I'm going to take the commander and see what I can do to talk to Vega. Stay with them and we'll be back in a few minutes, okay?"

His eyes widened before he whispered loudly, "Are they going to eat me?"

Fain laughed. "No. You'll be safe. Promise." He held his pinkie out for the boy, who quickly locked and shook pinkies with him.

He led Galene toward the back of the gated orphanage, to the small condo Vega and War shared.

"Are they yours?"

Fain gave her a droll stare. "No, Galene. Talyn is the only child I have. He's the only one I'll ever be able to have. I was sterilized before I married Omira because she couldn't stand the thought of carrying my baby. Vega and War were cargo on a ship I took five years ago. Their parents had been slaughtered and they were headed to Ladoria to be sold as slaves. Since they had no other family left to take care of them, I brought them here."

"Why haven't you adopted them?"

"How? I have no papers. I'm an Outcast and a slave, too. While I technically fly under my own Canting, Venik still owns me. He never filed the paperwork to free me. If anyone runs my DNA, I'm owned. So legally, I can't adopt."

"What about Cairistiona?"

He snorted. "She hasn't made a public announcement. Even if she does, I'm still legally Venik's b.i.t.c.h on most planets outside of the Andarion Empire. Changes nothing." He stopped at a door and knocked.

"Go away, War!"

Galene arched a brow at the high-pitched, hysterical tone.

"Vega?"

"Ah, gah! I'm going to kill that little tattle-b.u.t.t! I mean it, Hauk! Go away! I don't want to talk to you or any man! Take your p.e.n.i.s and go!"

"Vega! Open the door and talk to me."

"No! You suck! All men suck!"

"I'm not a man. I'm just male."

"You have a p.e.n.i.s, too. You suck!"

He sighed heavily. "Okay, I can't argue that. Will you talk to my friend Galene? She's female. She thinks I suck, too."

Galene smiled at his words. "He's right, Vega. He is definitely a total male jerk."

There was a slight rustling on the other side. After a few seconds, the door opened to show the tear-streaked face of an adorable young teen. With black hair and blue eyes, she pa.s.sed a sullen glare to Fain before she stepped back to let Galene enter.

When Fain started in, she slammed the door in his face.

"I'm just going to stay out here, then," he said loudly. When they didn't respond, he sighed heavily.

After a few minutes with no response, he turned and went to check on War. He found him and Talyn and Gavarian playing griball with several other boys.

Smiling, he watched his two sons. It was the first time he'd seen Talyn let his staunch military persona down. Other than that brief glimpse in the transport when he'd texted with Felicia.

Talyn smiled as he lifted War up to dunk the ball. War raised his arms in delighted triumph and sat back on Talyn's muscled shoulder. And when Gavarian picked the ball up and joined in, it reminded Fain of how he used to play with his brothers when they were kids.

G.o.ds, how he missed those days before Keris had gotten mixed up with his wife and drugs. Yeah, his older brother had always been a bit of an arrogant d.i.c.k, but he had been a good playmate at one time.

And Dancer...

Fain's first real memory was peering over the crib to see Dancer the day they'd brought him home. He'd been underweight and so tiny. Frail. Fain had held his hand out and Dancer had latched on with a powerful grip that hadn't seemed possible for such a delicate creature. They'd locked gazes and Dancer had squealed and kicked his legs as if to say, "Hey, drey! I've got you, and I'm never letting go." It was a silent pledge they'd made in that moment that the two of them had never broken. No matter what.

And that was what he wished most he'd been able to give to Talyn. A little brother like Dancer. It was what everyone deserved.

Talyn flipped War over his shoulder and caught him before he hit the ground. Laughing, War picked the ball up and tossed it to Gavarian before he wrapped his arms around Talyn's neck and hugged him.

The expression on Talyn's face said the gesture startled him, but wasn't unwelcomed. Closing his eyes, he squeezed War and rocked him like a proud parent.

Not wanting to disturb them, Fain started away. He'd only gone a step when War's voice stopped him.

"Paka! You didn't tell me you were Talyn's paka, too."

Shocked that Talyn had claimed him, he met his son's gaze. "Uh... yeah."

Talyn pa.s.sed the ball to him. "You know how to play?"