Frustrated, she stepped away from Talyn to approach Qorach. "What would it take for me to get you to break Talyn's arms and legs?"
He laughed.
Unable to stand it, she headed for the bedroom and slammed the door.
Talyn hesitated. "I didn't mean to upset her."
Her father smiled sadly. "She loves you, boy. Females are not like us. They don't understand that sometimes duty and honor have to come above love."
"This isn't about either duty or honor." Talyn pulled out his left contact to show her father his real eye color. "It's only about love, and keeping her safe from all threats."
Her father let out a low whistle. "There are only three Andarion families that carry that gene, and none of them are Baturs."
Lorens paled. "What are you saying, Paka?"
"His father is Fain of the Warring Blood Clan of Hauk."
Talyn mentally cursed Felicia's father's intelligence. He hadn't even thought about the fact that anyone who knew the history of stralen would be able to put it together so fast. Truthfully, not even Talyn had known it was solely in three lineages. The only reason he knew the Hauks carried it was due to the legends of their family.
"Are you sure?" Lorens asked his father.
"Positive. Fain's the only one in the three carrier families who's been disowned." Saren held Talyn's gaze. "Tell me I'm wrong."
Qorach gaped. Most likely, he knew Talyn's uncle Dancer, since Dancer would be one of Qory's Sentella bosses. He probably knew Fain, too.
Talyn swept his gaze over them. "I'm trusting all of you to keep it a secret. For Felicia's sake. And my mother's. No good can come of anyone knowing my father's identity."
Saren cursed under his breath. "The gods certainly screwed you, boy. You should socially outrank everyone in the empire but the tadara and her children."
Lorens let out a bitter laugh. "How did I miss it? Now that I know, I see it clearly. You look just like your father ... and uncles."
Talyn shrugged it aside. "We make our own realities. See what we want to see."
Lorens shook his head. "Given the blood flowing in your veins ... I pity the morons about to unknowingly walk into the Ring with you. Nothing in this universe is deadlier than a War Hauk protecting their own."
"Yes, there is. A Winged Batur out for blood."
Saren clapped him on the shoulder. "It is my honor to have you as part of our family."
But Talyn could never be legally tied to their lineage, and they all knew it. Still, it was enough that her father accepted him. It was much more than Talyn had ever expected from either of them.
He put the contact back in. "Thank you, mu aseseran. Now if you'll excuse me ... I have to go grovel to your daughter and make amends."
Saren laughed. "Your mother taught you well, boy."
*
Felicia wiped at her tears as Talyn sheepishly entered the bedroom. He approached the bed slowly.
The moment he saw her tears, he sat down and pulled her into his arms. "I'm sorry, Felicia."
"Then don't fight. It's not worth it."
"If I don't fight them, I lose everything. Even you."
She scowled at him. "What are you talking about?"
"You didn't read the challenge, mia. Merrell has named your contract as his prize if I bow out or lose. While I might be able to get out of Chrisen's challenge, I can't legally dodge Merrell's. Not without losing you in the process."
Sick to her stomach, she cupped his cheek. "What is Jullien's challenge?"
"My life or freedom. His choice."
She sobbed. "I did this! Oh gods! Why did I challenge them? I was trying to protect you and instead..."
"Shh," he breathed against her hair. "You stood up for me, Felicia. Publicly. Never apologize for that." He removed his contacts before he kissed away her tears.
"You should hate me for this."
His eyes darkened as he slid his hand beneath the hem of her shirt. "I could never hate you. Your smile and the taste of your lips are what I live for."
Felicia choked on a sob as he kissed her breathless. How could he be so understanding? She wanted to kick her own butt for doing this to him. "I love you so much, Talyn."
Smiling down at her, he slid her panties off then pushed her skirt up so that she was bared to his hungry gaze. "I love you, couriana. I always will."
He nudged her thighs apart so that he could taste her. Gasping, she laid her hand against his cheek as he tormented her with pleasure and drove all her anger away. As he licked and teased, she lost herself to the sensation of his tongue and lips. And when she came, she cried out in pleasure.
His breathing ragged, Talyn entered her and drove her orgasm even higher and made it more fierce as he thrust against her with hard, furious strokes. Cupping his cheek, she stared into his eyes to watch as he lost himself to his own pleasure. In that moment, she wanted to be his wife so badly, it burned like a bitter ache inside her. More than that, she wanted his children. To be able to scream out to the universe that he was hers alone. It wasn't right that she couldn't claim him the way she needed to.
But in her heart, she knew the truth. She would always be his. No one else would ever make her feel the way he did whenever he held her.
In his eyes, she was beautiful.
She clasped him to her, then frowned as she realized he was still mostly dressed. "Oh my God, Talyn! You're still wearing your boots and pants? Really?"
He bit his lip in that adorable way that was uniquely his as color darkened his cheeks. "You didn't seem to notice. Besides, you're still wearing your clothes."
Laughing, she nipped his chin. Then more horror consumed her as she realized something else. "My father and brother are right outside! How am I supposed to face them after this?"
"I don't know why you're freaking out when I'm the one they're likely to shoot. Or geld."
She laughed again until there was a sharp knock on the door. Stark cold terror and embarrassment filled her entire body. Had they heard them?
"Talyn?"
They both cringed at the sound of Lorens's voice. Talyn slid from the bed and pulled his pants up, then fastened them while Felicia quickly straightened her clothes and the bedcovers.
With a sheepish look at her, Talyn cracked open the door. "Yeah?"
"We have a massive problem. Someone just made an attempt on the tadara's life and they're blaming you for it."
"What?"
Lorens nodded. "We've got to get you out of here. They have a massive contract out for both you and Felicia." He held Qorach's link and played a message from Jayne.
"Hey, sexy mountainside. Let Baby T know that I just got word The League is moving in massive forces to deal with the mess on Andaria. Queen bitch is claiming someone named Talyn Batur has made an attempt on her life because he doesn't want to meet her grandson's challenge and was demoted in rank after assaulting members of the royal family. I'd come personally, but we've got one of our major players MIA. And we're all, including me, being charged with the kidnapping, rape, and the murder of Kiara Zamir. My fear is I'd bring more problems right now than solutions. When it rains, it pours like a beast. I have Sentella coming in as backup ASAP. In the meantime, we need to move my sexy baby and his female to a safe zone. Love you all. Don't get hurt."
Felicia gasped as she heard the message. Talyn saw red. Before he could think better of it, he grabbed his contacts and headed for the lobby.
Felicia scowled. A bad feeling went through her as she watched the fierce, determined way Talyn moved. She followed him through the condo, and when he headed for the foyer, she knew it was about to become worse.
"Qory! Stop him!"
Qorach tried, but Talyn dodged and twisted, and was in the lift so fast, she could barely follow his actions.
Terrified of his intentions, she ran to catch the next lift. By the time she stepped out of it, Talyn was outside the lobby, on the sidewalk, surrounded by media. She started for him, but Qorach caught her arm and gestured for he
r to stay back.
Through the glass, she could see and hear everything.
Talyn glanced at her over his shoulder, before he returned to the reporters. "I had nothing to do with anyone attacking the tadara. Had I wanted her dead, she'd be dead. By my hand. Unlike the Anatoles, I don't move in secret or hide like a bitch. As for the challenge? I accept. Name the time. Name the Ring. And you better bring body bags. You're going to need them, 'cause after I mop the floor with your proxies, I demand to face all three of you in the Ring. Warswords bared."
The reporters erupted as Talyn moved to withdraw. An instant later, blaster fire broke out the lobby glass. Screams echoed as everyone took cover.
Ignoring the glass, Felicia ran toward Talyn.
Talyn grabbed her and used his body to shield hers while Qorach drew his weapon and searched for their assailant. After a few seconds, he motioned them back into the building.
"League?" Talyn asked Qory.
He nodded and gestured.
Felicia stood on wobbly legs as she translated Qory's signs. "He says that he doesn't know how many there were. He just saw one, but he's sure there are more. And he thinks you're an idiot for calling out the tadara like that."
Qory sputtered.
"Okay, he didn't really say that last part. I did. Are you insane?"
"I'm not letting the lies continue. She wants a fight, she picked the wrong Andarion to challenge. Baturs don't back down."
"Maybe," Lorens said as he joined them. "But you need to withdraw before one of those assassins takes out this building. C'mon. We have a transport waiting in the back deck."
"Take Felicia."
Before she could protest, Lorens did it for her. "She won't be any safer apart from you than with you at this point. They know she's your female. It makes her a target. You might as well stay together so you can watch her and not make us all crazy with your most-founded worry."
Talyn wanted to argue, but he knew Lorens was right. Besides, the last thing he wanted was to be away from her. "Where do we go?"
"We'll decide that once we're in the transport. C'mon."
Talyn made sure to keep Felicia covered as they moved through the building to where her father waited.
The moment they left the back door, the assassin opened fire. Talyn grabbed a blaster from Qorach and shoved the giant toward Felicia. "Get her out of here. Don't worry about me."
"Talyn! No!"
The sound of her panic tore through Talyn. But Qory didn't hesitate. He threw her over his shoulder and ran to the transport. Lorens started toward Talyn.
He shook his head. "Felicia first. I'll be in touch."
Lorens hesitated until the assassin opened fire once more. He ran to the others while Talyn fell back, drawing the assassin away from them.
As Talyn entered the building again, he ran straight into a group of Andarion enforcers. They pulled their blasters on him.
"Talyn Batur! You're to be remanded into custody, pending your royal honor match. Any attempts to flee will be seen as treason."
Talyn dropped his blaster and put his hands on his head. As they moved to cuff him, the assassin came in and drew up short. The head enforcer glared at the League soldier. "Your services aren't necessary. This is an Andarion matter. The League has no business here."
By the look on the assassin's face, it was obvious he wanted to argue, but there was too large a crowd.
And media.
He didn't dare make a move on Talyn's life. But the cold expression on his face said that he didn't like this, at all.
And he wasn't through with this pursuit.
Talyn allowed them to pull him out and put him into a prisoner transport. He considered fighting, until he saw Officer Hawas.
Hawas offered him a sad smile. "Sorry about this. But it's the only way we could keep you safe until the match. We knew the tadara would kill you if she had a chance. She's put a five-million-credit bounty out on your head with The League. We intend to make sure no one collects it."
Talyn glanced over to the others in the transport with them. "I'm still a little fuzzy on what's going on here."
Hawas grinned. "As of an hour ago, Tizirah Tylie has taken the throne and ordered her mother arrested for egregious crimes against her family and the empire. Until Tadara Eriadne's cleared of these charges, we aren't under her command. Like your female said, we're not humans to blindly follow orders. And we aren't sheep to be led to slaughter. The ruling family is down to ten members. There are a lot more of us than there are of them. We will not be abused another day. Their tyranny ends. All hail Andaria."
Talyn inclined his head in gratitude. He was just starting to relax when something slammed into their transport and tore it apart.
His hands still cuffed, Talyn couldn't really catch himself as the transport rolled. Blasts struck the craft until it came to rest, upside down.
No one moved. Bodies were strewn everywhere. Talyn smelled fuel and knew the vehicle was about to explode. Pain seared his body as he tried to free himself.
The side window was kicked in by someone on the outside. For a moment, he thought he was being rescued, until he was hauled out and shoved onto the ground at the booted feet of the assassin who'd fired on him at the condo.
Talyn tried to fight, but with his hands cuffed behind his back there was nothing he could do. Before he could blink, he heard the blaster's recoil.
CHAPTER 25
Talyn cursed as blood ran into his eyes from the wound. It wasn't until he heard his name, and gentle hands rolled him over, that he realized it wasn't his blood, after all, and that the additional pain he felt came from the assassin falling on top of him.
Stunned, he stared up at Felicia's tear-filled eyes. "Licia?"
She shook terribly as Lorens freed his hands.
His face ashen, Lorens stared at his sister in total disbelief while Qorach and Saren went to check on the others.
Talyn realized Felicia held a blaster in her hand. After rising to his feet, he pried it from her trembling grip and gathered her into his arms as she wept against his chest. Startled, he met Lorens's gaze in an effort to confirm his suspicions.
"She grabbed my blaster and shot him before he could fire on you."
Felicia pulled back to inspect his body. "Are you hurt?"
"Skinned and bruised, but nothing serious."
Her tears fell even harder as she sobbed and sobbed. "I-I thought he was going to kill you. I didn't think we'd make it to you in time."
"He was going to kill me. You saved my life, Felicia."
She winced as she saw the assassin's body behind him. "I can't believe I killed someone," she whispered.
"It's okay." Talyn scooped her up in his arms so that he could protect her. "Don't think about it." He made sure to keep his body between her line of sight and the assassin on the ground.
Saren inclined his head to them. "Lorens, get them to safety. We have help on the way for these men. We'll stay and render what aid we can."
Still stunned to the core of his being over what she'd done for him, Talyn carried Felicia to their transport and put her inside while Lorens took the controls. As sirens drew closer, they drove off.
Lorens glanced at them in his mirror. "She wouldn't let us leave you. We had to circle back to the transport to keep her from clawing out my eyes."
Talyn smiled at Felicia. "Ever my ferocious mia."
She took his hand into hers. "Ever my heart."
Those words choked him.
They headed out of the city, toward Saren's summer home, but since the route was clogged by rioters and those trying to flee the overpopulated war zone, hours went by. No matter which way Lorens tried, they ended up blocked.
Talyn's link started buzzing. He pulled it out and answered.
"Where are you?" his mother demanded without preamble.
"Matarra?"
"Yes. I'm seeing all kinds of horrifying things on Andaria about riots and arrests, and looting. About you being arrested for
treason!"
"We're okay at the moment. Where are you?"
"I'm onboard the Royal Tiakara, with Tylie and Cairistiona. Have you heard the news?"
"Enforcers told me that Tylie had seized the throne and demanded the arrest of her mother. Is it true?"
She didn't answer his question. "Who's with you?"
"Lorens and Felicia."
"Saren?"
"No. I was attacked by a League assassin and the enforcers with me were seriously wounded during the altercation. He and Qory stayed behind to render aid. Given that I have League assassins after me, we thought it best to immediately vacate the area."
"Put me on speaker."
He switched it over. "Okay, Ma. Go. You're live in the transport."
"We were right earlier. The Sentella Nykyrian is the missing heir."
"What?" Lorens asked as he made a left turn.
"It's true. By the time I rendezvoused with the royals, Cairistiona and Tylie had already met him and confirmed it. Independent of my report. It's why Tylie overthrew her mother and ordered her arrest. They're getting ready, right now, to have dinner with him and his wife, Kiara Zamir. Cairie wants to reinstate him to the line of succession."
"What?" Lorens repeated as if he couldn't wrap his head around it. Not that Talyn blamed him. He was having a hard time himself. "She really found her son?"
"We don't have the DNA results back, but it's definitely him. I saw the photos. And he told them both that he remembers everything his grandmother did to him as a boy. He's furious at the royal family over it all. Tylie said no one could fake his indignant rage. It's why he's never come forward in the past. He doesn't want the throne. Or anything to do with his family, Andaria, or our politics."
Talyn could definitely understand that.
Lorens sucked his breath in sharply. "Yeah, well, if he's a decent male, we need him."
"That's what Tylie's trying to stress to him. Maybe they'll have success at dinner. His father will be there, too. With luck, they'll talk sense into him. Oh, and get this, Nykyrian married the Gourish princess and she's pregnant with his child. That is definitely confirmed. If we can get him to agree to reinstatement, this will change everything."
Yes, it would. And it would get rid of Chrisen and Merrell, and their power over the Andarion people, permanently. Talyn met Felicia's stunned gaze.
Lorens gasped. "He's really married to royalty, and has an heir on the way?"
"Yes. With Triosan backing, Tylie immediately filed a temporary injunction removing her mother from power and Jullien from succession. There's no telling what's about to start over this. Eriadne won't leave quietly."