Born of Defiance (37 page)

For putting his life and health on the line.

She couldn't believe it. Shelf-stockers earned more. “Yet you're
the
reason they sell out every fight?”

He nibbled at her salad with a nonchalance that made her want to beat him. “I used to make only three percent of that in the Open league. And I made fifty thousand less a fight before I won the Vested Championship. I'm very happy with what they pay me now. Trust me. I'm the highest-paid fighter in Ring history.”

Great. Not what she wanted to hear.

“It's still not fair.”

Talyn didn't comment on that as he swallowed a bite of food. “If I agree to four more title fights in the next six months, we'd have what you need to buy back the contract.”

She gaped at him and what he was willing to do.

For her. But she wasn't so sure she wanted him to make that sacrifice. “Talyn, I can't do that to you. I'm sick over what you've already agreed to. I don't want to be the reason you're beaten to a senseless pulp.”

“I'm senseless without the beatings,” he said teasingly. “Besides, I'm the reason they're doing this to
you
. I can get an up-front loan from Ferrick until we contract the other fights. You can pay off your contract at the first of the week. Then you're a total civ and your agency can't touch you.”

That was all well and good, except for one thing. “
You'll
be broke.”

“I don't need anything, Felicia. My uniforms and military room and board come out of my pay already. I bought my airbike free and clear. Because I'm a champion, the gym supplies me with training equipment and time for free. The only thing I ever spend credit on is lunch, and I can eat in the mess hall. I don't have to go out. And since my rank's busted, I don't have to carry flight insurance anymore to cover the cost of my ship in case I crash it. That's an extra three hundred creds a month I get to keep now.”

He made it all sound so feasible and easy. Yet she knew it wasn't. “I can't ask you to do this for me.”

“Felicia, I'd have had to pay it anyway, if you'd contracted with me after our probation period.”

“But
I
didn't know that before this.”

He took her hand and led it to his heart. “
Munatara a la frah
. If I had one wish, it would be to have a name and lineage to give you. But the gods didn't grant me that. All I have to offer you is my heart and loyalty. Besides, if we were married, all I have would be yours, anyway. So take it all. I don't want any of it without you.”

She pulled his lips to hers so that she could kiss him. “I hate you, you bastard!”

Aghast, he pulled his head back as if she'd slapped him. “Excuse me?”

“You have ripped out my heart and made me cry more than anyone ever has. You are everything in this life to me. I don't care about laws or names or anything else. I just want you safe, Talyn.”

“And that's how I feel about
you
.”

Yet they were the greatest threat to each other. Felicia picked at her food. Honestly, she had no appetite for it.

He placed his cheek to hers. “Finish your dinner. I'm going to call Ferrick and get him started on transferring funds.”

She held him to her. “I don't need a contract to be yours, Talyn. Screw Andarion custom and laws.”

“Love you, too.” He kissed her, then left.

Alone, she touched her throbbing cheek and winced at how much it burned and ached. Like it was on fire. Her eye was still watering from the blow. Anatole had barely struck her. She couldn't imagine what it would feel like to take the blows that Talyn did in a single fight.

Worse were the hints of the horror stories Anatole had sneered at her about Talyn while he'd tried to drag her into his transport. Covering her ears, she closed her eyes and did her best to blot it all out.

She still couldn't believe what Talyn was willing to do to bail her out from this. It was more than any male should have to do for a female who wasn't his blood or wife.

“I will pay you back,” she whispered. “Every last bit of credit.”

And somehow, she was going to find her own way to permanently remove Anatole from their lives. Even if she had to kill him herself.

 

C
HAPTER
20

“Where is she?” Galene pulled up short in the foyer as she eyed Talyn leaving the kitchen to head back to their bedroom.

She'd made remarkable time, crossing town. He'd only called her a short time ago to ask her what he should do to help Felicia. He'd barely finished saying Felicia had been attacked before his mother beelined to them.

She hugged him close. “Are
you
okay?”

He shook his head as another wave of fury scalded his throat. “I want to kill the bastard who's responsible, Matarra. It's all I can think about.”

She cupped his face in her hands. “I know, baby. I know.”

Guilt, fear, and impudent rage suffused every molecule of his body. “If Aaron hadn't been paying attention, she'd be in his hands. Right now.” He ground his teeth. “I came so close to losing her…”

Nodding, she blinked back her tears. “Don't you worry, precious. I'll stay tonight and make sure she's not left alone for anything. And I already put a call in to Jayne. She's going to handle security for Felicia. No one will get near her again. I promise you.”

“Tell her to bill me.”

His mother gave him an irritated glare. “You know better than that.” She kissed his cheek and went to the bedroom. As soon as she saw Felicia, she cursed.

Felicia's eyes widened as she met Galene's gaze. “Commander? What are you doing here?”

“I came as soon as I heard. How are you doing?”

“Wondering how Talyn can stand up after a fight. I never realized how much it hurt to be hit.”

Nodding, Galene sat down on the bed beside her to inspect her cheek and lip. “I know. I was struck once in training and my eye watered for days.” She cupped Felicia's chin in her hand and tilted her head back very gently. “I'm so sorry about this.”

“It wasn't your fault.”

“I somehow feel like it is.”

“Don't, Commander. I'll be much more vigilant in the future. No more texting while I walk.”

Galene patted her hand. “Have you told your brother?”

“Not yet.” She cut her gaze toward Talyn. “I figured one highly irate male filled with bloodlust was all I could handle tonight. Like you, Lorens would head straight over, and then I have a bad feeling the two of
them
would team up and go looking for a head to bust.”

Galene laughed.

Talyn, not so much. “He needs to be found and taken out of the gene pool.”

Felicia gestured at him. “See.”

Completely unrepentant, he crossed his arms over his chest. “My job is to protect the females who are important to me. I'm not my father. I don't walk away from my responsibilities.”

“You shouldn't blame your father for that, Talyn. He didn't know I was pregnant when he left me. That is solely on me for bad judgment. Had he known, he wouldn't have left.”

Talyn let out a derisive scoff.

“Why didn't you tell him?” Felicia asked Galene.

“I didn't want him to stay out of obligation. That would have been wrong. As stupid as it sounds, I wanted him with me because he loved me. That is where
I
was selfish. If I could go back, if I'd only known then how hard that decision would make Talyn's life, I'd have told him and just dealt with it. But I was a stupid kid who thought that things would work out differently. That somehow magic fairies would swoop in and make it all wonderful and fun. I had no idea just how mean-spirited and cruel Andarions could be. Never mind my own family.”

Talyn touched his mother's shoulder. “You did what you thought was best.”

“For me.” Closing her eyes, Galene moved his hand to her cheek. “I'm so sorry for what I've done to you. I wish I could change that day and my reaction.”

“Matarra, don't. It's been my honor to be your son. Regardless of assholes.”

Felicia wasn't sure which of them was crying harder. Her or his mother. Galene pulled Talyn into her arms. “No mother has ever borne a better son.” She kissed his cheek.

As Talyn pulled back, the intercom buzzed. Excusing himself, he went to answer it.

No sooner had he left the room than Galene's link buzzed, too.

Suddenly afraid, Felicia swallowed. “Is there something wrong? Are we under attack?”

Galene scowled even more deeply as she met her gaze. “Talyn's signed up for four blood title matches? Is he out of his mind?”

Felicia sputtered, unsure of what to say.

“I'll kill him!” Furious, Galene got up to go after him.

Suddenly terrified for Talyn should his mother get her hands on him, Felicia followed and drew up short as an older couple entered the foyer to meet Talyn, who was waiting for them.

She exchanged a confused frown with Galene as she belted her robe over her nightgown.

Solemn and respectful, Talyn inclined his head to the couple.

The elder male appeared as baffled as they were. His disbelieving gaze danced over Talyn. “Major Batur?”

“Was. I'm now Lieutenant Batur.”

The fury in the older male's eyes was tangible. “Because of what you did for our daughter?”

“For many reasons.”

The female looked past his shoulder. “Your mother and female?”

Talyn stepped back. “Yes. Deputy Commander Galene of the Winged Blood Clan of Batur and Ger Tarra Felicia … this is Pyra and Selahan of the Fighting Blood Clan of Altaan.”

Felicia choked up as he gave her the highest honor by claiming her as his true lady.

Pyra smiled as tears filled her eyes. Covering her heart, she bowed her head to them. “It is my greatest honor to meet you both, and especially you, Commander. I commend you on your noble and honorable son. He is a light to our race.”

“Indeed,” Selahan agreed. “He is a credit to you both.”

Her hand shaking, Pyra pulled out a set of prayer beads that held a small Asukarian emblem on the end of them. “I don't know if you're Yllam Orthodox or not—”

“I am,” Talyn breathed.

She smiled as a tear slid down her cheek. “These were my Berra's. They belonged to her grandmother who gave them to her as a Confirmation gift. It would be our eternal honor to hand them over for your child, one day.”

“Ger Tarra, I can't take a piece of your family history.”

She pressed them into his hand. “Please. I know what you did for my precious daughter. How hard you fought to keep her safe. Had it not been for you and your friends, we would have never known what happened to her. Never had her body to send her on her way to eternity. She would want you to have these so that she can always watch over and protect what you love.”

In true Andarion fashion, Talyn cupped her hands with his and inclined his head to her—a gesture of supreme respect and appreciation. “I shall treasure them always.”

She rose up and placed her cheek to his. “Thank you.”

When Talyn went to salute her father, he pulled Talyn into a tight hug. “May the gods watch over and protect you, son. Always.” Then he pressed his cheek against Talyn's as well. “Thank you for doing what you could.” Pulling back, he saluted Galene, who returned it with tears in her eyes.

“I'm very sorry for your loss,” Felicia breathed. “I know the gods and saints are welcoming her home.”

“Thank you.” They bowed respectfully before they left.

Felicia moved to rub Talyn's back while he ran the beads through his fingers. “Berra?”

“Nightdice. I tried to keep Anatole from attacking her and Syndrome. They were both punished for it, and she died on Onoria right as I was rescued.”

“I'm so sorry.”

He turned and wrapped her in a hold so tight, she could barely breathe. “I won't let that happen to you, Felicia. Whatever it takes, I
will
keep you safe. To my dying breath.”

“And what about you?” Galene asked angrily. “You are
my
baby, Talyn. But right now … it's taking everything I have not to shoot you where you stand.”

Releasing Felicia, Talyn went pale. “What? What did I do?”

She held the link out to him. “I'm on the Ring newswire. Ferrick just released to the media that you've accepted blood matches with the Mortician, Widowmaker, Soulless, and Slaughter House? What the hell is this? Why would you do something so stupid? Have you lost your mind?”

He clenched his teeth before he answered. “I had a reduction in pay and rank.”

Shaking her head, she moved to confront him. “I forbid this! Do you hear me? They are four of the most
ruthless
killers in the business. They make Death Warrant look like a petulant schoolboy. All of them pride themselves on killing anyone dumb enough to step into the Ring to fight them. You've
always
refused their invitations. Why would you accept now? For a title blood match, no less!” She turned to Felicia. “Talk to him! Tell him no!”

Felicia swallowed hard as she met Talyn's sullen gaze. “What's a blood match? Is that different from normal somehow?”

“Oh yeah,” Galene said, breathlessly. “Blood matches are fought with Warswords.”

For a moment, Felicia couldn't breathe. Talyn had left one
extremely
important detail out of their discussion. At no time had he told her he'd be fighting to the death … with swords! Good thing he outweighed her by about ten times over. Otherwise, she'd start a blood match with the Hammer early.

Like here and now.

Dizzy with fear, she gaped at him. “Why
them
? With
that
?”