Born of Defiance

“Trust me, I know.” They would personally kill Merrell’s mother and demand the tadara’s head. “You think I should tell my yaya that I saw him?”


Merrell paused to consider that. While the queen had been the one who’d originally used Merrell’s mother to pose as Cairistiona to get rid of Nykyrian, the tadara was a capricious bitch. There was no telling how she’d react to this news that her grandson was still alive. The gods knew, she’d been furious when she’d found out Nykyrian had gone to school with them and they had failed to kill him then. The queen had as much to lose in this as they did should Nykyrian ever come forward.

But Eriadne wasn’t that big a fan of Jullien these days either. She saw him as the weak hybrid coward that he was. Yet even so, she still preferred to see her direct blood on the throne than that of her sister. Which meant both he and Chrisen were forced to kiss Jullien’s repugnant ass.

All these years, Merrell had been hoping to eliminate Jullien from their lives before the mutant troll spawned an heir. So far, they’d at least succeeded in keeping Jullien from marriage and procreation.

It hadn’t been easy. Both he and Chrisen had bloody hands from it. And if Jullien ever found out, he’d kill them himself.

Hating that he had no choice except to kowtow to the creature he hated most, Merrell growled low in his throat. “Let me address this in private with her.” And while he did it, he planned to use this as a way to get permission to eliminate Jullien from succession as well. It was time for the throne to shift from Eriadne’s Anatole branch to Merrell’s.

Time for serious Andarion change.

Jullien nodded. “I’ll go make a few calls and see what I can put into place.”

“And I’ll stir the pot with Keifer Zamir. If Nykyrian really is with his daughter, it should be easy to make that paranoid bastard want his life for it. I’ll tell him that you suspect the hybrid raped and is abusing her.”

An evil smile curved Jullien’s lips. “Good.”

Merrell watched Jullien leave while his thoughts whirled. Things were unraveling fast. Sadly, he might have to sacrifice his younger brother to Chrisen’s stupidity. But that was Chrisen’s own fault.

This time, Terronova was out for blood.

If they fed Chrisen to Terronova, that should appease him for the time being. It would also quell the unrest with the nobility that was beginning to call for a restriction on royal power. Something they’d all taken a hand in causing, lately.

And once the nobles were distracted, Merrell would be able to go in and clean house.

Starting with the entire ezul Terronova line and ending with Eriadne’s life and that of both of her two remaining daughters.





Chapter 23





F

elicia set a drink down by Talyn as she smiled at his patience while teaching Qorach how to play squerin – an old Andarion game. She was quite stunned at how fast and easily Talyn picked up both Qorach’s native language and his signs. Her male was exceptionally intelligent and quick.

As she met Morra’s gaze, the elevator pinged unexpectedly. Something that never happened.

Assuming it would be Galene, she turned to welcome her. Instead, Aaron stepped off first and was quickly passed by a group of eight enforcers who had weapons drawn and aimed at them.

Morra and Qorach held their hands up immediately and laced their fingers together behind their heads. The light in their eyes said they were debating if they could take their attackers, and what the cost of fighting them would be. Felicia was a little slower to move. For one thing, she couldn’t believe this was happening.

Homes didn’t get invaded on Andaria. Not like this.

Talyn didn’t move at all. He kept his hands on the table, in plain sight. “What is this, Aaron?”

“I showed them the lease and told them that you were friends with Tara Orfanos and that you and your other friends were here, visiting.”

“Shut it!” an enforcer snarled as he pushed Aaron aside. “Talyn of the Winged Blood Clan of Batur. You are under arrest for an unsanctioned carnal relationship with Tara Felicia Orfanos.”

His features stone, Talyn slid his chair back slowly. “Says who?”

They all kept their weapons trained on him as if expecting the Hammer to attack.

The enforcer who’d been talking came forward cautiously. He extended a warrant toward Talyn, but kept enough room between them that he could withdraw fast should Talyn lunge at him. “It’s a royal decree. From the tahrs himself.”

Felicia felt her knees go weak. “This is ludicrous! It’s retaliation for my brother having Chrisen Anatole arrested!”

“It doesn’t matter,” Talyn said drily. He handed her the warrant. “Call my mother and let her know.”

“Talyn —”

“Shh,” he said gently. “We can’t fight that warrant. Not unless you produce contract papers for us.”

Her heart broke at the hopelessness in his eyes. “I’ll get you out of this. I swear it!”