Born of Defiance

Talyn put his hands behind his back and allowed them to cuff him and drag him from the condo. With one last apologetic grimace, Aaron went with them.

Fury tore through her as she read through the warrant. She’d suspected her agency as being the one who’d filed the report and had the prince sign off on it. Instead, it was Tahrs Jullien himself who accused them.

And as she skimmed the allegations and details, she realized why Talyn hadn’t fought it. Unless he pled guilty to blackmailing her into the relationship, or produced legal contract papers for them, she would be seized for a DNA swab to see if she’d had sexual contact with him. If confirmed, she’d be arrested, too.

Tears filled her eyes. She handed the warrant to Morra and went to get her link and call his mother and her father to tell them what had happened.



Felicia held Galene’s trembling hand as her father and brother discussed the best way to get Talyn out of jail before Jullien deported him again.

So far, her father had been able to keep him in the downtown lockup, but either Eriadne or Jullien could have Talyn moved. And at any time.

Morra cleared her throat to get their attention. “I admit that I don’t understand Andarion law. At all. But… from what I’m hearing, all you need is a contract that says Talyn is allowed to have conjugal visits with Felicia, right?”

Her father was less than pleased with how she phrased that. His eyes blazed fury at the small Schvardan. “In short, yes.”

“Then produce a contract.”

Her father rolled his eyes. “It’s not that simple. It would have to predate the allegations and they would have had to have filed it within seventy-two hours of signing it.”

“Filed it where?”

“The legal repository, at the palace.”

Morra scowled. “Is it automated?”

“Of course.” Her father scoffed at the question. “No one could possibly read through everything that’s filed on a daily basis. They do eventually review it, but it’s a six-to eight-month backlog.”

Morra winked at Felicia. “That’s it, then. Get me a copy of what one of these things looks like and I’ll forge you one. Take about an hour. We’ll have him home in two.”

Lorens laughed bitterly at her arrogance. “It’s not that easy.”

“For you, maybe.” Morra cracked her knuckles. “For me? I need a sample and an hour. I promise, I can get this done.”

Felicia shook her head in denial. “My brother’s right. It’s not so simple. Nor is it just paperwork. You have to have a licensed overseeing agent or agency. And unfortunately, the enforcers will demand to interview the designated agent before they allow Talyn his freedom.”

Crossing her arms over her chest, Morra considered that. “How do you form one of these agencies? Could I be an agent?”

Felicia shook her head. “They can only be established by an Andarion with a minimum of twenty years in the industry.”

Qorach signed to Morra, who smiled in response. She turned toward Felicia. “Didn’t you say your mother was a companion?”

“Yes.”

“Could she be an agent?”

Felicia took a minute to run the scenario. “She could have been granted a license to begin one. Yes.”

“Could you be her first…” Morra slid an uncomfortable look toward Felicia’s father. “Offering?”

“In theory. Why?”

“Can you get her to lie to save Talyn?”

“I think so.”

Morra pulled her link out and set it up on the table. “Then tell me what I need to do and what systems I have to tap. Believe me, there’s no security that can lock me out. It’s why The Sentella hired me. Only two creatures alive are better at this kind of forgery than me, and both happen to work for The Sentella.” She passed a happy gasp at Qorach. “Oh look! And one of those two just happens to be sitting beside me! What luck is this?”

Snorting at her enthusiasm, Qorach pulled out his own link and began feverishly tapping.

Galene passed a worried frown to Felicia. “Talk to your mother and tell her that if she does this, I will make sure nothing happens to her. Ever. And let’s pray.” She touched Morra on the shoulder. “While you work on it, I’ll see if I can get to Talyn before he confesses to save Felicia and gets in so deep we can’t get him out.”



Talyn felt the air around him stir as someone neared his cell, but he didn’t bother to look up or move. He was in too much pain for that.

“Baby?”

He savored the unexpected sound of his mother’s voice. Bracing himself for the pain, he slowly sat up.

She gasped as soon as she saw him. “What did they do?”

He wiped at the blood on his cheek and winced. “Interrogated me. Since they have no real evidence, they were hoping I’d make their job easy and confess.”

Tears welled in her eyes. “What did you tell them?”