Born of Defiance

Felicia stroked his hand to calm him. “It’s a local that won’t make you drowsy.”


“But it will numb the pain until the Prinum works.” The doctor grimaced at the depth of Talyn’s wound. “You’re lucky the medics repaired your artery. I’d still rather have you on the table, yet I understand why you want back into battle, and I commend you for it. I lost my sister to the Anatoles.” He met Talyn’s gaze sincerely. “I’ll have you on your feet within an hour… And next time, son, don’t just growl at us. Let us know why you’re being an ass.”



Talyn let out a stern growl as he lifted his jacket so Felicia could examine his ragged wound. He needed to rendezvous with her brother and get a status update. While he adored her, he needed to go.

Fast.

She cast a nasty glare at him before she kissed the skin above the wound and slapped his ass. Hard. “Mess with me and I’ll shoot you myself to keep you home.”

Snorting at her empty threat, he straightened his uniform and sealed his armor over his healing injury. “Satisfied?”

“Not even a little.” She handed him his helmet.

The sad fear in her eyes gave him pause. Cupping her cheek, he offered her a smile. “It’s Jullien we’re after now. He won’t attack the way Chrisen did.”

“How do you know?”

“He’s not that smart or that brave.” He gave her a deep kiss that conveyed his own fear for her safety. Then, he gently rubbed his nose against hers. “I want you naked in my bed on my return,” he whispered.

She nodded. “Don’t shatter my heart, Talyn.”

He swallowed hard against the sudden lump in his throat that was caused by those words. It was said that when two Andarions were really in love and divinely unified, if one of them should die, it shattered the heart of the survivor. It was why stralen males seldom lived more than a day after the death of their wives.

Trembling with what he felt for her, he took her hand in his and led it to his chest so that she could feel his heartbeat through his red armor plate. “I will forever be your bitch, couriana.”

She rolled her eyes and pushed playfully against his chest. “And here I thought you’d say something sweet in return. I should have known better.”

Talyn started to leave her on that note, but stopped himself. This could very well be the last time he ever saw her in this life.

Before he could think better of it, he pulled the glove off his hand and took hers. He lifted her hand so that he could kiss her palm. Felicia’s gaze fell to his fingers.

A sharp scowl lined her brow as she pulled his hand closer so that she could see the small, intricate tattoo that encircled his unification finger. “What’s this?”

“My caste forbids me from tattooing your lineage on my arm.” It was something only married Andarion males did to honor their wives and vow their eternal fidelity. “Nor does it allow me to buy a pledge ring.” He tightened his grip on her hand. “This was the only legal way I could let the universe know that you are, and will always be, my one true heart.”

Felicia bit her trembling lip as she read the Andarion words that encircled his finger. Forever Felicia’s. Tears blurred her vision at his very public and extremely defiant declaration to everyone that he loved her. “When did you do this?”

“A few days ago while you were visiting your mother.”

“How did I miss it?”

He smiled. “I was careful to keep it hidden.”

“Why?”

“I wanted to surprise you with it for your birthday.”

A tear ran down her cheek until he kissed it away. Only Talyn would remember something so trivial in the midst of this chaos.

“I don’t deserve you,” she whispered.

He laughed at that. “I know. You must have really done something awful in a former life to get stuck with me in this one.”

She laughed in spite of her tears. “Be safe.”

Stepping back, he saluted her. “Yes, ma’am.” He placed the helmet over his head, completely shielding his face from her. He was so huge and fierce in his suit. So invincible in appearance. But she knew the truth.

Talyn wasn’t. He bled, and he could die doing this.

Even worse, he was heading into an extremely dangerous situation. While Jullien might be a coward, Eriadne wasn’t. She was a feral bitch who’d murdered half her family to take her place on the throne.

Now she was cornered and losing.

Eriadne wouldn’t go quietly into history. She’d take as many of them with her as she could. Something she’d proven an hour ago with an attempt on Felicia’s father. It was why Felicia was so heavily guarded and what had motivated Talyn even more to return to active duty.

If they didn’t secure the remaining royals ASAP, this would turn into a bloody civil war that could go on for years. They needed a lightning strike to put them down.

Immediately.

Another tear slid down her cheek as she feared for Talyn. Eriadne and The League had a staggering price on his head. The only ones who wanted his throat more were the Tavali.