Born of Defiance

“Why would she agree to such a thing?”


“Well… given my options for a husband and the terms I’d have been forced to agree to for marriage, it seemed the better choice. And I didn’t want to put either her or myself through the embarrassment of another female acting like she was doing a magnanimous favor by allowing her son to mix blood with us. Both my parents are very high-lineaged. My mother only became a companion because she met and fell in love with my father after he was already married. Granted, she was young and stupid, but it was the only way she could legally be with him. She’d have never done it otherwise.”

“Really?”

Felicia nodded. “Besides, I wasn’t planning to do it forever. Just until I got through school and passed my physician’s license.”

“What if you get pregnant?”

“Then I will have a beautiful baby to love.” She returned to chopping. “You’ve done well on your own.”

Galene snorted as she returned to prepping the meat. “I wouldn’t wish my life on anyone. Talyn deserved much better than what I was able to give him, and I hate myself for what I’ve done to him by being so selfish.”

“You shouldn’t. He seems much happier and better adjusted than my siblings who come from a married couple. A very high-ranking married couple, no less. I’ve never met a kinder or more decent male in my life. You did an incredible job with him.”

“Thank you. Now that you mention it, he is a much better individual than any of my siblings. Still, I hate how much time he spent alone when he was young… how isolated he is as an adult.”

“Friends are overrated.”

Galene arched a brow at Felicia’s comment. “What makes you say that?”

“Just that I’ve had a few stab me pretty hard over the years. I’m a little skittish now.”

“You’re too young to be so jaded.”

Felicia held the knife up. “You haven’t seen how many of these I have embedded in my spine and heart.”

Galene nodded in sympathy. “I’m sorry. I’ve had more than my share of them, too.”

Felicia gave her a grim, determined smile. “Here’s to better days for all of us.”

“Here, here.”

As she finished chopping the onion, Talyn’s link buzzed. Felicia picked it up from the counter to check the ID. “It’s his base. Should I take it to him?”

“Answer it. It should be nothing.”

Switching on the speaker, she did. “Major Batur.”

“Funny, you don’t sound like the major. Did they cut off your dick while you were in the hospital?”

Felicia screwed her face up at the male’s condescending tone. “Major Batur is resting. Can I take a message?”

“Yes. This is his CO, Colonel Anatole. You can tell that mongrel bastard that he failed to check in on his release, and I shall be reporting him for this. That is, unless you wish to discuss the matter with me? You and I might be able to come to an arrangement on his behalf.”

Her eyes snapping fire, Galene snatched the link up. “Colonel, this is Deputy Commander Batur. And I will be expecting you to forward to me the company manual that dictates your policy, as it is one I’m unfamiliar with. Especially the one that allows a civ to discuss military procedure and discipline with a senior officer.”

He sputtered in response.

“Have you something you wish to say to me, Chrisen?”

“Major Batur is well aware that, given his record, he is to report his location in, any time he’s away from base or post.”

“I do believe that that is the primary function of his locator bracelet and tracking device that’s embedded in his body. Or do you wish to go on record by claiming both are malfunctioning, simultaneously?”

“With all due respect, Commander, you’re not the one he reports to. Nor do you work in this division. Fighter pilots have their own procedures. Protocols the major is more than familiar with and has chosen to blatantly disregard. Again. I have no choice but to write him up for it.” And with that, he hung up.

Galene slammed the link down as frustrated tears gathered in her eyes. “It’s not fair that I protect the tizirahie and heir, while no one protects my son.”

“This stops!” Felicia pulled her link out and dialed for her brother before she could rethink it.

Or chicken out again.

“Lieutenant Commander ezul Terronova.”

Galene gasped at the name.

Felicia cringed over the fact that she’d forgotten the speaker was on. Switching to video, she waited for him to accept. “Lorens? It’s Felicia.”

His handsome face appeared instantly. He was the spitting image of their father, except for his hair. While their father wore the short style of his political station, Lorens, like Talyn, had warrior braids that he pulled back from his face with a red band. “Felicia? Really? Who died?”

Rolling her eyes at his droll tone, she blinked away her tears. “Are you still a giant Ring fan?”

“Always. Why?”