Born of Defiance

“Do you know who the Iron Hammer is?”


“Oh hell, yeah. Of course.” Now he sounded a little more normal and not the snot he was around her. “Am I breathing? Everyone knows who he is. The fact you know his name says it all. Why do you ask?”

“How would you like to have dinner with him?”

Her brother gaped. Then he turned deadly serious. “Who do you want me to kill?”

She laughed, even though she actually considered it. “Colonel Chrisen Anatole.”

“Done. Spill-kill. Quick-kill. What are we talking? You want his head as a trophy? Penis? Just tell me what body part you want delivered, how many pieces to cut him into, and it’s done.”

Snorting, she wiped at her eyes. “Talyn is a fighter pilot stationed at Anatole Base with a major’s rank and Anatole is his CO. Can you get Talyn transferred to another post, out from under the beast?”

Lorens arched a brow. “I don’t have to really kill Anatole?”

“Not unless you can’t get Talyn transferred. Then I want his head on a platter or pike… I’m not that picky.”

Lorens nodded thoughtfully. “Transfer’s easy. I don’t have to risk jail time or court-martial for that. Where do you want me to assign Batur?”

Felicia hesitated. This was entirely too easy and way out of character for her eldest half brother. “Why are you being so cooperative? You’re scaring me.”

“You’re offering me dinner with the Hammer, Felicia. There’s really nothing I wouldn’t do for that. Are you kidding? That male is my one true hero. I’d sacrifice my young to meet him. Even a testicle. Maybe both.”

Still, it seemed so weird to her. “He’s an Andarion soldier. You could just order him to eat with you.”

“Not the same. Besides, I didn’t know that until you told me. Had no idea he was a fighter pilot. But I can easily get him transferred to the Tadara’s Guard or any place else. Hell, the Guard’s where he should be with his skill set. I don’t understand why he’s not. And why are you crying, anyway?”

Wow, he only just now noticed that. Typical.

She sniffed. “Anatole propositioned me. He’s threatening to hurt Talyn unless I meet with him.”

Lorens screwed his face up as if he couldn’t fathom what she was telling him. “Can I ask why he’s threatening you about the Hammer?” Now there was the condescending tone she was used to.

She glanced over to Galene before she cleared her throat. “I’m Talyn’s female.”

“Ah, hell, no, you’re not…” He gaped. “Are you really?”

The doubt in that one word offended her. “Yes, I am.”

“And you’re just now calling me? You. Suck. So hard.”

“Well, you’ve never been this nice to me before. Why would I have told you?”

“Yeah, well, you weren’t sleeping with the greatest fighter to ever step into the Ring. This changes things.”

Offended, she growled at him. “Thanks, Lorens.”

“What? You want me to lie?”

She narrowed her eyes at him. His honesty was the only good thing she could say about him, sadly. “I would call you an obnoxious ass, but I don’t want to insult obnoxious asses or for you to reconsider transferring Talyn.”

Lorens laughed good-naturedly. “Not going to happen. I’ll put him wherever you tell me.” He signed something before he glanced back to his monitor. “Can I bring my oldest boy to dinner, too?”

“You get my baby transferred away from Anatole’s control and you can bring both boys.”

He flashed a fang-tinged smile at her. “Have I told you how much I love you, Felicia?”

“Never.”

“Bad oversight on my part. I’ll put in for an immediate transfer. And I’ll do you one better. The Hammer wins his next fight, I’ll personally give your male a promotion in rank.”

And for that, she would kiss her obnoxious brother’s cheek, and those of his evil spawn, too. “There is one condition to all of this.”

“I still have to kill Anatole?”

She laughed, even though she wanted to say yes. “No. Don’t tell Talyn I requested this from you. Ever.”

“Then how are you getting him to dinner?”

“I’ll worry about that. You get the transfer and I’ll get you your dinner with Talyn.”

“Deal. I’ll put it through today.”

“Thank you, Lo. I won’t forget this.”

“Hey, I’m just glad you called me and not Paka. He wouldn’t have invited me along. He’s selfish that way.” Lorens inclined his head to her. “I’ll see you soon.”

“Bye.” She hung up and met Galene’s stunned expression.

“Your paka is Satrapehs Saren ezul Terronova? The male head advisor for Tadara Eriadne? And your brother is Lieutenant Commander ezul Terronova, the second-in-command of the entire Andarion armada?”

“Yes,” she said sheepishly. “I told you my father was high-lineaged.”

“You did, but you left out those vital details at the hospital when we talked about this.”