Born of Defiance

“You, too.” He kissed her hand before he went to the lift. He turned around to watch her until the doors closed.

Silent tears slid down her beautiful cheeks as she waved at him.

With a heavy heart and tight throat, Talyn left their building and made his way to the palace across town. At least he’d be able to see his mother more often. She’d been assigned to the palace guard for half his life. Though he didn’t know her exact duties, they weren’t particularly dangerous or taxing. She actually had a lot of liberty to come and go. Something he was looking forward to after the heavy restrictiveness of flight patrol.

Flight patrol…

Talyn ground his teeth at the memory of what Anatole and his friends had done to the females in his squad.

Against his common sense, he’d reported Anatole to Lorens for disciplinary action. They were supposed to meet for lunch so that Talyn could review and sign his statement to continue the investigation that would allow Lorens to take steps to remove Anatole from his position and rank.

If anyone ever did that to Felicia…

Screw the Ring. He’d murder them on the street.

One punch.

Bitterness stung his throat. He still couldn’t believe Anatole had all the males so cowed. It went against everything Talyn’s mother and Aunt Jayne had drilled into him. You stood up for others, especially those who couldn’t defend themselves.

And one way or another, Talyn was going to stop it.

Pulling out his link, he scrolled through his pilot contact list until he found Farina’s information. He tried to call her again to tell her what he was doing, only to have it roll to her voice mail.

Talyn had left half a dozen messages, but for whatever reason, probably fear over the lies she’d told against him, she never returned his calls. Not that it mattered. He wouldn’t rest until he took care of this and made sure the females under Anatole’s command were safe.

Determined, he entered the main gate guardhouse. Pulling out his orders, he handed them to the daytime duty officer’s adjutant.

Bored by it all, the female signed him in and summoned a lieutenant to escort him to his new CO’s office. Like his mother’s office in the tizirah’s wings, it was massive and impressive. Elegant.

The older male had graying hair and the royal bearing of an emperor. As soon as Commander ezul Nykyrian saw Talyn, an odd smile toyed at the edges of his lips. Rising to his feet, he returned Talyn’s salute. “So you’re Galene’s boy.” Then he scowled and tilted his head to study him. “You remind me of someone.”

His father, most likely. Before Fain Hauk had been disinherited, he’d answered to Commander ezul Nykyrian at one of their embassies. But Talyn withheld that information.

“We might have met when I came to work with my mother. Years ago.”

The commander nodded slowly. “Tizirah Tylie said that you used to calm her sister when you were a child. She also made it clear that you were to be treated with regard, in spite of your caste and what your record says about you.”

Talyn went cold. “Sir?”

The commander sat down and pulled up Talyn’s file. “I want you to know that while I respect my dear cousin, Tizirah Tylie, I’m not one to put up with insubordination. Unlike my nephew and regardless of what my cousin wants, I will have you whipped for any infraction. You will stow your attitude and toe the line. Understood?”

Nephew? Cousin?

Minsid fuck. He should have known he’d be reporting to one of Chrisen’s relatives.

“Yes, sir.”

“Nor will I tolerate dereliction of duty or late check-ins. I have no idea what favors your mother was forced to call in for you, or perform on your behalf, but your past behavior stops now. I run a tight crew. The safety of my family relies on the skills of our guard corps. You step out of line, Batur, just once, and you’ll learn why they refer to me as the Bloody Axe. Understood?”

“Yes, sir.”

The commander buzzed for his adjutant. As soon as the door opened to admit him, Talyn felt his world tilt even more.

Merrell Anatole. Chrisen’s older brother.

Shit.

Talyn saluted him.

With eyes lit by malice, Anatole returned his salute. “I shall take it from here, uncle.”

“You sure you can handle this?”

An insidious smile curled his lips. “Absolutely. It’ll be my pleasure to show the major around and finish his orientation.”

“You’re dismissed.”

His stomach knotted tight, Talyn followed Anatole from the room.

Merrell didn’t speak until they were in the hallway. Then he turned on Talyn with a sneer. “My brother told me what a tattletale little bitch you are, Batur. You should know that if you try that here, it won’t be just your rank we’ll take.” He moved to invade Talyn’s personal space. “My blood family rules this planet, never mistake that. This is our empire. You live in it only because we allow you to live. Got it?”

“Understood.” None of the Anatoles could stand on their own. They bullied and intimidated, and expected everyone to bow down to them.