Born of Ice

“Who’s your friend?”


Devyn took a seat at her right and Sway on her left. Omari sat between Sway and Vik.

“She’s my new engineer.” Devyn inclined his head to the dark-haired man. “Alix, meet another of my childhood friends, Taryn Quiakides.”

She scowled at the surname of a man so fierce that he’d once terrified The League into granting immunity to a rogue assassin—something they’d never done before or since.

Even more impressive than that, the man who’d borne that name had gone on to become the Trioson and Andarion emperor. And no one crossed the assassin emperor, who was known to have no mercy or compassion for any enemy.

It wasn’t a common name, and she’d only known of it being used in reference to him. “Related to Emperor Nykyrian Quiakides?”

“My father.”

Her stomach hit the floor. This was getting interesting. No wonder Merjack wanted conclusive proof of Devyn’s activities. If Devyn was friends with the Quiakides family . . .

He had a lot of political pull.

Titanic political pull. The kind that could get one killed if they didn’t follow the exact letter of the law. Holy crap. Going after him was looking less and less promising.

Taryn dipped his head to her. “Nice to meet you, Alix.”

“You, too . . .” It was a lame response, but what else could she say? She, a petty slave, was sitting down across from a royal prince at a dive. She had no experience in anything even remotely similar to this.

Was she supposed to curtsy?

“Um, Your Highness,” she finished weakly.

Taryn waved her words away. “Don’t be so formal. We don’t play that shit here. If we’re not at court or a public function with my parents, I’m not royal.” He swept a gaze around at his men. “God knows my crew certainly doesn’t kiss my ass no matter how much I kick theirs.”

Sphinx grabbed Taryn’s bottle and drank out of it before he responded. “That depends on whether or not you’re holding a weapon in your hand.”

Devyn laughed. “Yeah, Taryn stinks like the rest of us. More so, most days.”

“Fuck you, Devyn.” The words were harsh, but Taryn’s tone was light.

“You are so not my type, Tar. But I do have—”

Taryn tossed a throwing knife at him.

Devyn caught it without flinching and put it on the table between them. “Testy, testy. What has you in such a foul mood?”

Taryn curled his lip in a look of supreme disgust. “Reen is flying with me. Need I say more?”

Alix frowned. “Reen?”

Omari let out an evil snicker. “His baby sister. They don’t really get along.”

“Yeah, she’s seventeen going on four, and she’s been working my last nerve into an apoplexy. I swear if my parents weren’t so attached to her, I’d send her headfirst out an airlock.”

Devyn shook his head. “Why is she with you?”

“Absolutely don’t go there. Little brat’s been hanging around my neck like a noose. I tried to leave her at headquarters, but she snuck on board my ship when we headed here to meet you. I’d sell her to a slaver, but I don’t want to face my father—never know when those hard-wired assassin reflexes are going to eradicate all sense of paternal instinct.” He paused and looked at Vik. “Hey, Vik, any chance you might—”

“Forget it, bonebag. Your father doesn’t like mechas.”

“Don’t take that personally. He doesn’t like people, either. Hell, most days he barely tolerates me.”

Devyn laughed. “That’s so not true.”

Vik talked over him to respond to Taryn. “But he won’t dismantle you. Me, on the other hand . . .”

Taryn tsked at him. “You’re such a coward, mech.”

“Absolutely. Would have it no other way.”

Leaning closer to Alix, Devyn indicated the blond man next to Taryn. “That’s Sphinx, who, besides me, is the best pilot in the universe.”

Taryn arched a brow. “I seriously resent that.”

Devyn shrugged. “Resent it all you want, but it’s the truth.” He looked at Alix. “Taryn’s skills are much like my father’s. Filching and killing.”

Sphinx held his hand out to Alix. “Nice meeting you.”

“Same.”

The other man flipped his long curly hair over his shoulder before he sat forward. “I would be Mered. And I’m really good in bed.”

Wide-eyed at the unexpected introduction, she glanced around at the other men, who were either rolling their eyes or scoffing.

Taryn let out a long-suffering sigh. “Lack of self-esteem has never been an issue with Mered. Obviously.”

Sphinx laughed evilly. “Nah, but lack of hygiene has.”

Mered bristled. “You rank bastard. Can’t you see I’m trying to get laid?”

“With Devyn’s engineer? Give it up, buddy. He’d neuter you if you succeeded.”

Mered looked at Devyn. “Dev, help a brother out.”