Born of Ice

Devyn whipped around, drawing his blaster at whatever fool thought to stop them. But the moment his gaze focused, he couldn’t breathe as he stared into the one face he’d always wanted to meet.

His older brother.

Time seemed suspended as they stared at each other, locked in momentary disbelief.

The loss of this one single person had haunted his father in ways he couldn’t even begin to understand. Every year on the anniversary of Paden’s birthday, his father lit a candle and prayed for him. Most of all, he wished him well, even though Paden wasn’t there to hear it. He also had a gift delivered to Paden wherever he was living.

One that was always returned unopened.

And still his father tried, refusing to give up on his child. It was one of many things Devyn admired about his father. But it was also a source of anger for him.

Because with every present returned, he watched a part of his father die. Every time, year after year, his father reached out only to have Paden bitch-slap him for the effort.

At twelve, he’d been angry enough to ask his father, “Am I not enough son for you that you have to try and claim one who hates you?”

His father had pulled him into a fierce, crushing hug. “You are the greatest son any man could ever have and you’re better than any I ever deserved. My love for Paden doesn’t take anything away from how I feel about you, and it never will. But you have to understand that I grew up without a father, and it’s a pain I’m glad you don’t know.

“Paden was brought into this world against his will, and I don’t want him to ever think his father doesn’t love him. Yes, it hurts to be kicked when he refuses to talk to me, but I’ve been hit a lot harder in my life and if he wants nothing to do with me, that’s all right. It will never change the part of me that loves him. The part of me that taught him how to tie his shoes and brush his teeth—just like I taught you.”

He had brushed the hair back from Devyn’s head and kissed his brow. “At least this way he knows someone out here still loves him. Sometimes that’s all we have in this world. When everything else falls down around us, just knowing that there’s another person who will miss us when we’re gone is enough to see us through our darkest moments. Never underestimate how powerful that knowledge can be.”

It was only after Devyn had adopted Omari that he fully understood what his father had meant that day. Blood didn’t make a family.

Caring did.

And now he was face to face with the son his father still grieved over.

Paden’s gaze narrowed dangerously. His finger tightened on the trigger.

Just as Devyn thought he’d be shot, Paden aimed the blaster over his shoulder and shot the enforcer behind him.

Confused, Devyn didn’t react as Paden grabbed him by the shirt and shoved him through a door. He pulled Alix in behind him and motioned for them to be quiet as he locked the door. The room was someone’s small office, complete with a desk, office chair, two padded chairs in front and a computer.

Devyn exchanged a puzzled frown with Alix while Paden closed the curtains to block their presence from anyone outside.

Paden’s eyes were blazing as he neared Alix. “Why couldn’t you have just done what you were fucking told?” He growled low in his throat. “You’ve screwed all of us now. Good job. Really. It’s what I get for thinking a slave would obey me without thinking on her own.”

She shook her head. “What are you talking about?”

He raked Alix with a fierce sneer. “I was going to use your fabricated evidence to convict Merjack.

I’ve been trying to bring that bastard down forever, but he’s too clever. He’s always hiding everything he does and he leaves no trace for us to find. His hatred for Kell was his only weakness. Now . . . dammit. You’ve ruined everything.”

Devyn was stunned by Paden’s tirade as he pieced together what he hoped was the truth of his brother’s motivations. “You’re not trying to kill me yourself?”

It was Paden’s turn to look baffled. “Why would I do that?”

“Oh, I don’t know . . .” he said in a voice dripping with sarcasm, “our history and your hatred of my father?”

Paden’s face blanched. “You know who I am?”

“My older brother.”

He expected Paden to deny it, but he didn’t. Instead, he shook his head in disbelief. “I didn’t think Syn would talk about me to you.”

“Why not? He loves you. He always has.”

“Bullshit. He’s not even my father.”

Devyn was disgusted by his brother’s betrayal and his continued rejection of a father who only wanted to love him. “How can you say that about someone who loves you so much? Honestly, I think he’s an idiot for not cutting you loose after the way you’ve treated him. But—”