Born of Ice

It wasn’t his fault. He wasn’t the one she’d driven away. All he’d ever wanted from her was her love and approval.

But even on her deathbed she’d cursed him. You’re as worthless and pathetic as your father. I should have killed you as an infant. Now leave and let me die in peace. I don’t want to carry your despicable face into eternity with me.

The only person who’d ever loved him was the man he’d spurned in an effort to earn his mother’s love.

It’s me or him, and if you choose him, you’ll be spit on by the whole universe. They’ll never see you as anything more than the pathetic waste that you are. Go on and be the son of a worthless thief. Then everyone will know exactly how disgusting you are.

It was why he’d never married. He didn’t want a woman to turn on him the way his mother had turned on Syn.

But none of that mattered right now.

The slave was right. By saving them, he’d just put his own head on the chopping block, and if she opened her mouth, he’d lose everything.

Even his own freedom.

Paden let out a frustrated sigh. “I don’t know how to get us out of this now. The original plan was to have Merjack abuse his power to hang you,” he said to Devyn, “and then use your unjust incarceration to bring him down. But now you’ve blown it all to hell.”

Alix frowned. “What about my family?”

He gave a short, bitter laugh at her as if she were an idiot. “You didn’t really think Merjack would ever free any of you, did you? He’d intended to sell the lot of you as soon as he had the evidence he needed to convict Kell. Well, except for your sister. He intended to keep her for himself.”

“And you were okay with that?”

“No, I despise slavery, but I can’t fix it by myself. All I can do is make sure Merjack gets caught. At least that was the plan until you two screwed it up by not following orders. Why couldn’t you just listen to me and do what I told you to?”

Alix was aghast at his anger toward her given what he would have relegated her to. How dare he! “Well, you’ll have to forgive me if the idea of your political gain pales in comparison to me and my family spending the rest of our lives as slaves. Sorry if your promotion seems a little stupid to me.”

He curled his lip as if she disgusted him, then he turned his attention to Devyn. “How can you stand her mouthiness?”

Devyn passed a proud look to her that warmed her through and through. “I think she’s adorable and her mouth is one of the things I find most enjoyable. In more ways than one.”

Before Paden could respond, Devyn turned serious as he pressed the link deeper in his ear. “They’re starting to search the buildings. There’s still no word on Omari and the others. Maybe, just maybe, that’s a good thing.”

Paden gave him a droll stare. “I wouldn’t count on it. Not with your luck.”

Devyn cursed as he heard the next bit of news from their “friends.” News that made him sick to his stomach. “Yeah. It just turned. The League has brought in a group of assassins to help search for us.” Unlike enforcers, assassins were highly trained. Nothing escaped their attention and they took mercy on no one. They were also a jumpy crew, and the last thing he wanted was to have Omari hurt because he was resisting arrest. “I don’t see a way out of this.” He pierced his brother with a stern glower. “I have one favor to ask you.”

“And that is?”

“Get Alix and the others to Gouran.”

Paden looked at him as if he were insane. “Why Gouran?”

“My godfather is Emperor Quiakides. He’ll make sure they and you are safe from The League and Merjack.”

“What about you?”

“I’m turning myself in.”

Alix shook her head. “Are you out of your mind? You can’t do that.”

Her concern touched him, but it changed nothing. Least of all his mind. He brushed the hair back from her face as he cherished the look of worry in her dark blue eyes. “Trust me, Alix. This is the only way. By now the Talia has detonated and they won’t find anything there except melted-down scraps. As Paden said, they have nothing on me except the fabricated files you gave him, which we can prove are bullshit. Gouran doesn’t recognize slavery, so you’ll be free the moment you step one foot on their soil, and Uncle Nyk isn’t about to let Sway, Omari, Nero, Vik or Manashe get hurt. All of you will be safe.”

“What about my mother and sister?”

“See what Nyk can do to free them. He’ll pull out all the stops. I promise.” He pulled her against him and held her close. “Trust me, Alix. I’ll get them out.”

She wrapped her arms around him and he savored her touch. She really did mean everything to him.

Paden rolled his eyes. “Do you know how many holes this plan has in it?”

“You have a better one?”

“Not really.”

He stepped back and released Alix to his brother. “Then get her out of here and meet up with the others.” He paused. “By the way, I’m trusting you . . . brother.” He held his hand out to Paden. “Don’t let me down.”