“He will.”
The relief on the Tavali’s handsome face was tangible. “Don’t tell him I was here. I’m sure it’ll only piss him off. Just please keep me updated on his condition. I’d really appreciate it.”
Syn’s features softened at those words. “You got it.”
Inclining his head in gratitude to Syn, he turned to leave. After one step though, he stopped dead in his tracks. His gaze locked on the door as his expression turned dark.
Deadly.
Curious about his reaction, Zarya directed her attention to what had him captivated.
Ah… now she fully understood.
Drake stood in the open doorway, glaring at the Tavali as if he could go through him. And little brother was not what she’d expected from the stories she’d heard from Maris and Darling.
For one thing, he didn’t appear to be a spoiled rich aristo. He held himself like a trained assassin who was aware of everything around him. Like a warrior ready for battle.
And Drake’s unexpected presence slammed into her hard. Not just because he was probably four inches taller than Darling and muscular the way Darling had been before his torture, but because his features were identical to his older brother’s.
Seriously identical.
Every arch of the brow, the long aquiline nose, the sharp cheekbones, and the intelligent blue eyes. They couldn’t look more alike had Darling been cloned. But for their hair color and height difference, no one would be able to tell them apart.
It would have to pain Darling to see a face so flawlessly handsome, knowing that he’d look the same exact way if he hadn’t been scarred. No wonder he didn’t have any pictures of Drake past childhood.
Drake curled his lip at the Tavali. “Running out on us as usual, I see. Huh, Ryn?”
Ryn raked him with a sneer. “Don’t start on me, boy.”
Drake went into the cocky role of a man who feared absolutely nothing and no one. One who knew he could stand his ground and give as good as he got. “Oh, I don’t start shit, punk. I finish it. And there ain’t no boy here. Just a man ready, willing, and able to kick your ass all the way back to the Garvon Sector.”
Rolling his eyes, Maris let out an exasperated sigh. “Oh for goodness sake, would you two put it in your pants and stop measuring your overinflated members. Believe me, no one here doubts either of your manhoods.” He moved to stand in between them. “Drake, apologize for being a twit, and Ryn, get your butt to your room, change clothes, and help your little brother out. Darling needs you.”
They both looked at Maris as if he’d grown another head.
“Excuse me?” Ryn asked in a voice that said, “I know you did not just use that tone with me.”
Drake was a little more verbose. “Are you high, Mari? I’m not apologizing for the truth.”
Maris narrowed his gaze in anger. “Grow up, Drake. I have an Andarion here and I’m not afraid to use him. Trust me, he will kick your ass.”
Zarya pretended to cough to cover her laughter. Hauk and Syn weren’t so considerate. They laughed uproariously.
Drake glared at them.
But Maris gave him no reprieve. “You say you’re a man? Prove it. Apologize like one.”
“Why?” Drake gestured at Ryn. “He was the dick who—”
Exploding into action, Ryn stepped around Maris and grabbed his brother so fast that all Drake could do was gasp. He pinned Drake to the wall. “You better be glad Darling taught me not to strike out in anger. Otherwise, you’d be picking up teeth right now… boy.”
His eyes sparking with fury, Ryn released Drake, then stepped back. “You’re right, Mari. Darling doesn’t have any other family he can depend on.” He directed those words at Drake, then spoke over his shoulder to Maris. “I’ll go deal with the media and gerents. Let me know if Darling needs anything.” He rammed his shoulder into Drake’s on his way out the door.
Fury bled from every pore of Drake’s body. “I wish some tracer or assassin would put that bastard out of our misery.”
Hauk hissed at him—something made even more ferocious by the flashing of his fangs. “That’s your blood you’re talking about, Drake.”
“No blood of mine. He died to me the minute he walked out on us when we needed him. I’m not Darling.” Drake said his name like it was an insult. “I don’t forgive or forget a slight, especially not one done intentionally and with full selfish awareness.”
But in spite of those words, Drake’s anger melted into pain and grief as he looked to the bed where Darling lay. With a ragged breath, he crossed the room and knelt down so that he could place a hand on Darling’s head. “Please tell me he’s going to live, Syn.”
“He will.”
Tears swam in his eyes before he closed them and appeared to take a few minutes to whisper a silent prayer. When he finished, he opened them and glanced back at Hauk. “Where were his guards when he was attacked?”