Not wanting to keep them after everything they’d done for him, he sprinted down the ramp and returned to the shadows that had become his home.
From there, he watched as they departed, and whispered a prayer for their protection. While the gods had abandoned him, he hoped they’d stay with Jullien, and it meant a lot to him that he still had one family member who hadn’t completely rejected him.
Jullien’s presence today had given him something he hadn’t had in a while.
Hope.
At least he had one person in the universe who still called him family and didn’t believe the lies others had spread about him. Sad that his life had come down to this. That something so very little meant so very much.
Yet it did.
Bastien carefully put away his supplies, then thumbed through the prayer book. Thanks to Jullien, he recognized a few words, and through it, he learned the name of the woman, as it was embossed on the cover.
Unira Samari.
She’d also put her digits inside the book, along with a prayer card and a blessed necklace. And a small note for him that she’d written in Universal.
The gods have not abandoned you, my son. Though it may seem dark today, there will be a brighter tomorrow. Sometimes it takes a bitter storm to clear the land for a better, more abundant harvest. Should you need anything, even if it’s nothing more than a mere friendly voice to keep you company, call me anytime. I promise not to preach, only to listen.
May the gods keep you wrapped in their eternal love and protect you always.
Unira.
Bastien clutched her card and pressed it to his chest. Then he tucked it so that it’d stay over his heart and put her necklace on. Such trivial things, really, yet the comfort they gave him were beyond measure.
But they weren’t the only gifts that’d been left behind. He didn’t discover the rest until he went to shut down his electronics.
Thrāix had been generous, too, and left him a note of his own.
Tweaked your system a bit. No one should be without at least one good porn channel, sports feed, and a news feed. And it’s locked tight so that no one and nothing will ever detect you. Stay safe, brother. You need anything, call.
T.
Man, Jullien had managed to find himself some decent companions. Far better than the bastards who’d fled from him like rats off a sinking ship.
But that wasn’t all. Thrāix had also included tactical scans and intel on Bastien’s uncle and his new Kirovarian regime.
“You beautiful Trisani bastard … if you were here I’d kiss you.”
Because with this he could plan his attack on Barnabas and how he’d take them all down.
Hell’s coming, Barnabas. And I’m delivering it personally.
CHAPTER 6
Bastien grabbed his blaster as he heard the sound of an engine. But after his heartbeat quit drowning the sound out, he realized it was Jullien making another supply run to him.
True to his word, he hadn’t forgotten him. As often as he could, Jullien popped in with food, medicine, ammo, and weapons.
Thrāix with porn, comedy, and top-notch alcohol Bastien was sure had to be banned in most systems.
And between those unlikely two was always Unira with her calm, mothering nature.
Bastien holstered his weapon as he headed outside to greet them.
As soon as the ramp lowered, Jullien’s adopted son Vasili came running down to greet him. The boy was so thrilled to be added to the crew that he didn’t even mind whenever Jullien gave him the crap tasks, hoping to make Vas rethink becoming Tavali.
“Bas!”
He embraced the eager teen who was also a blond Fyreblood Andarion like Unira and Jullien’s wife Ushara. “Hey, kid. How you doing?”
“Good.”
“Your sisters still making you crazy?”
Vasili screwed his face up as Bastien mentioned the half sisters Jullien had fathered with Vas’s mother. “I love them, but … yeah. One day you’re going to meet them and see what a handful twins are.”
Bastien laughed. He’d love nothing more than to meet Jullien’s wife and toddler daughters. “And your mom?”
“Having another baby.”
Bastien arched a brow at the teen’s tone. “You okay with that?”
“I’m praying for a brother who can run some interference with the spider twins.”
Ruffling his hair and laughing, Bastien stepped away to greet Thrāix, Unira, and Jullien. But the moment he did, he caught the look on their faces that said they were bringing bad news to his door.
“What’s going on?”
Jullien handed him a tactical pack. “Have you heard the latest?”
“About…”
“The Caronese have declared war on The League, and with them the Triosans, Andarions, Garvons, Gourish, and Exeterians.”
“So basically The Sentella started the war and their nations are backing?”
Jullien nodded.
Bastien grimaced at the nightmare that had to be. “And The Tavali?”
“Two of the four Nations have already signed on. So far, the Gorts are not a part of it.”