Fain cupped Dancer’s head in his hands. “Dancer … this doesn’t hurt me.” He gave him a sincere smile. “You deserve to be happy, kiran. It’s all I’ve ever wanted for you.” He dropped his hand to Dancer’s then he took Sumi’s into his other hand and joined them together. “Don’t let my past darken or taint your future. I love both my kisa and kiran. I always have.”
Even so, Bastien saw the ragged torment in Fain’s eyes. It was a pain he knew all too well himself.
“I’d rather you hit me, drey.”
Fain laughed at Dancer’s words. “You’re too weak at the moment. Few days … I’ll be happy to beat you down.”
He playfully slapped his brother’s face. “You suck as a brother. I want my money back.”
Fain snorted. “Could be worse. I’m stuck with you.”
Bastien bit his lip to stifle the unexpected tears those words wrought inside him. And the guilt and self-recrimination they awoke. How many times had he yelled at his brother and called him every insult he knew in six languages?
He’d stupidly thought he hated Quin—so much that he’d blown off their last holiday together because he’d refused to sit through another dinner with Quin eyeballing him and judging him as lacking. For that matter, he’d barely stomached Lil most days. He’d looked for any excuse to avoid being around them, wishing he was anywhere else other than in their company.
Until they were gone.
Now … he’d give anything to see them and apologize. Trade every bit of his future life if he could go back to one single memory and relive it with them as a whole family.
Even a fight.
Why hadn’t I gone to that stupid holiday dinner when ?da asked me?
How could they be gone now? Why was he still here without them? For that pain alone, he wanted to beat his uncle until nothing was left of him. Barnabas should have killed him, too. Should have never left a single breath in his body.
Without a word, Syn returned to them. He let out an irritated sigh as he checked Dancer’s IV. “How much do I have to give you to keep you unconscious? Damn Andarion metabolism. Stay down, beast!”
He fanged Syn then looked at Fain. “Kill him.”
“I would, but his wife would tear me up. And no offense, she scares me. You really don’t.”
Ignoring them, Syn added more medicine to the IV as a skimmer appeared. A small team of medics ran off the craft with lifts for Dancer and Bastien.
It was only then that Fain glanced in his direction. His jaw went slack as instant recognition lit his white eyes. “Bas!” he said with a laugh. “And here I thought you dead. Should have known better.”
Bastien gave Fain a droll, offended stare as they placed him on the lift. “Your brother damn near finished what you started. Luckily, I’m like a cockroach. Hard to kill.”
Shaking his head, Fain patted him on his arm. “It’s good to see you again, drey. Thank you for fighting with my brother for me.”
“Only for you, drey. Only for you.”
The medics rushed Bastien into the skimmer, then took him to a massive interstellar ship and to a medical bay that was as impressive as the best-equipped hospital.
There were people everywhere.
Never had Bastien felt lonelier. How weird that he was more isolated here than he’d been while alone in his desert base. At least there, it wasn’t as obvious that he had no one. But for some reason, having people nearby who didn’t give a shit about him hurt a whole hell of a lot more.
Tears welled in his eyes as he remembered a time when he’d been flippant about being the center of attention. Dismissive of his family’s overbearing love.
“Hey,” Syn said as he finally came in and checked the IV they’d started in Bastien’s arm. “I’m going to put you under and get that tracking device out of you, if that’s okay?”
He had to ask?
“You get that out of me, Doc, and I’ll kiss you for it.”
Syn grinned at him. “Don’t let my wife catch you. She’s insanely jealous.” He put his hand on Bastien’s shoulder. “Just relax. We’ll have you up to running speed real soon.”
Nodding, Bastien closed his eyes and waited for the drug to take effect.
Syn watched as his patient drifted off, then checked his vitals. In spite of his unkempt condition, malnutrition, and slight dehydration, Bastien was remarkably fit. Injuries notwithstanding.
But hell, anyone spending time with Hauk was going to come away wounded. The bastard could find trouble lurking in a nunnery.
As he left the room to prepare for surgery, he found Nykyrian waiting for him in the hallway. “What’s up?”
“Came to check on Bastien.”
“He’ll be fine.” Syn scowled as he caught the shadow in Nyk’s green eyes. The two of them had been friends for a long time. Wingmen for so long that Syn could finish any sentence Nyk started. “You don’t trust him?”
“I don’t know him. Hauk said he found some items in the base that had come from Jullien.”
“Jullien.… Your brother?”
He nodded, and there was no way to miss the burning hatred in that cold expression. “If they’ve partnered up…”