Bastien shrugged. “I barely know Nykyrian, really. He was assumed dead my whole childhood. I was twenty-six when he returned and was reinstated as heir.”
Anger darkened her vision. “And you didn’t help Jullien when they threw him out?”
“I tried. Believe me. But you have to remember that it was only three months after Jullien was disinherited that my entire family was slaughtered and I was convicted for it and sentenced to being a Ravin. In retrospect, my father did him a favor. Had Julie been on Kirovar, he’d have been murdered, too.”
She sucked her breath in sharply. “I didn’t realize that happened so close together.”
Bastien nodded. “So no, I never had a chance to get to know Nyk. At all. Not until a few weeks ago, when they showed up on Oksana. He seems decent enough. But I don’t have the war stories with him that I share with Julie. Nyk never had to suffer through one of our grandfather’s interminable parties.”
She laughed. “So I’ve heard.”
“I’ll bet you have. To the day he died, my brother Quin counted Julie among his heroes for having the nerve to do that.”
“Are we back to the pool pissing?”
Bastien turned at Jullien’s question. “I could always count on you to make things interesting.”
Jullien rolled his eyes. “Let’s not go there.” He pulled his jacket out of the closet. “I have the files you need stored on my ship. You want to stay here or come with me?”
“As much as I enjoy your wife’s company, I’ll come with you and give her a break from my boorishness.”
“You’re anything but a chore to put up with. And you’re welcome here anytime.”
“Thank you, Ger Tarra.” Bastien took a minute to say good-bye to Vasili, who actually hugged him. “Take care, sport.”
“You, too.”
And with that, Bastien trailed Jullien back through the station.
They hadn’t gone far when Bastien brought up something that had been on his mind all night. “Thank you.”
“For dinner? You’re more than welcome.”
“No. For saving my life.”
Jullien practically stumbled. “Don’t know what you mean.”
“Yeah, you do. It wasn’t Aros who sent that missive to the Overseer that kept her from executing me. I know it was you.”
Red crept over Jullien’s features. “I wish I could have done more.”
“I’m stunned you did that much, given you were being hunted at the time. How did you manage?”
Jullien shrugged. “Made it my priority. I was on Ritadaria when I saw the trial coverage. I knew they’d convict you based on the bullshit I saw, and that my father, true to his assholishness, wouldn’t do anything to stop it. So I did what I could.”
Bastien pulled him in for a hug. “Again, thank you.”
“You sure about that? ’Cause after seeing that hell you called home…”
Laughing, Bastien shoved him away. “You were always an ass.”
“Yeah, uh-huh.” Jullien went to get the files.
When Bastien started to leave, Jullien stopped him. “Before you go, you want to loosen up some? Make sure you’re ready for this?”
“What do you mean?”
“When was the last time you trained?”
Longer ago than he cared to think about. “I’m in my prime. Don’t need no training.”
Jullien snorted at his feigned accent. “I don’t know. You’re looking a little worn out.”
Bastien gaped. “I don’t want to hear it from someone as old as you are!”
“Old? Hah! That’s it!”
Next thing Bastien knew, they were in a ring, sparring, as a crowd gathered around them to watch it.
He lost track of the time as they laughed and beat each other, all the while urging one another to hit harder and move faster.
Hot and sweaty, he saw Jullien get distracted. So he moved in for the kill.
Before he could blink, Jullien whipped around, grabbed him, and slammed him to the mat, then kissed his cheek. “We have to stop now.” He jerked his chin toward Ushara, who stood off to the side, hands on hips, glaring at them.
Bastien looked over and laughed. “Ah, crap. Now I’m the one who got you into trouble with your female.”
Grinning roguishly, Jullien got up and offered Bastien his hand to help him to his feet. Both of them were bruised, sweating, and bleeding. Yet neither cared.
It’d been a good match and one Bastien had needed more than he realized.
Ushara shook her head as they neared her. “Really? This is how you wanted to say good-bye to each other?”
Jullien rubbed sheepishly at his neck while Bastien went for towels. “We were just going to practice a bit. Then we got a little carried away.”
“A little?” She glanced at the blood all over the mat, which looked as if someone had been murdered there and their body dragged away to be hidden.
Trajen emerged from the dispersing crowd to join them. “I’m impressed with you both.”