“Ach, now, if that’s not a frightening look. I’m shivering in me boots!”
Bastien smiled even wider as he recognized the smooth, deep cadence of a familiar voice. Jory Hinto. He had been the Jup that day on Oksana when Jullien had first returned to Bastien’s life. And since the day Jullien had introduced them, they’d become fast friends, as it was impossible not to adore Jupiter Hinto.
He turned toward the Tavali pirate with a smirk.
“Don’t you be cutting them eyes at me like that, cade. I’m just here to corrupt and entertain.”
Bastien laughed. “Jory, you asshole. What are you doing here?”
“Ach, now, was invited. I’m assuming you were too. Besides, it’s not me you need to be fretting, me Kirovarian brother. It’s your maither over there, sitting on us all.”
“My mother?”
He jerked his chin toward the door, where a new group had just come in. “Fain Hauk.”
Bastien laughed again, especially as he noted Fain and his wife Galene interacting with Ember and her sisters. But his laughter died the instant it dawned on him that they were all Tavali here and The Tavali were the natural enemies of the Dread Reckoning.
Ah minsid hell …
Clearing his throat, he glanced back to Jory. “They’re friendly, but they’re DR. Please don’t kill them.”
“Well, you’re asking a lot. Good thing I still love you. And that Fain is too happy about his own new grandbaby to be in a slaughtering mood.” With a wink, Jory headed over to see Sphinx.
“Who’s Jory?” Ember asked as she came up behind Bastien.
“Jory Woods Hinto. Son of Gadgehe Hinto.”
Ember choked as she instantly recognized that name. “Gadgehe … as in the HAP of the Septurnum Nation?”
“Affirmative. Also Jory as in the brother-in-law of the VA of the Wasturnums, and the ambassador of the entire Tavali joint Nations. Not someone you want to shoot at.” He smiled down at Ember. “By the way, you should always ask Jory if he’s hauling Precious Cargo.”
“Into battle or the party?” She screwed her face up at him, not understanding the reference. “Why would he do that?”
“He’ll know what it means.”
Ember arched her brow as she tried to decipher his cryptic words. “How so?”
Bastien laughed evilly. “It would mean that Ryn Dane is with him.”
She gaped at that name. Not only was he the above-mentioned ambassador and Wasturnum VA, he was also the older half-brother of Darling and Drake Cruel, both of whom would be extremely upset should anything happen to him. No wonder they called the man Precious Cargo—an apropos call sign, indeed. “Anyone else we need to make sure we don’t hurt?”
“Probably.” Bastien stretched out the word. “If Fain, Ryn, and Jory are here, it’s a real good bet they’re hauling Chayden Aniwaya with them, as Jory seldom goes anywhere without Chay following. Those two are thick as thieves.”
“And Chayden would be?”
“A prince of the Qill empire. Beloved brother of the Exeterian and Garvon princess. Which means she would have sent their prince and heir, Caillen, to guard her brother. Or Caillen’s here just to bust heads and have fun because he makes me look sane.”
“I thought he retired.”
“That’s what he claims, but I’ll believe it when I see it, and as I said, Desideria isn’t going to let her brother be hurt.”
Ember let out an aggravated sigh. “Is there anyone you don’t know?”
He sobered instantly. “My son.”
Guilt cut through her at his unexpected reminder as Bastien went over to talk to Vasili and Florian.
Ember stayed back to gather her dignity over what she’d intentionally done to the one person she should never have hurt. Bastien would have stood by her through the fires of hell. And she’d cut him adrift out of fear. Fear of his father. Fear of her own emotions and fear of his uncle.
How could she have been so stupid?
Kindel moved to stand by her side. “You okay?”
“I don’t know.”
Kindel laughed. “You’ve never known. Mind some advice?”
She passed a droll grimace at her older sister. “Of course I do. I hate your advice.”
“Because it’s usually right, and in this case, it’s extremely true.”
As much as she hated to admit it, Kindel wasn’t wrong about that. Damn her for it. “Fine. What is it?”
“Get out of the way of your happiness.”
“How so?”
Kindel jerked her chin to where Bastien was smiling and greeting an extremely attractive auburn-haired man dressed in the red uniform of a Wasturnum Tavali. One who bore the same noble bearing and regal refinement that was innate to Bastien. “You overthink everything! You panicked the night he asked you to marry him, and rather than tell him why, you ran. Stop running. Stop thinking. Just feel and do.”