Born of Shadows (The League Gen 1 #3)(34)
Author: Sherrilyn Kenyon

But only a tiny handful of people knew those names and who they belonged to. Divulging their real identities wasn’t something any of the Sentella did lightly which was why Chayden was crying foul. Caillen only knew them because he didn’t believe in betrayal in any way and they trusted him implicitly.

When Hauk spoke, his tone was that deadly tight one that effectively conveyed his ire. “Trust me, pirate. No unauthorized being would ever dare use my name.” He glared at Caillen who’d actually done that on the colony—oops. Good thing the Andarion loved him or they’d be locked in a death match over it.

“Sanctum Sentella, Aniwaya. On that you have my word and that is sacred.” With those two phrases, Hauk offered Aniwaya safe passage.

Aniwaya hesitated before he responded. “Thanks, Akuma. I’m trusting you with the safety of my men. If you back out on your word, take my life, not theirs.”

Hauk arched a brow at Caillen. “You’re right. He’s not real trusting is he?”

“He’s Tavali,” Fain said. “We’re no more trusting than the Sentella is. The price on our heads is every bit as staggering as yours and like you guys we tend to make more enemies than friends.”

Hauk nodded. “I get it.”

And that was why Caillen flew unfettered. While there was some safety that came from being aligned to a specific group such as the Tavali or Sentella, there was also a lot of crap and internal politics that could easily drag a smuggler or pirate into a mess faster than sleeping with an aristos’s wife. As a free agent, he could be “friend” to anyone without politics intervening.

The bridge door pulsed open.

Desideria finally rejoined them—wearing Caillen’s one clean shirt that he’d left out for her. For some reason he couldn’t name, he liked seeing her in it even though it swallowed her whole. It sent a strange surge of possessiveness through him.

Yeah, she could definitely borrow his shirts anytime she wanted and he hoped her scent stayed in the fabric…

Pausing by his chair, she yawned. “What’s going on? I heard a strange voice over the intercom, but I couldn’t understand what you were saying.”

Hauk grumbled a humorless laugh. “Nothing much. You just missed another near-death experience.”

Her eyes widened. “Excuse me?”

Fain indicated Caillen with a jerk of his chin. “Luckily your boy knows people who carry a lot of guns. As long as he doesn’t sleep with anyone’s girlfriend again, we should be fine.”

Oh yeah, if they could freeze the smoldering look on her face as she glared at him, it could be sold as a lethal weapon on the black market and make them all rich. “Pardon?”

Caillen let out an annoyed breath. “Fain has a mental disorder that causes him to spout random stupidity for no apparent reason. It’s been a source of constant embarrassment for his brother since they were kids. Ignore him.”

Fain snorted in response. “I’ll remember that next time you need help, food.”

“Good thing I have Hauk’s number on speed dial then, huh, pun’kin?”

Hauk laughed.

Fain appeared to want to say something, but then seemed to change his mind.

Good, he was learning…

Desideria took a seat beside Caillen as they handled the landing. True to their words, she saw the familiar black fighter that appeared to be held by a brigade of pirates. “Are those what I think they are?”

Caillen winked at her. “Aye, Princess. They be pirates indeed.”

“And I take it they’re on our side.”

“Yes.”

Okay… She didn’t understand it, but if the men were good with it, who was she to argue?

How long did I sleep? Obviously, she’d missed something important. Turning her thoughts back to the renegade at ha, she watched Caillen with a new awareness of him. It wasn’t just that his scent was branded into her memory or the way his eyes lit up with that childlike spirit. She felt connected to him in a way she’d never been connected to anyone.

What was it about him that had made her love him when she’d never loved anyone else? Of all the men in all the universe, why Caillen Dagan?

It didn’t make sense and yet she knew she’d die to keep him safe. What a shocking realization. She’d never really thought to feel this way about anyone and she knew her mother had never loved her consorts. Not like this. Yes, she was fond of them, but when Desideria’s father had died, her mother hadn’t even reacted. She’d taken the news with the same degree of stoicism as she did the morning news from her advisors. Cold. Calculating. Distant.

If something were to happen to Caillen, she had no doubt it would devastate her entire being. The mere thought of losing him was enough to drive her to her knees.

A swell of emotions she couldn’t even identify choked her.

I love you.

Three simple words that seemed so inadequate for what she felt for him. How could anyone convey so much emotion with mere words? And yet she knew they could never be together. Especially not if they cleared their names. He was the prince and heir of his empire and she was the heiress to hers.

Their countries and politics would never allow them to unite. Two rulers couldn’t marry. It was a conflict of interest. One of them would have to step down and she knew it couldn’t be her. There was no one else to take her mother’s place. Gwen would never be able to handle the responsibility.

And Caillen wasn’t the kind of man who would willingly subjugate himself to the role he’d have to play on her world. Nor could she ask that of him.

Maybe he could beat me…

The truth was, she didn’t want to fight him for it. The thought of taking arms against him and bruising him…

She couldn’t do it.

There was no future for them. None. That reality cut through her as she realized just how hopeless all of this was. It wasn’t fair. No matter what, she would lose him.

Caillen turned in his seat to flash that familiar devilish grin at her. “You all right back there? You’re being awfully quiet.”

Fain snorted. “It’s okay to admit you’re sick from his lack of skill at the helm. No one here would think less of you for it.”

Caillen shot Fain a lethal glare. “You’re just jealous I’m a better pilot than you are.”

“Yeah, that’s so it. I live in fear of the comparison.” The dryness of that tone would rival a dust bowl.

Desideria smiled at their banter as she tried not to think about the fact that she’d have to leave him soon. “I’m fine, and Caillen is a fabulous pilot.”

All three of the men appeared shocked by her compliment. Honestly, it shocked her too. Since she’d grown up with nothing but criticism, any kind of compliment was hard for her to give to someone else. Yet she couldn’t help it. She wanted Caillen to feel good.

Girl, don’t feed that ego. The gods know, it’s the last thing you should do.

Yeah, okay, that was probably true.

Heat stung her cheeks as Caillen carefully guided them into a well-secured space station. A calm, smooth approach that was a nice change from their frenetic launch.

As they entered the bay and continued forward, guided by a tractor beam, Desideria’s eyes widened at the impressive display of artillery that followed them all the way to the landing pad. If there was any doubt about how serious the occupants were when it came to their safety, the red targeting dots put it away. If those cannons went off, there would be no escape.

She let out a low whistle. “Wow, they’re not playing around with that, are they?”

Hauk shook his head. “The Sentella can’t afford to. The League has too big a price on the head of anyone associated with them. You put one of us down, we’re taking you with us.”

Obviously.

Hauk took over the communications from Caillen as the controller gave him explicit orders to safety lock all of his weaponry. “This is XN-8-2-1 requesting clearance.”

There was a moment’s hesitation. “Voice analysis match. Welcome, drey,” said the smooth computer voice.

Drey? That word confused her as she moved to stand closer to Hauk. “What does drey mean?”

“Brother,” they answered in unison.

“What language?”

Hauk’s fangs flashed as he spoke. “Syn’s. It’s a corruption of Ritadarion and Andarion.”

Syn… Caillen’s handsome brother-in-law she’d seen in his vidframe. Desideria tucked that knowledge away as Caillen ordered her to strap herself in. She quickly took a seat and did as he asked.

Caillen made a smooth landing on the back pad while the pirates and fighter followed suit nearby.

It only took a few minutes to lock the ship down and open the hatch. Before Caillen could do more than unbuckle himself from his chair and stand, three women ran on board and practically tackled him to the ground. Desideria would have been jealous had she not recognized them as his sisters.

They each took turns scolding and adoring him in a variety of pitches. Their words came so fast and furious that it actually made her dizzy trying to follow them.

“How could you be so reckless?”

“Have you any idea how much trouble you’re in?”

“What brain were you attempting to use?”

“How dare you put us through this, you selfish little worm.”

“We’ve been so worried about you!”

“Thank the gods you’re all right.”

“When was the last time you ate? You look thinner.”

“What happened to your face? Do you need a doctor?”

“I swear, you’re such an idiot! How do you get yourself into these things?”

A loud whistle split the air and silenced them.

Desideria cringed at the shrillness and plugged her ears. She looked to the source to find the infamous Syn. Dressed all in black, he was dark and deadly. His long black hair was secured with a band at the nape of his neck. With at least a day’s growth of whiskers, his face was roguishly handsome and finely boned. Those black eyes took in every detail of the situation with an eerie astuteness that only Caillen’s could rival. One corner of his long coat was pulled back, out of the way of his holstered blaster so that he could get to it if he had to.

But there was no need. A person would have to be an absolute imbecile to confront someone with an aura this lethal. Syn’s sternness made her appreciate the fact that Caillen’s fierce aura was tempered by his humor and good nature. It would have to be hard to live with someone as grim as Syn.

He strode forward with a predator’s lope as his gaze went to each of Caillen’s sisters in turn. “Dagan women, down. The poor man can’t even breathe with all of you stifling him so badly.”

Kasen curled her lip as she raked Syn with a less than kind smirk. Oh yeah, Caillen was right. His sister was insane to confront Syn with anything except devout respect. “The imbecile’s lucky I’m not choking the breath out of him right now.”

Caillen snorted. “Love you too, sis.”

Kasen sneered at him. “Don’t you dare get lippy with me after the week you’ve put us through, you little worm.”

Desideria’s temper flared at the insults and the way Kasen treated him. How dare she! Especially given all the messes she’d gotten Caillen into over the years… such as the stunt that had almost resulted in his execution.

Before she realized what she was doing, she stepped forward to confront her. “Excuse me, but in case you haven’t noticed this really isn’t about you, cupcake. For all the misery you think you’ve suffered, I assure you it pales in comparison to what we’ve been through over the last few days. So before you continue to jump on him, you might want to steer down and step back. In the mood I’m in right now, I will do damage and unlike your brother, I don’t mind hitting women. Live for it, point of fact.”

hahara gaped, her expression astonished, then she laughed as Tessa and Kasen glared at her for it. “Oh, Cai, I really like her. You done good, little brother.”

Kasen’s nostrils flared before she started toward Desideria.

Caillen caught her by the arm and held her back. “Girl, don’t even. Trust me when I say the little dumpling can take you down. Remember, it’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog and Desideria has more fire in her than any I’ve encountered. She will hurt you.”

The light in Kasen’s eyes said she was willing to test them both.

“Kase,” Shahara said with a sharp, commanding note. “Be nice for once. It’s not often we find a woman who can tolerate your brother, never mind actually defend him.”

Hatred flared deep in Kasen’s eyes as she shrugged off Caillen’s grip. “Fine. Whatever. She’s just a passing fancy for him anyway. Just like all the others. I’ll be here long after she’s gone and he’s moved on to his next lay.”

Those words viciously slapped her and brought home the fact that Caillen, for all his tenderness with her, was nothing except a player who changed women more often than she changed her mind. Oh yeah, that reality slammed into her and burned.

Caillen felt his own temper rise at Kasen’s cruelty. “You need to shut up. Fast. I’ve about had it with you.”

She shoved him back, then invaded his personal space, daring him with her smug expression to hit her. “What are you going to do?”

He wanted to punch her. Hard. But she was right. Other than shooting her to protect her from the authorities, he hadn’t laid a hand on any of his sisters since his adoptive father had died.

Before anyone could react or he even realized her intent, Desideria pulled Kasen back and slugged her, then flew into a round of what he assumed must be heavy Qillaq insults. Unfortunately or perhaps fortunately, his Qillaq wasn’t fluent enough to know them.

Kasen moved in to retaliate.