Born of Silence (The League Gen 1 #4)(28)
Author: Sherrilyn Kenyon

By the expression on the commander’s face, it was obvious he was one of the culprits, and that he didn’t see a threat in Darling’s words. “We don’t listen to you, kieratun.”

Zarya sucked her breath in sharply at the insult that accused Darling of having slept with his father.

The commander lifted his chin arrogantly. “We stand together and intend to support whoever comes forward to dethrone you.”

Darling slowly nodded his head. “Fine. Make sure you give Kere my best when you slide into hell.” Faster than she could blink, Darling pulled out two League assassin short swords.

The commander drew his blaster and aimed it for Darling. Before the man could pull the trigger, Darling cut through him with an ease that was as swift as it was brutal.

Total chaos erupted as the guard corps finally realized that Darling was more than capable of delivering his justice by his own hands. And that that was what he fully intended to do.

They scrambled for weapons and the braver ones attacked him. With the same precise skillful moves she’d seen him use as Kere against the League, he tore his attackers to pieces. As they came for him, they learned what she’d known for years.

Nothing rattled Darling in battle. He was Kere—the god of death—and no one could stop him.

When it was finally over, Darling was wounded, but standing in the middle of several dozen bodies. With his head lowered like a feral predator, he scanned the area to make sure there were no more threats to him.

Once he assured he’d killed them all, he cleaned his swords off on his own sleeve and then returned them to the sheaths that were beneath his cloak. With the back of his hand, he wiped the blood from his exposed chin, and nonchalantly stepped over the bodies on his way out the door.

Darling didn’t stop until he’d returned to the palace and met Maris in the back gallery hallway.

“You’re hurt.” There was no missing the concern in Maris’s tone.

Darling didn’t answer. Rather, he walked past Maris and entered the reception room so that he could open the bar and yank a bottle of Tondarion Fire off the shelf. He removed the top with his teeth, before he poured the searing alcohol over the wound on his arm. Then he took a deep draught of it.

Maris headed toward him. “Dar—”

Darling cut his words off with the point of a sword that he aimed at Maris’s heart. He’d pulled it out so fast that her vision hadn’t even registered his movements. It was almost as if Darling was a Trisani who’d manifested his weapon into his hand with his thoughts.

Maris froze while Darling drank half the bottle in a matter of seconds. “You can’t keep this up, Darling. No one is going to let you live if you continue to slaughter everyone who’s ever wronged you.”

“Let them try and I’ll burn it all to the ground and take as many of them with me as I can.”

“This isn’t a game.”

Darling sneered. “It’s never been a game, Maris. And I’m through talking.” He smiled then, but it was filled with bitterness and hatred. He said something to Maris that she couldn’t understand before he lowered his sword and walked away.

Maris turned the video off and returned Darling’s computer to the nightstand. “That was what we were dealing with before you came here.”

“What did he say to you at the end?”

A tic started in Maris’s jaw. “ ‘I won’t forgive. I won’t forget. Let hell open and rain my wrath down on them all. I will not be stopped and I have no mercy left inside me. I am death and I revel in the killing of my enemies. Bring me them all until I’m drunk on their blood.’ ”

Yeah, that was extreme, and that was the same man who’d overturned his desk in a fit of rage the night Maris had brought her here. “Weren’t you afraid of him?”

“Honestly? I was at times. Afraid for me, but mostly for Darling.” He glanced to where Darling slept on the bed. “If you leave, Zarya, he won’t come back again. I know it. He’ll be destroyed.”

And if she stayed, her allies would do everything they could to kill him.

“Where is that rank little bastard!”

Her eyes widened at the sound of a shrieking female voice outside in the hallway. A second later, the doors to Darling’s bedroom flew open to reveal a tall, auburn-haired goddess.

Zarya’s jaw went slack at the sight. The pictures she’d seen didn’t do Annalise justice. The woman was frighteningly beautiful.

And she was fiercely pissed.

Lise swept the room with an imperious glare before she stormed toward Darling with a furious snarl.

Zarya put herself between Darling and his sister. Not sure of Lise’s plans or the source of her anger, she wasn’t about to let the girl hurt him.

Just as Zarya thought she’d be attacked, Lise ran at Maris and punched him so hard in the jaw that his head snapped back.

“How could you? You sorry son of a bitch! I hate you! I hate you! I hate you!”

Completely dumbfounded, Zarya was frozen in total shock as the girl continued to assault Maris until he wrapped himself around her and held her tight against his body. Still, she fought, shrieking so loudly that it echoed through the room.

“Sh, Lise,” Maris breathed soothingly in her ear. “It’s okay.”

Lise sobbed hysterically as she fought against Maris’s hold.

Never had Zarya seen anything like this. Was there some kind of madness that infected Darling’s entire family she needed to know about?

What had Maris done to Lise to cause this?

Syn came rushing in with an injector.

When he went to sedate her, Maris stopped him with a fierce shake of his head. “She’ll be all right.” He tightened his hold on Lise’s body. “Breathe, little sister. Just breathe.”

Tears flowed down her cheeks as her lips quivered. “I hate you!”

“I’m so sorry.”

“No, you’re not! You a**hole!” She tried to hit him again, but he held her fast. Instead, she reared her head back, smashing it into Maris’s face.

Somehow, he maintained his grip on her.

Lise shrieked again in frustration. “Do you know what it’s like to hear that your brother’s dead on a f**king news broadcast? Do you? Why didn’t one of you call me, you sons of whores!”

Maris’s patience with her never wavered. When he spoke, his tone was calm and soothing in spite of the bruises that were already forming on his face. “He’s not dead, Lise. He’s not. I swear it, sweetie.”

Finally, Annalise started calming down. “W-what?”

As Hauk came into the room to check on the commotion, Maris dragged her toward the bed. “He’s sleeping. See…” He led her hand to touch Darling’s upper lip so that she could feel his breath against her skin.

Her tears fell even harder. The immense relief on her face once she realized her brother wasn’t dead made Zarya’s own eyes water.

Maris released her.

Lise turned on him and slapped him. “If you ever do that to me again, I swear I will gut you for it!”

Still, Maris didn’t react to her blow. “I’m extremely sorry. It was a thoughtless thing to do, but I was more worried about Darling than calling you with the news, especially since he wasn’t killed. I didn’t think about the media reporting it, never mind them getting it wrong, and you finding out about the attack that way. It won’t ever happen again. I promise.”

Lise finally pulled Maris against her and held him close. She buried her face in his neck. “I’m so sorry, Mari. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I was so scared. I thought he was gone and that I’d be left alone. He’s all I have, you know?”

“Yes, I do, baby. He’s all I have, too.”

Sniffing, Lise squeezed him tight. “I love you. You still love me?”

“Not at the moment. I’m rather in pain. But after it fades, I’ll probably be dumb enough to forgive you for it. Just don’t do it again.”

She kissed his cheek that was red from her punch. Laying her hand over it, she smiled at him. “What are you bitching about, anyway? You’re from a warrior culture. Phrixians live to fight and clobber each other.”

He arched a regal brow that said she was insane and wrong. “Hello? Gay man, here. I don’t like the brutality, hence why I surrendered my commission.” He turned her to face Hauk. “Next time, slap him. I think he actually gets off on it.”

Hauk smirked. “Thanks, Mar. I will remember that.”

“Am I wrong?” Maris challenged.

“No, but you don’t have to tell everyone. You make me sound like I’m sick or something.”

Smiling at their teasing, Lise wiped the tears from her face before she went to Hauk and gave him a hug, too. “How are you, D?”

“Better than you. You going to make it, little sis?”

“Maybe. I don’t like being scared like this. You could have called, too, you know?”

“I’m pleading the Maris defense. I didn’t even think about it. Sorry.”

“You suck.” Lise went to Syn next to hug him. “How’s my precious baby boy and Shay doing?”

“They’re great. Sorry we scared you.”

“It’s okay. You, I forgive since I’m sure you’re the only reason I still have Darling right now.”

“Actually, the credit goes there.” Syn pointed at Zarya.

It was so strange to watch the play of emotions skim Lise’s features in the same order they normally did on Darling’s. The two of them had a lot more in common than just their hair color.

Finally, Lise settled on a confused countenance. “You saved him?”

Zarya wouldn’t go that far. All she did was open a door. “We all saved him.”

Syn shook his head. “Hauk and I weren’t here when it happened.”

“I couldn’t get the door open,” Maris confessed. “Zarya did. He’d have died had she not got in when she did.”

“You’re the one who dragged him to safety,” Zarya reminded Maris.

“And you’re the one who resuscitated him.”

With a cry of joy, Lise threw herself into Zarya’s arms and squeezed her so tightly, she was amazed she didn’t break a rib. “May the gods bless you for it. Thank you for saving my brother’s life. You ever need anything, anything at all, call me. I won’t ever forget what I owe you. I mean that.”

Lise’s zealous gratitude embarrassed her. Zarya wasn’t used to people who showed so much emotion, especially so forcefully. “You’re very welcome.”

Lise gave her one more fierce squeeze. “I am so killing the beast when he wakes up.” She flared from sorrow to gratitude to anger so fast that it was actually scary to watch. “He’s determined that I’m never going to graduate. I swear. I was on my way to a chemistry test when I saw the news. Ugh!” She waved her hands around her face. “Whatever. I’ll deal with it later.”

Shaking her head, Lise fell right into the role of haughty princess, and yet there was something so adorable and at the same time vulnerable about her that Zarya couldn’t help liking her. “I’m going to my room now to throw myself on the mercy of my instructors. Will someone please let me know the instant Darling wakes up?”

They all nodded.

Lise made a much more sedate exit.

“And people accuse me of melodrama,” Maris mumbled as he rubbed his red cheek. “Sheez.”

Nonplussed by what she’d witnessed, Zarya turned toward Maris. “Does she… um,” she struggled to find words that wouldn’t offend them or Lise, “Is she mentally stable?”

Syn laughed. “In theory, yes. But unfortunately, she inherited her uncle’s explosive temper.”

“Does everyone in Darling’s family have it?” Zarya asked.

Maris snorted as he continued to rub his abused cheek and jaw. “Basically, yes. But Darling does a really good job riding herd on it most of the time. Though I’ve seen him go off and do some extreme things in the past.”

Like kill his on duty guards…

Hauk laughed in agreement. “Yeah, he’s normally really quiet and very slow to anger. To the point, I’ve had times I wanted to slip a mirror under his nose to make sure he’s still breathing. But if you hit one of his trip wires, boom! He goes psycho on your ass. In fact, I once had to toss him over my shoulder to keep him from blowing up an entire bar.”

That surprised Zarya. “Why?”

“They insulted Maris.”

She scowled.

Maris patted her on the shoulder before he explained. “I was very rudely thrown out of the establishment, and I made the mistake of letting Darling know about it.”

A bad feeling went through her. “What happened exactly?”

Syn answered in an angry tone. “They beat the absolute shit out of Maris, and gave him a concussion.”

Maris looked sheepish now. “That’s what I get for underestimating my opponents.” He gestured toward Hauk. “And after Hauk stopped Darling from blowing up the bar, Darling stalked my attackers and returned the beating with good measure. He really doesn’t cope well when his loved ones are hurt. Kind of loses all sense of reason and proportion.”

“How so?” she asked.

Maris let out a gruff laugh. “Give me a bloody nose, Darling takes a limb.”

Yeah, that was a bit extreme. Strangely though, it was one of the things she loved about him. “What will he do when he finds out his sister attacked you?”

“I don’t intend to tell him that Lise bitch-slapped me. Even gay, I still don’t want to admit a girl beat me up. Sheez!”

Hauk and Syn laughed.

But she didn’t find it humorous. “It’s not a fight if you don’t strike back.”

“True. Still, let’s keep this unfortunate event between us,” Maris whispered at her. “No need in upsetting Darling over it.”

“Okay.” Zarya didn’t envy Darling having to deal with his volatile sister. But at least that emotional explosion had taught her one thing.

Lise loved her brother dearly. It was a shame that Darling didn’t know how much.

The doors opened again to show Lise returning to the room. She pinned Zarya with a scowl. “You’re Sorche’s sister, aren’t you?”

“I am.”

Her frown deepened with confusion. “Why are you here?” Before anyone could answer, Lise threw her hands up and clenched her eyes and fists shut. “Never mind.” She opened her eyes and dropped her hands. “I’m sure it’s none of my business and Darling wouldn’t answer me about it even if I asked. I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t crazy… About you, anyway. The rest is still open for debate… Now I’m really gone.” She made a very quick exit.

Hauk laughed deep in his throat before he spoke to Zarya. “Don’t ask. We just go with her moods. Once you get used to her, she’s actually very sweet.”

“Not to mention, we’re all responsible for ruining her. We have spoiled her rotten,” Maris added. “Darling more so than the rest of us. But like Hauk said, she is a doll when she’s not mad. And she has the kindest heart you’ll ever meet.”

That she definitely believed. No matter how odd this meeting had been, Zarya hadn’t forgotten how giving and sweet Lise had been to her sister.

All of a sudden, the door opened slowly as if the person on the other side was hesitant about entering.

That definitely wasn’t Lise.

Not sure who to expect this time, Zarya waited until it opened to show an extremely handsome man with red hair a shade darker than Darling’s. Tall and well muscled, he was wearing Tavali battle gear. Something that was an impressive show of flagrant disregard for the law. The Tavali were essentially rogue pirates who preyed on the cargo of rich merchant fleets and League ships. They weren’t an official group with any one leader, nor did they have allegiance to any planet or empire. Rather, they were a motley group who swore an oath to help and protect any of their brethren flying under their communal flag.

Because of the Tavali’s less than legal activities, the League executed any and all they found in possession of their flag or gear. The same held true of most governments. So for him to come into a royal palace dressed like that said a lot about his courage.

And his stupidity.

Curious as to why one of their breed would be here, dressed for battle, she glanced around nervously at the others who didn’t react to his presence at all.

He stopped next to Syn and purposefully kept his gaze away from the bed where Darling lay. “Is he alive or dead?”

“Alive.”

He closed his eyes and let out an elongated breath—a sign that he welcomed the news. “What happened to him?”

“Assassination attempt.”

Zarya frowned at Syn’s stiff abruptness with the newcomer. He’d always been so open with everyone else that it was peculiar to see him so reserved around someone.

The Tavali cast a droll stare at Syn. “I knew that, a**hole… Is he going to live?”

“He will.”

The relief on the Tavali’s handsome face was tangible. “Don’t tell him I was here. I’m sure it’ll only piss him off. Just please keep me updated on his condition. I’d really appreciate it.”

Syn’s features softened at those words. “You got it.”

Inclining his head in gratitude to Syn, he turned to leave. After one step though, he stopped dead in his tracks. His gaze locked on the door as his expression turned dark.

Deadly.

Curious about his reaction, Zarya directed her attention to what had him captivated.

Ah… now she fully understood.

Drake stood in the open doorway, glaring at the Tavali as if he could go through him. And little brother was not what she’d expected from the stories she’d heard from Maris and Darling.

For one thing, he didn’t appear to be a spoiled rich aristo. He held himself like a trained assassin who was aware of everything around him. Like a warrior ready for battle.

And Drake’s unexpected presence slammed into her hard. Not just because he was probably four inches taller than Darling and muscular the way Darling had been before his torture, but because his features were identical to his older brother’s.

Seriously identical.

Every arch of the brow, the long aquiline nose, the sharp cheekbones, and the intelligent blue eyes. They couldn’t look more alike had Darling been cloned. But for their hair color and height difference, no one would be able to tell them apart.