Read Online Born of Betrayal by Sherrilyn Kenyon - Free Book Online

“You need me to call for you?”
    Fain duplicated Talyn’s frown in a disturbingly similar manner. “Is he okay?”
    Galene nodded as they headed for the lifts. “He’s talking to Felicia.”
    â€œHow do you know?”
    â€œThe warm concern in his voice and the amount of concentration he’s giving the caller. The gentleness of his tone. He only talks to her like that.” She led them into the lift.
    Talyn checked the time.
    Fain was stunned by the difference in Talyn’s demeanor while he spoke to his Felicia. Everything about Talyn was different now. For the first time, he seemed vulnerable.
    â€œHoney, listen, if you need me to, I don’t mind. I’ve still got a few before we’re hit the bay.” Talyn completely ignored everyone else as he followed them into the lift. “Yeah, okay. But if they give you any more lip at all, you let me know and I’ll deal with them. I mean it. No one disregards you like that. Ever. I will totally bust their asses for it.”
    His features softened and he closed his eyes as if he was savoring whatever she was saying to him. “Yeah, me, too. I’ll check in when I can. Stay safe. Love you.” He lowered his hand and turned instantly stern again.
    â€œIs everything all right?” Galene asked.
    Talyn gave a curt military nod before he elaborated. “The pool monitors went out and the new company I hired was harassing Lish because her name isn’t on the account. She just wanted to make sure it was okay to add herself to it.” A fierce tic started in his jaw.
    Rigid and pissed, Talyn headed out of the lift and toward their transports as if he wanted to commit murder.
    Fain pulled Galene aside in the lobby while the others followed Talyn. “Why’s he so angry about a pool company?”
    She gave him a dry stare. “Why do you think, Fain? He can’t legally pledge marriage to the female he loves more than his life. So he, who is the second highest ranking member of the Andarion military, is forced to be bound by curfew and barracks restrictions that won’t allow them to live together. The only way to keep him out of a barracks is if he lives with the commander he serves … his own mother. Meanwhile, the mistress he’s contracted with is left to tend his home with companies that don’t want to deal with either of them because neither of them is fully Vested and their contract isn’t through a traditional agency.” She barely whispered the next words to him. “Rather it’s one that could get them both arrested if anyone ever investigated it fully.”
    â€œWhy doesn’t he get out of the military, then?”
    â€œAnd do what? He’s the bastard son of a disinherited War Hauk. Who would hire him or deal with him in the private sector? He’s a lack-Vest, Fain. The fighting schools won’t even allow him, the Iron Hammer, to train other fighters. Can you imagine how humiliating that is?”
    â€œThen allow me to adopt him. I know Cairistiona would approve it for us. As his father, I can give him full protection of the royal house. He’d be an eton Anatole and a Winged Batur then, and no one would dare to look him in the eye, never mind say anything unkind to him.”
    â€œI will gladly allow it. But it’s not up to me, is it? And it won’t undo all the humiliation he’s been put through since birth. You were raised with two of the most prestigious bloodlines on all of Andaria flowing through your veins. Andarions gravitated toward you in school. Everyone wanted to be your friend.”
    She jerked her chin toward Talyn, who was waiting for them on the curb. “With my family lineage and yours, he should have been a higher caste than even you were growing up. Instead, he was spat on and laughed at. Denied and degraded by those who aren’t even fit to be speaking directly to him. I’m not the one you need to