Part 17 (1/2)

The dead earnestness in his pale eyes chilled her. ”Last thing I'd ever joke about.”

She couldn't believe his blase tone. ”Who knows about this?”

He cast his gaze around the three of them. ”You three, Venik, the surgeon who set it, and Syn, who tried once to burn or dig it out.”

”And he couldn't?”

Fain shook his head at her question. ”Had he gotten to it within a few days of the implantation, he might have been able to extract it. But it grew into my brain fast. Extracting it or burning it out now would kill me instantly.”

So he was still enslaved to Venik, with no real freedom. That's what Jayne had hinted at when she'd said Fain's life hadn't been a picnic, either.

What else was he hiding?

”Why would Venik do that to you?” Talyn asked.

Fain let out an exasperated breath before he answered. ”He thinks it's hilarious to own a member of the famed War Hauk lineage as his personal pet.” He met Galene's gaze and the torment behind that blank expression made her stomach ache for him. ”It seems Keris was right, after all. My only purpose in life is to serve as an attack dog.”

Galene winced at his dry tone as those words took her back in time to when Fain had been accepted into the North Eris Medical Academy. He'd been so excited when their counselor had given him the news at school. Less than one percent of applicants were ever accepted into their prestigious program. It was the hardest medical school in the entire Nine Worlds to get into. And unlike her, Fain had done it without a prestigious medical family background to rely on.

He'd done it on his own, with no help from anyone. Just like Talyn's Felicia.

Ecstatic that his hard work and extra hours after school had paid off, Fain had run all the way home to tell his parents the incredible news.

When Galene had called him later, his happiness had vanished completely. He'd worn that carefully guarded, jaw-locked expression he always held around his parents, grandparents, and older brother.

”What's wrong?”

”Nothing.”

His curtness had wounded her. ”So what did your parents say about your acceptance letter? My father is thrilled to have-”

”I'm not going to med school with you, Galene.”

”What? Why?”

”War Hauks aren't doctors. It was a stupid thought.”

She'd scowled at him over the link. ”I don't understand. You worked so hard to get in. You took all those advanced cla.s.ses... It's what you wanted to do. All you ever wanted to be.”

Keris's bitter laughter had echoed in the background. ”Don't be ridiculous. They only let him in so that they could brag about having a War Hauk on their attendance roll. Fain's an idiot. Only thing he's ever been good at is getting his a.s.s kicked and being an attack dog. Last thing any Andarion wants is something as dumb as him treating them when they need a real doctor.”

Fain's eyes had been as dead then as they were now while he stared at her. ”My father signed me up for my obligatory service this afternoon. I'll be entering the military this fall.”

Galene saw that hurt boy now in the fierce male before her. Still defiant in the face of those out to own him and force him into a life he'd never had any say in.

Closing the distance between them, she rested her chin on his shoulder and placed her hand at his hip. ”You are not a dog, Fain.”

Fain savored those words as much as he savored the way she held him.

Like she used to.

For a moment, he wasn't the cybernetic animal Venik and the others had turned him into. He felt Andarion again. Like he had control of his future.

Strange how out of all the beings in his life who'd sought to own and control him, the only one he'd ever wanted to give himself over to was her.

And she was the only one who'd refused to ever control him.

Not wanting to think about that, he flew them back to the station, where an entire squad of Hadean Corps soldiers waited for their arrival. Unfortunately, by the time he saw them, the comptrollers had possession of his s.h.i.+p and everything was locked down to drag him into the bay.

b.l.o.o.d.y minsid h.e.l.l...

Fain ground his teeth at what that meant for him.

Talyn unbuckled himself and moved to stand by his side to stare out at the armed enforcers. ”What's that about?”

s.h.i.+t to come.

”They're Hadean Corps. Tavali enforcement.”

”Yeah?” Talyn prompted.

Fain didn't say anything more as he shut down his engines and opened the hatch. ”Don't worry. It has nothing to do with you or your mother.” His stomach cramped with anger, he headed down the ramp.

Sure enough, the captain of the Corps came forward.

”Commander Hauk, you're being remanded into custody, pending investigation and hearing.”

Galene gasped. She rushed toward them. ”What's the meaning of this?”

The captain cuffed Fain's hands behind his back. ”It's Tavali business.”

”Fain?”

He met her gaze and offered her a teasing grin. ”Just answer their questions honestly, keramia.”

Galene stood in stunned shock as they hauled Fain away and he didn't protest.

Kareem Venik came forward to greet her. ”Commander? Would you mind answering a few questions?”

Talyn stepped between them. ”She doesn't go anywhere without her escort.”

Kareem nodded. ”Fair enough. Please, follow me.”

Galene trailed after Kareem, while Gavarian and Talyn provided a tight shadow to her. With every step they took toward the lockup center for the station, her fear for Fain tripled. ”What's all this about? Why did they arrest Commander Hauk?”

”I'm not at liberty to discuss that with witherwins.”

”Witherwins?”

”Non-Tavali.” Kareem paused at an office and opened the door. He allowed them to enter first. By the expression on his face, she could tell he, too, was bothered by what was happening.