Born of Betrayal by Sherrilyn Kenyon Read Free Book Online

raised by my mother and have no real loyalty to her. You’re not blood related to the throne and can’t inherit. End of the day, you’re still one of the pirates. Just like them. Disinherited. Disowned. A freed slave. Someone who has no use for the laws and traditions of any known nation. You, the Universal Tavali Council will trust.”
    In that moment, Fain seriously hated the UTC.
    â€œWhat about Chayden?” he asked Nykyrian. “Can’t he do it?”
    â€œQillaq prince by birth whose beloved, full-blooded sister is the next queen of the Exeterian Empire and whose father was a Gondarion prince and commander. Yeah … it’s a no-go, too.” Nyk sat forward to pin him with an intense glare. “ You have no real political ties to any throne and no blood loyalty to any single Tavali Nation or group. You don’t even run your own crew. Your only blood tie is to The Sentella, and that, The Tavali trusts. Best of all, we trust you. Because you’re an Andarion male with strong military ties and heritage, the Phrixians will follow you. There’s no one else who can do this, Fain. You’re in a unique position for it.”
    Bloody effing awesome.
    The irony of it disgusted him. The very things that had ruined his life were now the very things that locked him into a position of power he’d never craved. While he wasn’t a follower, and had always adamantly refused to be one, he wasn’t a leader, either.
    Both positions sucked. It was why he didn’t run his own crew.
    He just wanted to be left alone to live what was left of his miserable life.
    â€œI can’t work with her. She hates my guts, every individual one of them.” Fain gestured to the blast mark on his battlesuit. “She shot me, Nyk. Point blank. No warning. In the heart!”
    â€œWell … we’ve all had the urge to shoot you, Fain. She just had the fun of it.”
    He childishly mocked Nykyrian’s misplaced humor. “And you want her to lead your army?”
    Nykyrian nodded. “I’m told you’re the only one she hates to this degree. Everyone else should be safe from her aim.”
    â€œYou’re not funny.”
    â€œI’m a little funny.”
    Fain growled at him. “You’re an asshole.”
    â€œIs that the worst insult you can toss at me? Really? You’re slipping in your old age.”
    Fain fanged him. But because they were such old friends, it didn’t faze the bastard at all. “Is she willing to work with me? Or do I need to buy thicker armor?”
    â€œI’ve been assured that she won’t shoot you again.”
    â€œWhat about cutting my throat?”
    â€œWe didn’t get that specific. Would you like me to draw up a contract, with her listing any and all possible ways she could end you and saying she won’t?”
    â€œI hate you.” Fain sighed heavily. “Fine. I’ll go get her and take them to the Porturnum. But if I die doing this, I plan to haunt you every day of eternity.”
    â€œGood. I won’t miss you, then.”
    *   *   *
    Fain knocked on the door of Galene’s condo. Only a block from the palace, it was one of the nicest buildings in the bustling metropolis of Eris—the Andarion capital city. The doorman had been a little skittish on his arrival, but since Fain had come in with an Andarion royal guard, he’d let Fain pass with nothing more than an irritated grimace.
    So what the hell was taking her so long to answer the door, anyway? Her condo couldn’t be that big.
    She’s doing it strictly to piss you off.
    Most likely.
    He knocked again.
    The door slid open to show her boy toy in nothing but a simple white towel. He had a blaster in one hand while he eyed them warily.
    Anger boiled inside Fain at the sight, especially given all the scars on the little bastard’s body, including marks on his shoulders that appeared to be