Born of Defiance by Sherrilyn Kenyon Read Free Book Online Page B

started.”
    â€œAlmost eleven. Normal age for most boys who seriously go into it. I was big for my age back then. They thought I was fifteen and I didn’t bother to correct them.” He let out a bitter laugh. “Besides, Open doesn’t ask for ID—which is why it’s called Open. So long as you have the entry fee, they’ll let you fight.”
    Felicia barely caught herself before she contradicted him about the beginning age for fighters. For Vested fighters with lineage, seventeen was the normal age to start—after years of private training, with carefully selected instructors, and very specific rules and limitations for those who weren’t ranked as pros. As a bastard without lineage, Talyn would have been in the Open league, which was even more brutal, as they were treated like, and viewed as, cockfighting animals. They had no rules whatsoever, or personal trainers, and she had no idea how old those boys were when they began. Obviously, they started in infancy.
    â€œHow often do you fight?”
    â€œTwo or three times a month, during prime season.”
    She was aghast at the amount.
    â€œIron Hammer! Holy shite!” This time it was an Andarion male in business clothes who came up to them. “I didn’t know you ate here! Would you mind taking a photo with me?”
    â€œSure.”
    The male handed his link to his friend as Talyn rose to stand beside him. After his friend took the picture, he held his hand out to Talyn. “I’m a huge fan. It’s so awesome to meet you.”
    â€œYou, too.” Talyn retook his seat after they left.
    Frowning, she was confused by all the attention he garnered. “Are you famous?” Since they were considered the mongrel dogs of the Ring sporting world, it was rare for any Open league fighter to be known to the general public.
    His cheeks mottled with color before he answered. “I just won the Zoftiq title for Vested a few months back. And I’m the former Open league Zof champ. I had to surrender that title when I won Vested.”
    She gaped at something that was as impressive as it was rare. Fresca had definitely not told her that. Nor had she found it on her cursory search.
    Strange.
    â€œReally?” she gasped.
    Sheepishly, he glanced away. “I’m also undefeated in both leagues.”
    Her head spun at what he was saying. “Talyn … that’s incredible! Why didn’t you tell me?”
    â€œYou said on your profile that you hated Ring fighting and wanted no part of it.”
    â€œWell, yeah, but—”
    â€œI didn’t think you’d talk to me if you knew.”
    He was right. She probably wouldn’t have. She’d always thought of fighters as brain-addled morons who pummeled each other because they were too dumb to know better. But that wasn’t true of Talyn. He was definitely not what came to her mind when she thought of the lunatics who made their glory in violence and entrails.
    â€œHow long do you intend to fight?”
    â€œJust until I make a commander’s rank. If I don’t fight, I have no other way to get promoted.”
    That didn’t make sense to her. “You’re Zoftiq champion of both leagues. Why aren’t you a commander?”
    â€œI’m the bastard son of a disowned male, Felicia,” he repeated. “-12-6. A slave or criminal has more standing than I do. Even in the military.”
    In that moment, her heart broke for him. He was right, and it wasn’t fair. Any Vested Andarion would be adjutant to the prime commander of their military if they’d achieved so much, especially at his age. They’d have their pick of posts and ranks.
    Yet he was merely a major. Not even one with a command position.
    In that moment, she, a diehard pacifist, wanted to beat someone.
    â€œWhy has no one in your father’s family adopted you?” That was normally what the family did to protect the children