Born of Legend by Sherrilyn Kenyon Page B

all right?”
    Nodding, he yawned. “See? It’s so irritating.”
    â€œBe patient, my young Fyreblood. I’m sure your mother’s right.”
    Vasili tucked his legs under him and handed Jullien his link. “So, Alte —Jullien. Would you like to play a game? I have a bunch.”
    He smiled at the boy and his innocent enthusiasm. He couldn’t remember a time in his life when he’d been so open with a stranger. Royal treachery and court politics had never allowed for such. As far back as he could remember, everyone had wanted something from him—usually blood. And they’d all been quick to sell him out for favors. Every word spoken had to be carefully weighed and considered for double meanings and how it could be twisted and used against him for harm by those who pretended to be his friends. There had been entire weeks and months spent in mute silence because it’d been easier than risking the fall-out of self-serving cruelty and double-dealing bullshit.
    No one in his past had ever been as pure of heart as this innocent child by his side. And it’d been a long time since anyone had actually wanted to be around him for no reason at all.
    Come to think of it, it was a completely novel experience that anyone wanted to be in his company without currying a favor of some sort, or trying to get closer to one of his relatives. Most had treated him like a registered plague carrier.
    This was completely alien terrain for him. “Sure, Vas. What’s your pleasure?”
    Vasili turned his link on. “War!”
    *   *   *
    By the time they reached the Gorturnum Cyperian StarStation, Ushara was beginning to have major doubts about her decision to bring Jullien here. Maybe this was a bad idea. Gavin was right. A large percentage of The Tavali who came through Cyperian were Fyreblood Andarions and if they recognized Jullien, there would be hell to pay. Or at least the blood and hide of one high profile, extremely valuable Andarion tiziran who had a bounty on his head that would make anyone an instant millionaire.
    There wasn’t a single Fyreblood left who wouldn’t gut him on sight.
    Without question or hesitation.
    But then, he wasn’t exactly recognizable in his current state. His hazel eyes were the only thing that betrayed his birth status. Humans had eyes like his. Andarions had eyes like hers. White or silvery-white, usually with a rim of red. A handful of Andarion males had fully red eyes that were called stralen. But they were an extremely rare genetic abnormality. And she’d never heard of the Anatoles carrying that gene. Legend claimed there were only three bloodlines that had it.
    Two darkheart lineages and one Fyreblood.
    As she opened the door to the infirmary, she froze at the sight of Jullien and Vasili. Her son must have talked the tiziran into a gaming session, and at some point, the two of them had fallen asleep. The game continued on an infinite music loop while they lay cuddled side-by-side, sound asleep on the floor. Like two little, snuggly puppies. Or her brothers when they’d been … then again, her brothers still did that whenever they got together, and they were full-grown with sons of their own.
    What was it about males that they all innately napped in a nest?
    She smiled as warmth rushed through her. They were adorable in that position. Hating to disturb them, she quietly closed the distance and gently nudged Vasili awake.
    He opened his eyes with a gasp.
    Jullien shot up and drew his blaster. It took him a second to realize she wasn’t a threat. His breathing ragged, he clicked the release back into place and holstered his weapon. “Sorry.” Grimacing, he pressed his hand to his wound and reclined with a deep hiss. “Are we at the station?”
    â€œWe are.”
    He scratched at his whiskered cheek in a gesture that was almost childlike and somehow endearing. With a gentle smile, he