Page 44 of Owned

“It was your father,” Cylex guessed. “All of the images involved your father.”

Kern nodded. “A head injury had resulted in a coma, which was when the visions started. He was back to work by the time I recovered from the ordeal, which was why the vision ended.”

“We both knew your father was a violent monster,” Cylex objected. “Why shut me out?”

“Because he’s your father too,” Kern admitted with a sigh. “His sexual conquests were mixed in with his battles. The only thing he liked better than spilling blood was fucking virgins.”

Raina’s shocked gaze moved from Kern to Cylex and back. “You’re half-brothers?” She studied Kern for a long moment then returned her gaze to Cylex.

She was obviously comparing their appearances, looking for similarities. Kern couldn’t blame her. He’d done the same thing on their way here. For the past ten years, whenever their paths crossed, Kern had avoided Cylex. Today had been the first time since they reached adulthood that they had spent any time together. Cylex’s hair was several shades lighter. His build was taller and broader, more Altorian than Kern’s. There were definite similarities in their features, especially their eyes. Kern had inherited their father’s quadruple-ringed irises while Cylex had not. Still, the vivid blue of Cylex’s eyes was echoed in the widest ring of Kern’s.

“That’s not possible.” Cylex sounded dazed and disbelieving. “We were born five months apart. How would he have had time to father us both?”

“Military records confirm that the last place he was stationed before he reported to the Istazi Outpost was the Sinnafor Caverns on Pyron. My father was Goreg Breanu, just like yours.”

Cylex stood and began to pace. “And we both just turned up at Seyzon Academy at the same time, in the same dormitory? That’s one hell of a coincidence.”

“I never knew the identity of my father, but I believe he knew about me. Stories about my mother’s tragic death and the empress’ devotion to the foundling were continual for months after my birth. I believe he found out that I had been sent to the academy and that is why he arranged for you to attend as well. He was probably amused to know his bastard sons were both attending the most prestigious boarding school on Torret and didn’t even realize they were brothers. He had no respect for anyone or anything.”

“You speak of him as if you knew him,” Cylex pointed out. “He was killed six years ago. Did you even meet him?”

“You spent two months with the male he pretended to be. I saw into his soul.”

“I wasn’t defending him,” Cylex stressed. “Believe me, I have never had a use for that person.”

“Goreg Breanu was not a person. He was evil personified. That is why I slipped my blade between his ribs and ended his life, proving without doubt that I am my father’s son.”

Rushing around the table, Raina framed his face with her warm hands and guided his gaze to hers. “You are not your father. Ending his life prevented him from harming others, from murdering innocent people and abusing powerless females.”

He grasped her wrists and pulled her hands down. “There is darkness in me, a violent potential I fight continually. It’s what made me such a good trainer.”

She didn’t flinch, didn’t look away. Her gaze held only compassion and determination. “We all have demons that would gladly take over if we started encouraging them.”

Kern forced himself to look away from her lovely face. If she was going to bond with him, she deserved the entire truth. He had come much too far to hold back now. “Goreg is not the only life I have taken. I’m not just a mercenary, Raina. I am an assassin. I have blood on my hands, lots of it.”

“So do I,” Cylex pointed out. “Soldiers attack head on. You work in the shadows. We both spill blood in the hopes of making life better for those unable to fight for themselves.”

“Don’t exonerate me. I don’t deserve it.” Kern scrambled to his feet and moved back until he could see Cylex and Raina. “Why aren’t you afraid of me? I just admitted that I murdered my own father.”

“No, you stopped a serial rapist and murderer,” Raina insisted without hesitation. “I am very sorry that your mother was one of his victims, but I have two things to say about his death. Thank God, and I wish you’d killed him sooner.”

“She’s right. You did nothing wrong,” Cylex added firmly.

Emotions clogged his throat, making it hard to breathe. Confused and afraid to accept what was right in front of him, Kern fought for composure. Not in a million years had he expected their complete acceptance of what he’d just told them. They knew everything now, all his secrets, and still they looked at him with warmth in their eyes.

Something deep inside Kern shifted, shuddering violently. He could feel emotions building like a geyser. He would not lose control in front of his teammates. He would not reveal how deeply their reaction affected him. What good was a controller if he could not control himself?

“Kern, are you okay?”

Desperate to escape humiliation, he Flowed back to the house, ending up locked inside the bedroom where Raina had hidden for the past three days.

* * *

A guard grasped the back of Laidon’s shirt, making sure he didn’t fall on his face as he walked down the steep debarkation ramp. His wrists and ankles were secured in alloy shackles so he had to shuffle along. It had taken nine days for Laidon to recover enough to travel, but he was thrilled to be far away from Pyron. Pyronese mystics made Laidon itchy. It wasn’t natural for people with that sort of power to refuse to fight.

Laidon knew damn well he was lucky to be alive. On any other planet he would have been left in the dirt to bleed to death. But Pyronese healers swore to help anyone needing their skills regardless of species or political affiliation. Kern’s grandmother was Mistress Air, so he had to have known that. Maybe he had been sending a loud and clear message rather than attempting to end Laidon’s life. Laidon didn’t know for sure and didn’t really care.

He had much bigger problems than a Pyronese outcast. Laidon’s plans to assassinate Jevara were a shambles and he had burned all his bridges behind him. No one in this star system would help him now, which meant the rebellion’s chances for success were shrinking by the minute.

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