All For One [Nuworld 3] (53 page)

her. She looked up defiantly at both of them. “I disowned both of you after what you

did to me.”

Andru’s entire body went rigid and he looked away from her across the rocky

plateau. “It was necessary at the time,” he said without feeling. Tara looked up at him

quickly, realizing he was ready to shoulder all of his sister’s resentment. “I hope he

didn’t hurt you.”

“He didn’t,” Ana said and matched his same lifeless tone. Mama and brother

looked at her. “It doesn’t matter now, he killed Roth.”

“What?” Andru almost shouted and looked over at his friend. Gilroy looked up

from where he was helping Torgo attach landlinks to their gliders.

“Roth tried to force me into becoming his mate when Syra and Gilroy showed up. I

attacked Roth but I was slightly hurt and Gilroy intervened.”

“I see.” Andru relaxed his body and stroked his sister’s hair.

“And what about Beel?” Both twins looked up at their mama when she asked the

question. She simply smiled at both of them.

“Mama,” Ana’s voice choked. “We barely got Torgo free when some silent alarm

alerted the entire tribe. Beel ran off to create a diversion so we could escape. I’m sure

whatever story he told them, they probably beat him within an inch of his life.” She

paused as her breath caught in her throat and in spite of herself, tears streamed down

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her cheeks. “He definitely has our blood, he was so brave. He didn’t even want to go

back there.”

Andru pulled his sister in tight and looked hard at Tara. She looked at him and

could tell something was already brewing in his head.

“Well, we should get you home. It looks like they have the landlinks on your

gliders now.” Tara walked off then toward Syra and Torgo.

“Go on and get back on your glider.” Andru pulled his sister to arm’s length then

released her to wipe her tears.

“You don’t want me to ride with you?” She looked surprised and Andru gave her a

shy grin.

“I can share you a little bit.”

“As long as they swear their loyalty to you, right?” Her look was determined,

although he saw a small amount of fear in her eyes. He looked at Gilroy who sat

straddling his glider. Ana looked also and Gilroy turned and locked on her gaze.

“Go on. He won’t hurt you again.” Andru spoke to his sister although he remained

focused on Gilroy. Gilroy watched as Ana slowly walked back over to him and he saw

the look Andru gave him. When she reached him, he took her arm as he had before and

lifted her up, then cuddled his large body around her protectively.

Lord Darius stood in the conference room leaning on a cane when his twins walked

through the door with Torgo and Syra behind them. The smile on his face was truly

genuine and as Tara brought up the rear and noted his happiness, she wondered what

his reaction would be at the news of his bastard son.

“Darius, I was truly impressed by his actions. There was no reason for him to do

what he did. He could have come up with a dozen other ideas that would have ensured

his safety, regardless of whether we escaped or not,” Torgo commented on Beel after

they’d shared their adventures in detail with Darius and Tara.

They all sat around the conference table and Darius noticed the exhaustion on Syra

and Ana’s faces. He also noticed the concerned looks his brother kept giving his brand-

new claim.

“Do you think there is any way we could try to get him out of there again?” Ana

asked the room in general breaking the silence. Her voice was tired and quiet.

“Yes.” Darius, Andru, and Tara all answered at the same time. She looked up to see

everyone at the table looking at everyone else.

“But for now, my daughter, you are to be put to bed, yes,” Lord Darius spoke and

Andru and Tara immediately pushed their chairs back.

“A hot shower and a warm bed are what you need.” Tara put a hand on each twin’s

back and escorted them out of the room.

Darius watched them leave the room, his attention focused on Tara. When the door

closed behind them, he looked at Syra and Torgo. His brother already stood and moved

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behind Syra. She appeared to simply stare out the window and Darius stared at her

until she moved her eyes to see him watching her.

“A hot shower does sound good,” she said quietly and moved to stand up. She

grabbed the table, trying not to appear obvious but failing…both brothers watched her

intently.

“Syra,” Darius said simply and she froze then slowly turned to look at him.

“What do you want Darius, I’m tired.”

“I’m sure you are.” His voice was calm. “Thank you for bringing my brother

back…and I’d like to thank you for helping me return to the clan site the other day, I

would.”

She looked hard into those dark gray eyes for any meaning behind his words. His

face appeared pleasant—too pleasant. Her guard went up. “You’re welcome.” She

started to move to the door, hoping to get out of there before he said more.

“Your bedside manner is rather impressive,” Darius said and both Torgo and Syra

turned to look at him.

“You remember that entire conversation, don’t you?” Syra’s strength seemed to

reappear as she turned to face him and placed her hands on her hips.

“What conversation?” His face was expressionless and then in front of both of them

his eyes began to dance and then he laughed out loud. “You were in Torgo’s glider, yet

something else you have to answer for.” He pulled a disc out of his pocket and placed it

on the table. “The entire conversation was recorded.”

“What?” Syra almost yelled then reached for the disc. Darius grabbed it and pulled

it back, grinning at her triumphantly.

“I have your unending devotion for me recorded for prosperity, I do.”

Darius gloated and Torgo looked down at Syra with a half-smile and somewhat of a

questioning look in his eyes.

“You are such an ass.” Syra rolled her eyes and walked away from the Lord of

Gothman.

“Don’t you ever leave my presence without my permission.” Darius tried to sound

harsh but he started laughing as he spoke. He laughed so hard he grabbed his side and

grimaced from the pain. “You’re a fake, Syra. Admit it, you are.”

“Fine.” She turned around angry but when she saw both brothers on the verge of

laughter, she couldn’t help but smile. “You win, Darius, as always. I like you…you’re

not boring. But you are a pain in the ass.”

“How are we supposed to put up with her the entire time she’s pregnant?” Darius

asked Torgo and Syra’s face went blank. “Look at her, they always act like they’re the

last ones to know, they do.”

“She got sick coming home, did I mention that?”

“Torgo, must you tell your brother everything?” Syra slapped her claim in the

chest. He latched onto her hand and pulled her to him.

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“There’s that open field west of here, on the other side of the trees. I thought about

building a house back in there, I did. What do you think?” Torgo’s tone turned serious

and Syra looked up at him quickly then looked at Darius.

He contemplated the two of them for a moment. “I think we should get started on it

right away, I do.” Darius smiled at her and for a moment she thought she might know

what it would be like to have a brother.

Darius woke up the next morning and knew exactly what happened. His body

ached as he sat up in his bed and confirmed that he was alone in the room. Tara never

returned last night. He knew where she went. He was curious, though, how she

managed to escape to the Tree People undetected.

“Andru,” Darius spoke into his comm.

“Papa?”

“Good. Just making sure you’re here, I am. Is your sister here as well?” Darius

heard his son open his bedroom door and then open his sister’s door across the hall.

“Yes, my Lord, she’s sound asleep.” Andru spoke quietly. “Why do you ask?”

“Your Mama isn’t here. What did she say to you last night?”

“Nothing. She walked us out of the conference room then told us to head upstairs

and she’d be up shortly. Come to think of it, we didn’t see her after that.” Andru started

to share his belief as to where his mama would be but Darius cut him off.

“Come see me. We will meet with the guards this morning, we will. I will talk to

you when there’s a chance, yes.”

Lord Darius stood over by the garage talking to his commanding soldiers when a

disturbance turned all their heads. It was the twins. He couldn’t hear what they said but

it was obvious they were fighting over something. He finished his instructions then

walked toward the house as Ana turned and lunged at her brother.

“I didn’t know I was on a fucking deadline,” Ana screamed and turned full force on

her brother. She noticed the surprise in Andru’s eyes when she jumped in his face and

took advantage of the moment to push him backwards, driving her point home. She

heard stifled laughter and turned to notice Andru’s friends, including Gilroy, leaning

against the side of the house smiling.

“Ana, there are midwives in town that you can go to make sure you’re okay.”

Andru’s voice was very quiet, for her ears only, but she saw the fury in his eyes.

“Don’t you think I know there are midwives in this town,” she hissed back. Then, a

little louder, “I’ve lived in this town as long as you have, in fact, ten minutes longer, if

the world would like to know.” She glared at his friends but none of them showed any

plan of leaving their perfect location to watch the twins fight. Gilroy gave her a brazen

wink and she looked away quickly.

“I know exactly who the midwives in this town are.” Ana was in her brother’s face,

or more like his chest, and she shoved her fist into his chest several times as she spoke.

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“I know whose family they come from—” nodding her head toward Gilroy who

immediately raised an eyebrow with interest, “—and that their papa has more bastards

in this town than anyone else.”