It would have to pain Darling to see a face so flawlessly handsome, knowing that he’d look the same exact way if he hadn’t been scarred. No wonder he didn’t have any pictures of Drake past childhood.

Drake curled his lip at the Tavali. “Running out on us as usual, I see. Huh, Ryn?”

Ryn raked him with a sneer. “Don’t start on me, boy.”

Drake went into the cocky role of a man who feared absolutely nothing and no one. One who knew he could stand his ground and give as good as he got. “Oh, I don’t start shit, punk. I finish it. And there ain’t no boy here. Just a man ready, willing, and able to kick your ass all the way back to the Garvon Sector.”

Rolling his eyes, Maris let out an exasperated sigh. “Oh for goodness sake, would you two put it in your pants and stop measuring your overinflated members. Believe me, no one here doubts either of your manhoods.” He moved to stand in between them. “Drake, apologize for being a twit, and Ryn, get your butt to your room, change clothes, and help your little brother out. Darling needs you.”

They both looked at Maris as if he’d grown another head.

“Excuse me?” Ryn asked in a voice that said, “I know you did not just use that tone with me.”

Drake was a little more verbose. “Are you high, Mari? I’m not apologizing for the truth.”

Maris narrowed his gaze in anger. “Grow up, Drake. I have an Andarion here and I’m not afraid to use him. Trust me, he will kick your ass.”

Zarya pretended to cough to cover her laughter. Hauk and Syn weren’t so considerate. They laughed uproariously.

Drake glared at them.

But Maris gave him no reprieve. “You say you’re a man? Prove it. Apologize like one.”

“Why?” Drake gestured at Ryn. “He was the dick who—”

Exploding into action, Ryn stepped around Maris and grabbed his brother so fast that all Drake could do was gasp. He pinned Drake to the wall. “You better be glad Darling taught me not to strike out in anger. Otherwise, you’d be picking up teeth right now… boy.”

His eyes sparking with fury, Ryn released Drake, then stepped back. “You’re right, Mari. Darling doesn’t have any other family he can depend on.” He directed those words at Drake, then spoke over his shoulder to Maris. “I’ll go deal with the media and gerents. Let me know if Darling needs anything.” He rammed his shoulder into Drake’s on his way out the door.

Fury bled from every pore of Drake’s body. “I wish some tracer or assassin would put that bastard out of our misery.”

Hauk hissed at him—something made even more ferocious by the flashing of his fangs. “That’s your blood you’re talking about, Drake.”

“No blood of mine. He died to me the minute he walked out on us when we needed him. I’m not Darling.” Drake said his name like it was an insult. “I don’t forgive or forget a slight, especially not one done intentionally and with full selfish awareness.”