Free War Bride (Battle Born Book 7) by Cyndi Friberg Page B

you anything?”
    “Because we’ll resume our battle of wills if you don’t.”
    He’d already guessed that she could scan. Offering him the details of that ability might keep him from pressuring her to reveal her other, more interesting, abilities. “I’m better at discerning emotions than specific thoughts. We call the ability scanning.” Actually, scanning was a general term for a multitude of skills. Some Bilarrians could ‘scan’ objects as well as people.
    The pain she’d sensed within his mind flashed into his eyes as he whispered, “Arton is my son, but that’s all I’ll say about him.”
    He’d spoken of his mate in the past tense, yet Arton still resided in the present. If the child was alive, why did thoughts of him cause Kryton so much pain?
    “I’m sorry I scanned you.” When he did nothing but stare back at her, she added, “It won’t happen again.”
    His fingers tightened against her arms. She thought he’d yank her closer and resume their battle of wills. Instead, he pushed her back and let go. “I’ll send Tonn to clean up the mess. Don’t open the door for anyone else.”

Chapter Four
     
    As promised, Tonn arrived a short time later and cleared away the dishes. “Was something wrong with the food?” He glanced at her then went back to shoveling the uneaten entrees into the recycling unit.
    “We were distracted.” The word didn’t begin to describe the conflict building between her and Kryton, but it was the best she could do right now.
    Tonn released a snorty sort of laugh. “I just bet you were.”
    She tried to assist him, but he wouldn’t let her. Finally tired of being shooed away, she stood back and watched as he worked. “Why are you the only one he trusts to come near me?”
    Tonn’s brows arched as he paused to look at her. “Would you rather have someone else?”
    “No. I was just wondering why he trusts you more than anyone else. Are you related or something?”
    “I’ve known General Lux longer than you’ve been alive.”
    She wasn’t sure if he realized he’d repeated the blunder or if he just didn’t care if she knew. Either way, she didn’t point it out to him. “Were you around when his son was born?”
    He turned from the recycler, clearly shocked by the question. “He told you about his son?”
    She chose her words carefully. If she played this right, she might be able to draw out more information by inferring she knew more than she did. “His name is Arton and his mother passed beyond.” It was a guess. She didn’t know for sure that Kryton’s chosen mate had been Arton’s mother. But it made sense that the two sources of sorrow were connected. “Did she die in childbirth? Is that why it’s so painful for Kryton to speak of him?”
    “I can’t believe he told you anything about Arton. Kryton never speaks of his son.”
    “Why? If Arton is alive, wouldn’t that help ease the pain of losing his morautu ?”
    Tonn shook his head, astonishment clear in his expression. “He told you about Jiatta too? This is extraordinary.”
    She moved closer to Tonn and lowered her voice to barely above a whisper. “He only told me enough to completely confuse me.” She sighed and glanced away then looked deep into his eyes as she said, “I want to understand him better. Will you please explain what it all means?”
    Motioning her back to the table he’d just cleared, they sat across from each other. “I’m only sharing any of this because he brought it up first. It’s vitally important that he never know I told you.”
    “I understand and appreciate the risk you’re taking.”
    Even with her sincere assurance, he hesitated. “Kryton was very different while Jiatta was still alive. You wouldn’t have recognized him. He laughed and smiled, told jokes and plotted mischief. He would have done anything for her.”
    Not wanting to distract him, she simply nodded.
    “They were ecstatic when Jiatta realized she was going to have his baby. They’d