She shook her head. “Everything I found was short range.”

He pulled a link out of his pocket and tried to use it, then cursed. “We’re still blocked from getting a signal. But…” He glanced away.

“But what?” she prompted.

He hesitated before he answered. “There is an abandoned base about a day’s walk from here. Even with the satellites out of range, it should be able to transmit. And it should have an impressive armory.”

She detected a thick note of dread in his voice. “Why don’t you want to go there?”

“It’s where Thia’s mother was murdered.”

CHAPTER 13

When Dancer started back for the cave where the kids were hiding, Sumi saw his limp.

“Are you hit?”

“It’s fine.”

“Dancer!” She pulled him to a stop.

Leaning down, he pressed his forehead to hers. It was an Andarion expression of affection. One made even more tender when he laid his fingers against her cheek. “I am fine, Sumi. Now that I know I’m tagged, I’m a threat to all of you. I need you to get the kids and walk to Aksel’s base. Immediately.”

Oh yeah, right. Was he out of his mind?

“What if you’re hurt worse? What if the poison —”

“If you worry about every what if that might befall you, your fears will paralyze you. I assure you, I’ve been through much worse than this.”

“Alone?”

“Alone.” Stepping back, he rubbed her on the arm. “Now go. Take Illyse with you. I need the three of you safe to do what I must. Will you do that for me?”

Every instinct she had screamed out against his wishes. Yeah, okay, while she had the physical skills and expertise, she mentally sucked at being an assassin. She always had. Ruthless cruelty had never been part of her personality. She’d killed the first time for self-defense only. And while the Overseer’s court had deemed it overkill, it hadn’t been. She’d been the one battered. And Avin had been the one to go for her father’s old blaster first.

Terrified of his intent, she’d hit him with a lamp, bit his hand, and taken the blaster from him. Had he backed off, she would never have fired it. She’d told him to leave. Begged him to, point of fact.

Curling his lip, he’d laughed at her and her fear. “I know you’re not going to pull that trigger. But bitch, when I get it from you, I promise you, I will. Then I won’t have to worry about you or that bastard you’re carrying holding me back from my dreams.”

When he’d lunged at her, Sumi had closed her eyes and let the blast fly. Honestly, she hadn’t meant to kill him. She’d never shot a blaster before. Her hands shaking, she’d aimed for his shoulder and blasted his head instead.