“Yeah. He was my League ATA, and he took offense to the number of times I face-planted him on the mat during training. Then once I befriended Mari, it became all-out war.”

Her scowl deepened at that. “Why?”

“Mari’s his little brother. Whenever Kyr feels the need to lip off about Mari’s lifestyle, I’m possessed by the need to beat his ass for it.”

That explained a lot.

However, she pointed to the bodies around them and spoke the most obvious fact. “But these aren’t League assassins.”

“Which puts me back to my overwhelming list of enemies.”

“And the first runner-up is?”

“Jullien eton Anatole.”

She choked on the last name she’d expected to come out of his mouth. “The Andarion prince and heir?”

“Was. He’s still royal, but he’s been removed from the line of succession and direct lineage.”

“Because of you?”

He rose slowly and in an almost bashful, boyish gesture rubbed at his cheek. “I helped a little.”

“Sheez, Dancer,” she breathed, “you do not pick your enemies wisely, do you?”

“What can I say? Sometimes you have to put your foot down. Sometimes you have to put it up their asses.”

She rolled her eyes at his dry tone.

Darice and Thia poked their heads around the rocks near their cave.

“Dancer? You alive?” Darice called.

Unamused, Hauk stared at him. “No. Much like your common sense, I’m upright and dead.”

Sumi shook her head as she tucked surplus ammo into her belt. “I swear you have an advanced degree in sarcasm.”

He actually laughed at that while he latched his shirt shut before the kids saw it open.

When they joined them, he handed his primary blaster to Sumi and his secondary to Thia, who scowled up at him.

Hauk cupped her cheek in his massive paw of a hand. “They have me tagged and are coming for me, kisa. I need you to lead Sumi and Darice to Aksel’s base and call your father. Can you do that?”

Tears welled in her eyes, but to her credit, Thia blinked them away. “How are you tagged?”

“It’s embedded in his spine.”

Thia winced then nodded. “I will get the whole army here for you, Uncle.”

He kissed her brow. “And I will keep them away from you. Tell Fain that I’ll be at Canyon Point. He’ll know where that is.”

Darice stepped forward. “I will come with you.”

Hauk pulled him into a tight hug. “You’re not a warrior yet, mi tana. And I need you to guard the taras for me. Since the dawn of our civilization, War Hauks have protected the eton Anatoles. Respect our princess. Let no harm come to her, especially not the poison that drips from your tongue.”

Darice made a rude sound before his gaze turned deadly serious. “Take care, Dancer.”

“And you.” He went to retrieve the packs for them.