Dancer had done nothing to make her think he would hurt her. Ever. She hadn’t known Keris and she didn’t really know Dariana. And while her sister had been terrified of Fain, Sumi had never seen him act threateningly in any way toward Omira, and she’d stayed with them a good bit.

Fain’s eyes had always been white when she’d seen him. The only red was a very thin band around the outer edge of his iris, which was normal for his race.

I won’t listen to rumor.

Until Dancer did something to make her second-guess his temper, she would keep faith with him.

But even as she had that thought, her old fears rose up to slap her hard. She’d talked herself into a four-year relationship she should have walked on within the first six months.

Please, Dancer, don’t be deceiving me.

The last thing she wanted to do was kill him, too. But no one, not even Dancer, would ever put her through the misery that had been her relationship with Avin.

She would kill him first.

CHAPTER 19

Hauk grimaced in pain. Blinking his eyes open, he found himself still in the camp with the others.

Shit.

He hadn’t meant to stay here. But what stunned him was the sound of laughter. Scowling, he turned to see Thia, Darice, and Sumi enraptured by a story Bastien was telling them.

“So then Fain claps the guy on his back and says, ‘So sorry my common sense offends you. But look on the bright side. In terms of procrastination, we’ve had a remarkably productive day.’”

The laughter died on Sumi’s face as her gaze met Hauk’s. She got up immediately and rushed to his side. But the warmth returned to her features as she felt his forehead. “How you feel?”

“Like a guy who made a pass at Thia and Nyk saw it.”

Shaking her head, she rolled her eyes at him. Then she sucked her breath in sharply before she gently touched his cheek just below his eye. “You have one heck of a shiner. Who was tall enough in that fight to hit your face?”

“He wasn’t. But the board in the bastard’s hands gave him reach.”

Snorting at his humor, she pulled out a bottle of water and then helped him to sip it.

“How long have I been out?”

“A few hours.”

He cursed. “I need to get going.”

“No, you don’t.”

“Sumi…”

“Don’t argue with me. I’m putting my foot down, Dancer. But if you attempt to leave, I’ll be putting it up your ass.”

He laughed then groaned.

Thia and Darice moved to stand behind her. She shoved at Darice. “Told you he wasn’t dead.”

“I knew from the snore he wasn’t dead. I said he was dying.”