Hauk groaned at Bastien’s perky tone as he silently damned every person who’d had a hand in making him feel like this. “Be glad my weapons are too far to reach or I’d shoot you.”

With a groan of his own, Bastien sat down beside him. “Not a morning person, are you?”

“Fuck you.”

Bastien laughed. “You’re not my type and I’m not quite that desperate.” He flicked playfully at Hauk’s ear. “Though I have to say that you are awfully pretty for a male. If I were ever tempted, it’d probably be by someone as cute as you.”

Hauk bared his fangs to him at the same time Sumi came over with a plate for each of them.

“Our fierce protectors.” Her eyes danced with mirth. “You two don’t look like you could take on a sleeping lizard this morning.”

Hauk mustered a lopsided grin for the only person who could amuse him in the current physical misery he was in. “I have to say that I definitely felt better last night.”

She blushed profusely.

Then Hauk blushed, too, as he realized where her thoughts went. That hadn’t been what he meant, but…

Darice came running up. “I saw a sparn this morning. Isn’t this where they nest?”

Hauk hesitated, knowing what Darice was really asking him. “Dari —”

“Can’t I go with Thia while we wait?”

He shook his head. “That’s a bad idea. Thia’s no better at climbing than you are. I wouldn’t trust the two of you at an indoor gym alone.”

Darice’s face swelled up immediately. “We’re so close! It’s not fair that I can’t get my Endurance feather!”

Sumi was stunned that for once, Darice didn’t turn that into an insult for his uncle.

Dancer’s expression was every bit as despondent that he was having to say no. With his brow furrowed, he rubbed at his ribs as if he was actually considering taking the climb with his nephew.

Don’t you dare…

But he was crazy enough that he might attempt it to make Darice happy. Especially since he’d failed on his own trip with Keris. This had the makings of a whole new disaster.

Afraid of what Dancer might do, she looked up at the cliff in front of them. “What kind of climb are we talking about? Can it be done in one day?”