Hauk tightened his arm around her as his vision clouded. Never had he been prouder of her, or more grateful that he’d ignored his common sense and saved her. “Good.”

Sumi smiled, grateful that she’d found them in one piece. But as they left camp, she noticed he wasn’t completely with her. “Dancer?”

He tightened his grip on her before he kissed the top of her head. “I’m all right.”

“You don’t look good.” She pressed the back of her hand against his cheek. “You’re very clammy.”

“They drugged him,” Bastien said from behind them.

“With what?”

Bastien shrugged. “Really didn’t get a chance to ask them what they were using, or for any other recipe, either. But I would assume something strong enough to take down a huge Andarion.”

Hauk ignored him while he tugged her forward. “Thank you, by the way.”

“For what?”

He gave her an unsteady smile. “I’m usually the one doing the rescuing. It’s been a long time since anyone’s pulled my ass out of the fire.” His words slurred an instant before he sank to his knees.

“Dancer!” She knelt by his side as terror filled her. He was so cold. Like ice.

He held on to her, but didn’t seem to be able to speak.

Bastien locked a frightened gaze with hers. “We need to get out of here before they give pursuit. You take one arm and I’ll grab the other.” He reached for Dancer.

Suddenly, a deep, growling male voice came out of nowhere. “Hands up or die.”

CHAPTER 22

Sumi bit her lip in indecision. She saw the same desire to fight their latest attackers in Bastien’s eyes that she held. But they didn’t know who or what they were facing now.

Or how many.

A flash of color narrowly missed her face. She glanced around, but couldn’t see anyone. They were using some kind of cloaking device.

This group of assassins was much higher-tech than the previous ones. But they were in for one hell of a fight if they tried to take Dancer from her.

Slowly, she held her hands up and put her body between Dancer and Bastien, and where the shot had originated. Hoping Bastien would follow her lead, she decided to play stupid to get the numbers and locations of their adversaries. “Look, we don’t have much. But take whatever you want. Just be quick about it. We need to tend our friend. He’s badly hurt.”

Dancer and Bastien collapsed behind her and hit the deck hard.

With a gasp, she turned to help them.

Something flickered on the other side of Dancer.

Afraid of their intent, she launched herself at where it’d come from and hit a solid wall of muscle. With everything she’d been taught, she attacked.

Until someone humongous and strong picked her up from behind and effortlessly stepped back with her.