“It’s not you he’s afraid of.”

She looked past Syn to see Fain in the doorway.

“Then what?” Syn asked.

“She’s a League assassin in the middle of a Sentella-Tavali-Andarion and Caronese strike force that is at war with them. By going after Dancer when she did, she endangered a member of the royal Andarion family, and the last heir of a family the Andarions view as a national treasure. Queen Cairistiona can legally demand her head for this. As can Dariana, and Dancer’s mother.”

Sumi went weak at his words. “What?”

Fain nodded. “When we get to the ship, avoid anyone wearing a red-and-black battlesuit or uniform. Those are members of the Andarion Queen’s Guard.”

Syn scoffed. “Nykyrian won’t let them hurt her.”

“He can talk to his mother about Thia, but he can’t stop Dariana if she calls out for Sumi’s blood. And given how much she hates Dancer, she’s liable to do it just for spite. That’s what he’s afraid of. If she evokes her right of death over Darice, there’s nothing the queen can do. The law is the law. Sumi would have to die for endangering Darice’s life.”

Syn put his hand on Sumi’s arm. “We won’t let her touch you. Believe me, there’s not a one of us who doesn’t want a piece of that bitch’s hide for what she’s done to Hauk over the years.”

Fain nodded. “He’s right. Make sure you stay with one of our royal family members at all times – Caillen, Ryn, Darling, Maris, Nyk, Desideria, or Drake. They alone can keep you safe from her.”

She felt the skimmer landing on board the mothership. Fear gripped her. But she was an assassin and assassins never showed their fear.

To anyone.

With her head high, she would face this. Bracing herself, she mentally prepared for the worst that was waiting for her.

CHAPTER 23

Sumi thought she was braced for the worst, but nothing could have prepared her for what awaited them in the landing bay of the massive ship. She felt as if she’d walked into a war-zone planning committee. There were creatures everywhere in battlesuits from more countries and organizations than she could identify.

Yet the weirdest feeling was seeing Andarions and humans working side by side without issue. Occasionally, someone might pass an irritated look at another, but they did that to their own kind as much as they did it to others.

A large number of the gathered beings pinned curious stares on her, which made her extremely uncomfortable.

Fain stood beside her with his hand on her shoulder to let her know he was there to protect her. “Just breathe, kisa. I’m with you.”

“What does kisa mean?”

“Little sister. Kiran means little brother.”