Unsure how to answer, she exchanged an uncomfortable stare with Shahara before her gaze went to Darice. For once, he didn’t seem to mind that she was with his uncle.

She suspected part of it was that he was too thrilled to have Mari braiding his hair to match Dancer’s and Fain’s to be agitated over her relationship.

“There we go.” Mari patted Darice on the shoulder and stepped back to admire his handiwork. “Like a true Andarion warrior.”

Fain pulled out his sword so that Darice could use the blade as a mirror.

Slack-jawed, Sumi met Shahara’s unamused gaze.

Shahara sighed. “They’re like feral animals. You really can’t home-train them. I’ve been trying to for years.” She glanced back at Fain, who had a what’d-I-do expression as he noticed Shahara’s censure. “I give up.”

Thia let out a “heh” sound. “At least he didn’t hand him a loaded blaster and tell him to check the perimeter at night.”

“And was that so bad, daughter?”

Sumi turned to see Nykyrian standing directly behind them. Dang, he moved as silently as Dancer.

Thia patted her father on his cheek. “It’s fine, Dad. Scarred for life. But fine.”

Nykyrian wrapped his arms around her shoulders and held her back against his chest. There was no missing how much he loved and adored his daughter. How fiercely protective he was of her.

Nor did she miss the way Thia savored her father’s loving embrace.

Syn stepped around Nykyrian and handed a small jar to Sumi before he took his son from his wife and squeezed him until Devyn protested.

Sumi lifted it to see a small electronic chip. “What’s this?”

“Hauk’s TD. I killed the signal, but can’t peg where it came from. I can’t even ID the chip’s DOM or origin. Thought you might have better luck.”

Nykyrian gaped at Syn’s disclosure. “You? You couldn’t trace it?”

“Yeah, I know. Right? It’s really pissing me off that I got nothing. I’m sure Hauk can do something with it when he wakes up though.”

Sumi studied it carefully. “It’s not a League tag. Any ideas?”

Syn shook his head. “I hit a wall.”

Mari took it next to study it. “Never seen one like this before.”

“Looks Andarion.”

They stared at Fain, who was peering over Mari’s shoulder.

Fain took it from Mari’s hand. “It’s an older model, but I swear it’s similar to what we used when I was in the infantry corps.”

His jaw ticcing, Nykyrian narrowed his gaze. “You think it’s Jullien who tagged him?”

Shrugging, Fain handed the chip back to Sumi. “I don’t know. He’s had a hard-on for Dancer since he saved you at school. And the last few years definitely haven’t endeared my brother to him… It’s possible.”