As she walked off, the door opened to show a very grim-faced Nykyrian and Syn. His gut shrank at what those expressions could mean.

“What?”

Syn glanced to Nykyrian before he answered. “It’s time for our favorite How Screwed Are You report.”

“Oh goody,” Hauk said drily. “My day was already sucking. How nice of you to kick down more for me.”

“Ever my pleasure.”

Hauk ignored Syn and turned to face Nyk, who would actually answer his question. “So what’s going on?”

“We have a traitor in our midst. And we will find them and choke them with their entrails. But in the meantime, Kyr knows that Sumi’s defected.”

Hauk felt his stomach slam into the ground. “What?”

Syn nodded. “But wait, there’s more. He hasn’t harmed her daughter yet… Maris assures us that Kyr will do his best to leverage her for you and Sumi. Which is a very Kyr thing to do. So as long as he thinks there’s a chance he can use her to get you two, she’s safe. But we don’t have long or one of you or all of you will be dead.”

CHAPTER 30

Hauk took a moment more to watch Sumi as she sparred with the others. His mia was the strongest, most courageous female he’d ever known.

But this news would shatter her.

The thought of stealing that smile from her face shredded his gut. All he wanted was to make her happy. To protect her at all cost. Too many had worked to hurt her. And she’d cried enough for one day.

“Let’s wait to tell Sumi. I want more information first.”

Nykyrian clapped him on the back. “Understood. As parents, we get it. We know how we’d react.”

Syn snorted. “Yeah. Pick a weapon and do something really stupid and suicidal.”

Hauk passed a hard stare at his friend. “I may yet yield to that. The day is still young.”

“Which is why we’re all here. I’ve got your left leg. Nyk called your right.”

“And I’ve got stun duty,” Darling said as he joined them. “They think you’re less likely to hurt me since I’m the newest father in the group… well, second to you.”

Hauk laughed at Darling. “You’re sick bastards.”

Nyk slung his arm around Hauk’s shoulders and gave him a rare hug. “But only for you, brother.”

He glanced down at the scar on Nyk’s arm from that long-ago pod crash. There was truly nothing he wouldn’t do for this male.

Darling stiffened before he touched the link in his ear. “Go.”

Hauk could vaguely hear Maris’s voice on the other end.

“Be right there.” Darling cut the link. “Maris has an update. He wants us in the comm room.”

Hauk inclined his head. As he started for the door, Sumi paused her training.

“Is something wrong?”