But that was a long time ago. And Hauk didn’t want to think about how furious his grandfather would be to see a human under the roof of this house. Never mind the herd of them that Hauk had assembled as family. He could hear that old buzzard in his head – the only good human is the one lying dead under my boot heel.

Luckily, he didn’t think that way. It’d been Andarions who had done him wrong throughout the majority of his life. Andarions who saw him as lacking. But then cruelty, unfortunately, was found in all sentient species.

Hauk’s thoughts scattered as he entered his comm room to find Maris on a call with what appeared to be several members of his blood family.

What the hell? How had this happened?

They hadn’t just disowned Maris, they’d put him under a death warrant. So much so, that Mari was still healing from a wound his younger brother Draygon had given him just a few months ago when Dray had all but killed him.

Yeah, hell had frozen over and then some.

Maris smiled as they joined him and the others in the room. He stepped back so that Hauk could join him for the video chat. “Hauk, I know you’ve met my brother Safir.”

Yes, he had. Many times. But the last time he’d seen Safir, Saf had been in a League uniform with the long braid down his back that marked their top assassins. Now Saf’s black hair was cut shoulder-length, and nasty bruises marred his face. Not to mention, his left arm was in a sling.

Hauk’s gut tightened at the sight of his injuries. “Saf, please tell me we didn’t cause that.”

Saf let out a bitter laugh. “It’s not on you, drey. I knew the minute I offered myself as a shield to Mari so that all of you could escape what I was getting into.” He glanced down at his busted arm. “At least I thought I did. Still, I have no regrets. I’d rather be busted up than have to attend all of your funerals and face your families, knowing I chose my health over your lives.”

Hauk could respect that, and it was why Saf was considered another member of their immediate family.

Like Saf, the other three men on the call were dressed in burgundy Phrixian battlesuits. One armada, and two army.