Still, Hauk felt sick over what had happened to a good male and friend. “I never meant for him to be harmed.”

“None of us did. But for your Sumi, he’d be dead now. Madai told me that Saf was barely breathing when they got to him. I don’t know what Kyr did to him, but they said he wouldn’t have made it two more hours. It had to be worse than even we’re thinking. As soon as my father had the medical report on Saf, he declared war instantly.”

Poor Safir. It was bad enough to be held and tortured. Yet for it to be family…

There was no way he’d ever be able to make this up to his friend.

Maris gave him a lopsided grin. “By the way, I finally found a way to pull Saf out of his brothel.”

“How?” Hauk asked with a frown.

“Told him Kyr was holding an Andarion princess hostage and that she was your daughter. He immediately went to the others and they called to speak to you.”

Hauk clapped him on the shoulder. “Thank you, Mari.”

“Least I can do. I’ve not forgotten how many times you’ve been there for me. You saved my life and Ture’s. We owe our sexy beast.”

Hauk laughed.

“Oh,” Mari hesitated. “For the record, I didn’t tell Saf who left that message for our father.”

“Why not?”

“They were plenty motivated to help Kalea without it. And I wanted you and Sumi to see their faces when they find out who he owes his life to. Phrixians may not have words for gratitude, but we do have the emotions. And there are some things that words can’t convey. What’s more, she also told me again the first time she found out who I was. Even though he’d been released by then and she knew Kyr was his brother, she was still trying to help him.” Maris swallowed hard. “You’ve got a good woman, Hauk. There aren’t many in her situation who’d risk it all like that for a stranger.”

No, there weren’t. And as Hauk thought about what she’d done for Saf, he choked up. If Kyr ever found out…

Hauk had never met anyone with her integrity and heart.

Overwhelmed by emotions he really wasn’t used to, he left the others to run back to the gym.

Sumi was learning an Andarion sword attack when she saw Fadima step away and disengage from the fight. Her white eyes were focused on something behind her. Unsure of what to expect, Sumi turned to see Hauk stalking her with an intense expression on his face that she couldn’t read.

Was he angry?