It was so adorable, he smiled as Shahara stepped past him and knelt in front of the girl. “I’m here to do a little screening test on you, is that okay?”

With a suspicious glint in her eyes, she tilted her head. “What kind of test?”

Oh yeah, she had to be Sumi’s blood. She was just like her mother and he was in love with her already.

Shahara held a swab in a gloved hand and showed her on her own cheek. “See. Doesn’t hurt. And I have a big surprise for you afterwards.”

“Is it a good surprise?”

“Better than good.”

“It better be.” The girl opened her mouth wide.

Shahara quickly pulled out a new swab and scraped it against Kalea’s cheek. Rising to her feet, she placed it in a gold solution before she checked her chronometer. “Thirty seconds.”

They were the longest of his life.

Kalea tugged at Shahara’s leg. “What’s my surprise?”

Suddenly, there were running feet in the hallway outside. Fain moved to check while Hauk looked around for an alternate exit.

“It’s her,” Shahara answered finally. “It’s a complete match, and Sumi has a very unique signature. There’s no doubt whatsoever.”

Hauk wasn’t prepared for the swell of protective love that filled him at that confirmation. For a moment, he couldn’t breathe at all.

His throat tight, he fell to his knees in front of the tiny girl. His daughter. He wanted to grab her into a tight hug, but that might scare her, and that was the last thing he desired. “Are you afraid of me, Kalea?”

Arms akimbo, she widened her stance to eye him like a tough little mouse. “Am I supposed to be?”

“No. Are you?”

She twisted up her mouth and studied him carefully. “You look very strange. Are your eyes supposed to glow red like that?”

“They are.”

“And your teeth? Are they supposed to be so long and sharp?”

“I’m Andarion. We all have those teeth.”

“Dancer…” Fain said in warning. “We’ve got company. We need to go. Fast.”

He held his hand up to his brother before he turned back to the girl. “I’m your father, Kalea, and I’ve come to take you home.”

All the defiant fire went out of her as her jaw dropped. Her lips quivered. “I really have a daddy?”

He nodded.

Tears filled her eyes, making them glisten.

“You definitely have a father. And both your mother and I love you very much.”

“I have a mommy, too?” she breathed in disbelief.

“Yes.”

Tears rolled down her cheeks. “I hate this place, Daddy. Please take me home.” She threw herself into his arms.