Sumi bowed to Dariana, who glared at Darice as Darice followed Fain from the arena and into the War Hauk section. She bowed to Sumi.

They approached the referee and covered their faces, then pulled their swords.

Dariana’s eyes flared as she realized what was in Sumi’s hands. “I will feast on your blood, human.”

Sumi laughed. “Someone cue my fear pheromones.”

The referee held his hand up then stepped back. “Begin!”

Dariana came at her with everything she had. Sumi met her strokes, but quickly realized one thing.

Andarion women were as strong as their men.

And Dariana hit like a sledgehammer.

“Hauk?”

He stopped rocking his sleeping daughter at the sound of Darling’s voice in the doorway. “Yeah?”

“There’s a Dr. Pera Duece here to see you. She said her father was the one who treated you at the hospital and she wants to check on you to see how you’re doing.”

Hauk frowned. “I thought that was tomorrow.”

Darling shrugged. “Want me to tell her to go away? I can and will do that.”

“Nah. It’s fine.” While he mostly saw the father, he’d been treated a few times by the daughter. She was a strange female, but he had no issue with her. Might as well get it over with.

He stood and placed Kalea in bed. “Will you watch her until I get back?” he asked Darling.

“Sure.”

Hauk headed for the stairs. “El? Where’s the doctor?”

“In your office, Hauk. Would you like me to have her move to another room?”

“It’s fine.” Yawning, he went in to find her reviewing his old trophies that lined the wall case.

Jerking around, she smiled at him. “Hope you don’t mind my snooping. Are all these yours?”

“Most. So what can I do for you, Doctor?”

“I’m just here to do a quick health check for my dad. He’s been worried about you.” She pulled her bag from over her shoulder. “If you’ll take a seat and remove your shirt, I’ll be out of here in a few minutes.”

“I thought your dad was coming tomorrow.”

“Something came up. Since I was nearby, I told him I’d check in with you.”

Hauk removed his shirt and took a seat while she pulled on a pair of exam gloves.

“So how have you been feeling? You look rather tired.”

Because he had yet to sleep. But he didn’t want to go into that with her. “Fine.”

“Any pain?”

“Not really.”

She moved to stand behind him. “That’s a shame.”

He frowned at her words. “Pardon?”

She answered by shooting him in the back with an injector.

Hauk cursed at the unexpected action, and tried to move away, but his head spun like crazy. One minute he was in the chair. The next, he was sprawling on the floor.