She laughed as she realized it was just a flesh wound. While it wouldn’t be comfortable, it wouldn’t kill him. “You are ever my hero.”

Syn ran over and quickly removed the knife so that he could stop the bleeding and seal it.

Dariana was shrieking in Andarion as royal guards removed her from the arena.

Sumi ignored her completely as she stayed focused on Darice. “I’m so sorry you were hurt.”

“Better my shoulder than your throat.” Biting his lip, he looked at Syn. “The scar won’t be visible after it heals, will it?”

Syn rolled his eyes. “It’ll barely be there. If anyone is close enough to you to see it, you better be pledged to them, kid.”

Darice let out a relieved breath. “Thank the gods.”

Sumi snorted. Andarions and their vanity.

As Syn finished tending Darice, his link buzzed. “Yeah?” The color faded from his face as he listened.

Dread tightened her stomach. By his expression, she knew it was bad. Had Kyr taken Kalea again? “What?”

His breathing ragged, Syn stared at her in disbelief. “Hauk’s dead.”

CHAPTER 36

Sumi’s entire world came to an end with those two words. “Don’t fuck with me, Syn. I mean it!”

By the look on his face, she knew he wasn’t.

Her universe shattered as she struggled to breathe. Syn was calling orders to others that she couldn’t understand. Not while her mind tried to get some kind of handle on what was happening. On how it’d happened.

Dancer couldn’t be dead. He couldn’t.

Not her huge, strong Andarion. It was a mistake. It had to be.

Syn and Nykyrian rushed for the doors. She ran after them. Nykyrian grabbed an airbike and waited for her to join him. She slung her leg over the back and put her arms around his waist. He flew them through the streets, back to Dancer’s house, at a speed that was illegal on every known world. And still she couldn’t focus.

Over and over, she saw Dancer in her mind. His large, intrepid nature that fought on, no matter what was thrown at him. He couldn’t go down. Dancer wouldn’t let himself. Not while he had Kalea to protect.

He’s just wounded. That was it. Syn was mistaken. He had to be. There was no way her Andarion Tactical Assault Monkey would be dead. He was too strong for that.

Too intelligent.

As soon as they were parked, she ran from the bike into the house. She didn’t have to ask Eleron where Dancer was. Darling’s angry voice carried plainly through the house. She followed the shouts to the office, where Darling, Maris, Ryn, and Drake were gathered around Dancer, who lay shirtless on the floor.