Even though Fain had been forced to work three jobs to pay for her sister’s school and their living expenses, he had always made time for Sumi. Whenever she’d stayed with them, he’d gone out of his way to make her feel like she was his blood sister, too.

And all the love she had for him had died when her sister had taken her own life because no human would have her once they found out her ex-husband was Andarion.

None of them.

Either their prejudice got in the way, or their fear that Fain would stalk and kill them for being with her. Omira had been a total anathema to everyone. Male and female.

Unable to deal with it and her own fear that Fain would hunt her down and kill her, she’d overdosed on painkillers.

And left Sumi with no one and nothing… only the remnants of a shattered heart that refused to heal. Something Fain had promised her would never happen. He had said he would always be there for them both. But instead of protecting her like he’d promised, he’d done more harm to her and her sister than anyone else.

All because Omira had told him that she didn’t want any children in their marriage. For that single reason, he’d walked out on his vows and left Omira to fend for herself.

After that selfish breach of trust, Sumi’s love for him had turned to pure hatred. If Fain had never come into their lives, she’d still have her sister, and none of these last few horrid years would have happened.

Everything would have been different.

She would have been different.

Fain had lied to her and Omira, and no doubt his brother was lying to her as well. No male of any species could be trusted. They were violent and selfish. Both of her live-in boyfriends had taught her that with the back of their hands.

Whatever else happened, she couldn’t let herself forget that she was alone in this world. And regardless of what others said, they didn’t care. They were too busy with their own lives to waste time or energy on someone else.

She looked down at her wrist where she’d been branded.

Kill or be killed. That was the way of this harsh world. And she would much rather be a killer than a victim.

At the end of the day, no Hauk was worth her life or her daughter’s well-being. She would complete this mission, get her daughter free of League custody, and then she’d find some way to join Kalea, and raise her daughter so that no one would ever be able to harm her baby the way they’d harmed Sumi.

No lies. No feeling lost and alone. Adrift.

Kalea was all she had in this universe, and she wouldn’t fail her child.

Not again.

CHAPTER 6