Sumi came awake with a start. She’d been trying to stay up and listen for Hauk and the others. But her pain had proven too much, and she’d dozed at some point in the night.

Now that pain was back, and it’d brought friends to join in and sing a symphony of agony through her entire being. Every inch of her body throbbed in protest. But unfortunately, her bladder took no pity on her. And it couldn’t care less how much she hurt. It wanted attention, and it wasn’t taking no for an answer.

Stupid, crappy, inconsiderate body.

Grinding her teeth, she forced herself to her feet. She whimpered as the urge to sit back down overwhelmed her. I’ve got to go…

It really was not a choice. Not unless she wanted to embarrass herself.

She made her way slowly to the flap, and brushed it aside to find it early morning outside. But that wasn’t what held her attention.

With his back to her tent, Hauk stood near a small fire, holding a towel to his face. Stripped to the waist, he was absolute male perfection. Every bit of him… and she could see quite a percentage of that lush, rippling body. Never in her life had she seen so many highly defined muscles on one person. Muscles that were covered by a wealth of scarred caramel-colored flesh.

She frowned as she realized just how many scars marred his body. From his left shoulder down across his back were vicious burn scars. Those would be bad enough, but over them were a large number of claw marks, as if he’d been held down by a wild animal and brutally mauled. Numerous times. For a human, those scars would be bad.

For an Andarion, they were shameful. Their species valued beauty and strength above all things. Any kind of physical imperfection, except scars sustained in honorable battle, or tattoos designating military service or family lineage, could result in their being abandoned by their family and sterilized.

Even killed.

Was that why Hauk had never married? He was long past the age when most Andarions took mates. But with those scars, no female of his species would consider him desirable or handsome.

Nor would an Andarion female’s family give permission for a joining of bloodlines to someone who would be considered deformed on their world.

Lowering the towel, Hauk turned as if he sensed her presence. As he moved, she saw even more scars on his chest and arms. Some from knives and blasters, and others she could only guess at. But the one that really stood out appeared to be a diagonal claw mark over his left biceps and shoulder and down across his pectorals. From the depth and pattern, it looked as if it’d been done intentionally.

Maybe as a punishment?