And the most wanted being in the history of The League.

Holy gods…

Nykyrian was the assassin who’d taken the eye of the prime commander. The one creature Kyr Zemin would sell his soul to have in custody.

And his prized daughter was standing just outside this tent. A daughter Nykyrian would do anything to protect.

Even die for her.

If Sumi handed Thia over with Hauk, Kyr would give her anything she wanted. Not only would she be able to negotiate Kalea’s freedom from League custody, Sumi might be able to bargain for her own.

Her conscience balked at the idea of making such a trade. But Kyr wouldn’t hurt Thia… and as Thia had pointed out, she was full grown.

Unlike her baby.

Kalea was barely three. Still young enough that she would have no memory of being in League custody. If Sumi could get her back now, they could finally be a family. It was the only thing she’d ever wanted. The only thing she’d ever craved.

Closing her eyes, she cherished the thought of finally knowing what her baby girl looked like. Of being able to hold and rock her to sleep at night.

Those strangers outside were her key to that dream.

She was going to get her baby back. No matter who or what she had to betray. Nothing and no one came before her Kalea.

CHAPTER 7

Sumi froze as she uncovered the only personal item of Hauk’s, other than clothes, she’d found during her thorough search of his meager belongings. It was a palm-sized device that held his rowdy native Andarion music, a few videos and photos, and files written in the strangest alphabet she’d ever seen. It might be from encryption, but she’d lay money that was what the Andarion language looked like. She’d never seen their written language before, however it only made sense that he’d keep files in his native tongue. And if it contained anything so sensitive that it needed encrypting, she was sure Hauk wouldn’t have left it where she might find it. Rather he’d have it on him.

Curious, she opened the file marked Family in the Universal alphabet so that she could flip through his images.

She’d expected it to contain mostly photos of Darice and Hauk’s brothers, the rest of his blood family. Yet oddly enough, the majority of images were human children and infants of varying ages, including one of Hauk playfully sparring with a much younger Thia. The girl was even skinnier than now, with braces and short, dyed red hair. Even so, it appeared she was giving Hauk a good run as they laughed and fought.