Unbelievable. Who in their right mind would bypass that opportunity? She didn’t know who this Dariana was, but the female had to be the dumbest cow ever bred.

It explained a lot about Darice. So much for superior genetic material. Brains were a nice component to have with all that brawn.

Not to mention, her opinion of her own sister bottomed if Omira had been told any of this. And surely she’d known what her marriage to Fain would do to him. That it would cost him his extremely prestigious family name. Forever.

Why would Fain have given up all of that for Omira? Surely not even love would be worth that degree of stupid.

“What about his brother Fain? What happened to him?”

Thia curled her lip in distaste. “Fain made the mistake of marrying a human who decided too late that the last thing she wanted was to be tied to an Andarion male who had no lineage.”

Not exactly, but Sumi couldn’t argue that with her… not without outing herself. “I notice you’re not insulting her. Not like you do Dariana.”

Thia turned toward Sumi with an expression that was riddled with seething hatred. “Believe me, it’s hard not to, given what he’s been through because of what she did. But I love Uncle Fain and I would never dishonor the woman he gave his heart to. He’d beat my butt if I did. No one’s allowed to say a word against her. Ever. Being Andarion, his philosophy is that had he been worthy of her, she wouldn’t have left him. He takes all responsibility for his failed marriage, and still holds her on a pedestal. For that matter, he wears her wedding ring, she threw in his face, on his pinkie and has never removed it.”

Tears filled her eyes at the last thing she’d expected to hear. All this time, she’d assumed, from what Omira had said, that Fain hated her sister. That he’d been the one who’d left their marriage first.

“I should never have married an Andarion, Sumi. What was I thinking? They’re not human. They don’t act human. They’re terrifying creatures who will tear you apart. I know Fain’s going to come for me one day, and rip out my heart and eat it. I know it.”

Omira had lived in absolute fear of him finding her. But she’d never really said why she was so scared of him. Other than he was an Andarion barbarian.

“How do you know he didn’t leave her first?”

“Because I know Uncle Fain. Why would he still have her ring on his hand? Not to mention, all he’ll ever say about it is that he wasn’t what she really wanted.” Thia shook her head. “No, he feels too much grief to have left her.”