Yet as she walked away from him, and he returned to skinning his kill, she didn’t see a target there. She saw a beautiful Andarion male whose intelligent eyes were tinged with the deepest sadness and pain.

As Sumi neared the tents, Thia arched a brow at her. “What?” she asked the girl.

“I shouldn’t have told you any of that.”

“What do you mean?”

Thia jerked her chin toward her uncle. “First, Uncle Hauk would kill me if he knew I’d said anything to you about it. Second… I’ve stoked a fire with you that I shouldn’t have.”

Sumi scoffed. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Yeah, you do. You know he’s forbidden, and it’s irresistible now. But just remember this… I’m not the only one who loves him and who considers him family. If any harm comes to him because of your actions, we will hunt you down to the outer edges of the universe, and take turns making you wish you’d never been whelped.”

The scariest part of that wasn’t the fact that she knew Thia and the others would do it.

It was the fact that she knew how much they’d relish her torture.

CHAPTER 9

Sumi came awake with a start. Lying perfectly still, she squinted against the oppressive darkness, trying to discern what had shocked her from her dreams.

Footsteps. Just outside her tent.

It’s probably one of the kids going to the bathroom. Had to be. Hauk, despite his hulking size, never made so much as a whisper when he moved. He was like a wraith.

Scary, really. No creature that size should be that silent. It was unnatural.

That was her thought until she heard someone grunt. Another person groaned and fell quiet. Three blast shots rang out, each punctuated by a sharp blast of color that was bright even through the fabric walls. Rolling to her feet, she crouched low, and went to the opening so that she could join whatever fight was going on outside.

Her jaw fell slack as she saw Hauk in a similar crouch, only he had a blaster in each hand. Turning in a slow circle, he scanned the area in front of him.

When she moved, he jerked around and brought both weapons to bear on her. She held her hands up to let him know she wasn’t currently a threat. The instant he realized it was her and not another attacker gunning for his back, he relaxed and lowered the blasters.

“Kids!” he called in that deep thunderous tone as he rose to his feet and holstered his weapons. No wonder he softened his voice whenever he spoke to her and Thia. That resonating growl was terrifying. “Get out here. Now!”

Not even Darice balked. He left his tent, rubbing his eyes.