A boy who’d once saved Hauk’s life while everyone else had stood back to watch him burn.

Literally.

There was a lot to be said for a friendship that spanned double-digit years. But right now, it seriously rankled him that Nyk knew what was really bothering him.

And it made him wonder something about his friend that he hadn’t considered before. “Is that why you didn’t take Thia on her Endurance?”

Nykyrian shook his head. “Thia’s only a quarter Andarion, and by the time her mother got around to telling me I had a daughter, Thia was past the age of it.”

Not to mention, the first two years of their living together, Nykyrian had been going through extensive operations and physical therapy for the almost fatal injuries Aksel had given him the day Nyk had finally put the bastard in his grave. Even now, eight years later, Nykyrian still walked with a pronounced limp, and only had limited use of his right hand and arm.

Hauk ground his teeth as other painful childhood memories surged. “It’s a stupid tradition. It chafes my ass that I have to do this.”

Nykyrian snorted at his outburst. “Everything chafes your ass, my brother.”

True, but still…

Hauk let out an elongated growl. Even if his father hadn’t lost his legs in battle or been too disabled to be exposed to the harsh conditions of Endurance, his father was too old to do it now. And his brother Fain had been disinherited even before Hauk had gone through his. There was no other male in their family lineage who could take Darice.

Like it or not, Hauk was honor bound and family obligated to see this through.

But honestly, he’d rather sacrifice a testicle than go. Every time Darice looked at him, he saw the accusation and anger in his nephew that blamed him for Keris’s death.

Nykyrian stepped away from him. “Have you mentioned to your father the staggering bounties on your head? Or that you have enough assassins after you that you could start your own army?”

Hauk made a rude noise at the mere suggestion. “My father’s an Andarion war hero. Do you really think that would deter him?” He’d think Hauk weak and cowardly for even mentioning it.

Nykyrian sighed. “No. He’d say it adds to the challenge of it all.”

“Exactly. You’ve no idea how many times I’ve cursed my parents for their blind adherence to the old ways.”

Nykyrian clapped a hand on Hauk’s shoulder. “Again, brother, I do know. You never bitch about it, but I can read your expressions better than your words.” He went to pour them both a shot of Tondarion Fire – a potent alcohol – from the small table beside Darling’s desk. “You know, you could take Thia with you as a distraction. It might help you get through this.”

A taunting grin spread across his lips as he took the shot glass from Nykyrian’s gloved hand. “You would really turn your beautiful daughter loose, alone with two Andarion males, for six weeks?”