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Andarions were exceptional beings.

In spite of Hauk’s immense size and innate ferocity, his touch was feather light and tender. Almost loving. The kind of caring touch she’d spent her entire life craving.

The kind that had always eluded her.

Before she realized what she was doing, she reached out to touch the hollow of his cheek. Freshly shaven, it was every bit as smooth and soft as it appeared. Until she reached his prickly, well-trimmed goatee and mustache that framed his handsome lips to perfection.

He locked gazes with her. His eyes were so strange compared to the human eyes she was used to. But even so, they were every bit as sexy as the rest of him. And for some reason she couldn’t even begin to fathom, the intelligence and compassion in those eyes made her blood race. She was so attracted to him that it was more frightening than he was.

I am losing it.

She was here to frame him, not screw him.

Damn, the legends were true. There was something innately alluring about Andarions. Almost like they put off some kind of ferocious do-me pheromone.

“Sorry.” She withdrew her hand.

Hauk couldn’t speak as a strange fire simmered in his body. He had no reason to trust her. She was human, and with the exception of the handful of humans he called family, he hated all things human. Never had one of their females ever held even a passing curiosity for him.

And yet…

He wanted to kiss this one so badly that he could already taste her lips. Her scent filled his senses, and the softness of her skin made his mouth water.

Think of Dariana.

Exquisitely beautiful and completely Andarion, she was to be his wife. He was pledged to her and had been since Keris’s death. No matter how tempting this woman was, he couldn’t dishonor his vows to his brother’s widow. He must take care of Dariana first.

Even if she hated him and begrudged him every breath he took.

Hauk forced himself to examine Sumi’s wound then cover it before he looked over the smaller cuts on her leg and arm. “They seem to be healing without infection.”

“Thank you.”

He inclined his head to her. As he started to withdraw, she caught his hand. That small contact sent a strange wave through him. One he’d never experienced before.

“Why does Thia call you Hauk, while your nephew uses Dancer?”

He released her hand. A smile twitched at the edges of his lips. “Thia likes me more.”

Sumi frowned at his unexpected answer that made no sense whatsoever. “I don’t understand.”

The humor faded from his gaze. He took a deep breath before he explained. “Since Darice’s last name is also Hauk, he uses my given name. As do all members of my immediate family.”

“But you don’t like it?”

He gave her a droll stare. “If you were named Dancer, would you?”

She smiled. “I guess not. But it strangely suits you.”

He stiffened at something she’d intended as a compliment. “Now, mu tara, you insult me.”

Did he just insult her in turn? “Mu tara?

“My lady.” And with that he left her alone.

“I didn’t mean it as an insult,” she called after him. But he didn’t respond or come back.

Grimacing, she pushed herself up and reached for the water and cloth he’d left behind. She washed as best she could, but it wasn’t easy.

She’d just finished when Thia entered the tent with a small bowl of fruit. The young woman sat down beside her and placed the bowl on the ground between them.

Thia screwed her face up at the bowl’s contents. “I know it’s not much. Darice spilled what he had and that’s all that’s left. Uncle Hauk and Darice are now foraging for more and better. But he wanted me to bring this to you to tide you over until their return.”

“Thank you.” Her gaze dropped to the blaster strapped to Thia’s hips. “Is there trouble?”

“Not yet.”

“Meaning?”

Thia rose to her feet and stepped back to eye her warily. “I’m thinking you must be an assassin who was sent after my uncle.”

She froze at the girl’s assumption. “Why do you think that?”

“Because of the way Uncle Hauk’s been acting since he brought you here. While he’s always cautious, he’s even more so now. Instead of sleeping last night, he walked the perimeter, heavily armed.”

That was impressive, especially given how alert he was without sleep.

Sumi dropped her gaze to Thia’s weapon, and wondered how proficient she was at its use. “Yet he let the two of you hunt this morning. Alone.”

“And insisted I be armed and extra vigilant while we did so.” Thia glared angrily at Sumi. “Just so you know. You hurt him and I will kill you. Without mercy or hesitation.”

There was a sincere ferocity in her tone that belied the girl’s years and innocent appearance.

Sumi remembered what Hauk had told her about Thia’s mother. “Were you there when your mother died?”

Thia stiffened. “How do you know about my mother?”

“Your uncle told me.”

Her eyes shimmered from unshed tears. “No. I wasn’t there. Had I been, I would have killed my stepfather myself.”

Sumi felt for the poor girl and the fate of her mother that had almost been Sumi’s. No one should have such a tragedy in their life, and definitely not when they were so young. “I’m sorry, Thia. I lost my mother when I was young, too. I know how hard it is to grow up without one.”

“Then I’m sorry for you as well. How did your mother die?”

Sumi looked down at the fruit as her own tears choked her. “She didn’t. She ran off with a boyfriend and left us behind with my father.”

“Us?”

“Me and my sister.”

Thia glanced away as she digested that. “Is that what made you become an assassin?”

Was every member of their family so astute? It was actually unnerving. “No one said I was an assassin.”

“Then why were you in the middle of a desert, alone, with a sniper rifle?”

Damn. Was it training or genetics that made the whole family so paranoid? “Sabbatical?”

She gave her an unamused glare. “Is that really your answer?”

Sumi sighed as she picked through the fruit. “No. You’re right. I am a trained assassin. But I’m not here to kill your uncle.” Which was actually the truth. She was here to get evidence for Kyr to do it, instead.

Thia jerked her chin toward the bandage on Sumi’s stomach. “How did you get hurt?”

“Target fixation.” She met Thia’s bloodthirsty gaze levelly. “I was so worried about the fire I saw from your camp, I missed the tourah that came up on me and tried to make me its lunch.” Again, that was the truth. She’d been trying to get bearings on Hauk before she made her presence known.

“So what are your intentions now?” Thia still eyed her suspiciously.

“Trying not to die.”

That did not placate the young woman at all. “You know what I mean.”

“Yeah, I do. And I promise, I’m just passing through.” Which was also the truth. She had no intention of staying here, with these beings, a moment longer than she had to.

Thia drew her blaster and angled it at Sumi. “I want the truth and I want it now. I mean it.”

Faster than Sumi could blink, Hauk entered the tent and grabbed Thia’s hand.

He wrenched the weapon free. “What are you doing?”

Thia threw herself against him then started sobbing uncontrollably.

Holding her to his chest, he glanced helplessly at Sumi. “What did you say to her?”

Before she could answer, Thia pulled back and cupped his face in her hands. “Don’t you leave me, Uncle Hauk. Don’t you dare!”