“Are you sure?”
“Positive.”
He screwed his face up as if he couldn’t quite believe her. “Humans are very strange.”
She laughed. “It’s not a human thing, love. It’s a female thing.”
“You’re sure?”
“Positive.” Sumi laced her fingers with his, amazed at how happy she was in this one moment of being with him. The only thing that could make it better would be to have her daughter with them.
But that was a dream that could never come true and she knew it. Closing her eyes, she tried not to think about the fact that his friends would be here very soon. Then he would go back to his life and she’d return to The League. She clenched her teeth at the thought of what Kyr would do to her for failing her mission.
Or worse, living the rest of her life without Dancer. It burned and hurt so deep that it was a physical ache.
How stupid, right? She’d lived years without him and now he felt as integral to her well-being as breathing.
Holding his hand to her face, she savored the warmth of his body pressing against hers. This was all she’d ever wanted. Someone who loved her. Someone who wouldn’t hurt her or make her feel like crap when she was with them.
How cruel that having finally found him, she couldn’t keep him.
I will die for you, Dancer.
Saddest part of all? She most likely would.
CHAPTER 20
“Not enough root in the universe, eh?”
Hauk groaned at Bastien’s perky tone as he silently damned every person who’d had a hand in making him feel like this. “Be glad my weapons are too far to reach or I’d shoot you.”
With a groan of his own, Bastien sat down beside him. “Not a morning person, are you?”
“Fuck you.”
Bastien laughed. “You’re not my type and I’m not quite that desperate.” He flicked playfully at Hauk’s ear. “Though I have to say that you are awfully pretty for a male. If I were ever tempted, it’d probably be by someone as cute as you.”
Hauk bared his fangs to him at the same time Sumi came over with a plate for each of them.
“Our fierce protectors.” Her eyes danced with mirth. “You two don’t look like you could take on a sleeping lizard this morning.”
Hauk mustered a lopsided grin for the only person who could amuse him in the current physical misery he was in. “I have to say that I definitely felt better last night.”
She blushed profusely.
Then Hauk blushed, too, as he realized where her thoughts went. That hadn’t been what he meant, but…
Darice came running up. “I saw a sparn this morning. Isn’t this where they nest?”
Hauk hesitated, knowing what Darice was really asking him. “Dari —”
“Can’t I go with Thia while we wait?”
He shook his head. “That’s a bad idea. Thia’s no better at climbing than you are. I wouldn’t trust the two of you at an indoor gym alone.”
Darice’s face swelled up immediately. “We’re so close! It’s not fair that I can’t get my Endurance feather!”
Sumi was stunned that for once, Darice didn’t turn that into an insult for his uncle.
Dancer’s expression was every bit as despondent that he was having to say no. With his brow furrowed, he rubbed at his ribs as if he was actually considering taking the climb with his nephew.
Don’t you dare…
But he was crazy enough that he might attempt it to make Darice happy. Especially since he’d failed on his own trip with Keris. This had the makings of a whole new disaster.
Afraid of what Dancer might do, she looked up at the cliff in front of them. “What kind of climb are we talking about? Can it be done in one day?”
Dancer hesitated before he answered. “The main approach is just over there.” He pointed to her left. “It’s twelve pitches to the summit. Mostly face climbing with some corners and headwalls. There’s a couple of gendarmes where sparns nest so you shouldn’t have to go all the way to the summit to get the feathers. The only hazard really is loose rock and I wouldn’t trust any existing anchors that you might find along the way.” He locked gazes with her. “It’s easily done in a day, barring an accident… What are you thinking?”
“That I take him.”
They all stared at her.
“What?” she asked, offended by those astonished faces. “League trained, folks. Head of my class. Before that, I was a xenobotanist. Been on many vertical expeditions in some frightening places. I can climb a mountain… building… dead body…” She cast a playful grin to Dancer. “Surly Andarions… no problem.”
Hauk’s gut drew tight at her offer as memories tore through him. He despised this mountain and everything it reminded him of. The last thing he wanted was to lose another loved one to this hellhole.
“Please, Dancer?” Darice screwed his face up like he used to do as a small child whenever he’d ask for a ride on his shoulders. “Please! Please! Please! I’ll do anything if you say yes! I’ll even wash your boots. Sharpen your sword. Be your personal slave.”
Damn, how he hated that pleading, adorable expression. He glanced to Sumi.
“You know I won’t let anything happen to him.”
Darice went down on his knees, crawling toward Hauk and begging as if he were in absolute agony. “Please, Uncle Dancer, please!”
Against his better judgement, he nodded. “But!” He held his hand up to his overly excited nephew. “You lip off to her and she’s to bring you right back down here. You understand me, Darice?”
“I’ll be good. I promise! I love you, Dancer!” Whooping in delight, he shot to his feet and ran off to get ready.
Hauk pushed himself up. His entire body protested, but he wasn’t about to watch them leave without some guidance.
“You okay?”
He nodded at Sumi’s concerned question. “I want to double-check the climbing gear.”
“All right, Grandma.”
“I also have the pitches diagrammed.”
“That’ll be helpful. Anything else?”
He pulled her against him and pressed his cheek to hers. “Don’t get hurt.”
Sumi held him close as she felt his fear. “I won’t let anything happen to Darice.”
“Not just him.”
“I know.” She kissed his cheek before she pulled back. “Thia? You going with us?”
The look of horror on her face was priceless and comical. “Oh hell no. Peeing off the side of a mountain, listening to Darice moan and complain… I’d rather bring a date home to meet my dad – that would at least be entertaining until I had to scrub the blood out of my clothes.” She gestured toward Bastien. “Think I’ll hang at base camp and watch over the two males who don’t whine like babies.”
Sumi laughed. “All right.”
Hauk turned toward Thia. “Hey, Thee? What size shoe do you wear?”
“Eighteen.”
He looked back at Sumi. “You?”
“Eighteen. Why?”
“You’ll need climbing shoes, won’t you?”
That would be helpful.
“I’ll grab my pack,” Thia said, heading for her tent. “Everything should fit.”
“Thanks, sweetie.” Sumi followed after her.
While Sumi and Darice changed, Hauk checked the ropes, anchors, biners, harnesses, cams, hexes, nuts, slings, belay devices, and packed them each a day sack.
When they returned, he took a moment to help them gear up and double-checked everything again.
Darice made a sound of supreme disgust. “Do I have to wear a full body harness? Really? Dancer, I’m not a baby.”
“If you invert on the climb, you’ll thank me.”
He rolled his eyes. And again when Hauk made sure everything was fastened properly to his sling. “Gah, Dancer. Really? I’ve been climbing since I was three. Stop, already!”