Arms akimbo, she widened her stance to eye him like a tough little mouse. “Am I supposed to be?”
“No. Are you?”
She twisted up her mouth and studied him carefully. “You look very strange. Are your eyes supposed to glow red like that?”
“They are.”
“And your teeth? Are they supposed to be so long and sharp?”
“I’m Andarion. We all have those teeth.”
“Dancer…” Fain said in warning. “We’ve got company. We need to go. Fast.”
He held his hand up to his brother before he turned back to the girl. “I’m your father, Kalea, and I’ve come to take you home.”
All the defiant fire went out of her as her jaw dropped. Her lips quivered. “I really have a daddy?”
He nodded.
Tears filled her eyes, making them glisten.
“You definitely have a father. And both your mother and I love you very much.”
“I have a mommy, too?” she breathed in disbelief.
“Yes.”
Tears rolled down her cheeks. “I hate this place, Daddy. Please take me home.” She threw herself into his arms.
Closing his eyes, Hauk held her close to his chest. While he loved and adored every child his friends had, it was nothing compared to what went through him as those little arms encircled his neck and she placed her head on his shoulder. Not even what he felt for Darice compared to this.
She’s my little girl. All he wanted was to hold on to her forever.
But he couldn’t. They had to get her to safety first.
Kissing her cheek, he stood up with her. “Kalea, I’m going to hand you to the nice lady and she’s going to take you to some men and get you to safety, okay?”
“What about you, Daddy?”
“Daddy’s going to make sure you stay safe. Aunt Shahara is going to hold you for just a little bit. Okay?”
“Okay.”
He handed her off to Shahara. “Fain, cover them out the back. I’ll draw these bastards off you.”
“You got it. Stay safe.”
“You stay safer.”
Fain inclined his head to him.
Hauk waited until they were clear before he opened the door where the instructor was gesturing to the Phrixian guards. As soon as the new arrivals saw him, they drew weapons. The Andarion in him wanted to start a war in the hallway, but there were too many children here. He wouldn’t risk one of them getting hit in the cross fire.
So instead, he fell into the role of arrogant League officer. “Is there a problem?” he snarled at the approaching soldiers.
“By whose authority are you here?”
“The prime commander’s,” Hauk answered boldly. Technically, it wasn’t a lie. He wouldn’t be here if not for the rank smelly dog. “Would you like to call him and tell him that you’re interfering? I’ve heard he’s real forgiving of being questioned by lesser-ranking soldiers.”
They started to accept that until one of them, unfortunately, used his brain to have a thought. “Why would he send an Andarion when we’re at war with them?”
That was a good question. Luckily, Hauk was used to thinking on his feet. “Some of us are still Leaguers.” He didn’t know of any offhand, but it was always a good bet that someone was stupid.
The soldier hesitated. “I don’t know…”
“You three stay here and let us check this out.” The soldier left the two Phrixians and one other guard.
Poor guy.
Hauk waited until the other guards were gone before he knocked the one unfortunate guard who’d been left behind unconscious. When the instructor started to sound an alarm, he drew on her. “Don’t.” He switched the setting from stun to kill to let her know he wasn’t playing.
The Phrixians held their hands up as if they were afraid, too, and moved to shield her. Hauk ran backwards through the hallway, toward the exit. He was almost to the door when someone opened fire on him in the stairwell. He fired up at them and hit the door running.
Ah, great… There was a group of League soldiers in the yard who turned immediately toward him.
Shit. Why couldn’t he ever catch a break during an escape? Just once?
They opened fire. And the moment they did, his friends came out to play and returned it with everything they had.
Grateful beyond belief, Hauk dodged the blasts that narrowly missed him and headed for the transport that was backed up to the gate. At a full run, he dove in headfirst and landed on top of Darling.
“Ah gah, Hauk! Lose some weight. You’re crushing me, you fat bastard! I don’t know how Sumi stands it.”
Laughing at Darling’s humor, he pinched his cheek. “Suck it up. You make a sweet cushion.” He rolled to his feet, then frowned. “Where are the others?”
“We sent them on ahead with Kalea to get her out of the line of fire.”
He sighed in relief as he saw Nyk, Maris, Fain, Darling, Nero, and Drake, who’d stayed behind to cover him. They were the best and he’d never appreciated them more.
Nero drove them out at full throttle, under heavy pursuit. The transport went careening down the street, sending pedestrians and other vehicles in all directions.
“Nero!” Darling shouted. “Some of us aren’t suicidal back here.”
“Then strap your ass down. Or lose it.” Nero jerked to the right.
This time, Darling landed on Hauk.
Hauk put him back on his feet. “Nuh-uh. You have to buy me dinner before you crawl on top of me, baby. No one gets a free ride on the Hauk train.”
Maris laughed. “I’m learning all kinds of fun things about you today, Hauk.”
Suddenly, the ride leveled out and slowed.
Darling blanched as they were hammered by League fire. “What are you doing, Nero?”
“Shh! I’m being stupid and I have to concentrate for it.”
Hauk winced over what that really meant. “Is he giving himself brain damage?”
Darling cursed under his breath. “With all of us inside? Yeah.”
Hauk clenched his teeth at the sacrifice Nero was making. “I can carry him out.”
“I’ll cover you both,” Nyk offered.
The transport picked up speed again. Within five minutes, they were back at the port. Nero parked and opened the hatch. He got up and pressed his hand to his nose, which was pouring blood all over him.
Hauk helped him out and slung one arm over his shoulder to help him walk. No one in the hangar paid any attention to them at all. It was as if they weren’t there. “You’ve cloaked us?”
Nero nodded.
Damn, that had to be killing Nero. Hauk tightened his grip on his friend. “Just remember, if you have to hurl, Darling’s right there.”
Offended, Darling twisted his face up in distaste. “Screw you, Hauk.”
“Back at you, human. Besides, you handle it better than I do.”
With an evil laugh, Darling nodded. “Okay, that’s true, but still. I get tired of everybody doing that to me.” He glared meaningfully at Maris.
Maris scoffed. “What’s with that look? I only did it the one time. And at least it wasn’t during your wedding vows… while being videoed and broadcast.”
They hurried as fast as they could across the bay and headed to their ship.
“I can’t hold it much longer,” Nero breathed. “I think I’m about to pass out.”
Hauk walked faster. “I’ve got you, drey. I won’t let you fall.”
His nose bleeding harder, Nero stumbled.
They were halfway to the ship when a voice rang out. “Halt!”
Nykyrian clapped him twice on the shoulder. A silent motion that said to run. Hauk swept Nero into his arms and ran while the others laid down cover fire for them. One blast landed in his thigh and almost sent him to the ground.