Dancer's jaw dropped, but he said nothing.
Dariana rose with an evil smirk. "I accept your challenge... human."
"Princess," Sumi hissed in reminder, refusing to back down or blink as she stood toe-to-toe with the bitch. "And good. I look forward to ripping out your spine and beating you with it."
The desire to respond in kind burned bright in Dariana's eyes, but she knew better than to say anything nasty to a member of the royal family. Instead, she grabbed Darice's arm and hauled him away.
Only then did Dancer's grandmother and father approach as his mother straightened. His mother was much more subdued toward him than she'd been.
His grandmother and father bowed low in honor to Sumi.
Dancer met Sumi's gaze with pride gleaming brightly in his eyes. "Yaya, Matarra, and Da, allow me to present to you Princess Sumi of the Most Sovereign Blood Clan of eton Anatole."
A knowing smile lifted one corner of his grandmother's lips. "Is she the one you allowed the honor of touching you, Dancer?"
"She is, Yaya."
His grandmother inclined her head respectfully to them both. "Then it is with your paran's sword that she will fight and defeat the lesser lineaged. My gift to you both and I hope she runs it straight through Dariana's treacherous gut." His grandmother placed her right hand over her heart. "It is my most privileged honor to meet you, Princess."
Sumi wasn't sure how to respond. "The honor is all mine, Ger Tarra War Hauk."
That seemed to be correct.
Laughing, his father clapped Dancer on the shoulder. "You are my son."
Sumi didn't miss the look of pain that flitted across his features over his father's praise.
His mother, however, wasn't quite so accepting. "What were you thinking, Dancer? This will be a scandal to your blood!"
"But no more so than what you did to Ferral, Endine." Cairistiona came forward to confront her. "Seems poetic, doesn't it? You stole a lineage and my daughter restores what should have been."
Still, his mother refused to back down. "You never wanted Ferral Hauk."
"And Dariana never wanted Dancer. Again, restoration." Cairistiona placed her hand on Dancer's shoulder and smiled tenderly at him. "I look forward to the day I officially welcome you to the Most Sovereign Blood Clan of eton Anatole. And speaking of..." She stepped back and held her hand out.
It was only then Sumi saw Fain, who approached them slowly. Like her and Cairistiona, he was dressed in the bloodred color that only a direct member of the royal family could wear.
"Endine, allow me to present my other son. I don't believe you've met him. Prince Fain of the Most Sovereign Blood Clan of eton Anatole."
Sumi's jaw went slack. As did Dancer's.
Endine, however, looked as if she'd swallowed her tongue and a round of bile.
Like any proud, doting mother, Cairistiona brushed her hand tenderly through Fain's braids. "It seems this fierce, decorated male had no lineage of his own. Given the selfless, noble service he has provided to my son and granddaughter over the years, I have offered him mine." She arched a brow at Endine. "Are you refusing to honor my son?"
Endine finally bowed to Fain. As did his father and grandmother.
But there was no satisfaction in Fain's eyes. Only bitter regret. Until he glanced to Dancer then he blanched.
Fain caught him as Dancer's knees buckled. He lowered him slowly to the ground. "Syn!"
Sumi held Dancer's head until Syn brought a stretcher for him.
Syn growled at Dancer as they put him on it. "Damn it, Hauk! Next time you storm a building to save a princess, don't do it alone."
Fain snorted. "Patience is not his virtue."
"Neither is common sense." Syn put the mask over Dancer's face as he called for a med lift for them.
Fear tore through her. Dancer was paler than she'd ever seen him. "Syn?"
"I won't let him die, Sumi. I'm the only bastard in existence who's even more stubborn than he is."
"Good. 'Cause I plan to hold you to that promise." But as she looked at Dancer's face, she knew it was going to be close.
Sumi paced the waiting room, wanting to beat Dancer's mother into the ground. The Andarion hadn't punched him in the stomach, she'd clawed him so hard, she'd almost gutted him.
"How could a mother do such?"
Cairistiona hugged her to her side. "Endine is very traditional. We're not all like that."
Sumi wasn't so sure. "You disinherited your son," she reminded the queen.
Cairistiona shook her head sadly. "No. I punished my baby for trying to kill his own brother, and for putting my grandson and daughter-in-law in harm's way. Jullien is still a prince and has all the money entitled to him. He's just barred from inheritance because of his actions. I didn't physically harm him. Rather, I kept Nykyrian from tearing out his guts over what he did to Kiara."
"Oh. Sorry."
"It's all right. Jullien chooses not to speak to me, but my heart will always be open to my child. No matter what he does. He will always be my baby."
"Sumi?"
She glanced up to see Syn coming out with the Andarion surgeon who'd been attending the War Hauk family since Dancer had been burned as a boy.
Dr. Duece inclined his head respectfully to her and Cairistiona. "Majesty. Princess. Dancer will be ready to leave in a few minutes. He will be more scarred, but he will heal."
She had to force herself not to roll her eyes at something she couldn't care less about. But then, to most Andarions, that would be a primary concern. "Thank you."
He bowed to her. "He should take it easy for a few days. And in a week, he can resume a normal schedule. I have given the orders to the human doctor who will be staying with him while he recovers."
Cairistiona inclined her head. "You have the deep appreciation of the royal house for your service."
While she and the doctor continued speaking, Syn gestured to Sumi. "I'll take you back to him."
He led her to the room where Dancer was sitting on a stark white bed. A nurse had him signing an e-tab with orders.
Looking up, he smiled as he saw her in the doorway. "Hey, mia."
"Hi, sexy beast."
His smile widened enough to show off his fangs. "Careful, Maris might get jealous if he hears you using his nickname for me." He scooted off the bed and retrieved his coat.
Syn growled at him before he took the coat out of his hands. "You don't need to wear something this heavy. What are you thinking?"
"That you're worse than my yaya."
"Yeah, well, just wait until you see how many of us are crashed at your house. You're going to think yaya."
Dancer growled low in his throat. "Are you serious?"
"I know, you hate company. Deal with it. You're wounded. Both of you are hunted, and Sumi just challenged one of the most decorated Andarion soldiers in your armada to a death match. Until we get everything settled, you got the yaya contingency sitting on you. Congratulations, bud. Smile."
Baring his fangs, he draped his arm around Sumi's shoulders. "Fine. I just want to sleep in my own bed again." He led her to the entrance, where Fain waited with a transport.
Sumi wasn't sure what to expect. Eris, the capital city of Andaria, was extremely modern and crowded. Congested. There were over ten million Andarions who called it home.
"You okay?" Dancer asked as he noticed her discomfiture.
She bit her lip. "I've never been in a city so large. It's impressive." And terrifying.
Dancer pointed to the tallest building, which was almost in the center of the city. It had a main spire that rose high against a huge moon. "That's the royal palace where your mother lives."
She blushed at his teasing reminder.
"The two buildings flanking it are government buildings. One is the ruling senate that reports to and advises the queen. The other is the courthouse." He pointed to a smaller building nestled in the center of a park. "That's Nykyrian's house. Not that he's here much. He mostly stays with his fam
ily in his father's Triosan palace."
"It's rare for anyone in Eris to own a house," Syn explained. "There's just so many Andarions and so little property left."
She looked at Dancer. "So you live in an apartment building?"
Sheepish, he glanced away.
Syn leaned forward. "See that huge round building on the coast?"
She nodded.
"That's where your boyfriend lives."
Her jaw went slack. "By yourself?"
He passed an irritated glare to Syn for ratting on him. "My paternal yaya you met earlier gave it to me after my paran died ten years ago. It was his wedding present to her and she couldn't stand living there without him. My father's the eldest of her children, so by rights, it should have been his. However, she refused to let my parents have it, because she hates my mother... so it went to me."
Fain cleared his throat. "Dancer was always her favorite. He looks the most like our paran."
He shoved at Fain.
In response, Fain arched a disbelieving brow. "If you weren't stitched, kiran..."
Unperturbed by the threat, Dancer sat back. "Fain actually has the guest house as his. He's not homeless or abandoned."
"But I rarely use it. Never wanted to chance running into family there."
After a few minutes, they pulled into a massive garage that led to its own landing bay where Dancer had three fighters and one small freighter docked. He also owned a sleek city transport and two airbikes.
She blinked at Dancer. "Someone likes his toys."
Syn let out an evil laugh. "Oh, just wait till you meet his house."
"Pardon?"
His only answer was another creepy laugh as he got out and led the way.
When they neared the door, Dancer pulled her to a stop. "Let me get you entered into the system so that you can come and go as you wish."
She didn't know what he meant until he stood her in the doorway to be scanned. "Biolocks on the thresholds?"
Dancer nodded. "And windows. Anyone who's unauthorized who tries to access the house gets stunned senseless."
That was impressive and painful.
"Then Dancer kills them," Fain said sardonically as he entered the house first.
"Good evening, Fain. I see you, Syn, and our new unnamed entry have decided to join Hauk. Are we having a party? Should I cue music and order food?"
Sumi turned to see an exquisitely beautiful Andarion female hologram in the foyer. Dressed in the deep burgundy color that marked the War Hauk clan and in a gown that showed off an unbelievably curvaceous body, she had her long black hair pulled back into a silken ponytail that fell to her waist. Her gown was so sheer, Sumi wasn't sure why Dancer bothered to clothe the hologram at all. A stab of vicious jealousy and a feeling of gross inadequacy went through her as she realized this must be Dancer's ideal of what a female should look like.
And it wasn't her - in any shape, form, and definitely not in fashion sense. Something that was corroborated by the uncomfortable looks both Syn and Fain passed to her and Dancer. Not to mention the oh-shit expression on Dancer's face as he no doubt rethought the hologram's wardrobe. "No party, Eleron. They're... uh, just here to watch over me."
Her face lit up immediately with joy as she saw him behind Fain. "Welcome home, Hauk. I've missed you terribly. Where have you been? You should have called and told me when to expect you back. Or at least left me a message."
Dancer looked even more nervous and uncomfortable as he cast a sheepish frown to Sumi. "Sorry, El. I was with Darice." He cleared his throat as he pulled Sumi closer. "Eleron, meet the new entry, Sumi, who will be staying with us and is to be considered another owner. Sumi, say hi to the house."
She gaped at him. "Are you serious?"
"No, mu tara. My name is Eleron, not Serious. As another owner, you may also call me El." She turned to face Hauk with an innocent stare. "Should I add her voice recognition to our protocols?"
"Yes. Give her full access."
"Done." She smiled at Dancer. "It's been rather busy and annoying this evening. You will find Shahara, Jayne, Desideria, Illyria, and Devyn in the pool area with an irritating mecha I don't like. May I feed it to the garbage disposal system?"
"Really rather you didn't. Devyn would also be very upset and would spend the rest of the night crying."
Eleron made a horrified face. "Oh, we can't have that. It's the only thing more agitating than the mecha. Very well. No leaking, loud children... Nero, Caillen, Drake, and Chayden are in the gaming room, draining resources. They made the entire north quad lag. I repaired it by shutting down non-vitals elsewhere, but really wish they'd do something else. Darling and Maris are in the command room, talking to Zarya and Ture. Is there anything else I can do for you, love?"
"Prepare my bedroom."
"Should I warm your bed?"
Sumi arched a brow over that particular question.
Dancer blushed while Syn and Fain burst into laughter. "Yes, please, El."
She inclined her head respectfully. "Would you like a guest room prepared for Sumi?"
"No. She'll be staying with me in mine."
The computer gaped. "Really?" Her tone was filled with incredulity.
Dancer rubbed his hand over his face. "Thanks for the shock, El. You're making me so glad I came home."
"My pleasure to serve you in any way possible, love. But since you have a physical woman tonight, I assume you will be fine with my returning to noncorporeal form?"
Hauk cringed at the question. "Yes, that'll be fine."
Eleron made a kissy face at him before she vanished.
Laughing, Fain clapped him on the back. "Heading to the game room to drain more resources and make El scream. You know a lot about that, don't you, brother?"
"Shut up," he said between clenched teeth.
Syn flashed an equally wicked grin. "Pool for me."
Hauk glared at him. "I would say make yourselves at home, but you already have. I really need to yank access codes one day." He took Sumi's hand and led her through the living room that had a glass wall with a breathtaking view of the city.
She released his hand so that she could move closer to it and stare out at the brilliant lights that made it appear as if the stars had fallen to the ground. "This is amazing."
"Yeah. I used to love staying here when I was a kid. I would cry myself sick whenever my parents made me leave."
"I can see why." She paused as she saw the oil portrait over the fireplace. Gaping, she stared at it in awe. "Who is that?" she asked breathlessly.
"The first Dancer, and founder of the Warring Blood Clan of Hauk. My grandmother left it with the house when she moved out. Since I was named for him, she thought it only right that it should pass to me."
Sumi studied the image of the warrior whose handsome face was mostly shielded by the cowl of a dark burgundy cloak. He wore bracers similar to the ones Dancer had and held a winged sword with glowing red eyes that matched the one eye of his the artist had painted in. He stared out with a grim countenance and the bearing of a proud sentinel ready to defend his family, home, and planet.
"He was stralen?" As soon as she asked the question, she remembered that had been part of the legend.
"He was. It's said that he only lived ninety-two minutes after his wife was buried. That he so couldn't bear the thought of living without her, his heart exploded the minute he returned home to an empty house."
She passed a frown to Dancer. "Andarions have the most beautiful and horrific legends."
He shrugged nonchalantly. "That is the mark of our breed." He inclined his head to the portrait. "And that sword in his hands is what my yaya is giving to you to fight Dariana with."
"Really? It's still battle-worthy?"
"Oh yeah," he said with a sarcastic laugh. "Andarion hyriallium. There's no metal like it on any world. It never breaks, rusts, or dulls. His sword used to rest in the brackets beneath the portrait, and when we were little, we would dare each other to try to touch it
without getting caught or cut."
She smiled at the image of him and Fain trying to climb up to it. "Why did she take the sword and leave the portrait?"
"She didn't want the sword to pass to my mother's or Dariana's guardianship. That is the sword of the War Hauk ancestors and of our mighty clan. It has never known defeat or disgrace. Only the greatest warrior of his or her generation is allowed to own it, and it must be passed by the clan matriarch when she deems it's been earned. For her to offer it to you is the greatest honor my yaya can bestow, especially since she will be doing so prior to our unification. Once it passes to you, you will become the custodian of the Hauk Warsword and you will be the one to decide which of our children or grandchildren is the most worthy to wield it."