Born of Fury

CHAPTER 35

Hauk sat in Kalea’s room, with his daughter in his lap, reading to her. He felt a sudden presence in the doorway. Looking up, his breath caught as he saw Sumi. He’d been banned from their room while his grandmother and Fadima had prepared her for the fight.

They had plaited her hair in true Andarion fashion and then coiled the pale, thin braids into an intricate style that wouldn’t interfere with her peripheral vision. His grandmother had also commissioned for her a true Andarion fighting suit in the deep burgundy color of their family crest. The leather pants clung to her body and were tucked into a pair of buckled boots. Her cutaway suede coat fell to her ankles and exposed her holster. It was fastened diagonally with six buttons. Three burgundy leather stripes decorated the sleeves and matched the gloves that covered her hands. His family’s Warsword was strapped across her back.

Best of all, his grandmother had painted her face not with the eton Anatole crest, but with theirs. His heart filled with pride at how good Andarion looked on her.

“You are exquisite, mu tara.”

Kalea tilted her head back until she could see him. “Mommy looks like a fighting princess, Daddy.”

“Your mother is a fighting princess. The best in the universe.”

“Really?”

Hauk nodded as Sumi came forward and knelt on the floor beside them. “How do you feel?”

“Syn’s a magician. I feel fine. Nothing hurts at all… except for having to leave the two of you.”

“You’re leaving?” Kalea’s bottom lip quivered.

Hauk knew the feeling. He just wished he could do the same as their daughter.

Sumi brushed Kalea’s hair back from her cheek and kissed it. “Just for a little while, sweetie. Your daddy will take good care of you, and I’ll be back before you know.”

“Okay.”

Hauk took her hand and held it. “How can I let you do this?”

“We have no choice.” She kissed him fiercely. “I won’t be defeated. When this day ends, you will be mine. And no one will ever take you from me.”

“I am already yours.”

She kissed him again.

“Sumi?”

She pulled back at the sound of Nykyrian’s voice. “I know. It’s time.”

Hauk had to force himself to stay in his chair and not go after them. This had to be done. He knew it. But every fiber of his being screamed out against letting her fight for him.

Don’t get hurt. He could handle anything but losing her.

And still that bad feeling stayed in his gut. Holding Kalea tight, he prayed.

Sumi took a deep breath as Nykyrian, Fain, and Cairistiona led her into the arena. Fadima had gone over everything for her, a thousand times.

And still she felt unprepared for what was facing her.

There were three judges from the Andarion royal court to oversee the fight and to make sure the rules were followed. Dariana’s family sat to the right of them. And sure enough, there were Dancer’s parents with her people.

Her anger mounted that they would dare slight him so, but she forced it down. Something that was helped when she glanced to her side. Instead of being empty, it was filled with her new family. Kiara and Thia were next to Caillen, Desideria, and Chayden. Zarya and Ture were there, but Darling, Maris, Drake, and Ryn had stayed with Hauk so that they could try and keep him sane while she fought.

Shahara, Devyn, and Vik were seated on the front row while Syn walked in with her and her new adoptive family. After the injection he’d given her, he wanted to keep an eye on her vitals. Jayne had brought her husband, Hadrian, and their three children. Fadima and her sisters and grandmother took seats near Nykyrian’s father, Nero, and Bastien.

“Sumi?”

She turned at the sound of Darice’s voice. It was the first time she’d seen him since their return. “Hey, sweetie! What are you doing here?”

He lifted his chin. “I’m here to walk in with you… if you don’t mind.”

His loyalty touched her. “I would be honored, but I don’t want to cause trouble between you and your mother.”

“This is on my mother, Sumi. Not you. While I will always love her, I can’t condone what she’s done.” He glanced to Fain. “We War Hauks must stand together, and since Dancer can’t be here, I want to walk with you.”

His loyalty touched her dearly. “Your uncle and father would be very proud of you. As am I.” She hugged him against her.

A sharp whistle sounded, notifying them that it was time to begin.

Her family led her out to the center of the ring. Dariana, who strode into the arena like she owned it, walked behind her parents. She raked a sneer over Sumi’s body that said she thought this match would be short and boring.

Sumi snorted at the arrogance. While royalty and family might terrify her, fighting didn’t. Unlike Dariana, she’d cut her teeth on death matches a lot scarier than this. And with opponents who were much larger and far more skilled.

Bring it, bitch.

The head judge stood up to address them, while their families left their sides and took their seats. “Sumi of the Most Sovereign Blood Clan of eton Anatole has issued a challenge against Dariana of the Warring Blood Clan of Hauk, the daughter of the Rising House of Terisool, for the right to take over the pledge of Dancer of the Warring Blood Clan of Hauk. Is this correct, princess?”

Sumi inclined her head to him. “It is.”

“And do you accept the challenge and the outcome that the gods see fit?” he asked Dariana.

“I do.”

“Then assume your positions and may the gods’ will be done here today.”

Sumi bowed to Dariana, who glared at Darice as Darice followed Fain from the arena and into the War Hauk section. She bowed to Sumi.

They approached the referee and covered their faces, then pulled their swords.

Dariana’s eyes flared as she realized what was in Sumi’s hands. “I will feast on your blood, human.”

Sumi laughed. “Someone cue my fear pheromones.”

The referee held his hand up then stepped back. “Begin!”

Dariana came at her with everything she had. Sumi met her strokes, but quickly realized one thing.

Andarion women were as strong as their men.

And Dariana hit like a sledgehammer.

“Hauk?”

He stopped rocking his sleeping daughter at the sound of Darling’s voice in the doorway. “Yeah?”

“There’s a Dr. Pera Duece here to see you. She said her father was the one who treated you at the hospital and she wants to check on you to see how you’re doing.”

Hauk frowned. “I thought that was tomorrow.”

Darling shrugged. “Want me to tell her to go away? I can and will do that.”

“Nah. It’s fine.” While he mostly saw the father, he’d been treated a few times by the daughter. She was a strange female, but he had no issue with her. Might as well get it over with.

He stood and placed Kalea in bed. “Will you watch her until I get back?” he asked Darling.

“Sure.”

Hauk headed for the stairs. “El? Where’s the doctor?”

“In your office, Hauk. Would you like me to have her move to another room?”

“It’s fine.” Yawning, he went in to find her reviewing his old trophies that lined the wall case.

Jerking around, she smiled at him. “Hope you don’t mind my snooping. Are all these yours?”

“Most. So what can I do for you, Doctor?”

“I’m just here to do a quick health check for my dad. He’s been worried about you.” She pulled her bag from over her shoulder. “If you’ll take a seat and remove your shirt, I’ll be out of here in a few minutes.”

“I thought your dad was coming tomorrow.”

“Something came up. Since I was nearby, I told him I’d check in with you.”

Hauk removed his shirt and took a seat while she pulled on a pair of exam gloves.

“So how have you been feeling? You look rather tired.”

Because he had yet to sleep. But he didn’t want to go into that with her. “Fine.”

“Any pain?”

“Not really.”

She moved to stand behind him. “That’s a shame.”

He frowned at her words. “Pardon?”

She answered by shooting him in the back with an injector.

Hauk cursed at the unexpected action, and tried to move away, but his head spun like crazy. One minute he was in the chair. The next, he was sprawling on the floor.

The doctor kicked him over. “I should have known better than to pay an assassin to kill you. If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself.” She knelt by his side and shot him with something else while she covered his mouth with her hand. “Shh… just close your eyes and die like a good boy.”

Sumi staggered back as Dariana shoved her whole weight against her sword. Her entire arm was numb from holding her ground. At this point, Sumi was short-swording and using her weapon more like a small staff. Which was working well since Dariana couldn’t break through it to stab or cut her.

But it really wasn’t helping Sumi to win the fight. How aggravating that Andarions didn’t believe in a shield. They relied on their sword skills alone. And since the swords were shorter than human broadswords, yet longer than daggers, with large, ornate hilts, using them was more akin to axe fighting than actual sword fighting. It was a whole different style than anything Sumi had ever done, and it was using every muscle in her body to deflect and stay sharp.

Shrieking in frustration, Dariana finally made a strategic mistake. She lifted her sword to slice. Sumi twisted hers sideways so that when Dariana brought her blade down, it caught in the curved hilt of the Hauk Warsword. Faster than the Andarion could react, Sumi twisted Dariana’s sword out of her hands and captured it.

She kicked Dariana’s leg and knocked her down to one knee so that she could grab her throat and pin her.

Dariana tried to break free, but this was something Sumi had perfected in League training.

Sumi increased the pressure. “Yield!”

“Never!”

Sumi looked to the judges. “She’s defeated. And while I’d hate to kill her and the child she carries, I leave that decision up to you.”

The judges conferred for a few seconds before the head one spoke up. “She is defeated. Her claim on Dancer Hauk is cleared. The War Hauk heir is yours, Princess. The gods have ruled it so.”

Sumi released Dariana, and saluted them before she twisted the sheath down to her side and placed the sword in it then returned it to rest on her back. Ecstatic beyond belief, she headed for Fain and Darice.

Darice’s smile faded as he looked past her. Before she could turn, he jumped into the arena and shoved her back. The moment he did, a small knife buried itself into his shoulder.

“Darice!” Sumi grabbed him to her.

“No!” Dariana screamed as she realized she’d struck her son instead of Sumi.

Guards ran to arrest Dariana while Sumi lowered Darice to the ground. “Dare?”

He sucked his breath in sharply between his teeth. “How do you and Dancer stand it? This really hurts!”

She laughed as she realized it was just a flesh wound. While it wouldn’t be comfortable, it wouldn’t kill him. “You are ever my hero.”

Syn ran over and quickly removed the knife so that he could stop the bleeding and seal it.

Dariana was shrieking in Andarion as royal guards removed her from the arena.

Sumi ignored her completely as she stayed focused on Darice. “I’m so sorry you were hurt.”

“Better my shoulder than your throat.” Biting his lip, he looked at Syn. “The scar won’t be visible after it heals, will it?”

Syn rolled his eyes. “It’ll barely be there. If anyone is close enough to you to see it, you better be pledged to them, kid.”

Darice let out a relieved breath. “Thank the gods.”

Sumi snorted. Andarions and their vanity.

As Syn finished tending Darice, his link buzzed. “Yeah?” The color faded from his face as he listened.

Dread tightened her stomach. By his expression, she knew it was bad. Had Kyr taken Kalea again? “What?”

His breathing ragged, Syn stared at her in disbelief. “Hauk’s dead.”