Sherrilyn Kenyon: Born of Fury

Hauk turned away from his best friend, unable to face the truth Nykyrian spoke. Out of his small handful of friends, only Nyk knew about his eldest brother, Keris – because Nyk, alone, had been in Hauk’s life when it’d happened. And since the day Keris had died during Hauk’s Endurance, Hauk had barely been able to say his brother’s name aloud.

To anyone.

Gods, even now it was enough to bring him to his knees. Every fucking day of his life had been spent with guilt and grief over an unnecessary loss that no one in his family had ever forgiven him for.

Especially not himself.

And now he was supposed to take Keris’s son on the same expedition that had scarred them both for life and cost Keris his.

It was so unfair.

“Darice is the spitting image of his father, did you know that?” Hauk whispered. “I love my nephew with every part of me, but there are times I can’t even bear to look at him. Even their speech inflections are the same.”

“I know.” Nykyrian moved to stand by his side so that they could keep their voices low. “I really do know, Hauk. My daughter has some of Aksel’s and Arast’s mannerisms and expressions. And when she cops their condescending tones and snotty attitudes, it takes every bit of will I possess not to put her through a wall. It’s not her fault she takes after them. They were in her life longer than I’ve been. Hell, she doesn’t even know she does it. But even so, it feels like they’re back from the grave to torment me.”

Flexing his jaw, Hauk winced at the pain in Nykyrian’s voice. A pain he understood better than anyone since he’d been there to see firsthand what Nyk’s adoptive brothers had done to him. It was a hell no child should ever endure.

And he’d seen the exact tones and expressions Thia used that were identical to those of her long-dead stepfather and uncle. It had to be grueling for Nyk to deal with that all over again.

Fate was a bitch, and that whore mocked them both daily.

His anger mounting, he met Nykyrian’s gaze. For once, he didn’t see the war-hardened face of an assassin wingman who’d stood by his side for countless battles and protected his ass like a true blood brother. He saw the horrifically scarred face of the boy Nyk had been when they’d first met as children.

A boy who’d once saved Hauk’s life while everyone else had stood back to watch him burn.

Literally.

There was a lot to be said for a friendship that spanned double-digit years. But right now, it seriously rankled him that Nyk knew what was really bothering him.

And it made him wonder something about his friend that he hadn’t considered before. “Is that why you didn’t take Thia on her Endurance?”

Nykyrian shook his head. “Thia’s only a quarter Andarion, and by the time her mother got around to telling me I had a daughter, Thia was past the age of it.”

Not to mention, the first two years of their living together, Nykyrian had been going through extensive operations and physical therapy for the almost fatal injuries Aksel had given him the day Nyk had finally put the bastard in his grave. Even now, eight years later, Nykyrian still walked with a pronounced limp, and only had limited use of his right hand and arm.

Hauk ground his teeth as other painful childhood memories surged. “It’s a stupid tradition. It chafes my ass that I have to do this.”

Nykyrian snorted at his outburst. “Everything chafes your ass, my brother.”

True, but still…

Hauk let out an elongated growl. Even if his father hadn’t lost his legs in battle or been too disabled to be exposed to the harsh conditions of Endurance, his father was too old to do it now. And his brother Fain had been disinherited even before Hauk had gone through his. There was no other male in their family lineage who could take Darice.

Like it or not, Hauk was honor bound and family obligated to see this through.

But honestly, he’d rather sacrifice a testicle than go. Every time Darice looked at him, he saw the accusation and anger in his nephew that blamed him for Keris’s death.

Nykyrian stepped away from him. “Have you mentioned to your father the staggering bounties on your head? Or that you have enough assassins after you that you could start your own army?”

Hauk made a rude noise at the mere suggestion. “My father’s an Andarion war hero. Do you really think that would deter him?” He’d think Hauk weak and cowardly for even mentioning it.

Nykyrian sighed. “No. He’d say it adds to the challenge of it all.”

“Exactly. You’ve no idea how many times I’ve cursed my parents for their blind adherence to the old ways.”

Nykyrian clapped a hand on Hauk’s shoulder. “Again, brother, I do know. You never bitch about it, but I can read your expressions better than your words.” He went to pour them both a shot of Tondarion Fire – a potent alcohol – from the small table beside Darling’s desk. “You know, you could take Thia with you as a distraction. It might help you get through this.”

A taunting grin spread across his lips as he took the shot glass from Nykyrian’s gloved hand. “You would really turn your beautiful daughter loose, alone with two Andarion males, for six weeks?”

“Never. But I would trust her with my family.”

And that they definitely were.

Hauk knocked back the drink in one gulp and pinned his gaze on Nyk. “And I can read you as well as you read me. Why do you want her gone so badly?”

“I don’t. But…” Nyk let his words trail off as he gulped his own drink then poured another. “She’s been acting out since Zarina was born. It’s almost like she thinks that now that we have another daughter, she’s not wanted anymore. Truthfully, I don’t know what to do. She stays out all night. Drags home the kind of dregs we’re paid to kill, and then dares me to lay a hand on them.” He growled low in his throat. “I’m a trained assassin, Hauk, and they’re dating my precious little girl. Putting body parts on her… and that’s just their hands, that I know of. Any idea how hard it is for me to let them leave my house upright and in one piece? She won’t even let me give them a damn bloody nose. Gah, it’s more than I can bear.”

He scoffed at Nykyrian’s irritation. “And now you know why your father-in-law had you shot… multiple times.”

Nykyrian glared at him. “I curse you, Hauk… may you live to raise a beautiful daughter. And I hope you have more than one, you son of a bitch.” He slung his shot back even faster than Hauk had. “Thia’s been way too serious with this latest veriton . I’m thinking if she’s gone for six weeks, he’ll get bored and move on to someone safer.”

“If he doesn’t?”

“I still have a few places left to hide bodies no one knows about.”

Hauk laughed then sobered as he seriously considered the offer. In all honesty, Thia would be a welcome distraction. While she didn’t care for roughing it, she could cook better than either of them. And the additional body might keep the memories of Keris at bay. It wouldn’t be the same as it’d been when he and his brother had gone alone to Oksana for Endurance.

Best of all, Thia actually liked him.

He inclined his head to Nykyrian. “I’ll be more than happy to spend a few weeks with my first love. Besides, as an Andarion princess, she needs to have this on her résumé.”

“Just don’t let her think for one instant that I’m doing this to get rid of her.”

“Trust me, I know. You’re doing this to get rid of her boyfriend.”

“Exactly.” Nykyrian headed to the door to readmit Darling to his office.

Before he could open it, Hauk pulled him to a stop. “Thank you.”

Nykyrian held his hand up to him. “Estra, mi dreystin.”