With an irritable grimace, he slapped at Syn in a way that reminded Bastien of a little kid with a playmate who was annoying him. “I’m thirsty.”
Syn pulled a bag out of his pack and handed it to Darling, who held it up while Syn prepared the IV.
When Syn stuck the needle in, Dancer hissed and started for him.
Sumi caught his fist. “Dancer, play nice with the doctor who might not want to help you if you clock him.”
He calmed instantly and nuzzled his face against her knee. When she went to brush his braids from his cheek, he took her hand and laced her fingers with his.
Bastien had to look away as that tenderness reminded him of memories he couldn’t afford.
Until he heard the sharp click of a blaster from behind Sumi.
Syn didn’t react at all. “Put it away, Jayne. She’s a friendly.”
“You sure?”
He gave her a droll stare. “I’ve never known Hauk to cuddle an enemy. You? I mean, he is weird and all, but he’s usually consistent with his surly demeanor.”
Jayne decloaked and moved forward to join them. “What happened to him?” She pulled her helmet off to show Bastien one hell of an attractive woman. Long-legged. Brunette. She reminded him of Ember’s sister Kindel, except she was a bit taller, and her dark hair was straight.
There was also something about her that reminded him more of the Andarions than humans. Yet she didn’t have any of the telltale markers that normally defined those born of their Ixurian race.
Syn sighed heavily. “He’s got enough toxins in his system that if he were human he’d be dead ten times over. Thank the gods Andarions are tough bastards.”
“Is he going to be okay?” Sumi breathed.
Syn finally met her gaze. The anger there dissipated into kindness. “Yeah. I think so. Unless something has happened to Thia, in which case we’ll be scraping up his guts as soon as Nyk returns.”
Jayne continued to glare at her. “Who the hell are you, human?”
“Jaynie,” Dancer said weakly, “be nice to my girl or I’ll turn her loose on your hide. Trust me, I think she can take you.”
Jayne scoffed as she squatted down beside Hauk and touched his shoulder. “What happened to your eyes?”
A knowing smile curved Syn’s lips. “I think Hauk got around to taking your advice, Jayne.”
“What advice?”
Syn glanced at Sumi, then laughed. “I’ll tell you later.”
Bastien laughed at the fact that Dancer must have gone stralen on this trip, judging by the way they were acting.
Darling frowned as he finally looked over at Bastien, who’d opted to sit quietly and bleed as unobtrusively as possible while Syn tended Dancer. “Do I know you? You look really familiar.”
Considering how many years they’d gone to school together, he should know, but then Darling had always been preoccupied by other things—like survival. And, too, Bastien was a couple of years older than him, so they hadn’t been in any classes together. He was actually closer to Darling’s older brother’s age than Darling’s.
So Bastien wouldn’t judge him for not recalling him from their school days together. Not to mention, Bastien didn’t look like himself right now, covered in grime with a shitty haircut and the kind of beard normally worn by people hovered over a flaming barrel for warmth.
Even so, he started to blow it off with a joke, but then opted for truth as he stretched out on the ground. With a smile, he brought up the last time they’d been together. “Summit meeting. Years ago. I was with my father. You were with your uncle.”
Recognition lit Darling’s eyes. “You’re the one who decked Nylan’s son when he spat in my food.”
“Don’t remember that, particularly, but it sounds like something I’d do. Hate that rank bastard.”
Darling shifted to study Bastien’s ragged condition. “You’re one of the Kirovarian princes.”
“Was.”
“Holy shit. I thought you were all dead.” Darling met Jayne’s gaze. “He’s one of Nyk’s paternal cousins, who was deposed about a decade ago.”
Suddenly, Syn grabbed Sumi’s wrist and shoved her sleeve back to expose her League brand. He drew his blaster faster than she could blink and held it to her jaw.
Dancer knocked it away. “Stop it!”
“She’s a League assassin.”
“Yeah, I know. Kyr sent her after me. Remind me to order him flowers and a thank-you card later.”
Syn, Darling, and Jayne exchanged a scowl that was probably quite similar to the one Bastien felt on his own face.
“You know?” Jayne asked.
Dancer sat up slowly.
“Whoa, buddy.” Syn held him back. “You need to stay down until we get a lift here for you.”
Dancer hesitated before he stretched out again, only this time, he put his head in Sumi’s lap. “Jaynie? Darling? Don’t let anyone hurt my mia. Or I’ll take it out of both your asses.”
Darling arched his brows. “Look, bud, I know you’re drugged out of your mind, but you are aware that Sumi’s human, right?”
Dancer shoved at Darling. “Don’t insult my female by putting her in the same class as you.”