He said nothing, didn't move. A knock sounded at his door. She took the opportunity to escape, darting by Dustin to her room.

She'd said her piece. She didn't know if she'd hurt him enough to drive him away forever or if there was a sliver of him that still wanted her. Tortured by the thought she might have waited too long, she paced her room until too tired to stand.

Just when he'd thought Sofia couldn't surprise him more, she did. The insanity of what she did was beyond his comprehension. While he loved the thought of her commitment to him, her action made him want to explode. And then to waltz in and deliver such an important message at a time when he wanted nothing more than to remain infuriated with her for her actions.

"f.u.c.king women," he muttered.

"That f.u.c.king woman saved your brother's life," Dusty reminded him.

He'd not yet reconciled how he felt about seeing his brother alive and in so much pain. He was more and more appalled by the memories afflicting his brother, what he'd gone through since his supposed death. Darian was showing more signs of life. He'd spent the morning vomiting blood and was able to remember Jule and Dusty by afternoon.

And kiri. He knew Sofia better than he knew Damian. Damian closed his eyes in pain, unable to shake his brother's black history.

"Though if I were you, I'd still be super p.i.s.sed at her."

"I am," he a.s.sured him.

Dusty's gaze grew intent.

"Damian, I'm sorry. We should have prevented her from leaving. I never thought she'd do something like that," he said quietly.

"I don't hold you responsible," Damian said with a smile. "If there's one thing I've learned about humans, it's that you can't control them."

"It is my responsibility. She's your mate and my sister. I swear it'll never happen again. The oath I took to you and Jule I now take to her."

Damian was touched. He saw Dusty's conviction on his face.

"Thank you, Dusty," he replied in a hushed tone. "I doubt she'll appreciate it though. The first time she forgets your birthday, all h.e.l.l will break loose."

Dusty shook his head.

"I am grateful to you, Dusty," Damian replied more seriously. "It's been a rough few days."

"How are you feeling?"

"Good. Easier for me than Darian to readjust."

"How is he?"

He's lost in his mind right now. He'll have to work through it."

"I don't suppose there are any shrinks among the Naturals."

"Don't think so. Sofia can work with him some. I don't know how she reached him inside that dark maze," he said with a shake of his head.

"Neither do I."

"What a sick b.a.s.t.a.r.d. If I could kill Czerno ... " Damian swore darkly. How sick was the man who kept his former enemy as a slave?

"f.u.c.k, D, I'd take killing Claire over Czerno any day," Jule said, appearing near the door. "Czerno's job is to be a bad guy. Claire was the worst kind of traitor imaginable."

"Good point," Damian said. "I was able to take care of that issue, though. I can't touch Czerno."

"I love Sofia, but I hope you take a switch to her a.s.s," Jule advised as he tossed himself into one of the chairs.

"I told him it was your fault," Dusty said.

"It was," Jule agreed. "And I'm deeply sorry for it, Damian. On what soul I have, I swear never to allow harm to come to kiri."

Damian chuckled.

"It wasn't either of your faults. I think this was a small thing they call fate," he a.s.sured them. "And thank you both."

"We still good for tomorrow?" Jule asked, referencing their journey to Europe.

"Yep. Dusty and Darian will be babysitting my oracle."

"I'll keep her in line," Dusty a.s.sured him.

"I'm too angry at her to pity her," Jule said. "You gonna try to rein in Pierre, too?"

"If only. The day kiri grows tired of him, he's going to my behavior modification training," Dusty a.s.sured him.

"Only if kiri agrees," Damian warned.

"Is this how you train 'em in the eastern hemisphere?" Dusty demanded, turning to Jule.

"Better a benevolent team player than a dictator," Jule retorted.

"Disciplinarian. I don't let them run amok and follow their feelings. I give them structure."

"Like robots."

Their long standing feud over leadership styles was interrupted as Darian appeared in the midst of them. Damian's throat tightened, and his eyes misted at the sight of his brother. Darian appeared confused as he took in Jule and Dusty, recognition blooming slowly. He turned to Damian, his scarred features the most beautiful sight Damian had ever seen.

"Ikir," he said, nodding his head in deferment. "May I see kiri?"

"You don't need permission to do anything," Damian said gently, aware his brother was not yet himself. "Please don't call me ikir. I'm your brother, not your master. And yes, go see kiri. She'll be happy to see you."

"I will be happy to see her, ikir," Darian said. He adored Sofia, that much was obvious, even if he wasn't really sure where or who he was most of the time. Damian's feelings for her swelled even more.

"How are you, Darian?" Jule asked with a warm smile.

"I am well, ikir," came the mechanical reply. "Please excuse me, ikir."

And he was gone. Damian's gaze lingered. He had a long way to go, but he was alive.

"Take care of both of them, Dusty," he murmured.

"I swear it."

"He's as strong as you. He'll pull through," Jule said. "And Dust-man won't let anything near them."

Visions of Czerno and home videos from Darian morphed into a grotesque nightmare that made her body shake, even as she tried to shake the dream from her thoughts. Insomnia was a blessing from such darkness.

Come.

She hesitated before pulling her robe on and obeying. The mansion was quiet again, the signs of activity from earlier gone. Pierre glanced up from his video game as she pa.s.sed him. He watched her until verifying where she went before returning to the game.

Damian's suite was lit only by a blazing fire in the hearth, and the scent of Jule's cigars hung in the air. She waited, gaze falling to Damian. He appeared calm and in control again, if not relaxed with the only three men he'd ever trusted. Her heart almost burst at the sight of Darian in one of the seats. Though he was still unable to understand exactly what was going on, he'd improved dramatically even since she last saw him.

Damian waved her in without looking at him, his eyes reflecting the fire. He patted the seat beside him on the couch facing Dustin and Jule. She didn't hesitate to settle beside him, knees drawn to her chest, and leaned into his body, struck by the difference between the men before her. At once, the home videos and nightmares faded. She sighed in relief and rested her head on Damian's shoulder. He moved his arm to wrap around her and pulled her against him.

"You're not forgiven," he reminded her.

"d.a.m.n straight," Jule said, though there was warmth in his face. "If I had a woman who pulled the bulls.h.i.t you did, you'd -"

"Be in deep s.h.i.t, kiri," Darian finished for him.

Jule chuckled. Darian's gaze mirrored Damian's, and Sofia hid her face against Damian's chest as the three men facing her gave her similar looks.

"I'll never have a woman, if they're this much trouble," Dustin declared.

"Agreed. And if I do, she'll learn to call Damian, Dusty, or Darian before leaving the house," Jule chimed in. "Which is exactly what you will do, kiri."

Sofia couldn't help but saying, "You'll both have women, and Dustin, when you're in trouble, she'll call me."

Jule and Dustin both looked to Damian.

"Not sure I like this oracle s.h.i.t," Dustin voiced for both of them.

"No way, kiri," Jule said firmly.

"If she didn't come after you when you needed her, why would you want her at all?" she challenged.

"Definitely steering clear of Americans," Dustin added.

"Because, kiri, you can't do what these men can," Jule scolded. "And D doesn't have any other brothers for you to rescue. You know that's the only reason you're not locked in your room for the rest of your life."

"No worries," Damian said with an edge that made her still. "I'll take care of it."

"Glad I'm not you," Dustin said, leveling a look at her.

She huddled closer to Damian, unwilling to look at his face.

"What does kiri mean?" she asked.

"Beloved. It's used for sisters, mothers, and mates in our world," Jule answered. "By the way, you're on my list. I hope I'm off yours."

Her throat tightened, understanding the honor despite his nonchalant delivery. She nodded.

"What list?" Dustin asked.

"You're not on hers," Jule a.s.sured him. "I imagine only Pierre is on it now."

She laughed.

"I sense a rea.s.signment," Dustin said, gaze going to the fire.

Her gaze fell to Darian. He was struggling again. She shifted away from Damian and touched his forehead, absorbing the horror of his memories. She drew a sharp breath but forced herself to stay, to take his pain.

"No, kiri, you've done enough," he said, taking her hands. "I have much to atone for."

His heavy words broke her heart, but she respected his request and returned to Damian's side. The horrors from his mind fell away as she curled against him again.

The men fell into a comfortable silence, and she sensed the silent communications she couldn't hear. Comfortable against Damian, she drifted into a restful doze until he shifted. She roused herself, surprised to see the other three had disappeared at some point. She sat up, forcing herself to meet his golden gaze. His face was unreadable, his gaze steady.

"Please don't be angry," she said, touching his face.

He took her hand in his and leaned forward, allowing his forehead to rest against hers. She sighed, delighting in the tender moment.

"Are you going to run from me again?" he asked without moving.

"No, Damian. Never again. I promise," she swore just as quietly.

"Good."

He stood and swept her into his arms.

"I've got plans for you tonight," he said, desire flaring on his face as he carried her into his bedroom. "And every night from here on out."

Her heart sang as she realized she'd not lost him, her body echoing the desire on his face.

The next morning, the sigh of snow falling outside her window drew her gaze as she packed for the evacuation. Damian'd replaced her necklace at her neck, a small comfort until his work in the European front was finished. She approached the window, amazed at the snow, until her gaze fell to a figure kneeling like a dark gargoyle in the snow. He'd been there long enough that the snow had covered his footprints.

Alarmed, she swung on her robe and s.n.a.t.c.hed one of Damian's trench coats. She flew down the stairs and through the teeming hallways. Pierre trotted after her into the cold morning. The air was cold, brisk, the snowflakes falling faster. Snow crunched under her feet and quickly soaked her flimsy slippers.

"Darian!" she exclaimed, dropping to her knees beside him.

His eyes were closed, his body hunched and hands clenched together. He wore nothing more than a t-shirt and jeans. Snow covered his hair, and his skin was cold.

"Darian!" she touched his face.

He opened his eyes and stared at her, a tortured look on his face.