He didn't feel particularly strong right now though.

Aurora offered her wrist to him. As much as he hurt and needed more blood to begin healing his wounds, he needed to see her healing more. Only then would he feel better.

Snow shook his head and stared up at her. "You are injured and must conserve your strength."

"I have a theory... the quicker you heal, the faster I will feel better." She offered her wrist again and he wanted to shoot her theory down, but didn't have the heart. He would take another sip from her if it would alleviate her fear and make her believe he was on the mend.

Snow allowed his fangs to extend. Aurora brought her wrist to his lips and he closed his eyes and eased his fangs into it, not wanting to hurt her. She gasped and her heart missed a beat, but it was pleasure that he felt in her this time. He closed his mouth around her arm and suckled softly, controlling himself so her pleasure didn't become pain.

The taste of her was still divine and he could feel her blood mingling with his, renewing his strength and accelerating the rate of his healing. He stopped himself from taking more than a sip of her delicious blood and licked her wrist, sealing the twin puncture marks, feeling her shiver under his tongue.

He opened his eyes and looked up at her. Her cheeks were pink and there was more colour in her ashen lips now. Perhaps she was right and the bond between them linked her physical strength to his, meaning that the faster he healed from his wounds, the quicker her strength returned and she healed hers.

Snow pressed one hand to the wound on his chest and sat up with Antoine's help. He froze when he saw all the blood on his brother's shirt and all the injuries beneath. He braced himself on instinct, waiting for his bloodlust to seize him, roused by dark memories of the night he had attacked his brother.

For the first time since that night, the sight of his brother bleeding didn't send him into a fit of bloodlust.

Antoine's shoulders relaxed. He had braced himself too, expecting an attack to happen. His blue eyes darted to Aurora behind him and then back to Snow.

"It seems the latest addition to the Vampirerotique family has absolute power over you."

Snow smiled and looked over his shoulder at her, his heart warmed by the coded welcome his brother had just issued to his female and the truth in his words.

"She does."

Aurora blushed a pretty shade of pink that made him ache to kiss her.

"We should get you tended to," Antoine said, a pointed reminder that he was in no condition to be getting physical with his female, no matter how badly he wanted her.

Payne moved forwards with Elissa at his side and Luca tucked between them. Snow looked up at the part-incubus vampire.

Payne offered his hand to him. "Express ride to your room, limited time offer."

"Take Aurora," Snow said, not wanting her to be left behind, even for a second. Payne glanced at her.

"I've got the girly." Chica appeared behind Aurora, causing her to jump, and Aurora opened her mouth to speak but only a squeak came out before Chica caught her arm and they disappeared.

Snow growled and turned to warn Andreu that his female needed to learn manners around his woman.

Payne took that moment to grab Snow's arm and teleport him, landing him square on his four-poster bed with him on his back and Payne standing on the mattress. The young elite vampire wobbled as he gingerly walked to the edge of the bed and hopped down onto the floor.

"Not my best landing, but at least I didn't land on top of you." He awkwardly ran his fingers through his dirty blond spiked hair, flashing the lines of fae markings that tracked up the underside of his forearm and causing the rolled up sleeves of his dark blue pinstriped shirt to tighten around his muscles.

"I win that one, Incupire." Chica looked far too full of energy as she bounded away from Aurora, leaving her in the middle of his black apartment. Chica's knee-high biker boots banged heavily on his wooden floor and her black skirt and jaw-length hair bounced with each leaping step. She twirled when she reached Payne and poked a finger against his chest. "Try to keep up. I'm streaking way ahead of you."

Payne growled at her. "Just because you're all hopped up on kisses. Some of us don't flaunt it, Sweetheart."

Chica's brown-to-blue eyes widened in horror and she planted one hand on her hip, fingertips pressing hard into her purple strapless corset. "Are you calling me a hussy?"

Payne knocked her other hand away from him and rubbed a dark patch on his blue shirt, over the left side of his chest. Blood. Payne bore wounds from protecting his female and their youngling.

"No one is calling you a hussy," Andreu said as he entered the room, his Spanish accent thickly lacing his English, a sign of his anger. His black shirt had more slashes in it now and there were some in his trousers too, and a long gash across his left cheek that had bled down to his jaw. He shot Payne a glare. "Were they?"

Payne shrugged nonchalantly and then rushed to Elissa and Luca as they entered behind Andreu. "You both okay?"

Elissa smiled and nodded. "Perfect, although Luca wants to keep the sword."

"Just in case," the young boy said, his grey eyes bright with enthusiasm. Payne ruffled his messy hair.

"Sounds like a good idea, Kiddo." Payne gathered Luca up into his arms, winced and set him back down again.

"Let me take a look," Elissa said and Snow was awestruck when she raised her hand and colourful swirls of light danced around her fingers. He had never expected magic could be so pretty. Or beneficial.

The wounds visible through the tears in Payne's shirt healed before his eyes.

Antoine entered with Sera. Sera immediately broke away from her mate and crossed the room to Aurora, wiping her bloodied hands on her t-shirt as she walked. Lilah joined her the moment she entered in front of Javier, and the two females helped Aurora into the bathroom, shutting the door behind them.

Snow closed his eyes, taking a moment to steel himself, glad that those closest to him had survived the battle, and grateful that Lilah and Sera were helping Aurora with her wounds.

He sensed Antoine halt beside the bed.

"Come on. Up," Antoine commanded, caught Snow's hand and pulled him slowly into a sitting position.

Snow flicked his eyes open and bit back a groan. He hated it when Antoine fussed over him, but he obediently sat at the edge of the four-poster bed, letting his brother have his way because he knew it would make him feel better.

Andreu and Javier moved into the corner, both males leaning against the wall beyond Payne, their black shirts and trousers causing them to blend into it.

Javier sighed, tipped his head back and closed his eyes. Andreu flicked him a look of concern. Javier had taken some serious blows but he would live. Andreu didn't need to worry about him.

Snow could sense that it was fatigue causing his brother to look as though he was about to fall asleep on his feet. Both males had battled valiantly to protect their females. There had been only a few patches of blood on Lilah's pale blue summer dress and her bare arms. Javier must have fought like a wild thing to protect her.

Snow smiled across at them. Javier opened his eyes, met Snow's gaze, and then smiled too. He yawned, scrubbed a hand over his face and talked to Andreu about the fight, discussing how many angels they had taken down. Chica fussed over Andreu, muttering about all the cuts on him and that she liked scars but she preferred his sexy body perfect and lickable.

Snow tuned them out before he retched from the information overload and switched his focus back to Antoine, tempted to tell him that Aurora's blood was already healing him from the inside and that he didn't need to worry or fuss over him. He didn't have the heart when he saw the tears shining in Antoine's eyes and felt the underlying current of hurt and fear that ran through his blood. Antoine needed to feel he was helping him mend and Snow would happily go along with it to make him feel better and alleviate his fears.

Antoine gathered bandages, cotton wool, antiseptic and various other medical supplies from the cupboard near Snow's bed and set them out on his ebony nightstand. Snow winced when his brother tore open a pack containing a surgical needle and took up some thread. He hated needles. He steeled himself and focused on everyone else in the room as Antoine began to sew the wound on his chest, trying not to tense too much.

Elissa finished with Payne and moved straight to Callum and Kristina as they entered. Kristina was wearing Callum's shirt, her legs bare beneath it. Blood covered most of her skin and it was hard to tell how badly she was injured.

Werewolves fought violently and their methods meant they often ended up bathed in the blood of their foes. Snow hoped she looked worse than she was. Elissa healed her first and then rubbed the back of her hand across her brow, fatigue beginning to shine in her silver-grey eyes.

The witch stepped away from Kristina and Payne moved over to her, his arm settling around her waist, slipping beneath the hem of her midnight blue halter-top to rest on the belt of her black jeans.

Elissa leaned against his chest, closing her eyes, and remained there for long minutes while Payne tenderly caressed her long silver-streaked dark hair. When she emerged and nodded, he brushed a kiss across her brow and then released her, concern in his dark grey eyes. She smiled, touched his hand and then turned to Callum.

Payne took the twins from Callum and the black-haired elite male slumped into the nearest chair, the life draining out of him.

Snow could sense it was relief draining him rather than any injury. With the exception of Chica, who had been healing her wounds on the fly by kissing and stealing energy, he was the least injured. There wasn't a scratch on his bare chest. Not even a bruise.

The babies wriggled in Payne's arms, giving him hell.

Snow amended his observation. With the exception of Chica, Alistair and Abby. The twins were in perfect health, not a scratch on either of them. Even Luca had picked up a cut or two.

Callum and Kristina were perfect parents. They had protected their young.

Everyone had protected them.

Snow wriggled his fingers at Abby when she looked across at him, her big baby blues filled with tears. She giggled.

Luca joined Payne and peered up at the babies. Payne crouched so the young incubus boy could see them and they squirmed harder, writhing in his arms.

"Be nice to your godfather," Payne muttered and frowned as he struggled to keep hold of the twins.

Luca petted Alistair on the head very carefully. "I want a baby."

Payne swallowed hard, his grey eyes wide and full of alarm. "Careful what you wish for, Kiddo. Wait until you're a few centuries old, okay? They're a lot of responsibility and with an incubus's appetite... well... you might want to find your mate first and settle down."

Luca smiled up at him. "Like you did with Elissa."

Payne nodded and glanced at her, affection warming his eyes. She smiled down at him and then focused on checking over Callum.

"Make me a sister or a brother then."

Payne choked this time and Callum yelped as Elissa tensed. A black scorch mark on his shoulder told Snow that demand leaving Luca's lips had shocked her as much as it had her mate.

"Sorry," Elissa muttered and used her magic to heal the wound.

"Er... um..." Payne glanced at Elissa again, looking like a man desperate for a lifeline.

Elissa finished with Callum, squatted next to Luca, and brushed his wild hair from his brow. "Maybe when you're older."

Luca looked as though he might demand they make him a brother or sister right that minute but then he looked back at the twins, and then up at Callum and Kristina. "Can I be their big brother?"

Kristina smiled and settled her hand on Callum's shoulder. "Of course. You did a wonderful job protecting them today. You have to keep them safe with the rest of us. That's what big brothers do. They make sure their siblings are protected and safe."

Snow looked away from them, his gaze falling on his younger brother.

Antoine smiled at him before he could say anything and gently squeezed his shoulder, showing him that he knew what was on his mind and it was all in the past now.

Snow would make it up to him. He would be the big brother he always should have been, had always tried to be for Antoine. He would protect him and ensure he was safe, and would never allow anyone to harm him or those he cared about.

His gaze drifted across the black apartment to the bathroom door, his senses reaching for Aurora, needing to feel her and feel she was safe. He felt terrible for doubting her and believing she would want to harm those at the theatre. He wanted to see her again and apologise, and tell her that he would make it up to her somehow.

Antoine finished with the deepest wounds on his chest and back, and then stitched the already healing stab wounds in his side. He cut the thread, set the infernal needle down and picked up cotton wool and antiseptic, and cleaned all of the lacerations. Snow bit his tongue to stop himself from wincing as each cut stung. Antoine's pale eyes kept flickering to Snow's face, the guilt surfacing in them telling Snow that Antoine could sense his pain. Snow gave him a tight smile that grew even tighter when his younger brother wrapped enough bandages around his chest and stomach to make several mummies in Ancient Egyptian times. Antoine pulled them so tightly that Snow could barely breathe.

Snow tried to take it as a sign of Antoine's deep love for him and his need to ensure he recovered quickly.

He would slightly amend the bandages later when his brother had gone, removing half of them so his ribs no longer felt as though they were being mercilessly shoved inwards.

Antoine cupped his cheek and Snow looked at him, and caught the deep pain in his pale blue eyes before he masked it. He had scared his brother again. Snow caught him around the nape of his neck and pulled his brother down into a brief embrace.

"Oh, are you two going to start kissing or something... because I think that's illegal... but kinky." Chica sounded far too interested in seeing him kiss Antoine.

"Not going to happen." Andreu steered her away from them. "Like you haven't fed enough already tonight anyway."

Elissa finished with Callum and came to Andreu, healing the few cuts he had picked up, and then healed Javier. She took another break before approaching Antoine, and Snow was grateful for her distracting his brother.

He didn't think he could take much more of Antoine's mollycoddling and there would be a world shortage of bandages if his brother continued, wrapping them around even the most minor of Snow's wounds.

Sera and Lilah came out of the bathroom, followed by Aurora, and Snow's gaze instantly sought her.

She wore his black silk robe around her slender frame and it pooled around her feet, far too long for her. Someone had tied her beautiful hair back and it was damp. The females must have washed her too, cleaning all the blood away. She looked pale still.

Elissa healed Sera and then Lilah, and then came to Snow. She looked tired, dark crescents beneath her sparkling silver eyes.

Snow held his hands up and smiled at her. "Call it a day. Payne looks itchy to get you back to your apartment and I don't want to see what happens to a hungry incubus when he watches his mate lay her hands on a man ten times better-looking than he is."

Payne shot him a dour look. "Very fucking funny."

"Thank you." Elissa shakily smiled, the twinkle in her silver-grey eyes backing up her words and letting him know that she truly appreciated him letting her rest now.

Payne handed the babies back to Callum, took Luca's hand and walked across the room to Elissa. The moment she was within his reach, he grabbed her, tugged her against him, gathered Luca closer and teleported.

Chica nibbled her lower lip, looking as though she really wanted to follow Payne's lead and get her mate back to bed so she could have some dessert. Snow shot her a smile and she winked at him, a blush staining her cheeks, and kissed Andreu as they both disappeared.

Javier rolled his eyes. He stood near the door with Lilah tucked against his side, his arm around her. "There is far too much victory sex happening in this place tonight."

Lilah pouted and looked up at her lover. "I'll just have to shower alone to get all this blood off me then."

Javier's dark brown gaze slid to her, lighting up with interest. Snow couldn't blame the elite male when he turned, released Lilah's shoulder and grabbed her hand, and pulled her from the room. It seemed Javier was no longer feeling tired.

Snow glanced at Aurora, catching the flush of colour on her cheeks as she watched the couple leave, sensing that her thoughts were following the same lines as his were. He wanted to kiss her and hold her in his arms. He wanted to make love with her.

He was beginning to regret not letting Elissa heal him now.

He ran his gaze over her and frowned at the bandages that poked out above the robe, wrapping around her chest. He should have told Elissa to heal Aurora at the very least. He wasn't used to having to worry about another like this and it was going to take some getting used to. Aurora was his to take care of and protect. He would do better next time and would place her first. Not that he would ever let her end up injured like this again.

Antoine sighed as Callum and Kristina left the room too, leaving them alone with their females. "My money is on Lilah becoming pregnant next. Having the apartment next to Javier's is becoming a nightmare. I swear they never sleep."

Sera looped her arm around Antoine's and smiled sweetly at him. "This from the man who puts his brother's spare restraints to use each morning?"

Snow grimaced.

"I am in enough pain without that image branded on my mind." He flicked a serious look at his younger brother, ignoring Sera's scowl. "I want new restraints. I am not being chained by ones that have been used in sex play."

Sera reached over and patted Snow's cheek as she leaned down, bringing her mouth close to his ear.

"I guess you'll need new restraints for your bed every day then... if you don't want to use ones someone has used during sex?" she whispered and his cheeks heated, the thought of being chained to his bed gaining appeal for the first time in his life.