Ben actually looked relieved. “Come on. Let’s go back to work.”

There were some complaints and muttering, but his brothers disappeared back into the trees. There was still something up with Ben, but Adam really couldn’t worry about that right now.

“Aoife, what happened?” Adam asked.

She sighed. “I was recognized by a mermaid in the bar and I had to do a little job for her in order to ensure that she didn’t let Prince Ivar’s soldiers know who I was with. I was doing it to protect you.”

“You acted as a harbinger last night?” he asked, knowing that she didn’t want to be like that. She didn’t like using her banshee powers in that way.

“Not a full-on wail, but enough to scare the crap out of someone. He paid the mermaid the owed debt and now you’re safe.”

“And if this mermaid double-crosses us?” Adam asked, because he didn’t trust a mermaid who obviously had criminal ties.

“She won’t. If she does, I’ll have her voice. She’s not a fool. I just don’t like being blackmailed.”

Adam pulled her close, to hold her. He ran his hand over her silken locks. “You don’t need to protect us. If I could get my hands on the prince, I could snap him like a twig.”

Aoife chuckled softly, her fingers tangling into his chest hair. “I know, but I had to do something. If I hadn’t of stumbled into your woods, you wouldn’t be involved. It’s not fair.”

“Thank you,” he responded. “It’s what I’d do for my mate.”

Aoife froze and pushed herself out of his arms, pulling her cloak tight around her. “Your…what?”

“Mate.”

“It’s just a love spell. I know you guys give off crazy pheromones.”

“I think it’s more than that,” Adam said, huskily. “I think it’s more than just some kind of Sasquatch banshee love spell pheromone thing. I care for you. I want to keep you safe.”

Her breath caught in her throat, her dark eyes went a bit pale, her body shimmering. “Yeah, maybe you’re right, because I do care about you. So much.”

His heart skipped a beat hearing her admit it. There was no denying it, he was falling for his little banshee witch.

Completely.

Adam pulled her back into his arms, holding her while she clung to him.

“No one has ever really cared for me before. Not really. They just wanted to use me,” she murmured against his chest, and he could feel her tears on his forearm.

“They’re idiots, then. I don’t care who you are or what you are. I would never use you.”

She looked up at him, smiling. “I feel the same and I’ll protect you and your brothers from harm. I will keep you all safe.”

Adam ran his thumb over her cheek and then bent over, kissing her gently on the forehead. No one had ever offered to protect him or his family before; it was usually just up to him and it was a burden he gladly bore.

It was nice to have someone else in his corner.

And he was honored that Aoife wanted to take care of them, but he also wanted to protect her, and it wasn’t fair that he kept his brothers locked away in the woods. He would have to face Prince Ivar and let him know that Aoife would not be his.

The prince had to find another banshee to breed with.

“What’re you thinking?” Aoife asked.

“What?” Adam replied.

Aoife’s brow furrowed. “It was like you were in some kind of trance. You were far away, I could sense it.”

“Just thinking about…” he trailed off, because he didn’t want her to know what he was thinking about. It was time someone stood up to that Prince and the King.