Page 56 of Desire

“It is,” Darian said, elbowing his way through his brothers. I watched him grow and duck to accommodate the low beams as he crossed the room.

“She’s mine,” Daemon said, wrapping his arms around me.

“She’s hungry,” Darian said. “Give her over.”

Daemon kissed my chin, nose, and forehead then lifted me as if I weighed nothing. Darian plucked me away with the same ease and hugged me close.

“Hmm. You’re so warm,” he said. “I like it.” He started walking toward the door.

“I won’t stay warm in this shift. Let me get dressed first.”

It was usually a task I completed alone. Darian wouldn’t hear of it. While Daemon folded the blankets and rolled up the mattress, Darian helped with my lacings and took great care in straightening my skirts—a ruse to pet my legs and backside.

“End the idle wandering of your hands and feed me, or suffer,” I said, swatting the straying appendages. He chuckled and finished lacing my boots.

“There you are, Princess. Adequately dressed, to my misfortune.”

“Incorrigible,” I muttered.

At the table outside, Brandle ladled out a portion of boiled oats and berries for me, which he handed to Eadric.

“Who is serving as my cushion?” I asked.

“Do you have a preference?” Garron asked.

I shook my head and watched him and Liam race to the bench in front of me. Liam won. I didn’t simply sit on his lap; I made myself comfortable, reclining against his chest as Eadric fed me a bite at a time. When Liam’s arm curled around my waist, I held it and allowed myself to like it—openly, without shame or regret.

He kissed my neck and told Eadric not to feed me too quickly.

I laughed, and it was…good.

The pair playfully fed me then relinquished me to Garron. He and I had only just begun to work on a new spell inside the cottage when a tingle of warning had me pausing.

A shout rang out in the clearing.

“Protect Kellen!”

“Stay here,” Garron said. He ran out the door and slammed it closed behind him.

I glanced from the door up to the loft and to the hidden cellar. Something whispered that none of those options were safe. I wasn’t safe. No matter what I chose, I would face danger.

Glass shattered behind me.

CHAPTER NINE

Whirling around,I saw a tracker pull himself through the small window. The man was the same one who’d attempted to take me from the cave.

Glass crunched under his boots as he stepped down, but he paid it no mind.

“It’s time to pay your debt.” The way his gaze raked over me left no doubt the payment he would demand.

Fear and anger were a terrible, frightening combination. They threatened my control…and control was what kept those I cared about safe.

“Leave,” I said. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

He laughed. “You were lucky the last time we met. You won’t be this time.”

He lunged forward and grabbed me by the throat with one hand and slapped me hard with the other. My ears rang.

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