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Seemingly in no mood to share, she tightened her grip on her glass. “I couldn’t explain to you half the things he does nor the reason. One thing I know with certainty is the attack today was meant to strike fear into my heart. And curse him if it’s not working because this time, I have far more to lose. I am absolutelyterrified, Liam,” she dared to confess. Again, showing him that vulnerable underbelly. “Not for myself, but for those in my care. In loving them, I’ve given Alistair a weapon to use against me.”

Liam leaned back in his chair. Seeing Vivian scared sure as hell didn’t sit right with him. “Guess it will ease your mind then when I tell you I hired more guards. Not the kind of prissy-ass pansies you had before. Vicious bastards who are willing to fight dirty.” When Soren brought him the box of flowers, they’d had a long talk. Vivian’s home was far too large for three men to defend. “If you want to stay here, we need to make some changes. No more of this,keeping things discreetbusiness. It’s time for a show of force.”

“Fine.” She stared at him, unblinking.

Wait. She agreed? “‘Fine’?”

She hitched a shoulder. “It’s not as if we can downplay the seriousness of the situation when the magister himself was threatened by a pack of hellhounds. More so, I’ll not let my pride get in the way of ensuring Dove’s and Armond’s safety.”

Was she really willing to set her ego aside in order to protect her loved ones? Well, shit. There she went again. Top. Bottom.

He stiffened, his brows sinking low on his head. “Good. Tomorrow, once you’re rested, you can tell me what it is you’re not telling me.” That thing he was pretty sure he didn’t want to know but needed to know. That thing she refused to share with him, even when her guard was down.

Exhaustion weighed her every move. Her drooping eyelids indicated he’d already pushed her far as he dared for one night. Even heartless bastards had their limits.

He heaved himself out of the chair and took her glass from her hand.

“I’m not finished with that,” she groused.

“Yes, you are. To bed with you now. Before you fall over.” He snared her hands and pulled her onto her feet.

She huffed a sigh, grumbling, “You’re getting far too bossy. I’ll need to do something about that.” That threat might have been effective had she not said it while stifling a yawn.

When she reached for the belt on her robe, he gave her his back, his self-control running on empty. With his head all twisted up, hopping in that bed with her was the last thing he needed. The whisper of silk hitting the floor had his eyeballs burning for a glimpse of her in the nighty she’d concealed.

“I’ll get Dove,” he grated on his way to the door.

“No, don’t. Let her paint.”

Paint? The girl wasn’t painting but sobbing. When he’d walked past her door, he overheard her going on about how she’d let everyone down.

He turned back, relieved to find Vivian already under the covers. “I’ll admit, it took me a bit to realize the two of you aren’t lovers.” Vivian and her games. “Regardless, you need each other. She should be here with you.”

“Not tonight. I don’t want to burden her.”

He folded his arms over his chest. “You indulge the girl too often, Viv. She’s out of touch with reality. Sure, I was too easy on Alexandra as well, but she was a responsible adult with both feet on the ground. This isn’t a time for either of you to be holed up alone.” Well hell. Maybe he was an old softie, too, because the thought of Dove crying in her art studio didn’t sit right with him.

He spun on his heel and stormed for the door. It didn’t take long for him to track Dove down. He returned moments later with the startled faerie in his arms.

Before either woman could object, he all but dumped his burden on the mattress next to Vivian. “Your mistress needs you. You need her. Talk it out. Shed your tears and go to sleep.” Then, with a bit more finesse, he tucked the blankets over them.

Dove took one look at Vivian and burst into tears. “Oh, Vivian, I was so scared. The screaming and the hounds, Armond’s arm and Gilbert’s driving. I should have done more. Should have used my gift to control those undead monsters. I screwed up everything. It’s all my fault for not stopping them.”

Vivian smoothed her Chosen’s hair from her cheek. “Hush now, darling. It’s not your fault. It’s over now.”

Liam dropped his head and shuffled his boots on the carpet. Having the two of them in his care, safe and sound, did strange things to his innards. That shriveled thing he called a heart swelled with something that felt a lot like satisfaction.

“Nuff of that sniveling now,” he grumbled. “Both of you get some rest. I’ll stay and keep watch over you for a bit.” After all, that’s what Vivian had hired him to do. To watch over her. Not like he was staying because he couldn’t bring himself to let them out of his sight. Nope.

He settled himself into a chair, picked up Vivian’s unfinished whiskey, and did just that.

Twelve

“Mistress,”Gilbert whispered.

Vivian cracked open one eye. Dove snored beside her, arm thrown over her head, drool on her cheek. Across the room, Vivian saw Liam’s chair was empty. Did she dream that he’d spent the night there, watching over them?

As her sleep-clouded mind cleared, alarm crept in. Gilbert rarely woke her this early. “Is something wrong?” she whispered, propping an elbow beneath her.