I ran down the staircase, leaping over the last few steps and skidding to a stop in the foyer. Morning light streamed through tall windows, casting long shadows across polished marble. The house felt different now—filled with new energy since Ross and Lilach had arrived, extra staff patrolling the grounds outside.

  My body hummed with restless energy, a welcome change from the weakness that had plagued me since my rescue. I spun in a circle, enjoying the simple freedom of movement, the way my muscles responded without pain for the first time in weeks. A giggle escaped my lips, the sound strange in my throat after so many days of silence.

  The house was quiet this morning—too quiet for my current mood. I needed noise, movement, something to match the sudden lightness I felt.

  I skidded into the kitchen but found it empty. Disappointment surprised me as I bounced on the balls of my feet, teeth catching my bottom lip while I looked around. I hadn't specifically had Selwyn in mind when I rushed down the stairs, but now that he wasn't here, his absence felt hollow in my chest.

  Shouts from outside pulled me away from the empty kitchen. I ran through the thin corridors of the servant's area to the back entrance, my bare feet slapping against cool stone floors. I burst out of the building just in time to see Jacobi spear tackle Selwyn into the dirt.

  Selwyn landed on his back with a loud groan, the air rushing from his lungs. His fists jammed quickly up into Jacobi's ribcage until the man got off him, standing back and looking down at his brother with a grin. Ross and Lilach let out hoots of laughter from behind the men, and the group seemed amused rather than angry as I'd expected when I first looked upon them.

  I took a hesitant step toward the group. Lilach waved to me, the movement catching Jacobi's eye. He turned his attention my way with a cheerful grin.

  "Hello, pet."

  I walked toward the group and returned Jacobi's smile.

  "Are you boys having fun?"

  Jacobi laid a hand on his ribcage, dramatically wincing as he limped toward me. "Have you come to kiss my wounds better?"

  I held his gaze and gave him a playful grin. "Do you need me to look after your back?"

  Jacobi tilted his head at me. "My back is fine pet, it's my ribs that—"

  His words vanished as Selwyn tackled him, driving Jacobi face down into the dirt. Selwyn raised his head and shot me a quick grin. "Thanks, sweetie."

  "Cheater." Jacobi spat out a mouthful of dirt as Selwyn climbed off him and allowed him to sit up.

  "Not my fault you got distracted."

  I skirted around the arguing brothers to stand by Ross's side, looking up at him questioningly. The large Naerithi chuckled and put his arm around my shoulders, squeezing me gently against him. The movement dragged against the brand mark on my shoulder, but it was healing well, and I managed to hide the pain that shot through me.

  "They are learning to be strong." He looked at me pointedly. "They are already strong of heart. They wish to protect you."

  I watched the two brothers circle each other, each trying to find a weakness in the other's defenses.

  "How is this going to help them?"

  Lilach laughed softly. "This is more for our amusement. They jumped at the chance to have a physical fight with one another. I thought it might be funny."

  I smiled fondly at the two men. "As long as they don't get too hurt."

  "Don't you miss it, Joy? The honesty and pureness of the fight. Standing toe to toe with someone and staring them down, knowing that you could break their body just as easily as breathing?"

  Ross turned to shoot Lilach a dark look. "Joy will return to fighting when she is strong enough, not before."

  I frowned up at my brother. "I am strong. I am not damaged and delicate, and I am not to be pushed aside!"

  Ross crossed his arms, frowning down at me. "Don't look at me, I won’t fight you." He pointed at the brothers. "And you won’t fight them, they're far too breakable."

  "Fight me!" Lilach suggested with a grin, stepping out from beside Ross. She grabbed my hand and began tugging me toward the patch of dirt.

  When they saw us approach, Selwyn and Jacobi separated quickly, backing away from the center of the makeshift fighting pit.

  Lilach shooed the two humans away, and they moved to stand beside Ross, both folding their arms in a similar manner to him although it lacked the visual reinforcement of his giant forearms. I unwound a thin piece of leather that had been looped around my wrist and tied my hair back away from my face, putting it high up on my head in a ponytail. Lilach watched me, waiting until I had my hands occupied with my hair and rushed forward, driving her shoulder into my stomach before darting out of my reach again.

  I let out a loud cry of surprise, and I heard only Ross's laughter from the sidelines. I should have known better than to trust Lilach to play fair. Keeping my eyes on the younger Naerithi, I backed around the dirt patch, bouncing on my toes as I had been in my excitement earlier. I flexed my fingers and claws before curling one hand into a fist and brandishing the claws on the other hand with a grin to Lilach.

  "No permanent damage!" Ross called from the side.

  Lilach laughed back to him as she pulled out a small dagger from a pouch on her hip. "No promises, love!"

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  I looked from Lilach to the blade as it flashed in the sun, before shaking my head and grinning over at Ross and the brothers.

  "Nothing I can't handle, brother, don't fear for me."

  It wasn't completely uncommon to use weapons during private fights, but I had thought that the first one would at least be simple hand to hand. I smiled over at Lilach, who seemed to be waiting for me to make the first move, or perhaps call off the fight. I wouldn't give her that much satisfaction.

  I nodded to the blade in Lilach's hand. "I didn't think you'd be that scared of me to bring a knife!"

  Lilach remained silent, not rising to the taunt, but a sly grin slid over her face, and she gripped the handle tighter in her hand. I stopped moving and stood still with my arms open to the sides. "How about I give you a free shot, little one?" I saw Lilach's face twitch and knew that I'd hit a nerve. "I'll stand right here like this, and you can take your best shot."

  I could hear murmurs from the men but tuned them out, focusing entirely on Lilach's movements and the blade in her hand.

  Lilach's smile twisted into a grimace and she dove forward with the knife held out, aiming to land a strike on my chest. I waited until Lilach had come into range and wound my arms through her defense, swinging behind Lilach and spinning her harmlessly forward away from me. The sound of cheers met my ears from the men and Lilach shot the group a dark glare, resulting only in laughter from them.

  I watched Lilach. I didn't want to hurt her, but by Tesharen I wanted to get the men to give me some respect again, and not see me as a broken little thing to be protected and babied.

  Lost in my thoughts, I didn't see Lilach strike toward me again, and while I deflected the knife blow, Lilach's foot lashed out and kicked my feet out from under me. I landed in the dirt, my body betraying me as muscles that had once responded instantly now faltered under the strain. My shoulder throbbed where it struck the ground, radiating a dull heat through my arm.

  I dragged myself to my feet, watching Lilach carefully, not wanting her to get in another surprise attack while I was standing.

  Ross's voice called out from the side. "Get her, Joy!"

  Lilach turned to look at them, glaring at Ross. "Do you want to sleep outside tonight?"

  The brothers laughed at the sheepish look on Ross's face.

  I watched her with a small smile. If she made Ross happy, that was all I really cared about.

  The two of us clashed together again a number of times, neither one making any advance on stopping the other as we grinned at each other, enjoying the battle. I was pleased to have such a gentle fight to get me back feeling more like my old self. The training yard at Jacobi's estate wasn't as well-equipped as the one at Ross's mansion, but the open space behind the kitchen gardens served our purpose well enough.

  "Pet." The call from Jacobi drew my attention, and I turned to look at him.

  "Stop holding back."

  Too late I realized Lilach had taken the distraction as a chance to tackle me from behind as Selwyn had done earlier to Jacobi. I now realized where he'd learned that move from.

  The air was forced out of my lungs as I was driven into the dirt, my face and hands taking the brunt of the fall as I landed face down on the ground. Lilach sat triumphantly on my back, and leaned down over me.

  "Aren't you glad I'm holding back?" The blade in her hand caught the light again as she put her hand next to my head and I sucked in a breath suddenly at the sight of it next to my face. The dirt that I took into my lungs sent me into a coughing fit and I squirmed on the dirt frantically, trying to dislodge Lilach from my back.

  The weight pressed into my back, too firm, too familiar. Then the glint of the blade near my cheek, and the world collapsed inward.

  "Stay still." Marcelo's voice slithered into my ear. "The more you struggle, the deeper it cuts."

  Cold metal touched my cheek, tracing a line down to the corner of my mouth. The familiar etched handle pressing into my peripheral vision. I forced my breathing to slow, shallow pulls of air that wouldn't shift my body beneath his weight.

  "Such lovely skin," he whispered. "I could mark it in so many ways."

  I tried to disappear into my mind. To find that white space where nothing touched me. But he knew.

  "No. Not yet." His hand twisted in my hair, yanking my head back painfully, snapping me back to the present. "I want you here for this part."

  He shifted his position, the mattress springs creaking beneath us. The knife disappeared from my view momentarily. A heartbeat of anticipation. Then searing pain returned to my shoulder blade.

  His laughter rumbled through his chest and into my back as cold metal carved intricate lines into my skin. Each cut was precise and deliberate. His weight crushed the air from my lungs while he forced himself inside me, each movement timed with the knife's journey across my flesh. Blood trickled warm down my shoulder blades, pooling in the hollow of my spine. The sour smell of his sweat mingled with the metallic tang of blood and the mustiness of the cellar air. Through it all, that knife gleamed in the candlelight, catching the flame's reflection each time he put his hand down to admire his work.

  I twisted my body, my hand lashing out to bat away the blade. Lilach landed in the dirt as I jumped to my feet. A long growl of anguish escaped me, my claws ready to lash out at those moving in around me.

  A familiar and safe voice called through the darkness of my memory.

  "Joy, it's alright, you're safe."

  Coughing to clear my lungs, I looked at the ground where Lilach's blade had fallen.

  My breathing came heavy and fast. I focused on the three men approaching. I knew these men. They were mine. They would protect me.

  My gaze flicked around the group, searching. I spied Lilach standing behind Ross. She looked around him hesitantly, one of his arms shielding her from me.

  I took a deep breath, trying to anchor myself in the present moment, in what was happening right now.

  Jacobi leaned down to pick up the knife. His eyes widened as the crest on the handle came into view.

  "Where did this come from?" Jacobi's gaze narrowed in on Lilach. "Where did you get this?"

  Lilach frowned, a look of stubborn indignation coming onto her face. "I found it while hunting for Marcelo."

  "No!" Selwyn had to hold onto me as my knees buckled.

  Terror gripped me—not for myself, but for Lilach. The knife in Jacobi's hand burned in my vision, its etched handle unmistakable. If Lilach had been close enough to find his knife, she'd been close enough for him to find her. The thought of her suffering what I had endured made my stomach heave. Ross's mate, his beloved, carrying Marcelo's blade—she had no idea what danger she'd put herself in.

  Ross moved to my side, dislodging me from Selwyn and lifting me easily in his arms.

  "Don't let her go near him," I begged Ross as I curled up against his large chest. "Please, Ross. He'll do to her what he did to me. Don't let Lilach hunt him again."

  My voice broke on the words as the memory of Marcelo's weight pressed against my body, his knife kissing my skin. Lilach's face blurred with Ellah's in my mind—another person I couldn't protect.

  I rested my head against Ross's heartbeat and looked up at him. This was far too much, Marcelo's knife finding its way back to me, knowing that Lilach was risking the same fate I had been put through.

  "I can't..."

  I murmured to Ross and the man nodded. "Let go if you can, little sister. Rest."

  I meant to answer. But instead, I sank. Exhaustion flooded my body, blurring the world around me. Pain and memory surged together, and as my eyes clouded white, I let myself fade from this plane.