We sat looking at one another and she slipped off myp to sit beside me. The men were still huddled


    and talking. Rose looked back at me.


    “The…other one I worried about?” she questioned vaguely.


    “strong and free,” I repeated and Rose Looked confused.


    “It is how it is done here,” I said trying to stay vague. “Tomorrow at the Keeper’s…”


    “Yes,” Rose said nodding, “that would be better.”


    Rose and I sat together holding hands while the men talked. Once they were done her owners came to


    take her away. I heard her kissing the man that picked her up and apologizing between kisses.


    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    “Ciara,” Damien called motioning for me.


    We walked into the pool and I started to soap Damien. I carefully washed away the dirt umted


    from the Long day. Once he was clean I massaged his back and shoulders, because he had said he


    wanted to rx.


    The muscles under my hands were tense balls. Using the heel of my hand I pushed them out. Along


    Damien’s spine I used my thumbs in small circr movements to loosen the tension there.


    “Why do you do that?” he asked.


    ninjanovel


    “I thought you liked it, Da…Master Damien.”


    My hands continued to seek out tight muscles and rub them for a few moments. Damien didn’t say


    anything else. He just unwound under my hands.


    Once Damien seemed rxed, I moved behind Evan. I washed his long hair gently. Eventually, I ended


    up sitting on a bench with his head in myp. My fingers rubbed at his scalp and I braided his hair into


    all sorts of designs before returning it to it’s usual state. He looked like he had gone to sleep as I


    yed.


    Once the men were rxed to their satisfaction we moved upstairs. They had their old rooms back, I


    noticed right away. The men seemed to Like consistency, so I was sure that made them happy.


    Walking into the familiar set up I touched the knitted blue nket they had Laying over one chair. I had


    made this nket for Hannah, but it had been too big for her to take. In my rush to pack them, I didn’t


    even remember taking it.


    “You told my Brother she is doing well,” Damien stated from right behind me.


    “Yes,” I said smiling picking up the nket.


    I pressed the fabric to my nose and the slight scent of her still clung to it. Part of me wanted to lock this


    nket far away, so the smell would stay. That wouldn’t work, though. There was no ce to put it that


    Hannah’s scent would remain.


    That night I slept holding the nket tight to my chest. I dreamed of my daughter all night. Her sweet


    face, her voice, and herughter haunted my memories. I wanted to keep them alive and well, so I


    would never forget.


    A hand sliding over my body woke me the next morning. Evan was touching me idly and grinning as he


    Lay propped on the bed.


    “It was easier to wake you when we were bonded,” he said as I sluggishly roused myself.


    “You could just let me sleep,“ I yawned following him to the bathing room.