Damienughed as he carried my body to the bath. He was quite proud of the happy, sated Look on


    my face.


    It was Late and the men were tired. They had something to do before we went to sleep. Since I was no


    longer distracting them with my waiting body, we went to work.


    The only camera we found was in the birthing room. Not surprising really that Nu-reeh might want to


    watch us in there. The men pulled the leather drape tight across that room and we vowed silently not to


    enter it unless we had to. The idea of the women watching us made everyone uneasy.


    “Time for sleep, sweet woman,” Kein finally said pulling me toward the bed.


    I followed willingly, crawling under the soft covers. The main room was a little chilly without my dress.


    The bed room was much warmer. In the bed, Christof’s body curled around my back and I drifted to


    sleep.


    ninjanovel


    The dreams were back in full force. With all the menpletely rxed, the little girl in me explored


    their memories. She was inquisitive and wormed her way into their most private thoughts. In a strange


    way the dreaming was intrusive.


    Hannah had been straightforward in her quest and never like this. Even in the dreams I felt the men’s


    frustration with this incessant curiosity. They were kept on edge and nearly awake. The life inside of me


    wanted to know how and why about everything they’d ever done. It was maddening.


    I awokepletely in the middle of the night and wandered groggily to the bathroom. I sat on the cool


    pot and faced the wall. As I yawned I felt a presence behind me. Evan was waiting, as patiently as he


    could, for me to finish. Once I’d gone he patted me dry and helped me stand. His eyes were shing in


    the low Light.


    “You must make her stop, Ciara,” he said quickly. “The questions are too much. It is not enough to see


    every moment of our lives. Thispulsion to dissect every impulse and determine the root of every


    decision…”


    He was frantic, annoyed, and sleep deprived. The new life connected to them was asking for more than


    the Brothers could give. We needed to rest.


    “Hannah allowed us to sleep. She did not need to keep us nearly awake and thinking all night,” he said


    sounding unnerved.


    This girl was insanely curious. There had to be a way to satiate her desire, so she’d leave the family


    be. Desperately, I thought of ways to entertain her.


    I remembered the pad suddenly. I’d absently drawn the word for scar on it and then that information


    had presented itself. Perhaps I could do that again and read her to sleep. I knew even this little life


    must rest eventually.


    Evan was gone in a sh, retrieving the pad from in front of our rooms. I followed him into the main


    room and settled on a chaise. The room was cool and I rubbed my arms for warmth and then pulled a


    nket over myself.


    “Get up,” Evan ordered, “you may sit in the bed and read until she is satisfied. It is too cold here.”


    I shook my head and reached for the pad. I‘d be fine out here. The men should rest without me


    disturbing them.


    My refusal to just do as he directed infuriated Evan. Thisst eleven nights had been too frustrating. It


    had drained his, not overlyrge, ability to control his emotions. He couldn’t deal with my stubbornness


    right now.


    Evan’s teeth grew and his stripes darkened. I’d never been subjected to his feral nature. He was


    controlled and contained by his Brothers usually. Right now Christof’s gentle constitution and Damien’s


    demanding presence were not limiting him. It was just us, and I was pissing him off.


    “Calm, Brother,” I warned in a low, firm voice.


    I didn’t move from my position and met his fierce stare with a controlled one. This was not a situation to


    cower or show fear. Evan was dangerous right now. Showing anything less than strength would not do.


    Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    Evan liked his routine. He knew when he would sleep and when he would wake. This child was driving


    him mad. After days of being kept on edge, he needed tonight to regroup, the thing in me was


    preventing that.


    Damien and Bane stalked soundlessly into the room. Evan felt them and was not threatened by their


    presence. He was calmed by it. Christof further soothed him as he entered and Kein made him feel


    complete and in control.