This would probably confuse Tyle and his family. I put the leaves and the pad back in the box and hid it all in a bag in the bedroom. When Damien returned I would tell him about it privately.


    The door creaked open after I finished straightening up and had been knitting for a while. I was hesitant this time, considering myst surprise. Damien came through first and I smiled with relief at him.


    Damien was not smiling, though. His eyes riveted on my face and a foul curse left his mouth. His sword was drawn and his stripes were dark. A mouthful of secondary teeth made me stand very still and watch him.


    Evan followed Damien in and they checked the cabin. The men moved around me like I wasn’t even present. Their stealthy motions surprised me into staying absolutely still and quiet. My men looked ready to attack.


    The boys entered once the cabin had been searched. The young men held the weapons Damien had given them and they copied the elders’ defensive stance. Bane was thest one in and shut the door behind him.


    Christof put his sword away and approached me slowly. His stripes calmed and the secondary teeth receded. He touched my cheeks and my mouth. Brilliant eyes traveled over my form as long fingers stroked the sore ce the other man had left on my arm.


    Damien’s voice startled me. “Stay with us out here, Tyle. My Brothers will attend Ciara in the other room.”


    Christof nudged me backward until I turned and walked into the bedroom. Once we were inside, he pulled at my dress and I resisted him.


    “Nothing’s wrong,” I whispered to him trying to stop him from undressing me.


    “Let us check,” hemanded. “We will not hurt you. I will not harm you when I remove your cover. My Brothers and I will protect you now. Allow us to see what is damaged.”


    Evan assisted him and murmuredforting words to me as the dress was removed. Kein brought in healing cream and pulled the leather cover between the rooms closed. The men were being so gentle and caring. When I looked in their eyes I saw anger boiling beneath the surface, though.


    It was confusing and then I nced at my arm.Content provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    My upper arm was mottled ck and blue. It was clear that a man’s hand had made the deep mark. My fingers went to my sore mouth and I knew it must have the same look. I looked beaten. My men must think that they had totally failed to protect me.


    “They were friends,” I whispered to Christof hurriedly. “They did not mean to harm me. The man, Kev, became upset because I screamed and he held me too tightly. His Brother told him to let go. It wasn’t intentional.”


    “Hush and let us check,” Christof murmured with contrition on his face. “We will not hurt you anymore. Let us make it better.”


    “It was just one family. You saw the light tracks in the dirt, Kein,” Evan whispered fiercely as he moved my hair and checked my back. “I know you could follow them. We could find them and destroy them.”


    Strong fingers examined my neck above my cor checking for bruises. They were being very thorough.


    “NO!,” I said in an emphatic whisper, pushing the hands away, “they were some of the men I freed in the mountains. They brought me something from Kennedy. None of them intended to harm me. The bruises are an ident because I panicked.”


    The men looked at me and looked at one another questioningly. I wasn’t lying, but they still did not believe me. Kein started to coat my arm as Christof spoke.


    “Let us check you over,” he repeated. “If my offspring sent these men I will have to speak with her when we meet again. That was inappropriate.”


    Evan muttered curses as he pushed me toy on the bed. Most of what he said was damning dishonorable men touching what was not theirs to touch. He was still pissed and he wanted to find them to beat them.


    “I don’t need to sleep,” I sputtered trying to sit up, but that wasn’t why I wasying down.


    “Men here believe a human only has one purpose,” Christof said gently. “We wish to be sure they did not use you for it. If you are damaged, we will care for you.”


    I was so frustrated I rolled my eyes as they bent my knees and pressed them apart.


    “They didn’t mean to hurt me,” I repeated. “They did not use me. Don’t you think I would tell you all if something like that happened? Don’t you think I’d look upset or in pain?”


    My questions were ignored and I felt Christof’s long fingers gliding up my thighs. When he reached the juncture he softly touched the outer lips and then pulled them apart. He let out an audible breath finding everything untouched.


    “And the other?” Evan asked quietly.


    Christof’s fingers sought lower down and found the knot of my ass. He gave it a gentle stroke before answering Evan.


    “She was not harmed here,” he stated with certainty.


    “Told you so,” I said briskly folding my hands over my stomach.


    My tone irritated Evan and he got right in my face. “Did you enjoy being touched by them?” he asked hotly. “Is that how you like to be treated? Did you feel safe with them?!”


    I was offended at the presumption, but I didn’t want to start a fight. It seemed to me Evan was just upset and wanted to battle with someone. He needed to be calmed down not riled up.


    “You know I didn’t,” I soothed cupping his chin. “I just wished you would believe me when I told you what happened. The men came to deliver a package. They were dressed strangely and I panicked. To keep me quiet they put a hand on my arm and over my mouth. The lead Brother scolded the other man for using too much force.”


    I saw Evan’s mood shift and sway. Christof wasn’t upset and neither was Kein, at least not outwardly. The surrounding calm seemed to slowly be working its magic on Evan. He dipped his fingers into the pot in Kein’s hand and started to rub the bruise on my face. Kissing my forehead he murmured an apology.


    “What exactly did the men bring?” Christof asked once the bruises had started to fade.