Chapter 5. Vane laid her carefully on the bed

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Vane laid her carefully on the bed. He was extremely glad tonight that he'd paid the movers to set up her furniture. It was going to make this a lot easier than trying to share that old couch with her.

He pulled the pins from her auburn hair and let it fall down around her round face. She had such a delicate, beautiful face. Placing his cheek against hers, he inhaled her fragrant scent.

She pulled the jacket from him while he savored the softness of her body under his.

She tossed his jacket to the floor, then ran her hands down his back. Vane drew his breath in sharply as intense pleasure consumed him. He knew why he hated being human. If he dared use his powers, they would both be naked in an instant and he could feel every inch of her. Flesh to flesh.

But that would most likely terrify her.

So instead, he leashed his powers and shielded his body marks from her, especially his palm. For once in his life, he would be with a woman not as a wolf or a warrior.

He would spend tonight with Bride as a man.

Bride savored the feel of Vane pressing down on her as he pulled her shoes and then her pantyhose off with consummate skill. His muscles rippled under her hands while her tongue danced with his.

Ummmm… this man knew how to kiss like nobody's business.

She would never get tired of the way he tasted. It was raw and decadent. Desirable and hot.

He held himself up on his arms while she slowly unbuttoned his shirt to reveal, inch by inch, that lean, strong chest. She untucked the silk to let it fall open while she ran her hands over the tanned flesh. She raked her fingers carefully through the masculine hairs that dappled his chest and abdomen, then ran them over his lean ribs.

His kiss deepened and she felt his heart pounding under her hands. He nipped at her lips, rubbing his body against hers in a way that heightened and teased her to incredible arousal.

Bride looked up at him and saw the unadulterated hunger on his face. How could a man like this want her so badly?

Part of her told her to have more confidence in herself, but it wasn't a lack of self-esteem that made this so hard to believe. She was a realist. Men who looked like Vane didn't date women who looked like her. They just didn't.

Not even Taylor was this scrumptious and he had only been using her. She didn't want to be hurt again. Not like that and especially not by Vane.

Relax, Bride.

Vane pulled back. " Are you okay? "

" I'm just trying to figure out what you see in me, " she admitted.

" I see a beautiful woman, " he said earnestly, dipping down to nibble the sensitive skin below her ear. " Whose kind heart shines in her eyes and whose spirit is boundless." He pulled back so that he could stare down into her eyes. " The way you stood up to Taylor this afternoon…" His half-smile made her heart pound. " You wouldn't ever let anyone get the better of you, would you? "

" I try not to."

He rolled over onto his back and pulled her across him. The dark tenderness on his face wrapped around her heart and squeezed it tight. " Most of all, I like the fact that you share yourself with me. That I don't have to prove my strength to you. I don't have to hurt or be hurt to lie with you."

There was a note in his voice that told her just how important that was to him.

What an odd thing to say to a woman.

Just what kind of commune did he come from? It definitely sounded like one of those weird ones where people were made to do all kinds of strange things to belong to it.

She ran her hand over the rough smoothness of his face. " There's something inside you that scares me, Vane. Are you sure you're normal? "

He gave a light laugh at that. " I don't know what normal is. But I would never hurt you, Bride." His eyes burned her with his sincerity. " Never."

He pulled her lips to his, then moved his hands around her neck to undo the top of her dress and her necklace. He placed her necklace on the box by the bed, then played gently with her breasts. His rough palms scraped her nipples, making them tight and heavy, and sending pleasure through her entire body.

Bride wanted to melt into him. No man had ever made her feel the way he did.

Vane could barely breathe from the emotions warring inside him. He should let her go. He had no business mating with anyone. And yet he couldn't keep himself from her. Tonight he could very well father children with her. It was the first time in his adult life that that was a concern.

In the back of his mind, he could imagine her with his baby. See her suckling it with love in her eyes…

How could he let her go?

How could he even think it?

The Fates had decreed that they should be united. Who was he to argue against the goddesses?

Vane had spent his entire life fighting. Why should he not fight for this? Just once, didn't he deserve someone to love him?

What if she never does?

Just as his mother had never loved his father.

The question hung heavy in his heart. What if he didn't win her over by the end of his three weeks?

No, it wasn't an option. He would win her and he would keep her.

Holding on to that thought, he took her hand and led it to his chest so that she could feel his heart beating. Unable to stand being without her, he opened his pants and freed himself.

Bride gasped as he shifted his hips and filled her unexpectedly. Mmm, he was so thick and hard inside her. So commanding.

Biting her lip, she looked down at him as he lifted his hips and drove himself deep inside her.

No man had ever been so impatient to be with her. It made her feel strangely powerful. Desirable.

The look of pleasure on his face seared her heart. It made her ache for him. Still inside her, he unzipped the back of her dress and pulled it over her head.

Completely naked, she looked down at him. His shirt was open, but still on his body. He'd only slid his pants down enough so that he could take her.

She lifted one of his hands from her breast and kissed his scarred knuckles while she rode him slow and easy.

He stared up at her with his mouth slightly parted, his eyes dark and hooded. His expression showed her just how much he savored her body. Her touch.

That made her soar most of all.

He placed his hands on her hips and held her still as he took over the thrusting. Bride was amazed at the strength it took for him to do that.

But she didn't mind ceding control over to him as he quickened his deep, penetrating strokes. Each one went through her, hot and bittersweet. She leaned forward onto her arms, letting her hair fall over them as her body throbbed and ached for more of him.

Her pleasure built until she cried out from sweet release.

Vane watched her face as she climaxed in his arms. Joy tore through him at the sight of her, at the warm sweetness of her body cradling his. He claimed her lips and moved even faster, wanting his own moment of perfection.

Closing his eyes, he found it. He pulled back from her lips to growl deep in his throat as his body exploded into bliss.

Still joined with her, he pulled her down onto his chest and held her quietly while their hearts pounded in time and his body continued to orgasm for several minutes. He ran his hands over her back, delighting in the tranquility of this moment.

It was the only peace his violent life had ever known. There was no fear here with her. No terror that she had the powers to unmask his human heart and kill him for it.

There was only them.

Bride didn't move for the longest time. She lay on his chest, savoring the strength of his arms holding her.

She nuzzled her face against his chest, then kissed his nipple before she pulled away.

As she started to move from the bed, he tugged lightly at her arm to stop her. " Where are you going? "

" I was going to clean up."

" Why? I'm far from finished with you."

She laughed until she realized he wasn't kidding. He quickly pulled his shirt off and tossed it toward his jacket. His pants, shoes, and socks quickly followed.

Before she could protest, he had picked her up and placed her back on the bed. He nudged her legs apart with his knees, then slid his hips and groin between them.

Bride groaned at the sensation of him lying on top of her. He was already growing hard again.

He took his time exploring her mouth, nibbling her lips, and tasting her, until she thought she would pass out from his gentle exploration.

They stayed like that for the rest of the night. Skin to skin, body to body. Bride had never experienced anything like it. Vane had more stamina than anyone she'd ever heard of. By dawn, she was exhausted and fell asleep nestled in his arms.

He slept quietly spooned up behind her with one leg nestled between her thighs.

This was heaven. And for the first time in a long while, she felt a sense of belonging. Of acceptance. Vane didn't care that she wasn't skinny. He didn't mind that they were on a rickety old bed in a tiny apartment.

He seemed happy just to be with her.

And that was the nicest part of all this.

Vane lay there quietly, listening to Bride's soft snore as she slept in his arms. Her scent permeated his head. There was nothing he treasured more than her scent mingled with his. Than the feeling of her in his arms.

He was sore and exhausted. And he loved every bit of it. He looked down at her hand and withdrew his magic so that his mark was visible, too.

Mates.

He pressed his markings to hers and laced their fingers together. They would have to make love with their hands joined in this fashion in order to complete their mating ritual.

Bride would have to accept him.

And he would have to open himself up to her.

In the early light of dawn, that wasn't as frightening to him as it should have been.

Closing his eyes, he let sleep wash over him, and for the first time in months he wasn't racked with nightmares. He only felt the peace of his mate nestled up against him.

But what would happen once his mate found out he wasn't the man he pretended to be?

Could she ever accept the wolf that lived inside him?

He didn't know, but he promised himself that he would be honest with her. Once she was awake, he would come clean with everything.

He only hoped that being honest with her wouldn't cause him to lose her forever.

Bride got up fifteen minutes past the time to open her store. As she pulled away from Vane, his arm tightened around her for just a second before he woke up.

Those deep hazel-green eyes opened, then squinted against the bright light of the morning sun coming in through the windows.

" What time is it? " he asked, his voice deep and hoarse.

" Quarter after ten."

He rubbed his hand over his face and groaned.

Bride bit back a smile at that. " Not a morning person? "

" No, " he said gruffly, rolling over onto his back. He slung a long arm over his eyes to block out the light.

Bride had to take a deep breath at the image he presented lying naked in her bed. The blankets were twisted over his body, barely covering those long, manly legs. His chest was completely bare, showing off the muscles of his abdomen, pecs, and arms. His dark whiskers added an almost deadly masculinity to his face, which was crowned by his long, wayward hair.

Good grief, he was spectacular.

He moved the arm over the top of his face to peep at her with one eye. " We've only been asleep for four hours, why are you up? "

She pulled her pink bathrobe on without getting up from the bed. " I have to work."

He reached out his hand to sink it deep into her hair. " Do you ever take a day off? "

" Only if I make plans with Tabitha in advance for either her or one of her staff to come over and cover for me. And of course I'm closed on Sundays. Other than that, no."

She kissed his hand, then pulled his arm away. He let it fall back to the bed without making any further comments.

Getting up, she left him in bed and went to shower.

Vane lay quietly as he listened to the water come on in the other room. His entire body ached from last night's exertions, but he reveled that the pain of it didn't come from his back, chest, and arms having been clawed. He'd had too much fun with Bride last night and fun was something that was sorely missing from his life.

He grimaced at the brightness of the morning light. He really hated mornings.

Forcing himself up, he pulled on his pants and zipped them, but left the button undone as he wandered into the kitchen area. Bride liked to eat two pieces of toast with marmalade in the morning.

While the bread toasted, he sliced her grapefruit for her and sprinkled a spoonful of sugar over it, then poured her a glass of orange juice.

He was putting the marmalade on the toast when she came out of the bathroom and stopped to stare at him.

" What? " he asked, puzzled by the deep scowl on her face.

" Is that your breakfast? "

Vane made a face. " Not hardly. I was going to fry some bacon for me."

" Then how did you know I liked to eat that? "

Vane paused as he realized that the man Vane wouldn't know what the wolf Vane knew. Clearing his throat, he shrugged. " I opened the fridge and saw the marmalade and grapefruit. Most people only eat those for breakfast so I figured you wouldn't mind them."

She seemed to accept that as she pulled the towel from her hair and draped it over her chair. " Thank you, " she said, placing a kiss on his cheek.

Vane closed his eyes as his body hardened instantly. Without thought, he pulled her into his arms for a much more satisfying kiss. He trailed his lips over to her neck as he opened the front of her robe and pulled her naked body against his.

Bride moaned at the feel of his cool, hard body against hers. She ran her hand over the flexing muscles of his back and felt the scars he had there. His whiskered chin and cheek scraped gently against her skin.

" If you keep this up, I'll never get my store opened."

" Keep it closed and stay with me."

She cradled his head in her hands while his tongue played gently in the hollow of her throat. " I can't."

He pulled back. " I know. I was only hoping." He released her, then tied her robe closed. " Eat your breakfast."

Bride sat down at her small bistro-style table as he returned to the stove to make his bacon. She nibbled on the toast and watched him. " You have serious guts to fry bacon without a shirt on. Aren't you afraid it'll splatter? "

He shrugged. " It doesn't really hurt."

She frowned as she traced the various scars with her gaze. " How did you get so many scars, Vane? "

Vane debated how to answer her. She wasn't ready for the truth—that they were battle scars from four hundred years of being pursued by Arcadians who thought he was a Katagari Slayer. For that matter, they thought any Katagari male was a Slayer. That he had been forced to fight his own pack to keep his brother safe. That some of them were from the she-wolves he'd been with.

Some were from beatings.

" I haven't had an easy life, Bride, " he said quietly as he turned the bacon over in the pan. He turned around to look at her. " I've never had anything I didn't have to pay for with blood and bone. Until you."

Bride sat perfectly still as that green gaze held her transfixed. There was something about his open expression that reached out to her. He was laying himself bare to her, she sensed it.

God, it would be so easy to love this man. He asked her for nothing and he was so incredibly giving. This moment felt surreal to her. She'd never known anyone like him.

This is too easy.

That niggling voice in the back of her head reared its ugly head. Nothing was perfect. Nothing was this easy.

There had to be more to him than what she saw. What if there isn't?

What if he really was just as he appeared? She couldn't see any deception. Maybe it was because there wasn't any.

" Thank you for last night, Vane, " she said.

He inclined his head to her, then went back to his bacon. He removed it from the pan and placed it on a plate, then turned off her stove and brought his plate to the table.

" You want some? " he asked.

Bride took two crispy strips while he got himself a glass of juice. There was something so intimate about sharing breakfast with him. She didn't know what it was, but in five years of dating Taylor, she'd never experienced a feeling like this. It was wonderful.

She ate quickly, then got up.

" I've got it, " Vane said as she reached for her dishes. " You get ready and I'll clean up."

" You really are too good to be true, " she said, kissing the top of his head before she darted to her makeshift wardrobe closet.

Vane tried not to watch her dress, but he couldn't stop himself. He was aroused just by seeing her pull on her underwear and dress.

Cocking his head, he realized she never wore pants. She always wore flowing dresses in dark earth tones or black. She slid her feet into a pair of flats and brushed her hair. Then she coiled it into that familiar messy bun.

Vane was enchanted by her actions. There were so many details involved in her morning routine. Such as the way she put on her makeup and then powdered it down. The precise movements it took to put on mascara and lipstick.

He loved watching the way she artistically dressed herself and styled her hair.

Bride paused as she lined her eyes to look at him in the mirror. " Something wrong? "

He shook his head. " I'm just thinking I'm glad I'm not female. I can't imagine putting on all that every day."

She smiled at him and his heart thundered.

As soon as she finished, she scooped her keys up and headed for the door. " Will you lock up? " she asked him.

Vane nodded.

She blew him a kiss, then left him alone in her apartment. Outside, he could hear her calling for the wolf as she made her way to her store.

He cringed at that. " I'm going to have to tell her."

The longer he put it off, the harder it would be.

" Okay. I'm going to do it."

After he showered.

And dressed.

And cleaned.

An hour later, while Bride was dusting in her store, she felt the hair on the back of her neck rise.

She turned around expecting to see someone behind her.

No one was there.

She rubbed her neck and glanced about. Still, the feeling was there. It was almost evil.

How weird was that?

Frowning, she went to look out the store windows. There wasn't anyone out there.

" Bride? "

She screamed and whirled about to find Vane coming from the back room.

He quickened his steps to reach her side. " You okay? "

Bride laughed nervously at her childishness. " I'm sorry. I didn't hear you come in the back door. You just startled me."

" You sure that's all it was? "

" Yes, " she said, taking a deep breath.

Vane was dressed in his black slacks and shirt. He must have left his jacket in her apartment. Stepping back from her, he had an odd look of discomfort about him.

Oh Lord, here it comes…

" You need to get back to your life, huh? " she asked, trying to be brave while inside she struggled not to cry.

" What life? " He looked confused by her question. " What are you talking about? "

" Isn't this the part where you tell me we had fun and you break up with me? "

He looked even more confused. " Is that what I'm supposed to do? "

" Well, no. I mean, I don't know. Isn't that where you were heading? "

He shook his head. " No. I was just going to tell you that I…" Vane's voice trailed off as he looked past her, to the door.

Bride turned to see two women entering the store.

Vane stepped back while she greeted them. They began to browse, but their eyes kept returning to Vane, who moved to stand near her counter.

Bride busied herself rearranging a necklace display. She could tell Vane wanted to talk to her, but when those two customers left, three more came in.

Vane watched while Bride showed her merchandise to the women. He really wanted to get this over with, yet the last thing he needed was an audience when he told her that he was a werewolf.

More customers came in.

Oh, this was getting bad.

He could use his powers to make the women leave, but he didn't want to interfere with her business.

" I'm going to wait outside for a bit, " he said to her while she rang up a sale.

" Are you okay? " she asked.

" Fine, " he said. " I'll be out in the back."

He headed into the storeroom, then out the back door that led to the courtyard.

Damn.

" It's okay, " he breathed. He would have plenty of time to talk to her later. He just wanted to get this over with as soon as possible.

" Vane."

A cold shiver went down his spine as he heard the low, gravelly voice inside his head.

He stiffened and went to the gate to see a sight that made his entire body go cold. Coining up Iberville was one of the last animals he expected to see.

It was Fury in human form.

Equal in height to Vane, Fury had shoulder-length blond hair and eyes that were one shade darker than turquoise. He wore his hair pulled back in a ponytail and tight blue jeans with a long-sleeved black shirt.

The wolf approached him with a deadly, carefully measured stride. Power and strength bled from every molecule of his body. This was one of the few wolves Vane had never sought to fight.

Not that he didn't think he couldn't take Fury. He was sure he could, but Fury wasn't the kind of wolf who fought fair. He was much more likely to tear your throat out while you were sleeping.

There was an amused glint in the wolf's eyes as he stopped by Vane's side and glanced to where Bride stood inside her store.

" You're being careless, adelfos. "

" We're not brothers, Fury. What the hell are you doing here? "

His smile turned crooked, evil. " I wanted to warn you that your father knows you and Fang are alive. I was one of the ones chosen to kill you two."

Vane went rigid.

" Relax, " Fury said. " If I wanted you dead, I would have attacked by now."

" Why haven't you? "

" I owe you, remember? "

It was true. He had saved Fury's life back when the wolf had first joined their pack. " You waited a long time to pay up."

He shrugged. " Yeah, well, some things take time."

" I don't understand why you're breaking from the pack to help me."

A sinister smile curved his lips. " Because it'll piss off the old man. I hate him, he hates you, so I guess that makes you my new best friend."

That was news to Vane. " Why do you hate him? "

" I have my reasons and they're all mine and not for public consumption."

" Then why have you stayed in the pack all these centuries? "

" Again, I have my reasons."

Yeah, Fury was an odd creature. " If they ever find out you've told me, they'll kill you."

The wolf shrugged nonchalantly. " We all die sometime." Fury's brow lifted as Bride came around the corner, then reversed directions as more customers neared her boutique. He sniffed the air. His eyes widened. " You're mated."

Vane grabbed him by the throat and shoved him back against the building.

" Easy, Vane, " Fury said. There was no fear in the beast. Only amusement and honesty. " I won't hurt your mate, but Stefan and the others will."

Vane didn't doubt it. Stefan would give up both testicles to have a way to hurt him. " Who hunts? "

" Me, Stefan, Aloysius, and Petra."

Vane cursed. Every one of them had a personal ax to grind against him, especially Petra, who hated him because he had shunned her when she tried to mate with him, and then he'd come between her and Fang. If they ever learned of Bride, they would kill her without hesitation—just to cut him. And that was if they were kind. The males of his pack would do much worse than that if they found her.

Whenever a mated male broke from the pack, the pack struck back by punishing the female mate.

Vane would kill anyone who did that to Bride. Anyone.

" You gonna move that hand off my throat now or do I have to hurt you first? "

Vane debated, then released him.

" Obliged, " Fury said as he straightened his shirt with a tug.

" Look, " Fury said, his tone deadly serious. " I never had a problem with either you or Fang, you know that. Honestly, you were the only two strati I could ever stand. I figure you guys have had a hard enough time losing Anya. You don't need this shit just because your father's afraid you're going to take over his pack."

Vane cursed. " I couldn't care less about the pack."

" I know. Believe it or not, I hate injustice as much as you do. The last thing I want to see is the only two decent wolves in the pack killed."

Those were unexpected words. But then, Fury had kept himself away from others in the pack much the way Vane had. The wolf had confided in no one. Trusted no one.

Fury started away from him.

" Fury, wait."

He looked at him, his brow arched.

" Thanks for letting me know."

Fury inclined his head.

In that moment, he felt a strange kinship with the wolf. Not to mention the fact that he now owed Fury, and Vane always paid his debts in full. " Where are you off to? "

Fury shrugged. " I don't know. I guess I'm a lone wolf." He howled low. " Clichйd as hell, isn't it? "

The wolf really was crazy.

Vane looked back at Bride through the windows of her store and a thought struck him.

" Can I trust you, Fury? "

" No, " he answered honestly. " I'm a wolf and I'm always going to do what's best for me. Why? "

Vane hesitated, but in the end, he had no choice except to make a pact with the wolf. " Because I need help for the next couple of weeks. I can't be in two places at once."

" Wow, " Fury breathed in disbelief. " I never thought I'd live to see the day Vane Kattalakis ever asked another living soul for help."

He ignored the sarcasm. " If you help me until Bride is either free or fully mated to me, I'll make sure you never have to hunt for another pack again."

Fury didn't say anything.

" I know what it's like to be alone, Fury, " Vane said, his voice betraying his own pain at being left to his own defenses. " You help me and I'll swear brotherhood to you."

That wasn't something ever taken lightly. To take a blood oath of loyalty was almost as major a commitment as mating. It was an unbreakable oath. Fury had no one else on this earth. His family were all dead and he had come to them as a scared, callow youth.

Fury glanced away before he nodded. " All right, Vane. I'll do it."

Vane let out a slow breath as he held his hand out to Fury. For some reason, he felt as if he had just made a bargain with Lucifer.

Fury hesitated, then shook his hand. " So what do you need me to do? "

Vane saw that Bride was headed back toward them. " For now, I need you to pretend to be me as a wolf. I've been posing as Bride's pet to guard her, and now that I'm in human form, I could really use a wolf around so as not to raise her suspicions." Especially since he didn't dare tell her the truth about himself until he found some way to throw the hunters off his trail.

Fury laughed at that. " Damn good thing we're both white timbers, huh? "

" Yeah. Now could you take your wolf form? "

Fury stepped out of Bride's line of view and flashed into the wolf. Two seconds later, he lifted his leg near Vane's foot.

" Do it, Fury, and I'll neuter your rank ass."

He could hear Fury laughing in his head. " Oh, " Fury said in his head. " By the way, I forgot to tell you that the others know Fang is at Sanctuary. "

Vane went cold all over again. " What? "

" Yeah. Your father told them to not attack him so long as the bears were present. But the minute he's alone …"

" Watch Bride."

" Wha—"

Vane flashed instantly to Sanctuary.

Fury sat on the street, completely confused by what he should do.

" Vane? "

He didn't answer.

Aw shit. As a wolf he had no way to tell Bride where Vane had gone, and the last thing he wanted to deal with was a distraught human female who couldn't find her mate.

This wasn't right.

Flashing to human form, Fury quickly picked his clothes up off the street and dressed. Unlike Vane, his strength was physical, not magical. He could wield magic, but nowhere near as precisely as Vane. If he tried to put his clothes on with his powers, he'd have about a fifty-fifty shot at them ending up on him in the right order and in the right place. So rather than have his sock end up as a shirt, he pulled them on while praying no one happened by to catch him bare-assed on the street corner.

By the time Bride came around the corner, he had everything on except his shoes.

She drew up short as she caught sight of him pulling on his boot.

" Pebble in my shoe, " he explained lamely. Lying wasn't his forte, either.

" Both shoes? " she asked.

" Freaky, huh? "

She gave him a strange look before she scanned the yard behind him.

" If you're looking for Vane, he's not here."

" You know him? "

" Uh, yeah."

She gave him a penetrating stare. " And you are? "

" Fury."

" Fury? "

" Yeah, I know. My mom was on crack when she named me."

By the look on her face he could tell he probably should keep his mouth shut.

" Uh-huh, " Bride said, taking a step away from him.

Fury took a step forward. She was panicking now, he could smell it. " Really, it's okay. I'm not going to hurt you. Vane told me to keep an eye on you till he gets back."

" Where did he go? "

Fury panicked at the question. Damn humans for their inquisitive natures. Various lies went through his head, but all of them would probably get Vane into trouble so he settled on the one least likely to offend her. " He went to piss."

Yeah, that was stupid, he realized as soon as her face turned red.

" Where did you come from? "

Like he could answer that. If he told her he had teleported himself from Nebraska down to New Orleans an hour ago she'd run for the cops.

He pointed down the street. " That way."

She was even more nervous than before.

Fury offered her a grin he hoped wasn't too ominous. He wasn't used to trying to make people unafraid of him. Normally he reveled in making humans wet themselves in terror.

This was a weird change of pace for him.

" Really, " he said, " I swear I'm safe."

" And I should believe you, why? "

He paused before he gave her an answer he hoped would soothe her. " I'm Vane's brother and he would kick my ass if I hurt you."

Bride stared at the strange, oddly handsome man in front of her. In spite of his words, there was an air of ominous danger about him. He looked like the kind of person who could cut someone's throat and then laugh about it. " You don't look like Vane."

" I know, " he said. " I take after our mother and he takes after our dad."

" Uh-huh."

He sighed and set his boots down on the ground. " Look, I basically suck at social skills, okay? Just pretend I'm not here until Vane gets back. I'll watch you, you ignore me, and we'll get along fine. Sound good to you? "

She wasn't sure. Something about him made her want to run inside and lock the door. Could she trust him?

" Hey, Bride? Can I get some help? "

She looked toward the entrance of her store where one of her regular customers stood with a dress in her hands. " Sure, Teresa. I'll be right there, " she said, moving away from the odd man in front of her.

He pulled his boots on, then followed in her wake.

" What are you doing? " she asked as he trailed her into her store.

" Keeping an eye on you. Just ignore me."

It was hard to ignore someone who was so much taller and scarier than she was.

" How long has Vane been gone? " she asked him as she walked across her boutique.

" I don't know, he must have had to go real bad. Might be a bladder thing. I'm not sure."

She gaped at him.

He looked extremely uncomfortable. " I'm just going to shut up now and stand here looking tough. That's what I'm best at."

He did and she had to agree. When silent, Fury was quite intimidating. She had to give the man credit, he definitely knew his forte.

Vane materialized in Peltier House, just outside of Fang's door. He stood perfectly still, listening.

Sensing.

There was no disturbance. No scent of anyone else. No sensation of feelings probing the psychic plane for him or Fang.

Everything appeared completely normal.

Relaxing, he pushed open the door to find Fang just as Vane had left him. Alone in his bed.

Vane walked slowly into the room, just to make sure Fang was okay.

He went to the far side of the bed. Fang didn't move or twitch. His throat went tight. Fang didn't appear to be breathing.

" Oh God, no, " he said, choking in panic.

Vane grabbed his brother, who instantly yelped and growled.

He tightened his hold on Fang's fur. " Damn you, you bastard! " he snarled angrily. " You die on me and I swear I'll tear your throat out."

Fang nipped at him until Vane released him. His brother settled back down in the bed into his comatose state.

" Fang, listen. Dad knows we're here and he's sending a squad after us. C'mon, wolf, talk to me."

He didn't. Fang just lay there staring into space.

" C'mon, Fang, this isn't fair to me. I don't know what to do to help you. I miss Anya too…" —he tried to make Fang look at him—" and I miss you. "

Still, his brother didn't respond to him.

Vane wanted to choke him for his obstinacy.

It was then he felt a strange ripple in the air around him. He glanced over his shoulder to find Stefan standing there with a smug sneer on his face.

Without a second thought, Vane attacked.