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There is only strength in me and determination to see to my task: protecting the woman and getting her as far away from him as possible before he wakes up again. I’ll only allow my twin to ruin one life— mine.
I might not know her well, but I know she deserves so much better than him. She’s smart, and beautiful and— And she’s coming back down the stairs, Layden at her heels.
What did they talk about? Hannah and the others have finished dessert by the time she’s back.
“I saved you two some pie.” Hannah bounces up as soon as they’re back to the table. “We were thinking of heading out to the lake in a bit here. Raven loves to swim.”
“Oh.” Lo-Ren’s eyes glance my way, lingering for just a moment before she looks back to Hannah and smiles. “An afternoon swim sounds really fun. Remus got me a swimsuit when he ordered me a bunch of clothes. I’ll save the pie for afterward.”
“Let’s get in the lake then,” Ksenia groans. “I’d give anything to feel weightless right now.” She stands up and rubs her back with one hand, the other holding her protruding belly.
“Of course.” Kharon pops up immediately behind her, one of his three pairs of arms wrapping protectively around her stomach while another set massages her shoulders. “I’ll go up and get your suit.”
“I don’t care about a suit,” she says irritably. “I’ll just go in this and you can bring me a change of clothes later.”
“Excellent idea.” Kharon nods over and over.
Hannah beams at him for his attentiveness.
“I’ll get towels,” Abaddon says.
Lo-Ren looks to me. “You coming?” It sounds like a challenge.
I stand up stiffly. “I usually join the family on lake outings.”
“Perfect!” Hannah snatches Raven out of the air where she’s been fluttering near everyone. Raven giggles, and her wings flap harder like she’s trying to get away from her mom until Hannah says, “Honey, we’re going to the lake.”
The toddler’s eyes widen with delight and she scoots out of her mom’s arms anyway, flying toward the stairs. Apparently, she knows the order of things because we’re only halfway to the stairs by the time she’s back down with her little polka-dot swimsuit in her hands, thrusting it toward her mom.
“Yes,” Hannah laughs. “But the rest of us have to change, too.”
Raven starts to whine a little as Hannah tromps toward the stairs, especially when she sees Ksenia and Kharon immediately heading outside.
“Wait for your mother,” Abaddon chides, and Raven flies in circles around his head but calms down a little as they trudge up the stairs to change. Even Abaddon has adopted some swim trunks that Hannah sewed him, which I secretly find hilarious considering he went through most of his long, long life in little more than a loincloth if that.
We have truly been tamed by these women. And then I frown. Could even Remus be tamed?
I immediately reject the thought. He’s not like the rest of my brothers.
War and chaos are in his soul.
Lo-Ren is the last to emerge from her room, and I glance away quickly after seeing her. But it’s too late. The image of her perfect, shapely curves is seared into my mind. I blink hard, yet there it still is, taking my breath away.
I lead the way back downstairs. It takes every inch of my iron self-discipline not to look over my shoulder so I might steal another look at her.
All for naught because when we reach the bottom of the stairs, she and Hannah pass me, easily chatting. If I thought the sight of the front of her was enough to take my breath away, I was truly not prepared for—
Her generous backside and hips sway alluringly back and forth as she walks.
I’d never given much thought to how ridiculously little cloth is involved in the outfits these females call a “bathing suit” before, but suddenly, I’m appalled and entranced. It barely covers her nakedness. And yet, I also want to rip the rest off to reveal everything.
Then I realize my thoughts and am appalled at myself.
Was I not just thinking that Abaddon has spent most of his existence naked? And I know that in ancient times, plenty of women went about barely draped in clothing. Yet none of them ever affected me as much as this female strutting before me.
I only realize I’ve been standing still, dumbfounded, when Hannah looks back at me and laughs. “Close your mouth, dear. You’ll catch a fly.”
Lo-Ren looks back then, too, and I jerk my eyes guiltily up to hers. There’s a moment of searing connection before they head out the door into the sunshine, leaving me feeling like I’ve just been kicked in the chest.
