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She likes that from you. She needs you to act like a brother, to feel as if she has family surrounding her. I can sense that she lost so much.

His woman had so much empathy for others. He could feel her reaching out to Lorraine, soothing her. They all had lost so much, not in the least, Elisabeta.

She lost her entire human family before meeting Andor.

“Traian is insisting that he meet with his sister, Ferro,” Andor said. “He has gone to Tariq and Gary and made his appeal to them. Gary has explained that she is very fragile and you are introducing the world to her slowly. He is claiming his rights as family.”

Ferro shrugged, in no way perturbed. “When she is ready, we will meet with him.”

“He has indicated that he wishes to take her back to the Carpathian Mountains where she might be near more familiar things.” Humor crept into Andor’s voice. “Apparently your reputation has preceded you and he worries that you might have, over the centuries, turned into something— how shall I put this delicately—beastly, no longer fit to be a lifemate, especially for one as delicate and fragile as Elisabeta. He wishes to take her back to the prince and have him decide.”

Elisabeta drew back, her breath catching in her throat, terror roaring to the forefront. Can he take me from you? Can he do that?

Breathe, sívamet. No one will ever take you from me. Very casually he lifted Elisabeta out of the seat and into his lap, his arms settling around her shivering body.

“I have a certain reputation for a reason, Andor. Should anyone try to take my lifemate from me, the ground would run red with their blood. I will never give her up as long as she wants me. I have given her my word of honor and I will keep it.” Deliberately, he was very calm and matter-of-fact about it. He felt that way because it was a fact of life, but he needed his lifemate to know he meant it. “Her brother will understand and be reassured once he meets me. He is only concerned because he cares so deeply for her.”

You already can feel that you are growing into your own power, Elisabeta. When you learn to wield it, and you will, together, we will be unstoppable. He wanted her to know he wasn’t the only one with power. She was capable of stopping others from forcing their wills on her—even him.

“It is best that you meet with your birth brother, Elisabeta,” Lorraine said gently, addressing her directly. “I know it will be difficult, but with Ferro there, nothing could harm you. Andor and I will stay close in case you need us.”

Andor nodded. “Know that Traian searched for centuries for you. When others gave up, he did not. There was no trace of you. You simply vanished. The moment he heard the news that you were alive, that you had been rescued, he arranged, with his lifemate and young Josef, to travel here to see you. He wants only to know that you are in good hands. Tariq has assured him that Ferro is doing right by you and can protect you from the vampire.”

A little shudder went through Elisabeta’s body, but Ferro was in her mind and he felt her gather her courage—and she had it in abundance. She might be terrified to face the world that had passed her by as it had him, but she forced herself to do it.

If Tariq reassures him you are protecting me, why would he want to take me to this prince? I do not understand.

Ferro knew she wanted him to ask the question of Andor. He sent his brethren a faint smile. “My lifemate is logical. She wants to know why Traian would want to take her from me if he has been reassured by the prince’s choice to rule here.”

Andor sent him a small grin back. “She’s quick, isn’t she?”

“She’s in the same room,” Lorraine pointed out, making a face at them. “Elisabeta, men are annoying. I don’t know how you don’t find them so. Either I’m laughing or I want to kick them.”

“She means kiss me,” Andor stated. “She really likes kissing me.”

“I did, until you decided to start acting like Ferro, who thinks he’s some feudal lord in a castle and we should all bow at his feet.”

“Not everyone, Lorraine,” Ferro corrected with a straight face. “Only the women.”