PIPER WOKE UP in the middle of the night and grabbed her neck. “No!”

It took her a moment to get her bearings, but her breath came in fast pants. Keona and Evander were cuddled up on another couch and she tried desperately not to wake them with her panic attack. She grasped at her head and willed herself to calm down, but her mind was deep in the nightmare and the fear wouldn’t loosen its grip.

“Come.” Cain appeared and picked her up like she weighed nothing more than a feather. He ushered her outside into the cold air and sat down in one of the chairs on the patio. He moved her hair off her neck and forced her to put her head to her knees. “Breathe, milady. Do your meditations to keep your aura under control.”

Piper’s vision blurred and she recited the steps her mother taught her. Picture the steel box. Imagine shoving your aura into it. Close it up tight. Seal the lid and breathe. After three times, her breathing slowed.

“Good. Good, sweet lady.”

Only then did she realize Cain was rubbing her back and holding her hair. He was so huge, so intimidating with his bald head, intense brown eyes, and that hard stare. Piper quickly scrambled off his lap and backed away.

“Sorry. I’m okay. Thank you.” She kept backing up.

“If you continue to go that direction, you will be taking a swim, milady.” He stood and clasped his hands behind his back.

Piper glanced behind her. Her foot was an inch away from the edge of the pool. “Oh.”

“Please, milady.” He motioned to another patio chair. “Sit, you’re still shaking.” The command was delivered with kindness, yet the low raspy bass of his voice was as intimidating as his physical presence.

Piper hugged herself close and avoided looking at him. “During a panic attack, blood is diverted from the extremities of the body to the vital organs. It causes numbness in the hands and legs. It can make a person shiver.” The facts grounded her. Biology was consistent and the body’s reactions were fairly predictable, at least for her.

Cain removed his long leather jacket and cautiously held it open for her. Piper had to step away from the pool and closer to him to accept the offered warmth. The air was cold and her chills were more than a residual reaction from her panic attack. She stepped into his jacket and it swallowed her.

“Thank you.” Piper held it closed and enjoyed the fresh spice of his cologne, heated by his body.

“Would you like to talk about it, milady? You’ve experienced a tragedy.”

Piper huffed and resisted the urge to roll her eyes. “Actually, it’s pretty par for the course. Keona and I have a long history with tragedy.”

“I understand.”

“Sean was your friend?”

Cain’s chin lifted and he nodded once. “He was an honorable Thracian and a dedicated soldier.” His huge chest moved up and down with his deep breaths. “And yes, he was my friend.”

Piper pressed her lips together so they wouldn’t tremble. “I’m sorry. He tried to protect me. We never saw the guy coming. It was so fast, Sean moved in front of me and then…” Piper broke. Tears fell down her face and she turned away from him.

“Milady, Sean spent the last night of his life with you, living life to the fullest and enjoying your company. He gave his life for you because he cared. His death was not in vain. He died honorably, protecting an Olympian lady.”

Her tears left behind a trail that chilled instantly in the night air. “He’s my hero. I’ll always owe him my life.”

“Then you should never forget that you are a woman worthy of his life. Live like that forever, for as long as the gods keep you on this earth.”

Piper nodded, unable to find her voice among all the emotions welling up within her. She took a long look at Cain. Even in the patio lights, his skin held a bronzed glow. His body was massive, like a wrestler on steroids. That was the Thracian blood running through him. Brown eyes met hers, and she would bet that if he had hair, it would be black. “You’re very handsome, Cain.” Piper dropped her gaze, uncomfortable that the thought came out of her mouth.

Cain didn’t respond. He didn’t move or even breathe. Piper finally met his rapidly blinking eyes.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I was thinking it, and it slipped out.”

Cain’s spine straightened and he rubbed his forehead. “I am humbled by your words, milady. You startled me, that is all. Verily, I am unprepared to accept such praise.”

Piper crinkled her nose. “If you keep using words like verily, I might take it back.”

It was a relief to see the big man’s shoulders shake with laughter. A broad smile stretched over his face. “I have dated myself for certain.”

Piper smiled in return and nodded. “How long have you been with Evander?”

He took a deep breath and surveyed the pool. “I was eighty-three when I earned my position with the royal family’s guard. And I was ninety…” He squinted. “Eight. Yes, ninety-eight when the mistress of the house placed a male infant in my arms and told me this squealing child was my charge. We’ve celebrated over three-hundred birthdays together.” Cain smiled again and met her stare. “Evander is not only my charge. He’s my friend. I’ve seen him do amazing things for our people. He’s an honorable man, and it’s a pleasure to protect him.”

Warmth seeped from her insides out, the respect in his voice chasing away the cold. All her fears about Evander’s motives and character seemed minute now. This Thracian, who could easily seize power if he wanted it, was happy to serve Evander Castille. If he held such high esteem for him, Piper was glad to be in his home as his guest, and to work for him as well.

Piper stood. “Cain, I think I’d like to go inside now. I think maybe I can sleep again, knowing you’re watching over us.”

Cain rose to his feet, only to bow deep to her. “Milady, you can sleep soundly. Nicholas and I will both be on watch all night. The gods have given Thracians little need for sleep in such occasions.” He held out his tree trunk of an arm and Piper cautiously looped her hand around his forearm. It was like holding on to a steel tube, it didn’t budge under her fingers.

Piper smiled to herself at the sight of Evander and Keona spooning on his couch. Cain was right, he was a good man. Keona was blessed to have found him, and Piper prayed they had many years of love between them.

As she expected, it was easy to sleep with Cain on watch. Even with all the nightmares of the day, she felt safe and woke up the next morning hopeful about her new path.

The next day Evander’s entire staff, and those in the clinic who were able, gathered at a pyre built for Sean. His body couldn’t actually be burned, not here. He would be buried. Evander walked the fine line of upholding the traditions of the gods and adhering to human regulations.

Burning bodies outside of a crematorium was frowned upon.

Piper didn’t bother to hide her tears. What she knew of Sean was worth her mourning. The man died to save her and she prayed that he would be exalted in the halls of Zeus for his sacrifice.

Afterward, Evander took the girls on a tour of the clinic and his home. Piper met the rest of the staff, many were Paeans like her, but their auras were not nearly as potent. Most of them could heal obvious wounds, broken bones, and such. Only two others could see into the body and Piper spent hours talking to them about the variances of their gifts.

“You can see on a cellular level?” asked a man with pale skin and brown hair. He shook his head, his hazel eyes wide. “That’s incredible. So are you of royal blood like Evander? You must be, to have that ability.”

“Nope.” Piper felt the blush touch her cheeks. “I’m just a simple Olympian girl.”

After a couple more hours of visiting with them, she excused herself and went to look for Keona. She turned a corner in the massive house to see her sister and Evander slip into a room. The click of the door lock told her all she needed to know. There would be no telepathic communications this evening.

A funny tingle had the hairs on the back of her neck standing up. Piper turned to see Nicholas, the white-haired Thracian, watching her. “The housekeeper has prepared a room for you to stay in, milady. May I have the pleasure of guiding you to your new home?”

At least Cain looked human, he was normal. Nicholas should’ve been in a Haven, away from human eyes. He was frightening. Still, he was a Thracian and he was here to protect her.

Piper swallowed hard and forced herself to be cordial. “Of course. That would be lovely.”

The mansion was absolutely fabulous, Piper had to admit. She wandered the halls later, lost in her own thoughts. Evander spared no expense when it came to his home and his clinic. The Mediterranean-style house was filled with antiques that she imagined were original to the owner. Evander was three centuries in age, no doubt he’d collected a few priceless artifacts over the years.

At least her sister could live here in this paradise with Evander and be happy. That’s all that Piper wanted for her—happiness, stability, someone who kept her out of trouble. Keona was far too reckless and she wasn’t afraid of much. Hopefully Evander could help her settle down some.

Keona left Piper talking about nerdy shit with the other medics in the clinic. She had unfinished business with Evander. They slipped back to his house and hid when Cain went looking for Piper.

Keona giggled like a little girl, feeling giddy for the first time in her life. Evander pressed her up against a wall, one hand massaging her bottom, one leaning against the wall. They kissed and caressed each other.

“We have an appointment, doc.” Keona slid her hand into his pants and gripped him hard.

His breath hissed as he inhaled and closed his eyes. “Hell yes, we do.” Evander hardened with each stroke of her hand. He blew out a string of curses and yanked her hand away. “Get your fine ass in my bed, now.”

She laughed out loud as he pulled her into his suite and locked the door behind her.

“Do you think it’s funny to tease me like that?” His voice was low and husky, full of lust and thick with his desire.

Blood raced through her veins when he spun her around and held her back to his chest. His arm went across her, one hand covering her breast.

“Maybe I like having an effect on you.” Keona’s voice was breathy and light. It was hard to breathe with his hands massaging her.

“Well let me return the favor. You forget my gift, little minx.” Evander pinched her breast and sent a current of his power through her.

“Ah!” Keona’s knees buckled and moisture gathered between her legs. “Cheater.”

He nibbled her ear and down her neck. His other hand slipped under the elastic of her panties and his fingers dipped into the evidence of her arousal. Keona bit her bottom lip to keep from moaning like a porn star.

“I can make you come like this.”

“Prove it.” Keona grinned.

Evander skimmed his teeth down her neck and growled like a feral beast. Seeing him wild like this turned her on like nothing else. The way he took control of her body like he owned it made her wish he did.

“You asked for it, baby.” Evander’s fingers plunged deep into her wetness, coaxing even more honey from her. A current of power ran over her sensitive bundle of nerves and this time her knees shook. Evander held her up, his hand sliding under her shirt to clamp onto her breast.

Fire and electricity from his hands stoked her into a blazing inferno. “Oh fuck!” Keona tried to control herself, but Evander’s gift mixed with his talented hands had her winding up, a spring under pressure, coiled and ready to break free.

“We will,” Evander said. His breath tickled her ear and fell warm on her neck. He nibbled upon the lobe, the sting intensifying her pleasure. “I have to get you good and wet first.”

“Holy Zeus, man,” she rasped. “How much wetter do you want me?”

She spun out of control, climbing higher and higher to the peak of sensation, until her rational mind couldn’t process it all. He shot another zing to her clit and Keona’s knees gave way as she exploded. Evander picked her up and took her to the bed. He slid off her clothes while she lay on the covers, breathing hard and recovering, her legs writhing against the blankets.

Keona shook from the aftereffects. It had been a long time since she’d had an orgasm that hard—if ever. She welcomed him into her body and sighed at how good he stretched her. Not that he really needed them, but his talents came in handy, and before long she couldn’t see straight. Evander plundered her, taking all she had and giving everything he could. By the time he finally collapsed on top of her, she was spent. She would be sore tomorrow if she didn’t soak in a hot bath soon.

“I knew you were incredible the moment you walked into that restaurant, Keona. But I had no idea how crazy I would be over you.” He laid on his back staring at the ceiling and holding her to his chest.

“I’m pretty infatuated with you, too.”

“Good.” He kissed the top of her head. “Because I plan on spending the rest of my life with you.”

Keona popped up and looked down at him. “What did you say?”

One corner of his mouth turned up and he closed his eyes as if he hadn’t made that declaration. “I just meant that I’m never letting you go. We can worry about the details later. I’m claiming you, though.” A mischievous smile played at this lips and Keona’s heart picked up the pace.

He might not have said he loved her, but wanting to spend the rest of his life with her? That was pretty close.