Chapter 19 - Thane

I watched her face. The shuttering of her soul masqueraded as rapid blinking. The withdrawal of the heat in her face. The moment had passed.

Stuffing my disappointment, I reached down a hand.

She jerked back as if I'd offered to punch her in the face. This strong, slightly crazy, woman had pulled back into my brother as if she needed protection.

I clenched my teeth at the instinctual action. She wasn't impugning my honor. She was reacting without thought. If I ever met the person who taught her how to cower, I was going to rip him, or her, into fucking shreds.

"I just wanted to help you to your feet, Stretch," I said.

Still leaning back into Tove's arms, she looked up at me from under her deep purple bangs. "I knew that." She put her hand in mine and allowed me to haul her to her feet.

I bit back my smile. "Sure, you did."

She wrinkled her nose at me before looking away. Her gaze stuck on something to her right, her eyes widened. "Matty."

I growled. "I suppose we