Silas rolled his eyes at his brothers’ shared reminiscence, but he couldn’t completely suppress his own smile. "You two are impossible. You fucked her unconscious and you’re proud of it."
"Damn right we are," Damon said without sha. "She pushed us, we pushed back. That’s how our dynamic works. She tests boundaries, we remind her where those boundaries are. And she loves it....loves being dominated, loves being claid, loves being reminded that she belongs to us."
"Besides," Damian added, his expression turning more serious, "it wasn’t just about punishnt or dominance. It was about reassurance. She’d just executed Cassandra. Had killed soone with her own hands for the first ti. She needed to feel sothing other than guilt and horror. Needed to be reminded that she’s not a monster....she’s our mate. Powerful, yes. Capable of violence, yes. But still ours. Still loved. Still safe with us."
Silas had to concede the point. As brutal as the fucking had been, there had been purpose behind it. Not just territorial dominance, but emotional grounding. Giving Eve sothing to focus on besides the weight of what she’d done.
"Speaking of which," Damon said, his expression darkening again, "we need to address the security breach. An assassin got onto the estate. Got into your room while Eve was sleeping. Got close enough to try to kill her. That’s unacceptable."
"Agreed," Damian said, his tactical mind clearly already working through scenarios. "We need to review every ward, every patrol route, every potential entry point. Find out how he bypassed our defenses and make sure it never happens again."
"And we need to prepare for more," Silas added grimly. "If the Seraphim Court sent one assassin, they’ll send more. Especially once they realize the one they sent failed. They’ll escalate. Send soone stronger, more dangerous, more creative."
"Let them co," Damon said, his voice hard with barely restrained violence. "Let them send their best. We’ll kill every single one and send the bodies back as a ssage: Eve is off limits. She’s claid. Protected. Anyone who tries to touch her dies."
"We can’t kill everyone the Court sends," Damian said practically. "So will be diplomats, not assassins. So will have legitimate political standing. Killing them could trigger a war we’re not prepared for."
"Then we get prepared," Damon countered. "Build alliances with other packs. Strengthen our defenses. Train harder. Whatever it takes to make sure Eve survives what’s coming."
"That’s where Raphael might actually be useful," Silas pointed out. "He knows the Seraphim Court. Knows the politics, the factions, the key players. He can teach us who to trust and who to kill. Can help us navigate the supernatural political landscape we’re about to be thrown into."
Damian’s jaw clenched at the ntion of Raphael’s na, but he couldn’t deny the logic. "Fine. We can use him as a resource. A consultant. Soone who provides information and stays the fuck away from our mate otherwise."
"You’re being ridiculous," Silas said again, but there was affection beneath the exasperation.
"We’re being protective," Damian corrected. "There’s a difference."
They fell into silence again, each lost in their own thoughts. The weight of everything that had happened in the last twenty-four hours pressed down on them: Cassandra’s betrayal and execution. The discovery that the Seraphim Court had been spying on them for weeks. The assassin who’d infiltrated their ho. Eve killing soone for the first ti. Her uncle’s sudden appearance. The knowledge that more threats were coming.
It was overwhelming. Too much, too fast. But they couldn’t afford to be overwheld. Couldn’t afford to show weakness or uncertainty. Because Eve needed them strong. Needed them ready for whatever ca next.
"We should sleep," Silas said finally. "At least try to rest while Eve does. When she wakes up, things are going to get complicated fast. We need to be sharp."
"I’ll take first watch," Damian said imdiately. "You sleep with Eve. Damon, you rest in the chair. We’ll rotate every few hours."
"Watch for what?" Damon asked. "We’re in the most secure room in the estate. The wards are reinforced. Every pack mber knows to alert us imdiately if anything seems off."
"Watch for her," Damian said, his eyes on Eve’s sleeping face. "Make sure her fever doesn’t spike again. Make sure she keeps breathing steadily. Make sure...." He broke off, unable to articulate the fear that they might lose her despite doing everything right.
"I understand," Silas said quietly. "We all stay. We all keep watch. Together."
The word hung in the air, heavy with aning. Together. The three of them and Eve. Pack. Family. Mates. Whatever ca next, they’d face it together.
Damian moved to the other side of the bed, stretching out on top of the covers so he could see both Eve and the door. His hand rested on her ankle....a light touch, but enough to maintain physical contact.
Damon shifted in the chair, getting as comfortable as possible for what promised to be a long night. His eyes never left Eve’s face, tracking each breath, each slight movent.
And Silas remained where he was, Eve cradled against his chest, his hand stroking her hair, the dream-walking bond between them pulsing with reassurance and protection.
The clock on the nightstand read 4:47 AM. Dawn was still hours away. And when it ca, everything would change.
But for now, in this quiet mont, the four of them existed in a bubble of temporary peace.
*******
And sowhere in the guest suite in the east wing, Raphael lay awake, staring at the ceiling, thinking about the territorial alphas who so clearly saw him as a threat despite his assurances.
He smiled in the darkness.
Let them be possessive. Let them guard their mate fiercely. It showed they understood her value, understood that she was worth protecting at all costs.
As long as they didn’t let their jealousy interfere with Eve’s training, he could tolerate their territorial posturing. Could even find it amusing, watching three powerful alphas reduced to jealous males by the presence of her uncle.
But if they tried to keep him from teaching her what she needed to survive?
Then they’d discover that Raphael Seraphim hadn’t survived twenty-three years in hiding by being weak or easily intimidated.
He’d fought armies. Survived a coup. Protected his niece from threats they couldn’t imagine.
Three territorial alphas, no matter how powerful, weren’t going to stop him from doing his duty to his family.
Tomorrow, when Eve woke, the real work would begin.
Teaching her to control her powers. Preparing her for the Seraphim Court. Training her to be not just a succubus, but a queen.
And if her mates couldn’t handle him being present for that?
Well.
They’d just have to learn to cope.
Because Raphael wasn’t going anywhere.
Not until his niece was strong enough to face what was coming.
Not until she could stand before the Seraphim Court and claim her birthright without fear.
Not until she was safe.
And that might take a very, very long ti.
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