There was an uncomfortable beat of silence after Cian left the room. Uncomfortable because it made the turmoil in my brain deafening, not because I was concerned for the Andarian brute. He had clearly managed Kohl well enough last time. The memory of Cian's rage upon finding out Kohl bit me only fanned the flames of this twisted desire coursing through me, and I shoved it as far back into the recesses of my mind as possible.

There could be no repeat of what happened between us. Unless, of course, that's what it took to save my life... I shook my head no as I situated my clothing. Under no circumstances would there be a repeat of this despite what my lady bits demanded. It wasn't like I could trust him to keep his word after he took what he wanted from me.

But what a way to go out.

I groaned, unable to disagree with the wanton whispers. "Definitely a sex demon."

Rumbling voices bounced off my door, unable to penetrate the thick wood completely, leaving me to debate the wisdom of creeping over to eavesdrop. That would require pressing my ear against the wood, and there was quite a strong echo there.

I took stock of the room and myself, noticing for the first time that my gloves were on my hands. That door was the only place in the entire room that had any kind of echo at all. The bedsheets were crisp and new, likely just removed from the packaging. The frame itself didn't even spark anything. Beds were definitely hotspots of energy. Many emotions played out between the sheets—lust, love, rage, hate. I grew warm as visions of Cian and I adding our own spark to the bed filled my thoughts.

Shaking it off, I went back to the task at hand. Even my clothing was new, as evidenced by the tag biting into the tender flesh of my neck. Had Cian somehow learned of my ability? Why else would everything be new and without enough energy for echoes?

Something shattered and the menacing growl Kohl released was strong enough to reverberate through the door. What the hell was I doing, listening to Cian and staying put. I should have been looking for a way out of this room because he would eventually give into Kohl's demands. They shared loyalties. And in the end, no matter how much Cian seemed to want me, he wouldn't put me over his people.

I jumped out of the bed and tiptoed to the window, one shaking hand inches away from pushing back the curtain, when I heard something that sent icy terror ripping through my veins.

"I told you, I don't know!"

"June," I gasped, pivoting at once and rushing out of the bedroom. Cian—the idiot—didn't lock me in. Or maybe I was the idiot, since he likely assumed I wasn't stupid enough to reveal myself.

The beautiful succubus and my only real friend in the world lay in a crumpled heap at Kohl's feet. Red tears trickled down her cheeks, and a giant bruise marred the left of her once perfect face. Kohl's gray eyes widened before they swung toward Cian, who only just caught me around my middle before I launched myself at the other man, determined to claw the skin off his face for daring to touch June.

"What a liar you've become, Cian," Kohl purred, circling us as his fangs descended over his bottom lip.

"I didn't lie. I told you the girl was not yours to worry about."

"I am a Shard Hunter," the Andarien shouted, lashing out with a booted foot and catching June in her middle.

"You bastard," I screamed, squirming in Cian's iron grip. "She has nothing to do with this."

"You may be a Hunter," Cian said, ignoring my outburst the way a parent ignores a child's tantrum. "But I am the one who Retrieves them. You have proven repeatedly you cannot control yourself."

"What does it matter this time? She's the last of her line. Snap her neck or drain her blood and the Shard is free."

If I'd thought Cian's grip was tight before, I was wrong. He pulled me against the hard planes of his stomach and squeezed until breathing was not an option.

"We are not savages, and they will give the Shard Keepers the opportunity for a painless death. This has always been the way." He drew in a sharp breath, and his next words sounded like grating gravel. "I will take her to the Synod, and they will ensure they give her a peaceful end."

Some of the fight whooshed out of me. So much for hoping he'd liked the taste he got enough to reconsider surrendering me. He shifted, leaving one arm around my stomach and the other coming up just below my breasts to keep me from slumping over completely. It was enough to make me want to cry and lash out and curse, because why did he care if I was comfortable if he was going to kill me in the end? Hell, why save me from Jay and Kohl at all? So he could keep his conscience clean through whatever twisted logic he'd designed?

"We," Kohl growled, interrupting my pity party, "are what you made us."

That got my attention. I lifted my head and peered through the curtain of hair falling over my eyes. The Andarian trembled as he glared at us, and the muscles along his shoulders rippled as if working to contain something. Maybe his wings? Then I remembered what I'd overheard at Indulgence—that the Andarie were part animal, and I recoiled, pushing myself as far into Cian as possible to shield myself from whatever beast he might become.

"Humans are so fucking trusting," Kohl said. He lowered his gaze until he met mine. "He offers you an easy out so he's the hero, but he's the reason you're going to die."

"No shit, sherlock," I retorted. "You both are."

"Oh, no. When I kill you, and—" he licked his lips while flexing his fingers at his side, "I will kill you—Cian will still be responsible for your death. It's his fault we are trapped here."

"Shut up," Cian snarled. June whimpered on the ground and rose to her knees. I held my breath, praying Kohl wouldn't notice her crawling to hide behind the over stuffed sectional in the middle of the living room.

"Why? Is it some secret? And if it is, what does it matter if the dead girl finds out?"

"I'm not dead yet, you asshole."

Kohl smirked and clicked his neck from side to side, his wings springing out wide behind him. "You lot took on the Shards because you thought you were protecting yourselves from an enemy invasion."

It was really pissing me off that the monster kept saying things I had to agree with. I preferred my enemies to be wrong at all times. Cian eased up. Air rushed into my lungs, and I gulped it down greedily. I didn't fight him when he stepped in front of me, pushing me into the shadowy recesses of the hallway leading to my bedroom, but the moment his attention was back on the other Andarian, I sprinted toward June, pulling her head into my lap and smoothing her hair out of her face to get a better look at her injuries.

"I'm going to give you one chance to leave, Kohl, and then even Fynn won't be able to bring you back from the beyond."

To everyone's shock, Kohl shrugged and held up his hands. "I'll go—for now. I'll alert the Synod that you're coming. They'll be expecting you in a three days, and if you don't show up, you know they'll give me free rein."

"We'll be there," Cian said warily.

"Oh. Little Shard Keeper—" Kohl paused with his hand on the doorknob, his orange wings tucked in tight against his back.

Cian hissed, something dark rippling under his skin. I flipped Kohl off, earning the angry look I desired. It kind of felt like I was dangling meat in front of a rabid dog, but I couldn't help myself. If I thought I could get more than a finger on him before he killed me, I would attack him for hurting June. It would be worth it if I caused him a single ounce of pain.

"What?"

He shrugged. "Maybe you should ask yourself if instead of keeping the bad guys out, you locked them in the room with you."

Then he left, and I banished him from my thoughts.

"June, are you okay?" I demanded, running my hands over her toned limbs, careful to avoid wounds. He had really done a number on her. In her skin tight red jumpsuit, I hadn't been able to tell how badly she was bleeding from a distance, but now, my hands came away sticky and bright with her blood.

"Move aside," Cian commanded.

I coiled around her. "Stay the fuck away."

"I'm going to heal her," he said. His blue eyes pleaded with me. "Bria. I will not hurt her."

June's pitiful moan and the spreading red beneath her body convinced me to move. Certainly, it had nothing to do with that look.

His hands moved across June's body, pausing over the worst of her injuries. Watching them recede and disappear, leaving unblemished skin behind every time, never grew old, but I wondered why he didn't heal all of them. When he sank back on his knees, bruises and several scrapes remained, and June slept peacefully, her head a comforting weight in my lap.

"She'll probably sleep for several hours."

"Why didn't you heal her completely."

He rubbed his hand over the back of his neck. His eyes were bleary. They hadn't been like that before.

"Healing is a give and take. We're trained to only fix what is life threatening. There are some vanity Healers, but Anderie warriors live by this."

I frowned. Upon waking I hadn't done a full inspection of my body, but I was fairly certain not single scratch from the fire remained. So, either he'd broken the rules, or I'd healed super fast. Judging by the way he was suddenly looking anywhere but at me, I had a very good guess which one it was, and it only confused and infuriated me further.

"Let me help you." He reached for June as I struggled to lift her in my arms.

"Don't," I shouted, catching us both off guard. "Don't touch her, and don't touch me. Never again."

"Bria—" A steely resolve hardened his expression, and he jutted his chin toward the bedroom. "You can both stay in there."

"I had planned on it." I grunted and stumbled beneath June's weight.

Maybe I should have waited to have my outburst after he carried her to the room, or maybe we could both sleep on the floor here. Somehow, I got wrestled her onto the bed and tucked her beneath the sheets. A heavy weight settled between my blades, and I looked over my shoulder to find Cian looking—not at me, but at the spot where I'd woken earlier and where he'd feasted between my legs.

Catching me catching him, he straightened. For the first time, a truly cold mask slipped over his handsome face, making him appear almost as cruel as his kin.

"I would advise you to not attempt to escape."

"Why?" I asked, hopping into bed beside June. "What would be my punishment? Death?"

The Andarian stared for three long heartbeats. Then said, "There are things far worse than death."

He shut the door, and I flopped back into the cool sheets, wishing I didn't believe him when he said that.