Despite holding the title of Dame since I was seventeen, I had never been invited to Karami Manor. It was crammed with overbearing décor and random garish art pieces that clashed with everything else.

I couldn't imagine how Ambrose was comfortable here. Hyki Manor was tasteful and classical. Our Manor at Cheslyn was rustic and homey. This place was grotesquely overdone in every way.

I nodded greeting to several servants hurrying along their way. The Manor was in a flurry of activity, and I surmised it was all in preparation for the wedding Ambrose mentioned.

They escorted me through the madness and above-stairs to the third floor. I noticed the décor here was far more understated, more in line with what I would expect from Dru's son. Ambrose waved off several attempts to capture his attention and Ramsi was almost helpless with laughter by the time we made it to the sitting room.

"I have never seen Griz speechless!" Ramsi howled. "Gods, Fala, she's gonna snatch you up by the shorthairs."

"She'll have to catch me first," Ambrose muttered, and I lost it alongside Ramsi.

Ambrose's bright eyes went wide when there was a knock at the sitting room door. Ramsi was incoherent with mirth when a tall blonde man I recognized as Sir Ash slipped in and leaned back on the door.

"Fala," he breathed, "what the hell did you do to Grizzy?"

Ambrose frowned. "She wants me to sing, Pop."

"And?"

Pop? I sat up with interest. Who is this man?

"Well, I haven't done that in years."

"What, you forgot how?" Sir Ash, whom I now presumed was Ambrose's Heartsire challenged.

"Well, no, but..." Ambrose shook his head and sighed in defeat. "Fine, I'll sing at the wedding."

His father visibly relaxed and smiled. "She'll forgive you for keeping your Ladylove of Letters hidden from her, then."

Ambrose groaned and Ramsi dissolved into laughter again. Sir Ash winked and slipped out the door.

"So," I drawled when Ambrose shuffled over to a bar to pour a short drink. "You sing?"

"Not since I was a lad before my voice changed," he confessed. "I've struck up more than a few tunes since, but nothing that could be called a performance."

"Well, I look forward to it."

"She'll want me to practice with the band tomorrow and I don't want to." Ambrose slid onto the sofa, squeezing me up against Ramsi.

I had no objection whatsoever to being sandwiched between them.

"So, practice with them tonight." Ramsi reached across me and stole Ambrose's snifter. "Decide what songs you wanna sing, and make sure the band can play them. Run through a few bars, and be done."

Ambrose sighed and took his nearly empty snifter back. "Griz is not going to let me do that, Rams, and you know it. Gods-dammit," he groaned. "Kayla I'm so sorry."

"Whatever for?" I was delighted. "It sounds delightful. Sir Ash is your Heartsire, yes?"

He nodded.

"And his bride-to-be, Griz?"

"Dame Grizel Laux. She's been with Pop and Mama since before I was born. She's from the Far Isles, a Combat Master. She trained Ramsi and me all our lives."

"I see." 

I had an Ilser train me in self-defense after my mother's attack. I was determined that I would never be helpless again. Enyd was the scrappiest human I'd ever met. I still worked out with her three times a week when I was home. Dealing with riff-raff like Robin Fanche was easy for me, and it was entirely her doing.

Of course, I would never dream of crossing her. I wasn't a fool, and I would never have the nerve.

"Yeah," Ramsi's smile was pure devilry and Ambrose cast narrow eyes at him. That only sent him into gales of laughter.

Ambrose growled and lunged for Ramsi. The two men fell to the floor in a wrestling clench, and I lifted my feet to the sofa to avoid their thrashing. I watched them tussle a bit, laughing when Ambrose poked Ramsi in the ribs and had him helpless and pinned in seconds. Breathing hard, Ambrose straddled Ramsi and peered down at him.

"Such a naughty boy," Ambrose scolded softly.

Ramsi drew a deep breath and his eyes sparkled. "Yes, Sir," he agreed.

"How should I deal with you, hm?" Ambrose tugged his gloves off and Ramsi pressed the back of his head into the floor.

The action arched his neck and Ambrose untied the dark gray scarf and tossed it aside. He traced his fingers over the fading bruise before he rested his palm against Ramsi's throat. I smiled when his hand fit over the bruise perfectly.

I was breathless, watching Ambrose slowly increase pressure. Ramsi relaxed, keeping his eyes on Ambrose's face. The love and trust I saw there made my heart trip. If I could earn even a tenth of that level of trust from Ramsi, I would have no trouble securing my place with Ambrose.

Ramsi groaned when Ambrose released him.

"Thank you, Sir," he whispered.

Ambrose leaned over and brushed a loving kiss across Ramsi's lips.

"My good boy," he whispered.

"Yes, Sir," Ramsi whispered back.

Ambrose's eyes were dark with passion when he turned to look at me. "What do you think, my Lady?"

"I think Ramsi is a fortunate boy," I smiled, and Ambrose laughed and offered me a hand.

"Join us?"

Eagerly, I took his hand and allowed him to tug me down until I knelt beside them. Ramsi's bright eyes followed my every move, and I couldn't resist tracing a finger down the strong line of his throat.

"Nice," he sighed. "Better without the gloves, yeah?"

I clenched my fist and frowned.

"We're made for you, and you for us," Ramsi murmured. "How much longer are you gonna hide from us, honey?"

It was a good question. With sharp movements, I stripped the gloves off and tore the veil away. The scraps of material fell to the floor and Ambrose took my chin between his thumb and fingers to keep me from looking away.

"Ramsi." The gentle command in his voice got the other man moving.

Ramsi sat up and took my hand. His eyes tracked the long scar from my palm to my elbow, and it felt like a caress on the thick ribbon of tissue.

When they both turned to me, the glow in their eyes was the same. A fierce protective fury flowed from them, but when it reached me, it became tender, loving, and gentle.

"Darling, you're exquisite," Ambrose whispered.

"Glorious," Ramsi added. "Aunt Dru always told us scars were badges of honor. You're a fucking goddess, Kayla-honey. A goddess in flesh."

I took a shuddering breath when Ambrose kissed across my nose, and down my cheek, following the line of the old scar to my throat. Ramsi lifted my hand to his mouth and kissed the scar on my palm. He stroked his thumb over my wrist before dropping more kisses up my arm. While I floated in on a cloud of wonder and pleasure, they moved around until Ambrose was in front of me and Ramsi knelt beside me.

I gasped when Ambrose dropped a gentle kiss to the corner of my mouth. He held my gaze while he moved. Ramsi slipped back behind me and boosted me onto Ambrose's lap. I automatically straddled him and leaned back against Ramsi.

"Comfy?" Ramsi teased with an affectionate kiss behind my ear.

"Very," I sighed and threaded my fingers through Ambrose's hair.

He rested his hands on my waist and let me explore as I would. With Ramsi still pressed close, I smoothed my thumbs down those lean cheeks and kissed his chin, his nose, and lips. I cooed against his lips, and he parted for my questing tongue.

I shivered when he met and challenged me to a duel. I battled for control of the kiss, but Ambrose stole my thunder with his teeth. He tugged and nipped at my lips then cupped the back of my head to hold me still while he explored every quarter of my mouth at his leisure.

Ramsi trailed kisses down the side of my throat and nuzzled behind my ear. He nibbled my earlobe and stroked his thumbs along my waist around my belly. I broke the kiss with a shiver and pressed my forehead to Ambrose's.

"I've never," I swallowed to clear my throat. "I've never been able to be this close to anyone without suppressing my Gift."

"You can do that?" Ramsi was only mildly interested. He was nuzzling his way across the back of my neck.

"With certain herbs, yes," I gasped when Ambrose nipped my chin playfully.

"Are you suppressed, now, darling?" he challenged.

"No," I sighed.

"Then we're doing something right," Ramsi declared and flicked his tongue along the other side of my neck.

I shuddered when Ramsi gently sank his teeth into my shoulder. Ambrose did the same thing on the other side and my senses grayed out. I blindly anchored a hand in Ambrose's hair and hung on. He purred against the hollow of my throat and swirled his tongue against my heated flesh.

"Easy, darling," he murmured. "We have miles to go."

"Yards of fabric to get through first," Ramsi muttered.

I drew a deep breath and leaned back against Ramsi. Both men paused and waited for me to make the next move.

"We are in your hands, my darling," Ambrose challenged.

I nodded slowly. I knew what I wanted. I just needed to take a leap of faith. These men were my future. I Knew it, I Felt it in the core of my soul.

"I can only presume that you have more scars," Ambrose told me gently, "and I am saddened that your fear stands between us, Kayla. I know you know we will not harm you or reject you."

"You can't possibly know what I'm feeling," I said sharply. How could he come to the truth so quickly?

"No, that's your Gift," he agreed, "but your thoughts, my darling, that is my Gift, and yours are riddled with fear and shame. Whoever the fucker was," he growled, and his beautiful eyes grew hard, "that taught you to be ashamed of your body, we will be happy to hunt him down and destroy him. Slowly. In the meantime, darling, please remember that I have waited years to meet and adore you in person.

"Nothing is going to come between us, now."

I blinked as he gently shifted me into Ramsi's lap, and climbed to his feet. Ambrose yanked his shirt off and tossed it aside. The boots went next, and he dropped his trousers all within seconds, without taking his eyes from mine.

"You see, my dear, you are not alone in your scarred body," he glanced down and I followed.

I gasped at the long rippling lines of scar tissue that ran up and down his legs. Blinking, I shifted my gaze up to his chest, noting a few marks on his ribs and along one shoulder.

He pulled up his trousers but left them undone and settled back to the floor. "As Ramsi said, we are made for you. He's more right than he knows, Kayla."

"What...How did that happen to you?" Tears flooded my eyes, imagining my Ambrose suffering through such pain.

"I was crippled as a child," he said quietly. "And Mama hired surgeons to help correct the issues with my legs. I had dozens of procedures, with weeks of therapy. This is why Mama always encouraged me to live with my scars. I know she gave you the same advice, but I think the way we got our scars is the difference."

Ramsi carefully wrapped an arm around my waist from behind and shifted so I rested within the cradle of his hips. The thick length of him rested half-hard against me and I felt my pulse kick up.

"I have a few scars of my own," Ramsi told me, caressing me from my shoulders down to my elbows and back. "Not all of Fala's are from surgery. Our cousin Robin liked to sharpen his fists on us as lads. Your scars aren't ugly, honey," he added, caressing my cheek. "They're just another part of you.

"I know that you have Dominant tendencies, and I am fucking delighted, Kayla. I am aching to Serve you, but I can't do that until you find it in yourself to trust us with everything you are. It's fair trade, yeah? All of us, for all of you."

I nodded slowly, at a loss for words. I slid my gaze from Ramsi's blue-gray eyes to Ambrose's. How I ached to touch them skin to skin! The scars on my body gave me pause, as well as the danger to them. And to myself.

I couldn't begin to guess how Ambrose's energy would affect me. I had never been so open and easy with anyone. The energy exchange between us was a low hum. I knew I could Siphon them both, but I didn't want to harm them. I couldn't.

"Let's start slow," Ambrose whispered and took my hand. Slowly, he placed my palm on his shoulder and lid it down until it lay flat on his chest.

I shivered at the surge of desire that hit me and then ebbed.

They gave me confidence.

Patience. Compassion.

Trust.

I stared into Ambrose's eyes and placed my other hand on his shoulder. I closed my eyes and drew a deep breath, reveling in the steady flow of energy coming from him.

"There now," Ambrose whispered. "Not so bad, is it?"

"No," I whispered. "Not at all."

I started when Ramsi's broad bare chest pressed against my back.

"Shh, honey," he murmured in my ear. "Just breathe us in."

I trembled when Ramsi squeezed his arm around my waist from one side and Ambrose did the same on the other. I was completely encircled in their arms, and I was Drawing upon them effortlessly. Their energy had me instantly addicted.

Ah, gods, I could feed on them for hours, days. My hand tightened on Ambrose.

"Too much," I muttered. "I can't take too much."

"Take what you need, darling," Ambrose urged me. "There's no harm done. Look."

I fluttered my eyes open and saw Ambrose's eyes glowing. Gasping, I glanced over my shoulder and confirmed Ramsi's blue-gray eyes were lit with an inner fire as well.

It shouldn't be possible, but it seemed that my Siphon of them wasn't detrimental at all. It appeared that we were all gaining energy from the three-way contact.

"What is this?" I whispered, mystified and a bit frightened. I had never heard of anything like this, and I wasn't certain how to process it.

"No idea," Ambrose sighed. He leaned close and pressed his lips to my forehead. "It feels sublime, darling. Like I've been waiting to throw this switch all my life."

"And we finally got all the connections right," Ramsi finished. His lips brushed the curve of my ear.

The overwhelming feeling of completeness brought tears to my eyes. Ambrose kissed them away as they spilled down my scarred cheek. Ramsi's thumbs lightly caressed my belly while Ambrose massaged my back.

Once again, I knew I was safe. I fit right here and nowhere else.

I was home. They were mine, and it was time for that fair exchange.