HAVING SEEN JESSKA off to spend the day with her friend, Kaspar organized his morning in order to have time to retrieve his brother. He’d managed only a few stolen moments with Jesska that morning, having joined her for breakfast and then riling them both up by kissing her for far too long.

Climbing into the back of the car, Austri and Jóvin in the front, Kaspar responded to a few emails as they drove to the private airstrip. They arrived just as the plane was taxiing to the gate, and Kaspar climbed out of the car to await his brother, leaning against the car and watching as the plane came to a stop and the engines shut down.

Gunnar walked off the plane... followed by Ari. Kaspar quickened his stride to greet them both, knowing his shock was evident on his face.

“Surprise,” Gunnar said with a laugh.

Kaspar pulled Ari in for a hug, slapping his back. “What are you doing here, brother?”

“Turns out, Kade has a soft spot for his mate.”

Kaspar rolled his eyes. “Don’t we all?”

Ari nodded. “Samantha wants me to make things right with Megan, so I had to agree to a few rules on the threat of death if I didn’t comply, and then they released me to Gunnar.”

“You’re very lucky,” Kaspar said.

Ari nodded and grew serious. “I need to see them, Kaz. Now.”

Kaspar grabbed his phone. “I’ll call Cameron.”

“Who’s Cameron?” Gunnar asked.

Kaspar paused. “The brother.”

“Of?”

“My mate and your mate,” Kaspar said.

“I don’t understand,” Ari said.

“Siblings by marriage.”

“Not blood.”

“Já,” Kaspar confirmed.

Ari nodded and the brothers filed into the car. Kaspar called Cameron, and Cameron promised he would speak to Megan, but that they should head to the hotel.

“I want to see her now, Kaz,” Ari stressed. “I’m not willing to wait any longer.”

“Well, that’s apparently not an option. Megan is a lawyer, and she’s probably in court.”

Ari smiled. “She’s always been brilliant. A lawyer. Perfect for her. It doesn’t surprise me that she chose that.”

“She was good at arguing her case, eh?”

“Always.” Ari swore. “I can’t believe I have to wait.”

Kaspar squeezed his shoulder. “It’ll give you a chance to settle in. You can see her tonight.”

Ari scowled, but said nothing as he faced the window. Kaspar felt and understood his frustration. The thought of being kept from Jesska wouldn’t sit well with him, either, so he could imagine how Ari felt. He pulled out his phone and scrolled to Jesska’s number.

*Are you having fun?*

It took a few minutes, but his heart leapt when his phone buzzed.

*Code for: are you safe, right? I’m breaking the laws of movie-dom right now, Kaz. I’m fine and Channing Tatum is sexy as hell. Now leave me alone so I can concentrate on his six-pack.*

He frowned.

*But I love you, even though you worry too much. Megan says hi.*

Kaspar stared at the phone and then typed, *You’re with your sister?*

*Yep, she surprised me and Amanda. How’s your brother?*

*Both of them are here.*

*Ari’s with you too?*

*Yes.*

*Gotta go, movie starting. Shutting down my phone, you won’t be able to reach me. Love you.*

*I love you, too.* Kaspar smiled. *And stop looking at another man’s six-pack.*

Her response was an emoticon sticking out its tongue and then radio silence. He slipped his phone into his pocket just as Austri pulled into the hotel parking lot.

Without conversation, the brothers made their way to the floor, Kaspar’s staff waiting for them, their heads bowed as the brothers entered Kaspar’s suite. Ari and Gunnar both had personal valets who unpacked for the them while the brothers showered, agreeing to meet with Kaspar when they were finished.

They arrived at his suite less than an hour later.

“Any word on Megan?” Ari asked as he sat in one of the chairs next to the sofa.

Kaspar debated whether or not to lie by omission.

“Kaz?” he pressed.

“She’s with Jesska at the movies,” he admitted.

Ari shot out of his seat. “Take me to her.”

Kaspar shook his head. “I promised Jess I’d give her some time with her friend. I won’t go back on my word.”

Ari swore, advancing on his brother with a look that would have made most men cower. “I want to see my mate, Kaspar. You’ll take me to her now.”

“I can—”

His response was cut off when a knock came at his door. Kaspar pulled it open to Megan, who stormed inside and threw herself into Ari’s arms before stepping away and slapping him... hard.

“I can’t believe you lied to me!” she snapped.

Ari had a stupid grin on his face as he took in his mate. “Þú hefur ekki breyst, fallega.” (You haven’t changed, beautiful.)

Jesska frowned up in question to Kaspar, but didn’t say anything. He wrapped an arm around her and whispered the translation in her ear.

“Reyndu ekki að kalla mig fallega!” Megan snapped. (Don’t you dare call me beautiful!)

“Sweetheart, English. We’re being rude,” Ari said, the stupid grin still on his face as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close.

“I swear to god, Ari. You haven’t begun to see rude,” she snapped, and burst into tears.

“Let’s give them some privacy,” Jesska whispered, and made her way to Kaspar’s door, tugging on his hand.

Kaspar nodded to Gunnar, who followed them into the hallway. Kaspar guided Jesska forward. “Sweetheart, this is Gunnar.”

Jesska shook his hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“You too,” Gunnar said with a smile. “Well, I have a feeling this is going to take a while, so I’m going to do some work. Dinner tonight?”

“Perfect,” Kaspar said, and turned to Jesska as Gunnar walked away. “You didn’t finish your movie.”

Jesska sighed. “I know. I stupidly told Megan that Ari was here, and she hightailed it out of the theater so fast, I could barely catch her. Good thing it was a cheapie movie... we didn’t stop to get a refund... then there was traffic, and Megan was yelling, a lot. Then we had to drop Amanda home, and Megan just kept getting more and more irritated. I probably should have driven.”

“You let her drive in that state?” he snapped.

“I didn’t have much of a choice, Kaz. I didn’t have my car with me, remember?”

“Let’s go to your room and discuss this privately,” he said, and grabbed her hand, tugging her toward her suite. He used his keycard and pushed open the door, standing back so she could precede him.

Jesska walked into the room, dropped her purse on the side table, and, as was her habit, slipped off her shoes before flopping onto the sofa. “I’m not fighting with you.”

He frowned and sat beside her. “I have no intention of fighting. I was momentarily concerned for your safety, but you’re here now and safe, so no fighting.”

“I don’t want a lecture either.”

He chuckled. “No lecture.”

She reached over and lifted his T-shirt.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“Well, I didn’t get to see Channing Tatum’s abs, so figured you could show me yours.”

Kaspar laughed and shifted, pulling her on top of him while he settled his feet on the coffee table. “You can look at me anytime you like. In fact, I’d prefer it.”

“You smell good. You always smell good.” Jesska snuggled against his chest and kissed his neck. “I missed you.”

“You did?”

“I did. You’re growing on me.”

He chuckled. “I’m glad.”

“Any news on the ‘threat’ front?” She glanced up at him. “You let me go to the movies without the muscle, so you must feel I’m safe.”

“You weren’t without the muscle, baby.”

“I wasn’t?”

“No. I have just instructed them to be less conspicuous.”

“Oh.” She smiled, burrowing against him again. “Thank you.”

“And as far as the threat goes, Jason is still in jail, so he can’t touch you for the moment. We have not located who is after Ása... ah... Sophia, so until we do, you’ll stay here.”

She pushed herself up, settling her chin on her hands splayed on his chest. “Why do I feel like this is going to be a more permanent situation than I originally thought?”

“Because you’re extremely smart.”

She settled her head back on his chest. “Well, my lease isn’t up for another three months, so I’ll have to go back there until then.”

“I’ll buy out your lease.”

“No, you won’t.”

He gave her a gentle squeeze, not in the mood to argue. Jesska’s phone pealed in the quiet and he reached for her purse behind him.

“Thanks,” she said, and pulled out her phone. “Cam? Hey, you okay?” She sat up and crossed her legs. “Yes. Megan’s here. Seriously?”

Kaspar sat up, feeling her worry. He texted his brothers and Austri.

“Yes, I’m with him. Okay, we’ll stay put. Where’s Sophia?”

She glanced at Kaspar as he got up and opened his door. Gunnar walked in.

“Okay, yes, bring her by,” Jesska said.

Kaspar’s phone buzzed, and he saw Dalton Moore’s number come up. “Kaspar here.”

“Hey, it’s Dalton Moore. You need to close ranks.”

“Okay,” he said carefully.

“Megan and Sophia’s accident wasn’t an accident. We’re closing in on the who, and then we’ll figure out the why.”

“Skít,” he snapped. “Where am I meeting you?”

“You’re not coming.”

“I am.”

“No, Kaspar, you’re not,” Moore stressed. “You’re to stay in your royal compound and my men and I will take care of this.”

Kaspar expressed his opinion in Icelandic, causing his brother to raise an eyebrow.

“I’ll call you when I know something.” Moore hung up.

A knock at his door brought Ari and Megan, and Kaspar didn’t miss that Ari’s shirt was on backwards and Megan’s hair had been hastily put back into place.

“What’s wrong?” Ari asked.

“Cameron’s bringing Sophia here,” Jesska explained.

“Why?” Megan asked.

“Because your accident wasn’t an accident,” Kaspar said.

“What?” Megan and Jesska said in stereo.

Ari wrapped his hand around the back of Megan’s neck and squeezed. “We’ll sort this out, sweetheart.”

She smacked his arm away. “Don’t you ‘sweetheart’ me. If you have put our daughter in danger, I’m going to castrate you.”

Ari frowned as he faced his brother. “What do you know?”

Kaspar shook his head. “Not much. Moore seems to think we’re going to stay here while he figures it out. Austri is getting the car.”

Jesska frowned, prompting Kaspar to pull her into the privacy of her bedroom, closing the door behind him. “Say what you need to say.”

“It’s dangerous.” She settled her hands on her hips. “You need to let Dalton do his job.”

“Jesska, I’m going to say this one time and then the conversation is done. My brothers and I are going to figure out who is threatening our family. I don’t give a damn about what the lawman says, you are not his to worry about. You are mine. Megan and Sophia are Ari’s. It’s family business, period.”

“I’m no one’s but my own, Kaz.”

He cupped her cheek. “You are mine, make no mistake about it. When one of my own is threatened, I deal with it.”

“You’re so freakin’ bossy.”

“Baby, what do you need me to say? I’ll say it and then I have to go.” He glanced at his phone and then answered it before she could respond to his question. “Austri.”

“Mr. Shane is here.”

“Does he have Ása?”

“Já.”

“Send them up to Jesska’s room, please.” He hung up and found Jesska tapping her foot. “What?”

“Her name’s Sophia.”

“It’s not actually.”

“Whatever.” Jesska yanked open her door and stormed back into the living room.

Kaspar followed just as Austri arrived with Cameron and Ása... and as Megan collapsed on the floor, groaning in pain.

“Mom!” Ása squeaked, kneeling beside her. “Someone call an ambulance.”

Ari joined his daughter on the floor and laid a hand on Megan’s forehead. “Your medicine can’t help right now, daughter.

“Ert þú bundinn henni?” Kaspar bellowed. (You bound her?)

“What does ‘bound’ mean?” Ása asked.

“I’ll explain later,” Jesska said.

“Það hjálpar ekki,” (It couldn’t be helped) Ari responded as he lifted Megan in his arms. She whimpered in pain, as he carried her to Jesska’s bedroom, Ása worried and following behind.

“Yes, it could have been helped Ari, you selfish—” Kaspar snapped.

“I don’t have time for you, brother,” Ari said, and closed his family into the room.

“What happened?” Jesska asked.

“I don’t have time to explain, elskan.” He pulled out his phone and stepped into the hallway, leaving her seething in the room.

“What do you want now?” Kade answered, sounding irritated.

“What happens to a human woman when she is bound to a Kalt Einn?”

“Her body goes through a conversion and it’s extremely painful.”

“Skít,” Kaspar hissed. “This is what I was afraid of.”

“Who has been bound?”

“Ari bound Megan.”

A shuffling sound and quiet arguing interrupted the conversation briefly.

“Hello? This is Samantha, I’m Kade’s mate.”

“I know who you are,” Kaspar said. “Thank you for helping with my brother.”

“You’re welcome,” she said, and he could sense her kindness. Perhaps it was the deep southern American accent, or the fact that she sounded like she was smiling. “If you have any questions during the conversion, would you or Ari please call me? I’d be happy to help.”

“And how does Kade feel about that?”

“I plead the fifth.” She chuckled. “I’m going to text you my phone number. Please call me. I can help walk you through it.”

“I appreciate that,” Kaspar said. “I should go now.”

“Do you need to speak with Kade again?”

“Absolutely not.”

She giggled. “Chicken.”

Kaspar couldn’t help a smile. “Thank you, Samantha. Truly.”

“It’s my pleasure. We’ll talk soon.”

He hung up and headed back into the suite. Stepping into the bedroom, he filled Ari in on what Samantha had said, gave him her phone number, and then focused back on Jesska.

“How did you know he bound her?” Jesska asked.

“When mates are bound we know. It’s a vibration of sorts, I suppose.”

“Oh.”

“I have to go, elskan.”

He could see she was trying not to cry. “Go, then,” she ground out.

Kaspar kissed her quickly and then followed Gunnar out the door. Austri had the car waiting for them, and they managed to pick up Cameron’s trail in relatively quick fashion. If Dalton Moore wasn’t going to tell Kaspar where to go, he figured Cameron would be heading to the same place.

* * *

Jesska pushed open her bedroom door to find Megan writhing in pain on her bed. Sophia was inconsolable at the state of her mother, and Ari was carefully removing Megan’s clothes, in an obvious attempt to make her more comfortable.

He glanced up at Jesska. “We’ll need cold towels, and ice, if you have it.”

Jesska nodded. “Soph, you want to help me?”

“Um...”

“Sophia, come on, honey, let’s go get some stuff for your mom.”

Ari stroked Sophia’s face. “Farðu og hjálpaðu frænku þinni, litla. Mamma þín þarf að kæla sig niður.” (Go help your aunt, little one. Your mama needs to be cooled down.)

Sophia nodded and followed Jesska into the bathroom.

“You get some towels wet, okay?” Jesska said. “I’ll go get ice.”

“Is my mom going to die?”

“No, baby. She’s going to be fine. I promise.”

Sophia went about her duties, and Jesska stepped outside to find Jóvin hovering. “M’lady? You’re to stay inside.”

“I need ice, Jóvin.”

“I’ll get it for you, m’lady.”

She shoved the bucket at him. “Fine. Hurry,” she snapped, and stepped back inside, heading to her bedroom. Megan was naked from the waist up, as was Ari. He had his arms wrapped around her from behind, and she appeared to be calmer, although her skin was a blotchy red. Jesska gasped, making her way to the bed and covering them both with a sheet for privacy. “Do you really want Sophia to see this? It will scar her for life.”

“I have to stay connected to her,” Ari explained. “It helps with the conversion.”

“What’s conversion?”

“When a human is bound to a Kalt Einn, her body will change to be like ours.”

“Pardon?”

“I’m sorry, sister, I don’t have time to explain everything to you right now,” Ari said. “Perhaps it would be better if you didn’t watch.”

“Are you saying I will go through this if Kaspar binds me?” Jesska asked, horrified.

“Já.”

“Is she dying?” Sophia’s small voice sounded from the threshold of the bathroom.

“No, baby,” Ari answered, and waved his hand. “Come and lay the towel over your mama. Touch her as well. You can help.”

Sophia rushed to do as he said and then she settled her hand on her mother’s head. Megan sighed and shifted, turning towards Sophia. “That feels good, honey.”

Jesska felt like she was intruding on a family moment, so she went back into the living room just as Jóvin arrived with the ice. He had three buckets full—where he got the other containers she wasn’t sure, but she was glad for the help. “Thanks, Jóvin.”

“M’lady,” he said, and then left her again.

“Jess?” Sophia called from the bedroom. “Do you have the ice?”

“Yeah, honey. Right here.”

Jesska didn’t have time to obsess about what her body would go through when Kaspar bound her, because she was too focused on making sure Megan was as comfortable as possible. Once Megan was calm and sleeping, Ari pulled his shirt back on and left the suite. Sophia curled up next to her mother on Jesska’s bed, and Jesska closed the door for privacy, fell onto her sofa, and curled up in a ball, bursting into quiet tears as the realization of what she would be subjected to sunk in. Megan’s body had been wracked with pain and her skin had changed from milky white to a dark red in front of Jesska’s eyes for several minutes before returning to normal. Jesska knew Megan was fighting the urge to scream for her and Sophia’s sakes, but she couldn’t hold back the occasional whimper which seemed to frighten Sophia. In the end, Ari had forced them out for a time before letting them back in when Megan was calmer.

Jesska didn’t give herself much time to freak out, sitting up and wiping away her tears. She needed to do something, and she knew exactly what. She grabbed her cell phone, made a quick call, and then took her purse and keys and left the room.