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whisper from mine, I held my breath.
    The crash of the frozen door on its hinges broke the spell. Whatever softness I had imagined hardened before my eyes. Vaughn withdrew from me, the rag falling from his fingers. His gaze locked on Pascale. She stumbled when a male shoved her into the room, then sealed us all inside.
    “Watch your step.” The male grasped the female’s cloak, preventing her fall, and fabric tore. He scanned the nook, his attention falling on me. “Her eyes are raw as blood. Can she see at all?”
    “Mana sees perfectly well.” Vaughn prompted me by squeezing my knee.
    “I am well.” I made a point of meeting the male’s gaze. “Thank you for asking.”
    “I’m glad.” He inclined his head. “I’m Bram, and I’m at your service.”
    Packed into the cramped shelter, I got my first good look at the male, at Bram. He towered over the female, built wider than her by half and yet still I found him slight compared to Vaughn. That realization coaxed a delicious shiver. When I met Bram’s eyes, he winked, and his cocky grin bent my lips in an answering smile. Tearing my gaze from him, I appraised his charge. Her sole focus remained on the ground, and she shuffled, as if afraid she might trip over her own feet.
    Vaughn strode purposefully to her side. He forced her head back with none of the tenderness he’d shown me. “You’re my responsibility now.” He tapped his nose. “I’m well-acquainted with your scent. Remember I’ve tracked you once. I won’t be as nice about it a second time. Whatever games you played to reach this point, they are over. Run from me, and I will make you regret it.”
    A muscle worked in her jaw, but she nodded.
    While Vaughn glowered, the male shoved him aside, away from Pascale, to reach me.
    “So you’re the illustrious Kokyangwmana of the Salticidae, the Savior of Paladin Rhys.” His eyes crinkled at the corners. “However you did it, I’m impressed you were able to save Rhys. He should have died—” Vaughn’s snarl cut him short. “What I meant was treatment was tricky, due to the area being isolated. Theridiidae venom is potent.” His grin bared fangs. “I should know.”
    “You’re Theridiidae, I take it?” What an odd bedfellow for the Araneidae.
    Though my arm had lifted to accept his introduction, Vaughn grasped my wrist.
    “Mana is my dear brother’s cousin.” He addressed Bram with no small amount of sarcasm, a reminder of the strain between brothers. “Show her your fangs again and I will show you mine.”
    Breaking Vaughn’s hold, I returned to my spot by the fire and ignored their male posturing. I rubbed the bite mark on my palm across my knee until I located cloth for rebinding the wound.
    Skirting the fray, the female approached. “We need no introduction, but I’m Pascale.” Her head lifted. “I understand I owe you thanks for undoing at least some small part of what I did.”
    “You owe me no thanks,” I said. “Your burden of guilt wasn’t a consideration of mine.”
    The timid smile she wore slipped. “Still, you have my gratitude.”
    Though it wasn’t my place, I couldn’t stop the words from tumbling out. “I don’t know you. I don’t know what you’ve done or what choices brought you here. I won’t blame you, as Vaughn appears to, for Rhys’s incident. I understand he’s a warrior and he accepted the probability of receiving a similar injury while dealing with a venomous clan.” Ice crept into my voice. “But he is like a brother to me. Where you’re going is my home. The people who’ve chosen to show you mercy are my family and my friends. If you harm them, or if you allow your actions, no matter how innocent, no matter how unintended, to harm them, I’ll ban your soul to the Below as a warning that Salticidae suffer no fools, and I’ll give you all of eternity to serve your penance.”
    Pascale’s eyes widened, and she glanced to Bram in the hope of being rescued from me.
    “You’d be wise not