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guiltily as they entered the barn.
    “Nothing.  There was a rat.”  She muttered.
    Nicky gave her a suspicious look but James grinned.  “I can’t believe you’re still afraid of rats.  You know you’re a Lycan right?”
    “Shut up, James.”  She grimaced and picked up her sword from where she had dropped it in her mad scramble to get away from the rat.
    “Why are you here?”  She asked as Nicky looked from her to Kaden.
    “You’re late.”  Nicholas replied.
    “Sorry.  Evan was teasing Leta and I needed to intervene.”
    “Late for what?”  Kaden asked curiously.
    “Jeffrey is waiting for you.  We thought you had forgotten.”  Nicky scowled at her.
    “I said I was sorry Nicky, and I’ll apologize to Jeffrey.”  Sophia retorted. 
    She was walking towards the door when Kaden caught her by the wrist.  “What are you doing with Jeffrey?”
    She wondered briefly if it was jealousy she was hearing in his voice.
    “Take your hand off my sister.”  Nicky growled. 
    Kaden’s hand tightened around her wrist.  “And if I don’t?”
    Nicholas growled again, his eyes going from blue to yellow, and Kaden stiffened behind her.  “What are you going to do, Lycan?  Hmm?  Do you believe that you can – “
    “Stop it!”  Sophia hissed at him.  She turned to her brother.  “Calm down, Nicky.”
    He ignored her and she gave James a pleading look.  He took Nicky’s arm.  “She can take care of herself, Nicky.  You know that.”
    Deciding the best course of action was to distract the two of them, Sophia turned to Kaden.  “We’ve been keeping watch for Draken.  It’s my turn.”
    He frowned.  “How long have you been keeping watch?”
    “Since we returned.  We’ve been keeping guard in the trees just beyond our home at all times.”
    “Why wasn’t I told?  I want to be involved in this.”  Kaden snapped.
    “You’re useless at keeping watch.”  Nicholas replied.  “Unless you have suddenly developed the ability to smell the Lycans like we can?”
    Kaden glared at him and Nicky laughed.  “I didn’t think so.  C’mon Sophia.  Jeffrey is waiting.”
    “Just wait.”  James interrupted.  “Kaden would be helpful.  We guard in pairs.  As long as he’s with a Lycan he can take his turn on watch.”
    “Really?  And which Lycan would we put him with?  He avoids all of us like we have the sickness.”  Nicholas said through gritted teeth.
    “I’ll go on watch with whoever you put me with.”  Kaden said immediately.
    James clapped Nicholas on the back.  “See?  Kaden is willing to help and so we’ll let him.  It’ll take the strain off the rest of us to have an extra person.”
    Nicholas snorted and Sophia tugged at Kaden’s hand until he released her. 
    “I can take my turn right now.”  Kaden said suddenly.  “I could – I mean I don’t mind taking a shift if Jeffrey has something else to do.”
    “Oh, um – “ Sophia could feel herself starting to blush as James stared at them silently.
    “He’s already there, waiting for her.”  Nicholas said impatiently.  “Don’t worry, human.  You’ll get your turn.”
    He took Sophia’s hand and led her from the barn as James stared at Kaden.  “Thank you for staying for the wedding.  It means a lot to Bree.”  He said gruffly.
    “Aye.”  Kaden replied.
    They stood in uncomfortable silence for a few moments until James cleared his throat.  “I was just about to join Bree in the house for a bite to eat.  Would you uh – care to join us?”
    Kaden nodded.  He had promised his sister he would make an attempt to get to know the Lycans, and her soon-to-be-husband was probably the best one to start with.
    * * *
     
    “Your brother likes my sister.” 
    Bree, sitting on the bed and brushing her long hair, paused and stared at James.  “What?  How do you know?”
    “I can smell it on him.”  James pulled his boots off with a soft grunt.  “And Nicholas and I walked into the