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up!”
    He winced with the pain the treòir caused. Many centuries had passed since he and the power inside of him struggled for dominance. He put a hand to his temple as he went through the mechanics of keeping the power contained inside. Then Haven was standing next to him. The power faded back but remained closer to the surface than he liked.
    “I’ve done something to aggravate your power thing?”
    He opened his eyes, and his body trembled at her closeness. He took a defensive step away from her. “No. I can irritate my treòir all on my own.”
    Her eyes searched his face before she nodded. Her breath faltered before she spoke again. “You don’t have to hide anything from me. I might not completely understand, but if there is anything I can do to help you, let me know.”
    Donovan reached up and touched the tip of a finger to her lips. “I am not your worry. You need rest. I should go.” He turned to walk out of the room. He would have escaped, but the treòir would not let him.
    “She is broken!” the power said with rage bubbling at its core. “ She leaks. Fix her or I will find a way.”
    Going back in was a mistake. It was better to flee the room and spend his night fighting with the treòir than to look at her, because he knew what he was going to see. The treòir snagged control of his body for a brief moment, just long enough to swing his head back around.
    Haven stood in the center of his bedroom with tears slipping down her cheeks. Nikon pressed up against her side in an effort to offer comfort. Her delicate body trembled as she turned away from him. Her voice wobbled on the first note, “Good night, Quinn.”
    “Haven.” Her name rolled out with a gritty edge.
    She went perfectly still. “Y-yes?”
    He moved up behind her. “You’re crying.”
    “I’m fine.”
    “Look at me.”
    She hesitated for a moment before she turned around and tilted her head back.
    He tried to look impassive, but his arms opened. “Come here.”
    She hesitated again. Those beautiful eyes peered into his, assessing him and his intent before she walked into him. Donovan’s arms closed around her as her body curled in against him. The cotton of his shirt became immediately damp with tears. Her slight body kept trembling, but her crying was soft.
    “She’s leaking more!” The treòir’s alarm sent pounding through his head.
    “She needs this.” Donovan kept the response measured. He wasn’t about to pretend to understand why women cried after they were safe. He just knew they did. The treòir wasn’t exactly sure it believed him, but the throbbing headache subsided. He stroked a hand down her silky hair. “Shh. You’re all right. I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere.”
    After a few moments, she finally relaxed against him. Using his power to put her to sleep would have been easier, but Donovan found he couldn’t make himself cheat her of his time. She needed to cry first, and he’d be damned if she used any shoulder but his for the rest of her life when she needed one. She was his lifebond. That was the only answer he had for the treòir’s behavior and the course of emotion hammering through his system.
    When the tears stopped, Haven pulled back. Her eyes were rimmed red. “I, um, well, I think I need a shower.”
    “All right.” He tried to get himself to leave, but his body refused to move, and this time the treòir wasn’t preventing him.
    “I will stay with her,” Nikon whispered to him. The large black wolf moved to stand guard next to her and nodded toward the door.
    His heart constricted. Once again, he was struck by the image of his wolf protecting a woman with more beauty than he could recall to memory. He ran his hand over Nikon’s head and then fled the room.
    “You ran away from her!” the treòir yelled at him.
    Donovan ground his teeth together. “Hell yes! She doesn’t need me mauling her while she sleeps.”
    Treòir considered his human’s words and conceded. “ The