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answered.  Was that what he believed?  That Silas held him out front as a shield so her mate would take all the punishing blows? She wanted to deny it in her heart, but her rational mind knew it could be true. If Cale was aware of it, why did he allow it?  The image of Casper Lee’s hand stroking along Cale’s shoulders came back to her with a chill.
    “I’m sure,” Cale told him, “because we have something he’d do anything to protect.” His gaze fell to Kendra’s, holding it fixed with the solemnity of his own. “As would I.”
    For her? He was risking all for her?
    “Any news on Jamie?” Kip asked quietly. “Is he part of the reason you’re here?”
    “Have you heard anything from Row?” Rico sat up, suddenly all sharp attention.
    Cale shook his head. “Nothing yet. But James and those two bitches are here, somewhere close by. And they won’t take me by surprise a second time.”
    James Terriot, second son of Bram, had formed an alliance with their father’s mistress Martine. She’d vowed to use her mystic knowledge of herbs to poison her lover and Cale, his chosen heir, to give James control of the clan . . . as long as he made her daughter Sylvia his queen. When their treachery was discovered, a desperate James had taken things into his hands by figuratively and literally stabbing his brother in the back so he and the females could escape in the confusion.
    Kendra had sent the stoic and methodical Turow Terriot to hunt them down while she held the tentative union of brothers together until her mate recovered. The determination she’d felt in those anxious days while fearing her love would die had strengthened her to assume the role of their clan’s queen, and the support she’d received from those in this room would never be forgotten.
    “We have your back this time,” Colin assured with a somber ferocity. “That’s why we’re here. How can we help you?”
    Overwhelmed by his claim, Cale couldn’t answer right away.  Finally, he assured them gruffly, “You just did. By being here. By pledging your trust and protecting my queen.”
    Rico snorted. “If you’re gonna cry like a little baby about it, we’ll give you some privacy.”
    Cale grinned at his irreverence and was about to reply in kind when the door opened.
    Silas MacCreedy found himself skewered by a trio of deadly glares. He ignored them to address Cale in an impatient tone. “We have business to take care of.”
    “What kind of business?” Colin demanded.
    Silas’s quick glance dismissed him. “Like I said. None of yours.” Then to Cale, a curt, “Let’s go.”
    Surprisingly, it was Kendra who objected. “We were about to find a hotel.”
    “Don’t register under your own names. Make sure you remember his is Mick Terry when you get the room. Leave a message for him at the desk with a key.”
    Kendra shrugged off her cousin’s cautious dismissal. “Your business can wait until he has a chance to clean up.”
    “He’s fine the way he is. Are you coming, Cale?”
    Not for a while, unfortunately. Cale smiled faintly at his indignant queen. He leaned in to touch his lips to the tip of her nose, then looked to his brothers. “Get her settled in someplace nice.” Someplace safe was understood. To a frowning Kendra, he added, “I’ll call when Silas and I are finished so you can get the shower hot for me.”
    She glared at her cousin as she told her mate, “I’ll expect you to be in one piece when we share it.”
    “I’ll take extra care of the pieces you like best,” Cale promised. When he turned her toward him, he found her stare fierce and arousing as hell.
    “You take care of all of them, Cale Terriot.”
    “Yes, my queen.”
    He settled in for a slow, heart-stirring kiss. Then he was on his feet charging his brothers to take care of her.
    And of Silas, Kendra commanded, “You take care of him.” Or we’re going to tangle, her narrowed eyes conveyed.
    “The only trouble he gets into is the trouble he