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drink.”
    “I’m fine. I just need some space.” She moved her chair closer to her brother.
    “As you wish,” Kyl said, suppressing a grin. He glanced at Artu. “You were saying that you have spoken to the Fates?”
    “Yes.” Artu gave him an inquiring look. “Is it as I suspected and you have done so as well?”
    “Yes.” Kyl gave Marti the lopsided smile he knew drove most women wild. “They keep insisting that your sister is the woman who can end my suffering.”
    “I can end no one’s suffering.” Marti stood up quickly and immediately toppled over into Kyl’s lap.
    Quickly, he wrapped his arms around her so she wouldn’t fall on the floor. “They say that you can end mine.” He stared at her for a moment before leaning over to meet Artu’s gaze. “How old are you and your sister? I assume that you had the same father and he began to age when you reached the age of twenty-five and came into your powers, as did I.” He pressed his lips together for a moment and glanced at Marti with a wave of his free hand. “It doesn’t matter. I know your approximate age and I know your sister is not much younger—if she is younger.” He smiled at Marti who had gone still in his lap when his cock grew hard beneath her bottom. “So, Marti, how long have you known that you were also a defender?”
    “I’m not.” Marti began to tremble in his lap. Tears filled her eyes before they overflowed and ran down her cheeks. “At least not anymore.” She shook her head. They did something to me on Katkari. I no longer have any powers.”
    Kyl felt his heart lurch when she buried her face in her hands and sobbed. Who could have taken her defender’s powers from her? Who would know that they must take her powers from her? Was it something on their planet that rendered a defender powerless?
    “What will I do now?” Marti cried. “How will I live? Who would want me now that I am no longer a whole woman?”
    Kyl brought his arms up and drew her head down to his shoulder. He tightened his hold when she would have resisted. “Listen to yourself. Do you think that your defender’s powers were the only thing that made you of value?” He glared at her brother. “What, or who, could ever have given you such an idea?”
    No male on Torus would ever think to devalue a woman. How did the men of other cultures justify the mistreatment of those who gave them life?
    Kyl held her tightly to him as he gently rocked her back and forth. She might insist that she was no baby, but his heart and his body couldn’t help but coddle her as though she were just that.
    “It’s all going to be all right now. Please don’t upset yourself so.” He continued to rock her as she broke down, sobbing on his shoulder. “No one will ever hurt you again.” Not if I have anything to say about it.
    You will, Kyl, that soft, young voice whispered into his head. Even now she grows used to your touch. She will come around before you know it.
    Resting his chin on the top of Marti’s head, Kyl conceded the notion that, like those whose lives they directed, the Fates had made mistakes. At least they are attempting to correct them.

Chapter Nine
     
     
    Marti sat on the defender’s lap as he comforted her. It wasn’t as though she had much of a choice, he was much stronger than she. Besides, she liked his warmth and the way he smelled.
    Just the thought of his scent made Marti worry about her own smell. Her short bath the day before did nothing for her self-esteem, especially after trading her hard-won self-respect for her escape.
    The memory of the guard touching her sent a shiver of revulsion through her that Kyl must have thought was a chill. He gathered her closer, his warmth seeping into her and making her perspire.
    “What is your power?” she asked the crook of his neck.
    “My power?” He pulled back to look at her, giving her room to breathe.
    “Yes.” She tilted her head and bit her lip. “You know. Do you fly, have super strength?