Aimee pulled back as she realized the mistake she was making. What was it with Fang that every time she drew near him, she stuck her foot into something? It was like she couldn’t say or do anything right where he was concerned. “I should be going.”

He refused to let go of her hand. “You know something.” His tone was one of complete accusation.

She hesitated. This wasn’t her place. “Fang, I shouldn’t be the one telling you this.”

“Telling me what?”

Aimee couldn’t do it. Vane should be the one to tell him. Or Fury. But not her. “I have to go.”

“Aimee,” he said in an agonized tone that tore through her. “Please. I need to know what’s going on with him. He’s the only family I have left. Don’t leave me here not knowing.”

He was right. That would be even more cruel and he’d already suffered enough.

Taking a deep breath, she braced herself for his reaction. “Fury is your brother.”

His handsome face went white. “What?”

She nodded. “It’s true. Like Vane, he changed forms at puberty and became Katagaria. As your father did with you and Vane, your mother called her pack out against him and they beat him down, then left him for dead. Now he’s teamed up with Vane to fight against them and to protect Bride, Vane’s mate.”

Fang shook his head in disbelief. But it was the torment in his dark eyes that tore her apart. She hated hurting him more.

“Fury is my brother? Gah, what’s next? Is Mama Lo going to end up being my long-lost sister?”

She rolled her eyes at him. “That’s a little far-fetched.”

Lying back on the bed, he covered his eyes with his hand. “I feel sick.”

Aimee popped playfully at his belly. “Oh, stop the dramatics, Fang. You have another brother. You should be grateful.”

Fang was stunned that she’d touched him like that. Anyone else would be missing an arm. But her warm tone actually succeeded in lessening his anger and feeling of betrayal. “And if I said that to you?”

“In case you haven’t noticed, my cup is running over with brothers. But you… you should be glad to have more family.”

Maybe.

“Yeah, but it’s Fury.” The last creature on earth he’d want to be related to. He couldn’t stand that SOB.

Aimee laughed at his dire tone. “We all have a Remi in the bunch. Deal with it, you crybaby.”

Fang gaped at her insult. No one ever dared to insult him. Not even Vane. “Crybaby?”

She nodded. “If the term fits…”

He reached to tickle her.

She squealed and tried to escape, but he tackled her to the bed and held her under him. She squirmed playfully, her eyes dancing in humor as she reached to return every tickle to him.

Fury went completely still as he realized what was happening. He was locked in hell and Aimee was making him laugh…

Sobering, he looked down into those celestial eyes that seared him to the core of his soul. To that tantalizing dimple that haunted his dreams. How could she make him feel like this? His entire life had fallen apart and yet she made him laugh. Made him forget that he was trapped in a realm with demons who tortured him every chance they got. That he had sold his soul to keep her safe.

How was this even a little possible?

Aimee shivered at the look on Fang’s handsome face. His hair fell forward into his eyes while he looked at her with an expression that was hot and deadly.

What was he thinking?

Then slowly, he lowered his lips to hers. She groaned at the taste of him as she wrapped her arms around his body and held him close. She closed her eyes as she inhaled the scent of his tawny skin and let his tongue dance with hers.

This was so wrong. She had no business here. With him. Yet she couldn’t imagine anyplace else she’d rather be.

It’s not real.

This was a dream. She was only here in spirit. Did that count?

Maybe.

Reluctantly, she pulled back. “I have to go, Fang.”

“I know.” He nuzzled her neck, sending even more chills through her as his whiskers tickled her skin. “I just needed to feel warm for a minute.”

Those words broke her heart. He was still grieving and he was lost in this nether place with no one to trust.

“Here,” she said, taking off the locket she never went without. She fastened it around his neck.

Fang scowled at the heart-shaped locket that was engraved with interlocking vines and swirls around a skull. There was nothing masculine about it at all. He should be horrified by its presence.

Yet he wasn’t.

Aimee placed her hand over his as he held it. “I’m just a shout away if you need me.”

I need you now…

But he couldn’t bring himself to say those words out loud. Instead, he leaned in to breathe her lilac scent in one more time. “Be safe.”

“You too.”

And then she was gone. It was almost enough to make him whimper. But at least her scent lingered on his skin like a phantom whisper. If only he could hold on to her warmth the same way.

Sighing, he pulled her necklace off and opened it. Inside was a picture of her as a cub with two men he’d never seen before. They were holding the small black bear between them and smiling with pride. These must be her brothers who’d died and that made him think of Anya. It felt like a knife was twisting deep inside his gut.

Even now that pain was raw and biting. Worse was the fact that he knew it would never ebb. He would miss his sister for the rest of his life.

Running his finger over the picture, he realized there was a poem hidden inside as well.

Where I am always thou art. Thy image lives within my heart.

He choked back a rush of emotions that left his eyes cloudy at words that touched him. Blinking fiercely, he cursed the sensation. He was a warrior. A wolf with a capital W. He wasn’t some old woman to cry at Hallmark commercials.

And yet this one tiny bearswan made him feel like he’d never felt before.

Like he was human.

More to the point, she made him feel wanted.

How stupid was that? His brother and sister had always wanted him… well, maybe Vane didn’t want him right now because he was useless in the human realm, but Vane and Anya had always been his shelter. They loved him and he loved them.

But what he felt for Aimee…

It’s wrong, wolf. You shouldn’t even think about her.

Where I am always thou art. Thy image lives within my heart.

That was exactly how he felt about her.

Closing the locket, he kissed it lightly and returned it to his neck. Yeah, it was girly enough to make him want to puke. Still it was Aimee’s and it was obvious she treasured it.

And so would he until he was able to give it back to her in their realm.

Now he couldn’t sleep at all. Flippin’ figured. It was the first time in months that he’d actually felt safe enough to do more than combat nap as he waited to be attacked. If that wasn’t bad enough, he also had the erection from hell. One that was painful and demanding.

Banging his head against the bed, he growled. Yeah, I am in hell. But at least he wasn’t starving or having to fight the demons off. Plus he was stronger now.

Almost whole.

Soon he’d be back to himself and back in the world where he belonged and all of this would be behind him.

He hoped.

You’re not serious about recruiting that wolf, are you?”

Thorn didn’t bother to move as he heard Misery’s voice coming out of the shadows behind him. He swilled his wine in the large goblet as he continued to stare into the fire before him-a fire that reminded him of a home he never wanted to claim. “Is there a real reason for this annoyance?”

She came to stand just beside his chair. Draping one arm over the back, she cocked her hip, and looked down lazily at him. “I want to know why you sent your goons after us.”

“You broke the law.”