Ral cleared his throat. “It seems someone is lying.” Rever growled, glaring at Tina. “Not someone. Explain yourself now, Tina. This is not a game. This is serious.”

“Well, when you wouldn’t get her the hell out of here, I contacted that guy.” She pointed at Volder. “And he was in no damn hurry to come get her so I figured if I told him she was fucking anything that moved he’d hurry his ass up. That bitch is rude to me, Rever. This is my damn house and you wouldn’t get her the hell out so this is really your fault for making me do something that drastic.” Rever spun away. He was breathing hard as he walked to a wall, facing it, and took more deep breaths. Rage almost poured off him.

“So the human lied to me?” Volder growled. “My future bound did not shame me?”

Ral looked pissed. “It appears she did not. It appears that my brother has bound to an ovolion.”

“What in the hell did you just call me?” Tina glared at Ral. “And who the fuck do you think you are to look at me like that?”

“An ovolion,” Rever growled, turning back around, “is a person without honor who tells lies to make trouble for all around them. They are the worst of society.” He snarled.

“Go to our room now.”

“Fuck yourself.” Tina glared at him. “Don’t tell me what to do and don’t talk to me in that tone ever again.”

Rever roared, taking two steps at Tina, looking enraged. She screamed, spun around, and ran down the hallway toward the bedroom. He was shaking and he took heavy breaths as he stopped. Ral hesitated a second before walking up to Rever’s side to place a large hand on his brother’s shoulder.

“Calm.”

“She lied.”

“I know.” Ral sighed. “I can’t imagine what you are going through right now but you need to calm. She is a woman and she is your bound.” Rever’s head fell forward and his shoulders sagged, not moving or speaking. He looked broken to Brenda and it tore at her heart. He was such a good man and Tina had betrayed him in just one more way. Zorn males were proud and honest so Rever had to be feeling ashamed of Tina and her actions. It had to be extra humiliating that this had happened in front of other men on top of it all.

“I will take the human now,” Volder said softly. “Obviously I was misinformed.” Rever’s head snapped up as terror hit Brenda. She didn’t want to go with Volder.

The guy was an asshole who hadn’t even given her a chance to defend the accusations against her, just assumed instant guilt on her part. He’d attacked her, had his men hold her down, bruise her up probably from the hard slam on the table, and had torn off her pants. He’d threatened to punish her by sharing her with his men and to add insult to injury, he’d called her an ‘it’. She didn’t want to go anywhere with the creep.

Rage burned in his bright blue eyes as Rever slowly turned. “You won’t take her from my home.”

Brenda felt gratitude flood her. “Thank God.”

Volder frowned. “You can’t stop me from taking what is mine already. She has been cleared of the crimes and is in no need of your protection any longer now that she won’t be punished.”

Rever’s attention turned to Brenda, rage still showing in his eyes as their gazes locked together. “Do you wish to bound with him?”

“No,” she shook her head. “Please don’t let Volder take me. I don’t want anything to do with him.”

He gave her a sharp nod, shifting his focus off her, his expression hardening as he glared at Volder. “She stays with me.”

“Rever,” Ral said softly. “She is promised to him.”

“Scent her terror,” Rever growled. “He was going to share her with his men and he attacked her without giving her a chance to defend herself against the charges. He walked in here assuming she was guilty, he let her be touched by his men, and forced her stripped bare in front of other males. She won’t leave my house. I extend my protection to her.” Rever glared at his brother.

Ral took a deep breath, staring at his brother, and then gave his full attention to Volder. “Perhaps you should leave to let things settle down. The human does scent terror and Rever is protective of her since she has been under his roof in his care. Go for a few hours, let the tension subside and then you can collect her.”

“My ship is waiting and I want her now.” Volder was angry.

Ral moved toward the man. “Let us go have a drink and eat a meal together. You have Rever on edge and need to let things calm before you collect her. As Argis I insist.” Looking anything but happy, Volder nodded, turning to Brenda. “Prepare yourself to leave this house in a few hours. You are mine and I am taking you back to my ship with me.”

Brenda stared at Volder in horror, frozen. Ral took all the guards, Volder, and Volder’s men with him when he exited the room. When the front door shut loudly Ali moved first, closing the distance between herself and Brenda to rub her in a comforting gesture when she went to her knees again.

“Are you well? Did they hurt you? I scent blood on you.”

“Blood?” Brenda was surprised. Her back hurt a little and her elbow and she knew she was in shock but she didn’t know she was bleeding. “Are you sure?” A soft growl sounded. “Move, Ali. You go secure Tina in my room and keep her in place even if you have to physically restrain her. She is to not leave, understood? I will tend to Brenda. Go guard that ovolion, ” he snarled.

Brenda looked up at Rever as Ali got to her feet to run out of the room toward the back of the house. Rever looked pale as he crouched down. His nostrils flared as he sniffed at her, their gazes locking together, and she couldn’t miss the anger she saw in his beautiful eyes. He held out his arms to her.

“Come to me.”

He didn’t have to say it twice. Hot tears filled Brenda’s eyes as she almost threw herself at him. Two strong arms wrapped around her body, blanket and all, and then Rever was lifting her, to gently cradle her in his hold while he walked to her side of the house. She turned, burying her head in his shirt and let the tears fall, knowing she’d never been so terrified in her life and Volder was coming back for her.

“I have you, Brenda.” Rever’s voice was husky.