Brie’s voice chilled. “I apologized once. I’ve no intention of giving you another apology.”

“I didn’t want the first one.” He crossed over to her with the quick measured steps of a man who had to know where he was going. One day he’d rule; the path was already worn. Though he was taller, they met now, as they always had, on level ground. “What I want is for you to give your family the same consideration you do a stranger.”

She was tired of guilt, smothered by it. Her voice held no apology, only a challenge. “Is that advice or an order?”

“No one’s ever been able to give you an order,” he snapped as the temper he’d been clinging to for weeks broke free. “No one’s ever been able to give you advice, for that matter. If you could be trusted to behave, it wouldn’t be necessary for us to call in outsiders.”

“I don’t think it’s necessary to bring Reeve into this conversation.”

“No?” He took her arm as he spoke, an old habit. “Just what’s between the two of you?”

Her voice had chilled before. Now her eyes followed suit. “None of your business.”

“Damn it, Brie, I’m your brother.”

“So I’m told,” she said slowly, forgetting in temper any hurt she might cause. “And my younger brother by a few years. I don’t find it necessary to be accountable to you, or to anyone, for my personal life.”

“I might be younger,” Alexander said between his teeth, “but I’m a man, and I know what’s in a man’s mind when he looks at a woman the way the American looks at you.”

“Alexander, you should stop referring to him as ‘the American,’ as though he were an inferior breed. And,” she continued before he could respond, “if I didn’t like the way Reeve looked at me, I’d put a stop to it. I’m capable of taking care of myself.”

“If you were, none of us would have gone through that agony a few weeks ago.” He saw her pale, but anger carried him further. “You were abducted, held, hospitalized. For days we waited, prayed, sat helpless. Doesn’t it occur to you that the rest of us went through hell? Maybe you don’t remember us, maybe we mean nothing to you right now. But that doesn’t change the way we feel.”

“Do you think I like it?” Unexpectedly tears started. If she’d had any warning, she might have stopped them. “Don’t you know how hard I’m trying to get back? Now you push me into a corner, criticizing, demanding, insulting.”

Temper faded, to be replaced by guilt. He’d forgotten just how lost she’d looked when she’d stood by the window. “It’s what I’ve always done,” he said gently. “You used to say that I’d practice ruling Cordina by trying to rule you and Bennett. I’m sorry, Brie. I love you. I can’t stop loving you until you’re ready for it.”

“Oh, Alex.” She went to him, for the first time holding him against her. He was so tall, so straight, so driven. But this time she felt a certain pride in knowing this. It wasn’t easy for her to wait until things were clear, nor would it be easy for a man like her brother. “Did we always argue a great deal?”