“She sees herself as plain, as simple. As ordinary. She’s none of those things.” Liam didn’t look around. He could see her in his mind’s eye clearly enough if he chose. “But she is tender. I may end up asking her for a great deal more than she’s prepared to give.”

Lovesick, Sebastian thought, though not without sympathy. He’d been similarly afflicted when he’d met Mel. And had very likely made similar stupid mistakes because of it.

“Living with you’s more than any woman could be prepared for.” He grinned when Liam turned his head and shot him a look with those hard gold eyes. “I pity her at the thought of seeing that ugly, scowling face of yours day after day.”

Liam’s smile was sharp as a blade. “And how does your wife tolerate yours, cousin?”

“She’s crazy about me.”

“She strikes me as a smart woman.”

“Her mind’s like a dagger,” Sebastian said, with a grinning glance at his wife.

“So how much time did it take you to weave the spell into her mind for that?”

This time Sebastian did laugh and in a quick move grabbed Liam in a snug headlock. “A much shorter time than it’ll take you to make your pretty lady believe you’re a prize to look at.”

“Kiss my—” He could only curse, struggle against laughter, as Sebastian kissed him full on the mouth. “I’ll have to kill you for that,” he began, then lifted a brow as little Aiden dashed over to throw his arms around his father’s legs. “Later,” Liam decided, and plucked the child up himself.

*  *  *

It was late when Liam left Rowan sleeping in the house Ana kept by the sea. He was restless, unsettled, and baffled by the ache around his heart that refused to ease.

He thought of running along the water, or flying over it. Racing until he was settled again.

And he thought of Rowan, sweetly sleeping in the quiet house.

He walked through the shadows and scents of Ana’s garden, searching for peace of mind. He stepped through the hedge of fairy roses, crossed the lawn and stepped up on the deck of the house where Ana lived with her family.

He’d known she was there.

“You should be asleep.”

Ana simply held out a hand. “I thought you’d want to talk.”

But, taking her hand, he sat beside her and contented himself with silence. He knew of no one more comfortable to sit with, to be with, than Anastasia.

Overhead the moon winked in and out of clouds, the stars glimmered. The house where Rowan slept was dark and full of dreams.

“I didn’t know how much I missed you, all of you, until I saw you again.”

Ana gave his hand a supportive squeeze. “You needed to be alone for a while.”