Benny clucked his tongue. “Yeah, you’re right. Your cells would die before letting you become human. Probably. I mean, cells are an enigma to me, but that sounds right.”

This pep talk from Benny was giving Adare a headache. “You’re a good brother, Benny.”

“I know.” Benny reached up to move a branch out of the way of camera three. “I am the glue that holds us Seven together.”

Well, okay. “You’ve done a good job so far.”

“True. As such, I feel we need to get serious for a moment. You mated Grace out of duty to Ronan and Faith, and you could be talking eternity if not death here. You have to take a moment and ask if you really want Grace. If she’s worth the risk.”

Adare nodded. “She’s a sweetheart, and she’ll sacrifice her life so as not to risk mine. It’s my risk to take.”

Benny kicked a couple of branches out of his way, snow falling on his dark hair. “Think you’ll die?”

“No.” Adare angled around a tree to make sure the security lines were still solidly in place. “She’s a Key, and that’s powerful, but I’m one of the Seven, right?”

Benny nodded, tapping a tree trunk and looking up at one of the many cameras. “Sure, but the power of the Seven comes from fighting and our shields. The power of the Keys comes from their very blood.” He paused, looking at Adare. “And hers swallows yours.”

“True,” Adare allowed, turning back toward the cabin. “Bottom line, if I don’t mate her, she’ll return to a coma state and then eventually die. I can’t allow that to happen.”

“Because she’s a Key or because she’s Grace?” Benny asked, his boots sinking deep into the snow.

Adare thought about the question, listening for any threats in the vicinity. “Both.”

“Good on you.” Benny clapped him on the back, and the sound echoed through the air. “I wish we had invited that shifter back here with us for the night. I’m the only one going to bed alone.” He frowned, opening the back door. “But I guess at least I know I ain’t gonna die tonight. Good luck, Adare. You’ve been a good brother.”

“You too, Benny,” Adare said, meaning it. “On the off chance that I don’t make it, would you—”

“Of course. I’ll make sure Grace is safe and taken care of.” Benny toed off his boots inside the mudroom by the back slider. “Don’t you worry about that.” He paused, his metallic eyes darkening. “No shit for a moment, brother. I feel like you’re not taking the threat seriously enough. It’s real. I don’t want to lose you.”