Adare’s chest filled. He and Benny had been brothers longer than many species had survived on earth. “I’m taking it seriously, but my mind is already made up, so why wallow in what might happen?” He drew Benny in for a hard hug. “You’re a good brother. You’ve done your job, and now I have to do mine.”

Benny nodded, hugging back before letting go. “Fair enough.”

Adare leaned down to untie his boot.

Benny stretched out a calf. “You scared?”

“No.” He hadn’t been scared of anything for longer than he remembered. “I don’t want to leave her alone, though.” So he’d survive the night and then the next day. He had to make sure the mating took hold this time and she was healthy and strong.

“Huh.” Benny glanced at the control panel by the back door where several lights blinked. He flipped on a screen and keyed in a string of numbers, stiffening when code began to scroll. “I don’t want to cause any problems, but I think your female is making a break for it.”

Adare paused and read the screen. “Damn it.” Leaving his boot alone, he jogged through the house to the garage, only to see the door open and the taillights of his SUV disappearing down the drive.

Benny reached his side. “I don’t suppose you told her about the landmines and electrical shields we have guarding the property?”

“No.” Why would he have? Adare flipped open the garage control panel and quickly disengaged the landmines and shields, leaving only the main gate in place.

Benny nodded. “Good job. It’d probably be a bad idea to blow her up before mating her.”

Adare cut him a look.

Benny shrugged. “Maybe going it alone isn’t so bad tonight. Good luck, brother.” He turned back for the house.

The surprise flowed out of Adare, leaving irritation to swirl around and then bubble into anger. Grace had been about a half mile from driving over a mine that would’ve tossed the SUV in the air like a frisbee. She very well might’ve died.

He jumped down to the main level of the garage and followed her into the night, steam rising from his skin when he strode into the snowy air. His steps were sure and purposeful, and he tried to let the storm calm him as he walked down the driveway toward the gate.

Grace wasn’t going anywhere.

* * * *

Safely in the SUV, Grace stared at the wide metal gate through the windshield as the wipers struggled to keep the snow cleared. She put the headlights on bright. Just wonderful. Okay. Maybe it was only shut and not locked. She pulled on her gloves and stepped into the rapidly increasing storm, struggling against the wind to reach the gate. The cold sliced into her, burning the skin on her face.