The exercise wing of the estate had a studio for yoga and tai chi. Another room was filled with a Pilates instructor’s wet dream of reformers, Cadillacs, and chairs. Weightlifting equipment, TRXs, and boxing bags packed the room next door. You name it, we had a room full of it.

Today I headed straight for the sparring gym. I was enjoying the last little bit of my smoothie when I pushed through the double doors and stepped foot onto the mat. It was the largest room in the wing and void of any equipment. The black mats that lined the floor and walls had some spring to them and a thin layer of padding, but that was it. The walls had no windows. Nothing in there could break. Except for me.

All my brothers were standing around the room. Perfect. I was so glad Donovan had managed to find them. Each of them looked like variations on a theme. One had hair a little longer, another with shorter, varying levels of facial hair, and of course, Micah had his million and one tattoos. But all of my brothers were tall, at six feet seven inches, with the same white-blond hair, blue eyes, and pale skin. “What? The whole pack couldn’t make it?”

“Eh. Don’t want you to get too embarrassed, little sis,” Matt said.

“Like that ever bothered you before.”

“I asked that it just be them,” Donovan said.

“Why?”

He shrugged. “Family is one thing. But you sparring with unmated males is another.”

I barely held back the laugh that threatened to break free. It was really sweet and actually made me feel a little awesome that he’d be jealous. Even if it was completely absurd. Donovan was my mate. There was no contest. At all. Ever.

“Might want to put that smoothie down,” Donovan said. He was standing in the center of the room. “We’ll do our warmup first, and then your brothers want a try at you.”

I rolled my eyes. “You beat one brother once…”

“I keep telling you that you’re stronger than you realize.”

I snorted. “Blinded by love.”

That got me the smile I wanted. Donovan strode toward me and brushed a kiss against my lips. “Yes. But no.” One of my brothers coughed, and I suppressed a groan of frustration.

“Don’t mind us,” Matt said. “We’ll just be over here.”

Right. Until they joined in on the sparring session. “What are we starting with?”

“Beijing Short.”

I nodded, closing my eyes before we moved into the first stance in our tai chi form. The movements flowed from one to the next in an elegant dance.

The open door slammed shut behind me and I stopped.

“I was comin’ to find what you’d like for…” Ciara’s voice trailed off as she twisted the skirt of her dress. Her dark chocolate-colored hair cascaded down her back. Long bangs were cut straight across her forehead, making her look young, but she was starting to get crow’s-feet around her eyes. Which was concerning.