"Fine," he said between clenched teeth.
Vane headed into Fang's room to collect his brother, only to discover Aimee Peltier rushing to cut him off. She slammed the door closed, then ran to block him from the bed.
He tried to step around her, but she wouldn't let him.
"Vane, listen to me. Maman is only angry. Give her time"
"No, Aimee," Vane said in a low, deadly tone as he fought not to take his anger out on her. "I knew the rules and I broke them. Your mother will never forgive that and you know it."
Aimee held her arms out as he tried to step past her. "Leave Fang here," she insisted. "You and I and even maman know what Stefan is doing. I will make sure that Fang is never left alone. I will stay with him myself every moment of the day and night. No one will hurt him so long as he resides in Sanctuary."
Her offer confused him. He didn't understand why the bear female would care what happened to them. "Why?"
Her pale eyes were soft and kind as she looked up at him and dropped her arms back to her sides. "Because no one should be hurt like the two of you were.
What they did was cruel and unnecessary. It was a human punishment, not an animal one. I have lost brothers and I know firsthand the pain you feel in your heart for your Anya. I will not let Fang die, I swear it."
She glanced down to his hand where his mark was hidden, then she looked to the door behind him as if she were afraid someone might overhear her. She lowered her voice. "You have another to protect now. The last thing you need is Fang with you in this state. Go and guard her. You can call me anytime, day or night, to check on your brother."
Vane pulled her into his arms and hugged her kindly. "Thank you, Aimee."
She patted him on the back. "Anytime. Now go, and I hope you kick the shit out of that wolf outside."
He laughed halfheartedly before he let go of her and went back to the hallway. Stefan arched a challenging brow at him, goading Vane to hurt him.
But he wasn't that stupid.
Vane would hurt him all right, but it wouldn't be on Nicolette's property. Instead, Vane turned toward Nicolette to make sure Stefan understood what he intended to do. "Fang broke no rules. Is he safe to stay?"
Nicolette nodded, then passed a meaningful glare at Stefan, who cursed. "He is under our protection and we will make certain no harm befalls him."
The look on Stefan's face was priceless. And it told him one thing. This was far from over.
Bring it on.
Vane headed for the stairs.
"This isn't over," Stefan growled.
"I know the cliche," Vane said wearily as he paused to look back at the wolf.
"It won't end until one of us is dead." He gave Stefan a taunting smirk. "And for the record, it won't be me."
Stefan growled low in his throat, but wisely kept his distance.
As Vane started for the front door, Stefan tried to follow, Wren stopped him. "Rules of Sanctuary," he said quietly. "Vane gets a head start and if you try to follow, you'll be limping Permanently."
Vane tried to decide what he should do. Part of him was terrified of going anywhere near Bride lest he lead Stefan and the others straight to her. The other part of him was terrified of leaving her alone.
Especially with Fury there.
There was no way she could defend herself against any of them.
He cringed as he remembered the scars on his mother's face and neck that she had received from fighting his father and his tessera. Tessaras were small groups of wolves sent out as soldiers or scouts. They usually killed anything they came in contact with.
And he would kill anyone who touched his Bride. No one would ever cause her harm. Even if she rejected him, she was still his mate, and he would spend the rest of her life making sure she had anything she needed.
As for Fang, he was safe under the protection of the bears. Vane had no doubt of that.