Chapter 13

With her hand trembling, Kaida put her tea down on the table beside her. Brady's mood wasn't only unsettling to his brothers, but her, as well. Tonight may have been their first actual face-to-face encounter, yet she'd known him a very long time. He was quick to smile, very intelligent, and great at conversation. She'd witnessed his frustration at their circumstances, sometimes desperation, but never aggression. And, again, she seemed to be the underlying culprit.

"Let's see if we can't figure it out." Mara turned Brady's hand over, skimming her fingers over the mark on his inner wrist. "How did this happen?"

"Hell if I know." Brady's jaw ticked. "That's why we're here. For you to tell us."

"I mean, what were you doing when the branding appeared?"

"Oh." He looked at Kaida, and all the rigidness in his frame dissolved. Emotion filled his eyes and the sentiment nailed her in the breastbone. "I touched her. Fiona dropped the shield and let me through. Kaida had just opened her eyes after