Slowly the sun disappeared from the window and he wrung out the cloth. He watched the water begin to darken again and looked back at Eve. Her skin wasn't feverish but instead bruises were beginning to form. She opened her eyes slowly and looked up at him. "How are you feeling?" She closed her eyes and quietly said "Tired." He ran the cloth along her face again and found the first marks around her chin. His eyes narrowed and he let out a low curse. "What the hell did he do to you?" She took a deep breath and said "It doesn't matter. He won't hurt me anymore." Johnathan doubted that and ran the cloth along her neck. She stayed silent and rested her eyes as the water continued to pull the magic out. As long as he didn't ask about the color turning water she was safe. A knock came from the door and she felt him stop. He looked up as the door opened and handed her the wet cloth. Silently he crossed the room and pulled Grace out of the room. He closed the door behind them and she looked up at him. "What did my brother do?" His eyes never left her face but he let out a sigh and shook his head. He didn't know and that is what left his anger churning beneath the surface. Something had felt wrong since he had found out about the meeting at dinner. When he had seen Eve in the hall on her way upstairs he could see the distress she was trying to hide. "Johnathan, will she be okay?" He sighed and said "Just keep the children with you for the night." "And my brother?" "Until he wakes up he's safe." She shot him a questioning look and asked "Wakes up?" A smirk brushed across his face and he said "He'll hurt when he does." She shook her head with a smile and said "Okay." Quietly she turned to leave and said "If Eve needs anything, let me know." He nodded and watched her walk down the hall. Raking a hand through his hair, he walked back into the bedroom and shut the door. He found the woman running the cloth over her face and knelt down next to her. Silently he took the rag from her and wet it. "Who was that?" He wrung the rag out and said "Grace." She looked up at him and asked "What did she want?" He ran the cloth along her neck and said "She wanted to check on you." Her eyes fell closed again and she asked "Did you mention that punch you gave your cousin?" "Yeah." "And?" "She laughed." "Really?" He nodded and she stopped his hand. The water had pulled the strongest of the magic out and now she just needed to get washed off and sleep. He looked at her and she lowered the rag into the bowl. "Thanks." He watched her take a deep breath and push herself onto her feet. Her hip screamed in pain and a low cry escaped her. She stumbled back to the bed and he caught her before she fell. Keeping her eyes closed, she fought for her breath and felt him help her down onto the bed. "You really should see the doctor." She shook her head and sighed "I'll be fine tomorrow." "Eve." She looked up into his dark brown eyes and saw the light creeping back into them. He was concerned but she knew he was hiding it well. "I just need a bath and some sleep." "You can't even walk." She smirked and said "I did earlier." He let out a sigh and stood up. She watched him gather up the bowl and walk into the bathroom. Catching her breath, she placed her hand over the burning hip and fought back another cry. The pain seared through her body and exploded in her head. She could feel the power spreading through her again and wrapping its hand around her throat. Her breath grew short and her vision began to blur. She tried to push herself off the bed but dropped onto her knees. Her arm wrapped around her stomach and her palm pressed against the throbbing hip. She felt strong arms wrap around her and could hear the steady heart beat in her ear. She tried to focus on the calm sound and felt him slowly run a hand along her spine. The pain kept her from moving and fought against his calming touch. Johnathan leaned back against the bed and drew her closer to him. He could feel the shaking and focused on keeping his pulse steady. An old technique his family had passed down every generation to help calm the injured and he was stunned to find himself using it with her. He could feel the power growing inside him at her nearness and found it threatening to cloud his mind. Thinking about his soon to be dead cousin kept the feeling at bay and he rested his chin on her head. Slowly he felt the shaking subside and looked down at her. She was listening to his heart beat and seemed to be in more control. "Better?" She nodded against his chest and fueled the power inside him. He ran his hand through her soft hair and took a deep breath. Holding her was something he never wanted to experience but now he found it right and relaxing. "Where are the children?" He couldn't fight the smirk. The woman was still worrying about someone else besides her. "Grace is keeping them tonight so you can rest." "Tanner?" "I imagine he curled up in my room." She listened to his dark voice and let it combined with his steady heart beat to soothe her. It was musical like the ocean and relaxed her. Slowly she opened her eyes and looked up at him. "Thank you." He nodded and let his eyes linger with hers. They were so powerful and he had found out a while back he could just stare into them for hours. She laid her head against his chest again and relaxed to his gliding touch on her arm. "What are you going to do about your cousin?" "Kill him." She couldn't help but laugh and he let the sound wrap around him. It was good to hear that carefree sound again. She hadn't laughed like that since the children had come to live here and they had been trapped inside. "Think you could teach me how to hit someone like that?" He raised an eyebrow and looked down at her. She met his gaze and found his expression almost funny. "Why?" She shrugged and said "You knocked the wind out of him. That could come in handy." "I think right now you should just focus on getting better." She leaned her head against his chest again and smirked. This could almost be one of her recent dreams but the pain in her hip reminded her it wasn't. "We want you to come to the ball this time Eve." She closed her eyes and asked "Who put you up to it?" "Up to what?" She sat up and looked him in the eye. She wanted him to just ask for his own reasons but knew he wouldn't unless forced. "Who made you say that?" He looked back at her silently and she waited. Sighing, he shook his head and she knew. "I was nagged but no one is forcing me." Her eyes lingered on his face and she tried to believe that. "You're lying." His brown eyes met hers and he said "No I'm not." She slowly lowered her head onto his chest and ran his words through her head. He rested his chin on her head again and took a deep breath. He hadn't expected her to not believe him but he didn't blame her. Grace was right about the attraction he had for the woman but he knew pursuing it would be too risky. He acted by thought and left his emotions locked up, that is until now. "Will you come?" She continued to stare at the burning flames and smiled. "I don't have much of a choice, now do I?" "Meaning?" She looked up at him and said "I was just approached by the host and the man giving me a place to stay. I'd say I'm bound to show now." He sighed and she laughed. Teasing him about his position was always enjoyable and he rested his chin on her head again. She listened to his steady heart beat and closed her eyes. This moment was going to be over soon and she didn't want to waste any more of it talking. The comfortable silence and being held in his arms was all she needed tonight.