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“No.”

“Then why?”

“With Phury, all roads lead back to his twin, Zsadist. And yes, I know they don’t look alike.” Rhage gave her a little nudge and she started down the stairs again.

“Why does Phury limp?”

“He has a prosthesis. He lost half his left leg.”

“Good lord, how?”

“He shot it off.”

Mary stopped. “What? Did it happen by mistake?”

“Nope, on purpose. Mary, come on, we can finish this later.” He took her hand and pulled her forward.

Bella stepped through the mansion’s vestibule with the doggen who’d driven her to the compound. As she looked around, she was stunned. Her family owned a grand house, but it was nothing like this. This was…royal living. Which she supposed made sense, because the Blind King and his queen made their residence here.

“Welcome, Bella,” a deep male voice said.

She turned and saw the brother with the multicolored hair, the one who had interrupted her and Zsadist that night at the training center.

“I’m Phury. We met before. At the gym.”

“Warrior,” she said, bowing fully. It was hard not to be in awe of the brothers, especially one like this. So big. So…Was that hair for real?

“We’re glad you could come.” He smiled at her, his yellow eyes warm. “Here, let me help you with your coat.”

When it was off, she looped the thing over her arm. “I can’t believe I’m here, to tell you the truth. Mary! Hi!”

The two of them embraced and then they talked with Phury. Before long Bella was completely comfortable around the warrior. There was just something so calm and trustworthy about him, and those eyes were a knockout. They were honest-to-God yellow.

Attractive as he was, though, she was looking for the scarred brother. While keeping up with the conversation, she discreetly scanned the vast, colorful foyer. Zsadist was nowhere around. Maybe he was skipping the party. He didn’t seem like the social type; that was for sure.

As Mary left to be with Rhage, Bella was determined not to feel let down. For God’s sake, she had no business chasing after the likes of Zsadist, anyway.

“So, Phury,” she said. “May I…I know this is rude, but I just have to touch your hair.” She reached up before he could say no and captured some of the blond and red waves, rubbing the thick lengths in her hand. “How gorgeous. The colors are amazing. And…oh, it smells so good. What kind of shampoo do you use?”

She looked into his eyes, expecting him to make some kind of light comment. Instead he was frozen stiff. Wasn’t even blinking as he stared down at her.

And she suddenly realized that Rhage was staring at her from a doorway with an expression of shock on his face. And so was another warrior with a goatee. And a large human male. And…

Well, the party had kind of ground to a halt, hadn’t it?

She dropped her hand and whispered, “I’m so sorry. I just did something horribly improper, didn’t I?”

Phury snapped out of whatever trance he’d been in. “No. It’s all right.”

“Then why is everyone looking at me?”

“They’re not used to seeing me with…that is, no females…ah…” Phury took her hand and gave it a squeeze. “Bella, you didn’t do anything wrong. Seriously. And don’t worry about my brothers, okay? They’re just jealous because they want you touching their hair.”

But something was still seriously off with him, and she wasn’t surprised when he excused himself a moment later.

A doggen stepped in front of her. “Forgive me, madam, I should have taken your coat earlier.”

“Oh, thank you.”

After she dropped it into the male’s hands, she realized the party had migrated into what looked like a billiard room. She was about to head over when she felt a cold draft coming from somewhere behind her. Had the front doors blown open?

She turned around.

Zsadist was in a dim corner by the vestibule, staring at her from the shadows. He was dressed in the same kind of black turtleneck and loose black pants he’d worn the last time she’d seen him, and just as before, his night eyes were feral. Sexual.

Oh, yes, she thought as she flushed. This was why she had come. She’d had to see this male again.

Taking a deep breath,