"She never feared me before tonight," Rhyn said in a growl.
"I'm sorry, Rhyn. I've wanted to protect her, but Immortal Code --"
"Not your fault."
"I didn't know he would hurt her. I would've broken Immortal Code and interfered had I known," Gabriel said.
"You broke Immortal Code what? Twice in your life? Both times for me. No, Gabriel, don't do me any more favors."
"I righted a wrong, which required another wrong of sorts."
"Don't grow a conscience now. One of us has to walk the straight and narrow. It won't be me," Rhyn assured him.
"You can't go after Kris. That's strictly forbidden."
Rhyn said nothing, aware the penalty for an Ancient killing another Ancient was death-death and eternal Hell. He was sick of Hell, yet Kris's crime deserved punishment.
"And you have to realize that he didn't know about Lilith's betrayal," Gabriel added. "You're lucky all he did to your mate was take her blood."
"He made her fear me. He was an idiot to fall for Lilith. She wasn't even his mate -- she had no protection from Immortal Code. My mate does!"
"She's barely made it this long, Rhyn. Before you run off and kill your brother, you should probably see her safe. Because of her, you can control and channel your power. You aren't surviving day-to-day anymore as you have your whole life, and for the first time, you're fighting for something other than you."
Gabriel's words struck hard. Rhyn thought hard for a minute, then said with effort, "I don't know how to be a mate, let alone take care of a human, Gabriel."
"I gave you books to read," the death dealer said, bemused. "It's the best I can do. I'm not human."
"You were once."
"Too long ago to remember. You'll just have to figure it out on your own."
Rhyn grimaced. He didn't know a thing about being a mate. His gaze drifted again to the woman whose pale features made him feel both proud and worried. He was the only line of defense she had against the immortal world. Thus far, he'd barely managed to keep her alive.
He didn't know what else to do. She couldn't defend herself, and every immortal she drew to her ended up hurting her.
Even Kris, the protector of mankind.
His thoughts darkened as fury blinded him for a moment. Gabriel clapped him on the arm, and Rhyn shook his head to clear the anger.