Her chin rose. “I attacked him twice. Upstairs after he threw you out the window and again when he was hitting you.”

She glanced away and he followed her gaze. A fire poker lay on the floor a few feet away, the end of it bent slightly. Shocked, he jerked his attention back to her. “You hit him with that?”

She nodded, her hands still roaming his arm and chest. “In the back of the head. Are you okay?” Her voice trembled. “You wouldn’t wake.”

He probably had a concussion. He wasn’t sure if he’d passed out when he’d landed but he knew he’d struck his head on the way out the window or perhaps on the edge of the roof when he’d rolled off it to crash into the hard-packed dirt. Torrent’s fists slamming into his face hadn’t helped either but he’d been too dizzy to be effective against the male’s attack when they’d fought.

Shadow had to allow Beauty’s words to really sink in. The image of her fighting with a male was beyond his comprehension. He just couldn’t picture it. She was too small to get into a violent confrontation. Gift Females fled from violence instead of initiating it. A horrible thought struck.

“Did he attempt to mount you? Touch you?” His voice deepened into a snarl. He would snap the male’s neck if he had.

“No.”

“I’m so sorry.”

He was grateful she hadn’t been sexually touched by the male but he also felt other emotions. Guilt and shame mixed strongly, leaving a taste in his mouth as bitter as the blood from the cut inside his cheek. He’d failed to protect Beauty. He’d gotten distracted by her sexy body and how good she felt while he’d mounted her. His guard had been down enough to allow another male to sneak inside his room. He had not sensed the danger until rough hands had gripped him and he’d been sailing through the air. Then falling.

“For what?” One of her hands left his chest to caress his cheek.

He couldn’t look at her anymore so he turned his head away. “It shouldn’t have happened.”

“The sex?”

The pain in her voice was clear enough to stun him and snap his attention back to her. She definitely appeared emotionally distressed over believing he rejected what they’d shared. “No. I failed you.”

“You were amazing.”

His eyebrows shot up. “I allowed a male to attack us, to attack you. You were in danger but I couldn’t protect you. You had to defend yourself.”

“Oh. I thought you were talking about what we did in your bed.” She continued to stroke his cheek. “We were both distracted. He is to blame.”

The sound of engines penetrated the cabin walls. “Go put on clothes.” He openly stared at her br**sts. “Now. Help has arrived—more males will come.”

“I don’t want to leave you.”

He growled and jerked away from her touch. Pain lanced through his head at the sharp motion. “Do it.” He didn’t want anyone to see her bare. She was too tempting and appealing. “I am fine.”

He wasn’t though and knew it. He’d already be outside hunting Torrent to kill him for endangering Beauty if his legs would carry his weight. Spots danced in front of his eyes and he felt weakened with the agony inside his head. He’d suffered concussions before and knew the signs. Nausea roiled but he refused to get sick in front of Beauty. He wouldn’t be able to stand more shame added to the growing list he felt.

Regret and indecision passed over her face but she reluctantly followed his orders by rising to her feet. He watched her go, unable to look away from her perky little ass as she took the stairs two at a time in her haste to return to him. He knew that’s why she hurried. Her faith in his ability to provide safety was as damaged as his head.

He looked down his body when she was out of sight and groaned. He had no clothing to cover his nakedness and no strength to stand on his own. There was no way he’d ask Beauty for more assistance. He’d never forgive himself for allowing the attack to happen.

The voices outside were faint but his keen hearing picked up the words.

“Torrent,” a female hissed. “What have you done? Sit or I’ll have one of the council members beat you.”

“I…uh. Hell. I’m sitting, Creek. Jaded, don’t you and Bestial look at me like that. This isn’t what it looks like.”

“What is going on?” The male sounded furious as he snarled. “You attacked a Gift Female? What the hell were you thinking?”

“I came to teach them how to swim.” Torrent paused. “I heard noises and let myself inside the cabin to find out what was going on. Shadow was mounting a Gift Female. What was I supposed to assume? I thought I was saving her but I’m having my doubts now, Jaded.”

“They are here to bond.” The female sounded less irritated. “Didn’t someone tell you that? She’s curious about the male. They were sent here to see if she wanted to share sex with him.”

“Shit,” Torrent groaned. “Nobody told me that. I just saw him on top of her and thought she was being forced.”

“She showed an interest in that male and resents being protected from his attention,” Bestial announced. “Breeze had the Gift sent here so they could spend some alone time to give them the opportunity to see if they’d like to share sex.”

“Everyone was told,” Creek protested. “We had a meeting about this when we learned they were visiting.”