While we had Lunch I tried to talk to Evan, but he would give me a sharp look or shake his head. After a while I understood he wasn't in a mood to talk. I listened to the sounds of the forest around us and fed him contentedly.

I wondered how long I'd get the silent treatment. Perhaps it was a bet or a game. Smiling up at Evan I wondered who was currently winning the contest. For some reason Evan looked wicked as he continued to grin down at me, maybe he was winning.

Soon the bowl was empty and we were just staring at one another. I wanted to speak, but Evan had already indicated I should not. However, I wasn't sure how Long I should just quietly sit here.

A branch cracked loudly from the way we'd come and I stood, turning toward the noise. Evan cooly guided me to stand behind him. I yelped when men melted out of the forest around me. None of them made a sound as they moved.

It was Damien and the rest of the family.

“Hush, Little Sister," Bane murmured, touching my arm, as he strode past to take his spot beside Evan.

Looking around Evan's sides I saw men noisily stepping out of the forest coming toward us. One of them must have stepped on the branch I heard break. By their dress they were Administrators.

My hair was long enough to act as my shield again. With my head tipped down I looked through the veil it provided. Several families of Administrators stood staring at my family from across the peaceful glen.

“You let it feed YOU?" one of the men hissed.

“You let it feed ITSELF?" another of them sneered.

“Yes," Damien said simply letting his arms hang casually.

I took in the stances of the men. I'd seen that form before. When Bane casually had me pinned against the General's wall, he'd held the same pose. They were ready for an attack, but far too trained to Look Like they were.

“It is a slave," one of the men across from us sputtered.

My family didn't answer. They just stood silently, impassively.

“The women," one man said pointedly, Damien didn't say a word, he just continued to watch the men across the clearing.

"Will hear of this dishonor."

“They will MAKE you act correctly," one of the Administrators threatened.

I sucked in a gasp and whispered ‘no, please not that,’ under my breath.

It would kill me if the women brainwashed Damien and his Brothers. I loved them. Their defiance of the rules to make me feel happy was such a magnificent gesture. To see their free will stripped because of it would crush me.

Kein was Looking over at me with an irritated look and I quickly looked down, hiding my eyes.

"Do not speak to other men," Kein reprimanded quietly.

"So," Damien drawled addressing the Administrators, “you would call upon your Mistress to discuss our handling of our slave? We will be needing to sharpen our weapons tomorrow, would you also Like to get her opinion on that?"