“You knew what to do," he said quietly.

“You knew how to save that man. .

“Because Ciara can take care of herself," Christof finished in a near whisper.

“She is powerful in her own right."

“We are proud to call you Sister," Bane said leaning over to kiss my cheek.

The whole family followed him. The gentle brushes of lips to skin held so much Love, so much respect, that I could feel it.

We stood in the dimly Lit cave and I felt something like a breeze. It wasn't from outside, it was from inside. When I wanted to, I could reach into the undulating swell and feel what my family did.

If I wanted to be I could tap into my family and I looked at them amazed. It was a bond, I'd experienced this enough to tell that much, but it wasn't Like before. This wasn't forced on me, it was something I wanted. This connection was gentle and subtle, not overbearing and controlling. It was a choice we had all made.

“It is a connection of equals," Christof murmured brushing a strand of hair off my face. "Like we have always shared, Brothers."

Dipping into the feelings I knew what they knew. The other men, when they talked to them, had smugly bragged about the bonds they had with females. They were mate bonds, different from a bond with Brothers, but still powerful. There could be no fear and no disrespect in a mate bond. It had to be as pure as what a man shared with his family.

Damien and his Brothers had not known the word ‘mate’ before they came here. It was a new phrase meaning connection to a female, but they never thought they would share such a sacred thing. No one knew a human could form this type of bond.

You could call out to your mates from Long distances through the bond. Experiences could be shared, but things could also be kept private. This was different from anything we had experienced before.

"We are honored, Sister," Evan said quietly as I stared up at him. Through his mind I felt our son, the strong vibrant pulse bonding us as family.

I smiled with a new found peace. We were finally and truly family.

Gunth's gruff voice broke through the intimate moment. He and his family Looked angrily at Damien and his Brothers as he spoke.

"You are not to be with that female," he said harshly.

“We will remove you if-"

I cut him off and moved several steps away from my family.

“It was not intentional, Gunth," I said politely.

“During the excitement I jumped on their transport. Their only choices would have been to shove me off or take me with them."

Gunth moved through the men with his family after I moved away. He'd come from a different part in the tunnel. He was monitoring the events above ground using a pad like the one Kennedy had given me. Once it was safe to move up, he'd signal all of us waiting below ground.

"We felt The Great Spirit for just a moment after you all came down here," he announced, “but the sensation faded. What has happened?"