I stiffened at his words. "What do you mean?"
"I will fight for her. I will not let all this fall onto her shoulders. We brought her into our world and if anyone is going to try to take her out of it, I'll gladly give my life to save hers." He lifted his gaze to meet mine. "The question is...will you?"
"I will," Rayne stepped up, pumping his fist. "I'll rip out their throats if they dare lay a finger on our girl."
"Be quiet, Rayne," Wynn snapped at the redhead. "Your love and loyalty to Piper is not the one I am questioning. It is his...our fearless leader. Would you die for her?"
I rounded my shoulders and returned his stare. "I made her my human servant."
"That's not an answer," Rayne growled.
How could they even question my loyalty to Piper? Had I not shown that I cared for her? Had I not allowed her to do as she liked? Did they really think I was so heartless that I would allow her to take the fall for us all?
"You've already let her do more than enough."
I shot a glare at the youngest of all my brothers. "Do not get in my head."
Rayne gritted his teeth, his jaw clenching. "Then answer the question."
Tucking my hands into my pockets, I stared them down. "I have risked my life for Piper many times."
"And you have reaped the benefits of those risks. This time though..." Wynn shook his head, pushing up off the chair and standing a foot from me. "This time there is no benefit except Piper. Would you die to just let her live?" Wynn cut me off with a finger shoved into my chest. "No, no more dancing with words. You fuck her happily enough but - Do. You. Love. Her?"
A fiery burn built inside of me. A low growl beginning in my chest rolled out of my mouth and I had Wynn by the throat and across the room shoved up against the bookshelves causing several of the books to fall. My fangs bared inches away from Wynn's calm face.
"That's it. Get angry. Get pissed off, my friend." Wynn grabbed my arms, not worried I'd rip his face off. "Show me what really lies in your heart."
"Do you think I hide myself for my benefit?" I hissed, shoving him against the shelf just a bit harder. "Do you think I am so heart hardened that I could not possibly love her?"
"You tell me?" Wynn responded coolly.
"I feel everything she feels. Every minute. Every breath. Her fear. Her anger. Every single piece of her being. How could I be anything but completely and totally enraptured by Piper? If it would mean she'd be safe, I would end my life in a second. I'd gladly turn back time and make her leave this house if it would mean she didn't have to bear any more pain and suffering by our hands."
Wynn cocked his head to the side. "Then why don't you just have Rayne alter her mind?"
I released him and took a step back, adjusting my clothing to smooth out the wrinkles. "I'm far too selfish to let her go now. Does that answer your question?" I turned from Wynn to glare at Rayne only to be met with the tear-stained face of the very woman we were talking about. "Piper...I..." I stepped toward her, my words lost in my throat. The emotions pouring from her were so strong they made my chest ache and my eyes water.
Piper shook her head and croaked out, "You fucking idiot." She rushed across the room and threw herself into my arms, our mouths colliding in a desperate need to devour the other. I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her as tightly to my own body as I could.
The others didn't know the extent of my fear for her life. I knew the council would go after her. That they would try their best to back us into a corner and make it so that giving up Piper would be our only choice. It wouldn't happen though. I wouldn't let it. I'd go to hell and back to keep her safe.
"That's good," Rayne commented and I dragged myself away from Piper's tempting lips. "Because you might just have to."