A grown man didn’t usually take particular notice of a teenage girl. Oh, they all pointed out the pretty creatures to each other with hissed desires and lewd intentions, but there was no real aim. A young man might pay for a tumble in town, or keep some wanton trim around with whispered sweetness. Marriage and children were inevitable burdens that came upon the careless and mature. For the most part, they didn’t think beyond getting to that moment of little death with a woman.

Ethan had been no different before Lily. After knowing what he had done, been responsible for, he had grown beyond his peers. He didn’t mourn his childhood friend, only mourned the countless times he could have stopped the monster in his tracks. ‘If only…’ became the constant undercurrent of his thoughts.

Lily’s capacity to forgive her attacker and accept, even embrace, her fate amazed him. Her peace and serenity became an elixir. Ethan didn’t love her at that time. Didn’t lust for her. But he knew, without a doubt, that she was a thing of grace and power, and his life would be sorely lacking without her.

His stomach churned and his hands shook as he watched her amble absently away.

He set his lips grimly and strode to into the house. His mind was nimble and soon he saw his path laid out before him. There would be hell to pay on several fronts, and he was sure as spit this was no start to a happy ending, but he was a Cobb. They did the right thing, and they did it together.

The afternoon was spent gathering his planet-side brothers at his parent’s home. The evening was filled with cups of brew, harsh realities and even harsher words. As it is with brothers, heated words became rough shoves. Rough shoves led to one thrown punch and one black eye. That black eye led to Abby’s ancient wooden spoon being slammed on a table and a loud feminine reminder of who was still in charge of the Cobb clan. Softer, more dignified, conversation followed.

As evening waxed toward late night, one by one they let their arguments fall to the fl