Zander watched Kelsie fighting the group of men, barely keeping himself concealed. He moved closer to the House as she disposed of one after another. Jason had been right to never want to be on the end of her blade. She was lethal. She staggered to her feet, murmuring his name, asking to never be forgotten as she took on a fighting stance. Pain slicing through her features but determination shone in her eyes. Zander felt the release from her command to do this on her own. Moving toward the pair, his eyes blazed with fury. The brawny attacker extended his beefy fisted hand, slamming into the side of Kelsie's head even as she tried to evade it. Anger boiled. Breaking free from its leash, Zander pushed to his feet, roaring with rage and ran toward the startled man. Slipping his hands into the band of rings at his belt, Zander pushed them up to his knuckles. He ran at the stone wall and pushed himself into the air, lifting himself above the man and punching his knuckle buster into his jaw. The brawny attacker staggered back, grasping the side of his face, fear sparking in his eyes for the first time. Landing in a crouch, he watched the man gather himself. Zander glanced at Kelsie as she tried to push herself up from the floor but sagged helplessly to the ground. Pain around his heart added to the rage of watching the pursuit and dogged attack of a single woman. A woman who owned his heart and would rule the world he belonged to. Targeting the approaching man, he pinpointed target areas on his body. Today there was no leniency or mercy. Pushing from the ground, Zander went on the offensive, evading and dodging punches and kicks. Slamming the knuckle busters into the man, the fight was fast, furious and short. Landing an uppercut to the man's jaw, Zander paused as the head whipped back, and the man landed with a whizzing thud on the ground where he remained, motionless.

Running to Kelsie, he rested two fingers against the pulse point at her neck. She lived. Relief flooded him. He must tend to her, but first, he needed to clear the area. Jezebel's House had been witness to the success of its owner in making it to the house boundary on her own. It also witnessed its owner's peril and her release of himself to fulfill his pledge. Pulling the men by the back of their dusty shirts, he moved the bodies to the open field and returned to Kelsie's side.

A livid bruise was beginning to form on the side of her face. Carefully lifting her from the floor and carrying her to the porch of the House. Zander eased them onto the top stair cradling her limp form to his chest.

"Kels," he whispered, checking her for other injuries, "I'm here."

He pulled his water bottle from his belt and tipped some between her lips. The wetness brought a moan from her as her lips sought the source of relief. She drank greedily, humming as her body received relief. Finally, she opened her eyes, scanning the area until meeting Zander's worried gaze.

"Zander," she whispered, "you're here. I don't... understand."

"I never left you," he whispered, "your final words released me, and I was able to hold to my pledge."

"The men," Kelsie gasped, trying to move but wincing in pain, "you must be careful."

"Kelsie," Zander said, holding her in place, "stop. You're hurting yourself. There are no more men."

"What?" she shook her head grimacing.

"Do you understand me when I say I fulfilled my pledge?" Zander asked, watching for signs of concussion.

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Kelsie eased away from him but remained sitting on his leg, turning her sweat and dust streaked face to lock with his gaze on eye level. She frowned in thought.

"You protected my life," she whispered, "to the death."

"Correct," he nodded, "theirs."

"But ..." Kelsie swallowed, "I was supposed to do it alone. I ... the people will lose their world, their way of life."

"No," Zander shook his head, "it happened within the boundaries of the house."

Kelsie looked up and around, "It witnessed your release and fulfillment of your pledge."

"It also witnessed you achieving the journey alone," he whispered.

"How do you know?" Kelsie asked, tears forming in her tired eyes.

"Look at the door handle," Zander indicated with his head in the direction of the doorway.

Kelsie looked over his shoulder. The handle seemed to be brand new, recently installed.

"Was it like that before?" Kelsie asked.

"No," Zander said, "it started looking like that as I brought you onto the porch."

"It accepts me as its owner," she whispered.

"Correct," Zander said, "now tell me, can you continue?"

"After some more water," Kelsie said, touching the side of her head tenderly, "I should be able to complete the entry. How much time do we have?"

Zander watched her feel for her timer, go still, and then frantically look through her pockets on her clothes.

"Oh no," she whispered, distress on every breath.

"Four hours and thirty minutes," Zander whispered, opening his fist.

"You have it," Kelsie frowned, "how?"

"I found it on top of the rise on the other side of the meadow," Zander smiled, "you must have dropped it in your hurry to get home."

Kelsie swallowed hard, "Thank you."

"What do we have to do first?" Zander said, gently rubbing Kelsie's stiff back.

"We need to pick a bunch of roses," she whispered, closing her eyes as the tension left her overworked muscles.

"Then let's pick roses," Zander said, "feel better?"

"Yes, thank you," Kelsie smiled, rising and descending into the garden where she found blooming roses on the shrubs, "these weren't here when I arrived."

Zander smiled, "We're picking roses, not asking questions."

"Right, be in the moment," Kelsie said, breathing in the scent of the beautiful scarlet flowers. Memories flared in her mind. Aunt Jezebel's whisper fluttered to her ears. Acceptance comes with embracing every moment, every sense and every touch.

"Let's pick flowers," Kelsie smiled, touching the petals and feeling the soft silkiness. Taking out her knife, she reached down the stem and sliced a long stem, "we're picking long stem roses."

Zander smiled as he watched her, emotion rising and clogging his throat, making him blink away threatening moisture in his eyes. He had nearly lost her ... for good. The only person who knew why he pledged himself to this woman all those years ago was on his way. It had been a lengthy conversation between father and son at that time. It was not normal for someone as young as Zander to make a pledge. He had been insistent, explaining his affection for Kelsie. Cal knew of Zander's love then and was aware nothing had changed. There would be no one else for him ... only Kelsie.