Observing my sister and her mate, boyfriend—whatever the hell he was entering the room, something shifted inside, unlike any feeling I'd experienced.

I didn't like him.

I wanted to remove that smug grin of his. He was a self-satisfying asshole who wasn't good enough for Sage.

He never would be, and I knew he was going to hurt her in the worst way possible.

Swallowing my frustrations, the bitterness of her choices remained uneasy in my gut.

But I had to pull back. Speaking my mind had done me no good so far, and if I pushed her—I knew she would distance herself from me...choose him.

And I couldn't allow that—I wouldn't allow that.

He eyed me carefully as Sage released his hand and made her way to the sofa.

"A word outside Sylar before we get this show started," he said, angling his head his eyes darkened - as if to challenge me.

Moron!

"Sure, outside?" Standing, I peered down and smiled at Sage, who hesitantly returned my smile before following Hunter.

Shutting the door he walked back toward the kitchen but stopped just short in the hallway.

He turned and crossed his thick arms across his chest. Pushing my shoulders back. I kept my distance but my wolf was itching to get out, put his and his smug attitude down.

Hunter waited the look on his face challenging. He saw me as nothing but a kid... Sage's kid brother.

My jaw tightened. He knew nothing about me and what I was capable of.

Although when I had tried to send him to sleep in the marquee. He had resisted me and only zoned out when I had touched him to enforce my control.

I didn't know what made Hunter Stone different...yet.

I waited for him to talk. Leaning up against the cool wall, I folded my arms and raised one knee, resting my foot flat against it.

"Listen, Sylar. I know you ain't happy about me and Sage. And I get where you're coming from, yeah?" He lowered his arms and ran one hand over his chin and up across his cheek, shoving his other hand into his jeans pocket. "Fuck, I'd be the same if I had a sister who was with someone...like me."

At least we could agree on something.

I raised my eyebrow, resisting a sarcastic comment. He watched to check I was listening.

"But that's all changed now—I've changed. Everything is different. It's only Sage for me, it's been that way since the moment she stepped into my office. And no one touches what we have." He paused. "I know you wish I would disappear, but I ain't going nowhere. Not unless Sage asks me to leave."

Choosing his words carefully, his eyes returned to mine. "I love your sister. I love Sage. She's everything to me, and there is nothing that I wouldn't do for her." A long regretful sigh followed. "I'm not stupid, I know without a doubt you will have heard about my reputation. Especially with women."

His lost boy act wouldn't work with me, he could talk as much as he wanted. It wouldn't change a thing.

He continued. "Believe me, if I could change the past, I wouldn't hesitate. Sadly it is what it is—but this is different. You must understand that."

Yeah, Right!

I muted my response clamping my mouth shut, maintaining my composure, whilst he continued his pointless gesture.

"Now I hope given time me and you." He signalled his hand between us. "Can get along, yeah?" He flicked his head. "It will mean a lot to Sage and what means a lot to her, means a lot to me."

I pushed myself off the wall. I wasn't interested in his bullshit and I didn't believe any of it... not one word.

Did he think I was some kind of idiot? "Okay."

He took a step towards me, his face blank of emotion. I could sense his wolf as he tried to assert his dominance over me.

"Listen, kid, I know you don't believe me. Fuck, I probably wouldn't believe me either. And if you had told me this would happen to me less than two weeks ago... I wouldn't have believed it—not for a second. So, I get it. I understand, and that's fine. It's gonna take some time for you to trust me, yeah?"

He nodded his head real slow, before taking another step closer but keeping his stance wide. I stance I'd seen when people like him were readying for a fight.

"But let me make one thing clear, yeah." Narrowing his eyes, a growl rose from his chest and his ever-expanding aura darkened, pushing against me.

This was the Hunter I'd heard countless stories of.

"Don't for one second think I'll sit back and listen to you talk to her like that again. And if you ever call her stupid, disrespect her or upset her, then me and you will have more than just words...yeah?"

The dark look dropped from his face. Relaxed, he held out his hand. I had to force mine towards his as his much larger hand engulfed mine. But I guess it wouldn't hurt for him to think we had an understanding.

I was sure Sage would see his true colours soon enough.

He shook my hand firmly. "Good, glad we're on the same page."

The words left my mouth before I registered what I'd said. "Don't think I won't be watching you Hunter."

He didn't flinch. "I wouldn't expect any less," he replied. "Now let's get this done, yeah?" He turned, walking back to the room where everyone waited for us.

>>>

Hunter walked towards Sage. Leaning down he kissed her on the forehead as some silent communication passed between the two and her eyes found mine. I smiled to reassure her everything was fine.

Sitting beside her, Hunter planted one last kiss on the top of her head before walking towards his brother.

"So how do you want to do this?" she asked, hesitation clear in her tone.

"Let's just relax and give me your hand." She held out her hand, and I took it in mine, resting it in the small space between us. The connection was instant.

"Don't be afraid of me. I'm not interested in random memories, thoughts."

Sage visibly relaxed. The last thing I wanted to see was her having sex with Hunter... hearing it was bad enough.

"I can search out what I need by sensing those parts that are hidden. But I need you to relax and open up Sage. It will be far easier if you do. Sound okay?"

Sage inhaled a large breath. "I trust you." She smiled, squeezing my hand.

"That's good. Now, just lean back, relax and let me do all the work." She shuffled back and rested her head. I closed my eyes, taking long slow breaths as our connection intensified.

A warmth radiated all around me as our aura's entwined, every part of me recognised her. A trace of resistance pulled at my thoughts as I imagined stepping inside her head. Any opposition she had fell away as I squeezed her hand supportively.

Being inside Sage's head was like coming home. She was warm and welcoming, and I knew there was no way she could harm anyone under her own esteem. If she had done something—anything then it had been without her consent.

Watching her memories pass through my mind, I searched for blocks. It would be hard to explain what I was looking for. Sage's mind was a whirling mass of colours, shapes, sounds and senses and just like aura's, her mind was unique. Concentrating I felt for colder, darker spots knowing anything hidden or memories would be darker, the sadder ones being the darkest of those and that's what I focused on. I wanted to find the blackest of her recollections. Those with no colour or form.

Only moments later I found one. In my mind I imagined it coming towards me, calling to it. Sage's hand tightened around mine. This was the earliest blackened spot I could find and as it floated towards me I bathed it in my light. Sage's hand relaxed.

As the darkness absorbed the light. I imagined a small hole that unlocked the shadows of her mind and like a bud forcing its way open from within the claws of a tightly knit stem, allowing me to metaphorically step into the memory.

It was Sage at a young age, perhaps four or five years old. I viewed this young Sage looking up towards an older man... our grandfather. She took his hand as they walked through a house. Sage halted as something caught her attention. She gazed towards a woman on the floor. It was our mother—dead.

I shiver ran down my spine as a web of sorrow blanketed my chest.

This was the night my grandfather had murdered our parents and stolen her.

My heart ached with the awareness that she had witnessed such horror. Perhaps it was a good thing that this memory wasn't available to her, and only I would burden this knowledge. I could do that for her.

Replaying the rest of the memory, our grandfather offered her comforting words as he tugged her hand and she followed, turning her head, keeping her gaze on our mother.

I stepped from the memory and sealed it shut, removing all my light. I tried not to let what I saw affect me emotionally—I needed to be strong for her, I couldn't let my pain swallow me whole.

Stretching through more time, more memories, each passed quickly. Warmth and love accompanied so many of these and I sensed her love for Pearl. A swell of happiness surged through my veins, finding peace in the awareness that she hadn't grown up alone.

I ventured deeper inside her mind and stopped when I was hit by a rush of cold as if my body had been grabbed. I saw spots of darkness, moving—changing shape. This wasn't just one memory. There were many. I was baffled as they appeared to be blocked by a barrier. No, that wasn't right. More like a glass room buried inside her mind.

Focusing all my energy, I visualised my hands upon the glass. Sending pulsing vibrations through my thoughts, in my mind I shattered the glass but— nothing happened, I was met with resistance.

I doubled my efforts, concentrating harder.

Sage inhaled sharply beside me.

This wasn't working—I needed to try a different approach. In my thoughts, I created a key of light... a figurative key. I imagined a lock and slowly one formed.

Sage's grip on my hand tightened. In my mind, I inserted the key and waited. Time was irrelevant in our minds, but slowly a small opening appeared. I pushed myself forward, squeezing through the gap. All around me transformed. Sparks of light bounced around the glass room but the spots of darkness I had seen stopped moving.

I wasn't alone.

'I know you're here.' I called out into Sage's mind... the darkness. I wasn't expecting a reply, but I got one.

'I can sense you, young one.'

'You're him, the dream-walker she talks about.'

'Yes, you flatter me, young one,' was his mocking reply.

I restrained any anger, soothing my mind with calming thoughts. It took great strength and still, it felt like a snake had crawled through my veins until it reached my heart, wrapping its body around my organ. My chest tightened, but I refocused my thoughts.

Calm. Calm.

I imagined a tranquil ocean simultaneously reaching out to Sage's mind.

'Sage.'

Silence

'Sage.'

I gripped her hand but felt no resistance.

′She can't hear you, young one. I'm keeping her occupied. Now, I believe you have something on your mind.′

My lungs tightened as I tried to recall how we had broken his control over her in the marquee. I didn't understand, this shouldn't have been possible. He wasn't physically here.

My best course of action was to distract whilst attempting to contact Sage. I knew not to feed his darkness and suppressed my anger, fear... confusion.

'Why are you blocking Sage from her memories? What is it you don't want her or us to know?'

He laughed almost manically.

'Sage wasn't responsible for those deaths... was she? That's why you're hiding the truth from her.'

'I control Sage, yes.'

'I'm going to take down your barriers and let her see.'

′You are quite an amusing young one. Do you think you broke through my barriers?′

He felt my hesitation. 'Ah, you did.'

My jaw clenched as Sage's heartbeat sped up.

'Whilst you have been sensing your way around Sage's mind. I have looked into yours.'

How, how was he able to do that?

My heart stopped and my wolf whimpered. If what he said was true. He would know all about me... about Misha and—

'Yes, young one. I know everything, thanks to your youthful arrogance.'

The anger left me before I could control it. 'I will end you; you can believe that.' I retorted, but even in my mind, my voice was ragged.

'Say your goodbyes to your sister... and witness the control I have over her.'

What? I didn't understand. How could he do anything unless he was actually here? I didn't comprehend his next words.

'Violets bloom and roses curse.'

I was thrust violently from Sage's mind as her blood-curdling scream assaulted my ears.

"What the fuck!" yelled Hunter, striding towards Sage as she slumped against me.

"What the fuck happened?" He knelt, lifting Sage from me, gripping her by her shoulders. "Baby, wake up." he cooed softly, pulling her against him.

I didn't have a clue what had happened.