Across the Vanishing Sky (Starlight Grove, #1)(117)

“They knew where we would be, Anson.”

“Gotta close the circle. Information to your family only. I know it sucks, but it’s the way it’s gotta be.”

I scrubbed a hand over my jaw. “It’s not just what we’re sharing, though. The Juniper County Sheriff’s Department isn’t exactly locked down. The sheriff just started to believe something bad could’ve happened to Nova.”

Anson muttered a curse. “Well, keep Brae’s location, plans…all of that under wraps. She goes nowhere alone.”

“That’s a fuckin’ given,” I growled.

“And keep breathing. You need me to come down there?”

God, he was a good friend. One who had been through his own hell. But he and Rhodes had made it through. And she had helped heal him in ways I hadn’t thought possible. Just like Brae was doing for me.

“You’re doing everything you can from Sparrow Falls. But thank you. You offering means something.”

“Just say the word and I’m there. And in the meantime, watch your back.”

“You know I will.” Needing eyes in the back of my head was more like it.

“Keep checking in.”

“Talk soon.” I hit End on the call and just stared inside for a moment.

Brae was still staring into space, and then I saw her shiver. Even though it was eighty-five degrees outside, and she was wrapped in blankets, she was cold.

Fucking hell.

I strode toward the back door and through it, taking a moment to flip the deadbolt and arm the alarm. I crossed the space in six long strides and crouched in front of Brae. My hands lifted to her face, trying to get her to focus.

“Brae,” I whispered.

She blinked a few times, jolting from wherever her brain was, and then her teeth started chattering. “C-cold.”

I didn’t wait, just moved. Tossing off the pile of blankets, I gave Yeti the command to stay and lifted Brae into my arms. The dog watched as I cradled her to me, battling indecision. “Reste,” I said again.

Yeti’s head dropped back to the couch, but she was just as worried about Brae as I was.

My hellion. Tough as nails. A warrior. And she was shaking like a leaf as I strode toward the bathroom off the primary bedroom. It wasn’t huge, but the shower was spacious enough. It was clear that Blaze had modernized with a new shower and vanity.

I lowered Brae’s feet to the floor, but it killed me to let her go. As if I were ripping my skin from my own damn flesh. I framed her face with my hands and dropped my forehead to hers. “Gonna get you warm, okay? Just stay right here.”

Tearing myself away from her, I moved to the shower and turned the water to hot. I was back to Brae in a matter of seconds, but it felt like a lifetime. “Is it okay if I undress you?”

Brae’s teeth chattered, but she nodded in jerky motions.

I moved to the hem of her tank. “Arms up.”

She lifted her limbs robotically, and as I gently tugged her tank and bra off, I noticed all sorts of scrapes on her arms and chest that must have come from running through the woods. A curse slipped free as I tossed the clothing to the floor and moved to the medicine cabinet. I should’ve noticed before. None of them were too deep, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t get infected.

Opening the cabinet, I found hydrogen peroxide and cotton swabs. I doused one and moved back to her. “This might sting a little, okay?”

She nodded again in that robotic movement.

But there was no reaction when I gently brushed the cotton over her skin. It was as if Brae felt nothing at all. And that killed me. She’d gone totally and completely numb, apart from the cold racking her.

I moved as swiftly and thoroughly as possible, disinfecting every scrape and scratch, cleaning away every sign of dirt. When I was done, my hands moved to the button on her waistband. “I’m going to get these shorts off now, all right?”

Brae swayed slightly but nodded again.

I pulled them down, not looking at parts of her body for too long, other than to judge any injuries. I shucked my own clothes and guided Brae into the shower as fast as I could.

Her body shook harder, more viciously. I maneuvered her under the spray, the water just shy of too hot. “Gonna get you warm, Hellion. Gonna get you strong.”

A soft moan left Brae’s lips. Not a sexual one. One of relief.

“That’s it. That’s my girl.” My fingers ran through her hair as the water soaked the strands, turning them a darker shade of blond. I reached for the shampoo on the shelf and filled my palms, rubbing them together.

Turning Brae so she faced the water, I began to wash her hair. She leaned back into me, into my touch, humming as if reveling in the sensation.

The sound was a balm to my ravaged soul, to the worry and fear I’d been battling all day. I might not be able to fix this, but I could take care of her. I could do something to ease at least the slightest bit of pain.

My fingers dug into Brae’s scalp, massaging. She let out another moan.

“Gonna rinse now, okay?”

Brae turned on her own this time, her eyes meeting mine as she stepped back under the spray, a little more aware.

My hands lifted, rinsing the suds from her strands.

“Feels good,” she whispered.

I leaned in and pressed my lips to her forehead. “I’m glad.”