Warrior's Hope (Dark Protectors #16)(87)

“Half Kurjan,” she said. “Half demon. You’re still Paxton. Does it matter to you?”

The sweet words eased something hard inside him, but he still thought about it for a moment. “Yeah, it matters to me.” He needed to get his head on straight, and being honest with her was the first step. Hope had been a good sounding board ever since childhood. “I’ve hated the Kurjans my entire life, and to find out that I’m one of them—well, it pisses me off.”

She chuckled, her breath warm against his skin. “What about discovering that you have a half-brother?”

He ran his hand farther down to her lower back and then settled on her sweet butt. “I like the idea that I have a brother,” he admitted. “Vero seems like a good soldier, and he has a kindness in him I haven’t seen in many of the Kurjans. I think taking his blood earlier helped me to heal faster, and it also completed the change in my blood. Plus, he helped us escape.” Pax wished he could return the favor. Hopefully Vero was safe right now.

“Yeah, he did. His loyalty was to you and to Hunter, and maybe to me when it mattered,” she said. “I think he’s as lost as you are, Paxton. I think he needs a brother as much as you do.”

Paxton kissed the top of her head. “Maybe, but I know he’ll want to return to the Kurjan nation, and after betraying Drake, it won’t be safe for him. There may be nowhere safe for him.”

“We can give him a home in the Realm,” she said. “Maybe he can help broker peace with the rest of the Kurjans.”

It was a sweet thought, even if untenable. “Maybe,” Paxton said. “I don’t think Drake was alone in his determination to take down the Realm.” There would be even more enemies coming for them now.

“Yes, but doesn’t it come down to leadership?”

“Right now, with Drake dead, Ulric is their leader,” Paxton returned. “He wants Destiny as his Intended, and he wants the other Keys butchered. We’re at war. There’s no question about that.”

She made a small sound of distress. “I need to be home to direct my team when the Kurjans attack. I wish Vero and Hunter would hurry.”

Paxton didn’t much like the idea of her being in the middle of a battle, but he certainly wanted to be there. “We still have time.” The Kurjans most likely wouldn’t attack until dark. Even though it was December, the sun was bright over northern Idaho this week because of the frigid temperatures. “They won’t attack while the sun is out, even though it doesn’t harm them the way it used to.”

She looked up, for a third time bumping his chin. Her eyes met his. “What about you? Does the sun weaken you?”

“I didn’t feel great when I was in it yesterday,” he admitted. “That’s something we’re going to have to watch. But perhaps since I lived most of my life in the sun, I will have some sort of defense.”

She traced the ridges of his abs with one finger, shooting fire through him. His cock hardened instantly, which was his default setting if he was anywhere near her. “Most of the Kurjans can be in the sun for up to four hours these days, so if you have a few more hours’ tolerance, you could be just fine. We’ll just watch it.” She kissed his chin.

“That sounds like a good plan.” He couldn’t believe that she was finally his. “Are you all right?” he asked softly. He’d awakened her two more times during the day, and he’d tried to be gentle, but that seemed not to be what either of them wanted.

“Yeah, I’m good,” she said, her eyes a mellow blue. “How about you?”

What a question. “I’ve never been this good,” he admitted. He pulled her body up his and held the back of her head, kissing her, unable to stop touching her.

A sound caught his attention, and he stiffened.

“What?” She looked toward the door.

He listened intently. “A helicopter, three clicks out.”

She scrambled off him, naked, whisker burn reddening her entire body. “We don’t have any clothes.”

He stood and tossed her the blanket. “If they’re allies, they brought clothing.” Hopefully allies were coming and not the enemy. He didn’t even know where they were right now. There weren’t any weapons in the small shack, and there was nowhere for him to hide her. He wrapped a hand-quilted blanket around his hips and strode toward the door. “Stay behind me, Hope.”





Chapter Thirty-Eight


Hope shook out the stiffness in her muscles in case she needed to fight. The door was open, and she huddled closer to Paxton’s broad back, seeking warmth. With him heating her front and the fire crackling behind her, she wasn’t feeling the arctic chill, even though the sun was about to dip behind the mountain. “Can you see who it is?”

“Not yet,” he said, his partially nude body tense and at the ready.

She gulped and tried to peer around him, but he was too big.

Slowly, his muscles relaxed. “It’s one of ours.”

Relief filled her so completely her legs felt weak. Then she turned and snatched the black sparkly book off the cot.

He stepped to the side, and she ducked under his arm, clutching the book and blanket to her chest. A Realm copter blew snow in every direction, and clumps of the white powder fell off the surrounding trees. The vehicle was silver and gleamed in the waning sunlight. It dropped perfectly and then went silent. The door and the back hatch opened.