A roaring sound filled her ears, and Hope looked up to see barrels upon barrels of snow careening down.
“Avalanche!” Paxton yelled, wrapping himself around her and holding tight.
The snow hit them hard, throwing them through space, and they fell. He kept hold of her and bounced, rolling around wildly. Pain echoed through her body, but she clutched him tightly and held her breath. Finally, they reached the bottom of a mountain.
Snow continued to pile up on them, and he kicked up, punching and kicking until finally there was silence. Her heart was beating so rapidly she could hear it.
Snow encased everything except her head. “Pax?”
“We’re okay.” He pulled her to stand and brushed yards of snow off her. It was nearly thigh deep, and she started to shiver. Her hair hung around her head, with the elaborate tiara lost somewhere in the snow.
“Hunter. Vero,” Paxton called out, rubbing her arms, trying to instill some warmth.
“Here,” Hunter said wearily, coming straight out of a snow berm.
Pax craned his neck, searching the area. “Vero,” he called. “Vero?”
“Ugh. I think I’m dead,” Vero said from behind a snow boulder. He pushed it out of the way, his hair covered with snow, bruises across his face. “Where did you land us?”
Paxton looked around. “I have no idea. It was the first time I teleported.” His voice was demon low and hoarse.
“Why didn’t you say something?” Vero said. “While I can’t teleport yet, I could’ve at least helped you pick a direction.”
“It was my first time,” Paxton protested, brushing more snow off Hope’s head. “I didn’t even know if I could do it, considering I’ve been a Kurjan for less than a day. How bad is your side?”
She looked down to see the diamonds on her dress glittering with blood. “Not good.”
His fangs dropped, and he bit into his wrist, holding it to her mouth. “Drink. Now.”
She tried to protest because he needed his strength, but he grasped her head with his free hand and held her in place, not giving her a choice. When she started to drink, he looked around. “Does anybody have any idea where we are?”
His blood was like fine wine coursing through her veins, warming her. Filling her. Healing her. Finally, she pushed him away. “I’m good.” She could feel her flesh stitching itself back together. Then she shivered and looked at the series of tall jagged peaks marching off to the horizon. They were in some sort of mountain range, but she didn’t recognize it.
Blood slid from Hunter’s left ear, matting his black hair. He studied Hope. “We need to get her somewhere warm. We’re at too high an altitude for all of us right now.”
“Agreed.” Paxton rubbed at a bruise on his chin. “Vero? Are you absolutely sure you can’t teleport?”
“Not yet,” Vero said, his lip swollen. “Like the demons, not all Kurjans have the skill. You’re young to have it.”
Paxton pulled Hope to him and wrapped both arms around her. “You’re shivering so hard, you’ll hurt yourself. Take a deep breath.”
Hope didn’t know what to say. Her body was feeling better after taking his blood, which meant that his body would take longer to heal. “Did you know you could teleport?”
“No. But after talking to Drake, I thought there might be a chance.” Paxton exhaled. “Let’s see if I can do it again.”
Nothing happened.
They all waited.
“I’m empty,” Paxton said, looking around the now quiet wilderness. There were trees, snow, and more mountains extending in every direction. “Vero, you’re lead. You need to create a trail. Then I’ll trample the snow, while Hope and Hunter, you bring up the rear. Our goal is to keep Hope as warm as possible.”
“I’m fine,” she said, shivering so hard her bones ached.
“Right,” Paxton said. “We need to find shelter, and fast. Move, Vero.”
Vero looked at Paxton, his fangs sliding out.
Hope stilled. Were they going to fight?
Vero slashed into his wrist. “Here. We share blood, and you’re injured. Need you at full strength.”
Paxton studied him for a moment and then accepted, drinking his new brother’s blood. “Thanks.” He leaned back.
“Uh-huh.” Vero looked around and then started down the mountain, scraping his feet, trying to widen a trail through the thick snow with his legs. Pax followed with Hope behind him, her hands tucked into what was left of his waistband. Both Pax and Hunter kept close to her, no doubt to provide body heat. They walked for at least two hours, and soon she couldn’t feel her feet.
She stumbled on the long skirt and started to go down. Paxton turned and caught her, whipping her up, turning, and continuing.
“Put me down.” She pressed against his bare and still-bloody chest.
“No.” He trudged along, his body straight, wounded, and damaged. “I thought Hunter and I could keep you warm, but your feet must be frozen. Put your arms around my neck and take my warmth.” His voice brooked no argument.
So she argued. “You need to preserve your strength, and this skirt weighs a ton. Put me down. I won’t trip again.” Despite her brave words, she snuggled into his heated chest and turned her cheek to his pec.
He sucked in air. “Your face is freezing. Just hold on.”
“Pax—”
He looked down, still walking, his gaze intense. “Did you mean it?”
She gulped. “That I can walk?”
“That you choose me.” His chin was up as if ready for a punch, but his eyes, well now. Those had gone demon hot.
“Yes.” She forced herself to meet his gaze, and for some reason, it made her feel vulnerable. This was Paxton. Her Paxton. “I meant every word.” She shrugged, and snow fell off her skirt. “I should’ve made the choice a million years ago, but I thought fate…”
He dropped a quick kiss to her nose. “Fucking freezing,” he muttered, pressing her face against his chest. “We’ll talk about it later, but it’s done now. You’re never taking that choice back.”
She didn’t want to take it back, although his tone hinted that the look of possession in his eyes was just the beginning. For now, she let his skin warm her face. Even bloody, bruised, and wounded, he smelled like her Paxton—worn leather and wild forest. She inhaled him, her shivers lessening just a little, but her feet feeling numb.
After a couple more hours, Vero pointed toward a clearing through the trees. “There’s a river running along there, a wide one. There should be some cabins nearby. Maybe. It depends. I have no clue where we are.”
“Me either,” Hunter grumbled from behind them.
They’d been silent, each concentrating on breathing and trying to stay warm. Black clouds swirled above them, hampering sight. The air was below freezing, and snow covered every visible tree and rock. Hope held tight to Paxton and could feel Hunter behind them. Vero was taking the brunt of the freezing wind; they probably needed to give him a break.
“I see something,” he said suddenly. “There’s a cabin near the river.”
Pax stilled. “I’ll check it out. You guys stay here.” He placed her on her feet and waited until she’d regained her balance before kicking through the thick snow to the structure. Snow covered the dark, silent building. He kicked open the door and walked inside. Then he motioned for them. “We’re clear.”