Hunter took her arm and lifted her, nearly staggering. “This dress weighs a thousand pounds.”
“You’re telling me,” she said, her teeth chattering.
He slogged through the snow, still bleeding from a wound in his head. They’d been working too hard to be able to truly heal themselves.
When they reached the cabin, Paxton drew her inside. “How bad are your injuries?”
“I’m all right. Your blood healed me.” Now she needed him to heal himself. “How about you? Has the change to being Kurjan hurt you?”
“No. I’m stronger.” He looked at the other two males. “I want you to hold on to me, Hope. I’m going to try to teleport again.” The air popped around him, but they didn’t move. “Damn it,” he said. “It could have been a one-shot deal until I really learn how to do it. I don’t know, but I’m not able to teleport now.”
Hunter’s face was grim, and he reached out to run a knuckle down Hope’s cheekbone. “All right, cousin, I need you to dig deep. Pax is going to keep you safe, and you’re going to be fine.”
“I’m healed, Hunter.” She looked at their temporary shelter. It appeared to be some sort of hunting lodge with several cots piled in a corner, plastic storage containers holding blankets, and open cupboards empty of food over a simple wood counter. There was no sink. A fireplace was already piled high with wood in the corner nearby. “I can keep going. We have to warn the Realm about Drake’s plan. Even though he’s dead, I can see Ulric and his soldiers still attacking.”
Vero grimaced. “Drake has been holding Ulric back until he mated you, but now, the shackles are off. Ulric will regroup and attack at dark when the Kurjans are at full strength.”
Panic flowed through Hope. She guessed it must be close to noon. They had to warn her family. “We have to go.”
“You’re staying here,” Paxton said. “I’ll go.”
Hunter looked at Paxton. “You’re still hurt, worse than I am, worse than Vero. You stay here, get warm, while we try to find safety. We’re going to walk along the river until we find some sort of camp where we can call and warn the Realm. Then we’ll find transport back home.”
Paxton shook his head. “I’ll go. You stay here with her.”
“No,” Vero said. “You still have broken bones and probably internal bleeding. I’m good, and Hunter is healing as we speak. If you regain the ability to teleport her out of here, do it. We’ll find you.” He shifted his feet. “You’re both injured, and we might take days.” His gaze flitted across Hope.
Indecision crossed Paxton’s expression. It was sweet he wanted to take care of the younger warriors, yet he looked back at her, his gaze determined. “Okay. You two stick together and stay safe.”
“We will,” Hunter said.
Paxton reached out and tugged Vero in for a quick hug. “You’re a good brother, Vero.”
“I hope so. We just declared war,” Vero said. “And neither one of us really has a place on either side.” With that, he turned and shoved open the door. “But your job is protecting her.”
Hope gulped. She’d chosen Paxton. Time wasn’t on their side, they were at war, and she might be mortal. He’d want to mate…right now.
Hunter looked at Hope and then Paxton. “Stay alive. Newly found Cousin Vero and I will be back.” He winked, and with that, he followed the Kurjan soldier into the middle of nowhere.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Paxton had the fire crackling powerfully before he turned and unstacked the cots. He winced as his ankle popped back into place. He’d broken it twice over the last couple days, and then the avalanche had cracked it a third time. His healing cells were back to full force, though, and for that, he was grateful. Taking Vero’s blood—his brother’s blood—had definitely sped up the healing process. “Did you find blankets?” he asked, his senses tuned to the outside and any possible threats.
“Yes.” Hope brought a stack of thick comforters from the nearest storage bin. “These look homemade, hand quilted.” She frowned, looking fragile. “It’s an odd thing to leave here.”
He shrugged, his heart pounding. For her. “Let’s get you out of that dress.” It was wet and bloody, and she was shivering so hard, her lips were turning blue.
“Gladly.” She turned around. “You have to untie this thing.” The corset was intricate, and it was tied well, so in the end, he had to just rip the edges apart. When he released her, she sighed. “Oh, thank goodness. That was unbearable.”
He finished tearing the delicate material open, and diamonds scattered across the cabin floor; they were probably worth a small fortune. The need he felt to protect her was overwhelming. She was everything. He couldn’t believe that she’d chosen him. “What were you thinking?” he asked.
She turned, holding the material over her breasts with both arms. “What do you mean?”
“You knew he was going to kill you if you chose me.” Though he hadn’t wanted her to sacrifice herself, he’d figured she’d say yes and then think of a way out. “I thought you’d acquiesce to gain yourself more time.” He’d never forget, for as long as he lived, the second she’d chosen him. His blood heated until ancient drums echoed in his skull.
“I considered doing so,” she said, her eyes soft, her gaze flicking away as pink filtered across her cheekbones. “But you remember when we were little, and you told me once that you’d had a really good day made up of a lot of perfect moments?”
He remembered exactly. He’d spent the entire day with her family, and her mother had fed him macaroni and cheese. And they’d baked cookies. Then he played his guitar while Hope had played the piano. It wasn’t her favorite thing to do, but she’d done it because it was what he’d wanted, and it had been one of the best days of his life. They’d been maybe eight or nine years old. “I remember,” he said.
The firelight made her hair glow and her eyes glimmer like sapphires, the real kind that were darker than those man-made. “I took that to heart. Life is full of moments. In that second when I had to choose, when I had to say it out loud, there was only one thing to say, and it was your name.” She shrugged, looking so beautiful his heart hurt. “I can’t explain it, Paxton. Even if it meant death, I chose you.”
Nobody in his entire life had truly chosen him. She flayed him right open. He should do the right thing and get her to safety, away from him. His life had just imploded. As a half Kurjan, he wouldn’t be trusted anywhere. Where would he even live?
But he couldn’t let her go. She’d shown unbelievable courage in taking her stance, and he had to do the same, regardless of the future.
Hope Kayrs-Kyllwood was his future.
She kicked a foot against the sparkly dress. “Ice is forming on this thing.”
“Turn around,” he said gruffly. She did so, and he released the band around her waist. They had to get her out of the sopping wet dress so she could warm up. “You’ve been mine for about five hours, and I’m not taking very good care of you.”