“You folks look like you could use a hand,” he said, opening up a large bag that he’d previously been carrying in his claws and pulling out some silver thermal blankets.
“Thank you,” Ethan said gratefully, wrapping Chloe up. It wouldn’t do a lot, given her wet shirt and jeans, but it would at least keep out the wind while they were flying back.
“Kira had a feeling you’d get yourselves into trouble, so she called me out early,” the griffin went on cheerfully. “Seems like she made the right call!”
“Is that so,” Ethan murmured, as he stood up with Chloe in his arms. Not that he wasn’t grateful for her foresight, but it stung a little bit that she’d been able to identify their lack of experience so easily.
“Trouble seems to be a common thing around here, so don’t take it personally,” the chimera said, apparently reading his mind. “I’m Levi, by the way.”
“Sorry, how rude of me,” the griffin exclaimed. “I didn’t introduce myself at all! I’m Kieran.”
“Ethan,” Ethan said.
“I’m Chloe,” Chloe said weakly. “Nice to meet you.”
“Likewise,” Kieran said, sounding genuine. Ethan thought that Kieran would probably quite happily continue the conversation, but luckily Levi stepped in.
“As nice as this all is,” said Levi, “I think we should get back down the mountain. Do you want a lift?”
Even as the pegasus screeched at the idea of someone else daring to offer to even touch Chloe, Ethan nodded. He wasn’t in great shape – and in any case, all he wanted to do was hold Chloe, and reassure himself that she was okay.
“Yes. Chloe needs to get warmed up as soon as possible – and I’m not in any position to do it right now.”
“Let’s get you both back to the cabin and in front of the fire,” Kieran said, nodding determinedly. “Come on – let’s go.”
Kieran and Levi shifted back into their mythical forms, and Ethan climbed onto Kieran’s back, holding Chloe close.
“We’re going home,” he whispered into her ear as they took off.
“Home,” she breathed, snuggling back into his embrace.
And he knew it was true.
Here, with Chloe, he was home.
Chapter 14
Chloe had never felt so safe and cozy in all her life.
She wriggled a little under the blankets, pressing up close to the warm, comforting presence behind her.
And paused.
Wait, what? Since when do I have a human-sized hot water bottle?!
Her eyes shot open, taking a moment to register the piles of boxes in front of her, before her muddled mind managed to work it out.
She was in her house – her new house, which she’d only moved into a few days ago. Half-emptied packing boxes were still stacked haphazardly around the room, clothes dangling precariously down their sides.
The only familiar thing was her bed, and the blankets that were piled on top of it.
And the warm presence behind her.
Now that she was awake, she knew who it was. Even if she hadn’t been able to feel the mate bond tingling beneath her skin, the feeling of puresafetythat he radiated was unmistakable.
Ethan. My mate.
She rolled over to face him, picking up his arm so she could scoot around under it. He really was dead to the world, not moving at all despite how she was wriggling and writhing. About the only indication he gave of even being alive was a gentle snore.
