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 yousee who it is?”
“Not yet,” he said, his partially nude body tense and at the ready.
She gulped and tried to peer around him, buthe 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.
Both Vero and Hunter jumped out.
“Oh, good,” Hope said. “They’re okay.” Her mind had been spinning, and she’d been trying not to worry.
“Excellent.” Paxton ducked and lifted her in his arms, striding out, wearing only the quilt hanging loose on his hips.
“You don’t have shoes,” she protested. “At least let them bring you boots.”
He ignored her. As he strode down the faint trail they’d created, the snow reached his thighs.
Libby poked her head out of the copter. She was dressed in combat gear, and her thick auburn hair was in twin pigtails. She smiled. “Thank God you twoare all right.”
Paxton reached the craft and settled Hope inside. She tripped on the blanket, and Libby caught her, pulling her to the rear of the craft. “Here, I brought you clothes.” She handed over cargo pants, a black turtleneck, a bulletproof vest, combat boots, and some bright pink Ugg socks. “They’re your favorite,” she said. She hugged Hope, holding her close. “I was so scared when you were taken.”
“So wasI,” Hope said.
“Whoa.” Libby yanked Hope forward and caught sight of her chest. Her head whipped around to stare at Paxton and then back to Hope. She grabbed her shoulders. “Oh my God, you guys mated.”
Heat blasted into Hope’s face, the blush so hot it burned her skin. “Yeah.”
Libby hugged her tight. “Oh, congratulations. It’s aboutfreaking time.”
Paxton settled into the craft. The other two jumped in, and they shut the door. Hope looked around. Her entire team was there. The twins were piloting the craft, while Derrick and Libby were in the back, leaving plenty of room for Hunter, Vero, Paxton, and herself. Derrick tossed combat clothingtoward Paxton.
“Is the Realm all right?” Hope asked, reaching for a shirt to tug over her head. “Headquarters hasn’t beenattacked yet?”
“No, we got the warning from Hunter and Vero in plenty of time,” Derrick said. “We’re on the offensive. With Vero’s help, we traced the location of the camp where Ulric is. We’re going to takethem instead.”
“We’re going on the offense,” Liam called out fromthe pilot seat.
“Hell yeah,” Collin joined in.
Hope gulped. She hadn’t intended on seeing battle so quickly after becoming mated, but it was her job. “All right, where arewe right now?”
