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“Why are you so smart?” I touch his chest, directly over the beautiful, thrumming organ there.
“I’ve spent three months with an incredibly smart woman.”
If I hadn’t already fallen for this gorgeous, complex beast of a man, I would fall now, hard and fast, right on my gobsmacked face.
“I love you.” My fingers sink into the fur of his coat.
“Romantically, brotherly, or monogamously?” His lips twitch.
“None of those.” I inch closer. “I love you unconditionally, with the brokenest pieces of my heart. I love you like the snow loves these hills, with a heavy, dependable lethality that transcends the shivers and shadows, buries the past, and withstands the immeasurable test of life. I dare you to put a label on that.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it.” He swoops in and kisses me with a fire that melts the frost from our cheeks.
64
Leonid
—
The grueling hike back to the snow machine sucks the last of my energy.
I carry the weight of our pack and most of the guns. Frankie tries to take some of the load, but there’s no way. Her legs are strong, but the hills are steep, and the cold has settled in too deep. I know she’s exhausted from shivering.
When I spot our ride at the bottom of the final slope, I almost collapse in relief.
“I hate to admit this.” I pause, giving her time to catch up. “Even if I had shot a wolf, we wouldn’t have been able to haul it back.”
“I was just thinking that.”
Her face. There’s nothing but shadows as if all the color has been siphoned away. She’s been out here too long. I should’ve never let her get this cold.
Kody was right. This wasn’t worth the risk.
Now I know.
Rallying my strength one last time, I push forward and drop the pack on the sled. Once everything is secured, I lift her onto the seat, slip her goggles over her eyes, and mount the spot in front of her.
The wind rocks us side to side, trying to sweep us away. Fucking brutal. If she were anyone else, I would’ve heard a lot of complaining and giving up. But not this girl. She’s a goddamn trooper.
“Hold on.” I don my goggles, start the engine, and take off.
The miles that remain take their toll. The bumping and whipping across the icy tundra feels like an endless beating. But she never loosens her grip on my back. She hugs me with her whole body, riding the up and down waves with impressive strength.
She says she’s not built for this way of life. To hell with that. This woman is built for anything.
When we finally arrive at the cabin, Denver is the first to step outside. He takes one look at the empty sled and goes back inside.
Fuck him.
After stowing the snow machine, we pause in the entryway to peel off our layers. Kody finds us there and goes directly to Frankie.
No questions. No gloating. He helps her with zippers and laces because she can’t seem to do it. Her hands won’t stop shaking.
“I-I’m ssss-so co-co-cold.” She sways, reaching for him.
He meets my eyes. “Sauna.”
“Yeah.” I race back outside and into the small building.
As I fire up the stove, Kody steps in behind me, carrying her like a limp doll.
“What have I done?” My pulse jolts with panic.
“Stop it.” She curls against his chest. “I’m a co-cold weather wimp.”
My brother scowls down at her, his features pinched in that broody expression he wears so well. I think he’s debating the merits of putting her down and slamming a fist into my face.
“Let me sit.” She wriggles free and collapses on a bench. “Before you do what I think you’re about to do, listen to me. Leo didn’t force me to go. That was my choice. We survived, and no one’s going to fight about it.” She squints at Kody. “Where’s Wolf?”
“Left him in my bedroom.”
“He can’t be alone. Leo and I are going to warm up in here for a while.” She drops her head back and sighs. “I can already feel the blessed heat.”
I throw on more coal and glance at Kody over my shoulder.
He doesn’t want to leave her. It’s etched into every hard line of his posture.
“What happened?” He crouches before her and cups her face. “Don’t lie to me.”
“Nothing happened.” Her hands cover his. “I just can’t hack the cold. You were right. There’s nothing in those hills that will save us.”
“I’ll get you some warm clothes, towels, and dinner.” He shoots me a pointed glare and stands. “I’ll be back in ten minutes with Wolf.”
“Thanks.” I sit on the bench beside her. “No problems here?”
“No. Wolf and I made bread and spent the rest of the day upstairs.”
With a lingering glance at Frankie, he leaves.
“Warming up?” I pull her closer and rub her hands between my palms.
