She could see the truth of it in his eyes. The peace. The integration.
This wasn’t the terrified man who’d pushed her away weeks ago. Who’d dosed himself with suppressants and run himself ragged on the treadmill.
This was someone who’d accepted all of himself. Embraced it.
Because of her.
“Okay,” she said softly. “I trust you.”
“Both of us?”
“All of you.” She touched his face. “Human. Hyde. Everything in between.”
His eyes flashed green for just a moment, pleased, and kissed her forehead. “Bundle up. It’s cold out there.”
She put on her warmest coat—the quilted one with the hood that he’d given her. Wrapped a scarf around her neck. Tugged on insulated gloves and her sturdy boots.
By the time she finished, she looked like a marshmallow.
Victor’s lips twitched. “Warm enough?”
“I can barely move.”
“You don’t need to move. You just need to be warm.” He picked up her suitcase in one hand. Opened the door with the other.
Cold air rushed in, sharp and biting despite the sunshine. She stepped out onto the porch and found the snow had drifted to knee height, deep and pristine and utterly impassable for normal travel. But Hyde wasn’t normal. He set down the suitcase and turned to face her.
“Close your eyes if you want,” he said. “Some people find the transformation unsettling.”
“In case you’ve forgotten, I’ve already seen you transform. And even if I hadn’t, I’m not ‘some people.’”
His smile was warm and loving. “No. You’re definitely not.”
Then he stepped back, took a breath, and changed.
She’d seen parts of it before, but the only time he’d transformed completely had been too quick for her to follow. Watching him choose the transformation was different. Beautiful. His body expanded, muscles swelling and shifting beneath skin that darkened to deep green. His bones elongated with audible pops and his hands and feet grew, his fingers tipped with wicked claws.
When he straightened to his full height—eight feet of controlled power—those glowing green eyes focused on her with absolute devotion.
“Hi,” she said, and he rumbled at her, the sound warm and affectionate.
He bent down and carefully lifted her into his arms, one massive hand under her knees, and the other supporting her back, cradling her like something precious. She relaxed into his hold, enjoying his strength and the warmth radiating through layers of coat and scarf. She’d never felt safer in her life.
He grabbed her suitcase with his free hand like it weighed nothing. Then he stepped off the porch into the deep snow.
His feet sank but not as far as they should have. The snow compressed under his weight. Solid and stable.
He moved with surprising grace. Each step measured. Careful not to jostle her.
She watched the winter landscape slide past. Trees heavy with snow. The morning sun turning everything to gold and white. The sky impossibly blue overhead. Fairhaven Falls in winter was breathtaking.
“It’s beautiful,” she said aloud.
Hyde rumbled in agreement, his chest vibrating beneath her.
They passed the place where the road curved toward town. Snow covered it completely. No tire tracks. No footprints.
Just untouched white stretching in every direction.
