I jump as many stairs as I can, slamming into the wall, and grab the stair rail to stay upright.
Walton groans.
“Hang on,” I tell him.
The steps behind me break and fall away.
I race down the rest and spot the front door ahead. Something else cracks. Heat sears the air, and orange fills my vision. Still I run, holding my patient close.
We stumble out the door onto the porch. I’m temporarily blinded from the smoke and heat and miss the steps. We pitch forward and land in a heap on the hard ground.
Fuck that hurt.
EMTs and firemen swarm around us. I wave them toward Walton and suck in a couple lungfuls of oxygen from the mask, coughing hard.
I’ll have a bit of coughing from smoke inhalation, but saving Walton was worth it.
When I shove to my feet, I realize I’m standing alone. They’ve given me a ten-foot perimeter.
“I didn’t understand,” the closest EMT says.
I shake my head, trying to clear it. “What?”
“Why they called you Beast. Holy shit, dude.”
I blink. Was that a compliment?
I don’t have time to sort it out, because suddenly there’s a beautiful woman slamming into my chest. She hugs me tight, then leans back and punches my arm. Then hugs me again.
“I could have lost you!” she growls, baring her little teeth at me.
I bite back a grin, knowing now is not the time to tell her she’s fucking adorable, and pull her into my arms. “Never. You’re mine.”
She always has been.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
LISETTE
Dawn breaks on the ruins of Grandmama’s house. The old Victorian is half of what it once was. The turret and the wrap-around porch were destroyed, along with Florine’s bedroom and a couple guest rooms. The kitchen—and unbelievably—the office survived with just water damage.
But all her antiques, the original wallpaper and photos of her youth… destroyed.
Dorian couldn’t get me to leave last night until he promised to take me to The Ridgeview Lodge so we could stay close by. In case of what, I don’t know. Only that I couldn’t truly leave until I knew how bad the damage was.
He took me to the lodge, put me in the shower, and slowly washed me, massaging my tense muscles, until I melted into him half asleep. Then he carried me to bed and held me.
At some point, he must have gone back to the cabin, because he had fresh clothes for both of us when I woke. And after both the hot springs and the fire, I was grateful.
To thank him, I dragged him here before the sun was up.
There are still several firemen around, making sure the fire is fully suppressed.
I stare at the ruined house, my fingers wrapped around the pendant Dorian gave me. The loss is devastating.
A man emerges from inside the house. He stops to talk to the fire chief, who points him toward us.
Dorian steps closer and lays a hand on my hip in silent support.
