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Thefact that his brother was cursing, which he almost never did, letFierceknow how urgent the situation was.LayingCelia’slimp, naked body carefully across his knees, he pulled off his long fur coat, wincing as the motions hurt his ribs.Hedidn’t know if they were broken or not, but they certainly ached like allSevenHellsput together!
Strippingoff the long-sleeved thermal shirt he had on under the coat, he slipped his arms underCelia’sbody and pulled her close to his bare chest.Wrappinghis arms around her, he held her as close as he could but it was like holding a block of ice against his body—she was socold.
“Celia?”Helooked down at her and shook her a little, trying to get another moan or really any kind of sound out of her. “Celia?Lelka?Comeon, baby—please!”
Butno matter what he said or did, there was no response.Shejust lay there, limp in his arms.
Fiercefelt a surge of panic.
“Hurrythe fuck up with that fucking tent!” he bellowed at his brother. “She’snot moving—Idon’t even know if she’s fucking breathing!”
“She’sprobably going into hypothermia.Holdher tight—it’s almost done.There!”
Holddashed back over.Hewas stripping off his own fur coat and shirt as he came.Behindhim,Fiercecould see the shiny silver dome of the warming tent.Itwas a fairly big structure and it filled the broad main corridor from the wall almost to the edge of the river canal.
“Comeon, we have to get her inside,”Holdordered.
“Coming.”FierceheldCeliatighter and started to stand—but the strain on his ribs made him groan.
Seeinghis trouble,Holdreached down to take her limp body.
“Here—let me.”
“No—your hands are probably still cold as ice.”Fiercecradled the little female protectively to his chest. “I’vegot her—just give me a minute.”
Hestruggled to his feet and staggered to the tent.Holdfollowed anxiously, and flipped up the silver flap of fabric to reveal the interior—a kind of round, padded nest big enough for twoTwinKindredand their female to sleep between them.
Assoon as the fabric lifted, a gust of blessedly warm air rushed out.
ThanktheGoddess—warmth!Fiercethought and ducked his head to clear the low entrance.
“Puther down in the middle,”Holddirected, coming in after him and shutting the tent.Insidea current of warm, dry air was circulating and the soft, padded floor also seemed to be radiating heat.
Fierceknelt painfully, his ribs twinging in protest, and reluctantly released the small, limp form onto the floor in the center of the tent.
“Nowwhat?” he asked, looking up atHold.
“Nowwe hold her between us and warm her—the tent’s not enough.Sheneeds body heat—the heat of her mates,”Holdinstructed.
“She’snot going to like it if she wakes up naked between us,”Fiercepointed out.Nevertheless, he did as his brother said, laying down besideCeliaand gathering her naked body to his chest again.
“Betterfor her to wake up naked between us and be upset than not wake up at all.”Holdwas already lying down on her other side.Hepressed close to her, putting his bare chest against her back and draped his arm over her andFierceboth.Helooked over the top ofCelia’shead, his eyes wide and worried. “Holdher with me,Brother—it’s our only chance to save her.”
Hisbrother’s words and the worry in his eyes convincedFierceand sent a bolt of fear through him.Henestled closer to the small, cold body and sent a prayer upwards as he draped his own arm overCelia’ships and his brother’s side.
“Please,Goddess—help us save her!Helpus save our mate!”
Thenthere was nothing to do but lie still and try to warm her up as his brother lay on her other side and did the same.
20
CELIA
Celiawoke up cocooned in warmth.Notjust any warmth though—it seemed familiar.Orrather, itsmelledfamiliar.
Therewas a scent like fur and a pine forest and bonfire smoke mingling with another scent like clean linen and cedar shavings.Andunder all of it was a wild, masculine note that seemed to make her whole body come alive with desire.
Mmm…what is that?Whatsmells so good?
