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“Tryto go back to sleep.Orwe can talk if you want, to pass the time,”Holdmurmured in her ear.
“Um…well…”
Therewas no way she was getting back to sleep,Celiathought.Ifshe even hadbeenasleep before—she thought it was more likely she’d been unconscious.
“I’msorry about your ribs,” she said at last, looking up atFierce. “Ididn’t mean to make them worse.And, well…thank you for saving me.”
“Ofcourse, baby,”Fierce’sglowing eyes seemed to gentle some. “Ishould have recognized the threat before you ran into it—Iknew it smelled strange in that hallway butIdidn’t know it was the scent of aV’ranna.Neversaw one before.”Heshifted slightly and groaned. “Ugh!AndIhopeInever see one again!” he added.
“I’llexamine your ribs onceI’msureCeliais warm enough not to relapse into hypothermia,”Holdtold him. “Iwish we had a warm tub of water to dunk her in to raise her core temperature.Butsince we don’t, we’ll need to keep her between us until she’s out of danger.”
Celiadidn’t feel like she was in any danger now, butHoldwas a doctor—she decided to defer to his judgment.Andspeaking of judgment, she felt like she hadn’t displayed it very much lately.
“Guys,I’mreally sorry about all of this,” she said, speaking to both of them. “Ishouldn’t have rushed into that hallway.Andas for backing into the river, well…Ifeel like a realidiota.”
“Youwere in shock, that’s all, my lady,”Holdsaid, his voice gentle again. “Ithought you displayed great courage by not running away at once.”Helooked over her head toFierce. “Youknow she was actuallykickingtheV’rannain its hind leg to try and make it drop you whenIgot to you?”
“What?”Fiercelooked down at her. “Youhave a death wish,lelka?”
“Ijust wanted it to let you go!”Timidly, she reached up to brush his muscular side with her fingertips. “Areyour ribs really broken?”
“Morelike bruised,Ithink,”Fiercerumbled.Hecaught her hand in his and brought it to his mouth to kiss her fingertips.
Celiashivered as she felt the bristles of his beard and the softness of his lips against her fingers.
“Fierce…” she protested softly but didn’t draw her hand away.
“Ishot the fucking thing in the foreleg two or three times,” he went on, letting her fingers go. “Ithink that weakened its grip when it grabbed me.”
“You’relucky you did—otherwise it might have squeezed you in half,”Holdsaid seriously. “Idon’t know many warriors who have escaped the death hug of aV’ranna.I’llwrap your ribs for you in a little while—IthinkIhave some healing wraps in my kit.”
“Thanks.Justlaying here not moving helps too,”Fiercegrowled.Hesounded more vulnerable thanCeliahad ever heard him and she couldn’t help remembering how he had rushed in to save her, calling theV’ranna’sattention away from her and making himself its target.TheDarkTwinhad quite literally risked his life to save hers—and they didn’t evenlikeeach other.
Ordid they?Celiacouldn’t help feeling confused.
“Whydid you save me?” she blurted out, looking up at him again.
“What?”Hepeered down at her, frowning. “Whatare you talking about?Whatchoice didIhave?”
“Youcould have just run away,”Celiapointed out. “Wehave this joke back onEarthabout two campers hiking in the woods.Theystir up a grizzly bear—that’s an animal that’s kind of aV’ranna,”she added and shivered. “Anyway, as the bear is charging towards them, one of them stops and starts putting on some running shoes.Theother one says, ‘Areyou crazy?Youthink those shoes are going to help you outrun a bear?’Andthe first camper says, “Idon’t have to outrun the bear—Ionly have to outrunyou!’”
“Meaninghe would leave his companion to be eaten by the bear?”Fiercegrowled. “IhopeIhave more honor than that!”
“Itwould be a shame and a stain on aKindredwarrior’s soul to leave a female in a dangerous situation without trying to save her,”Holdadded.
“Butyou didn’thaveto risk your life for me,”Celiapointed out toFierce. “Imean, we’ve been fighting from the minute we met—you don’t evenlikeme.Whywould you almost die saving me?”
“WhosaysIdon’t like you,lelka?”he murmured.Reachingdown, he cupped her cheek gently in one big, warm hand. “Idolike you—even though you drive me fucking crazy.”
“I…um…”Celiabecame aware all over again that she was pressed naked against the big warrior.Shecould feel her nipples getting tight and for some reason her pussy was feeling hot and swollen.Shepressed her thighs together tightly, trying to ease the ache. “Well…thank you,” she managed at last.
“Brother, you’re making her nervous—Ican tell by her scent,”Holdremarked.
“Sorry.”Fiercewithdrew his hand from her cheek but kept looking down into her eyes. “I’llalways save you,lelka,”he told her. “Ifyou’re in danger,I’llcome for you—bothof us will.”
“That’swhat it means to be mated toKindredwarriors,”Holdsaid. “Weput the safety and happiness of our mates above all else.Butsince you seem so certain that you’re going to marryPeterinstead of us,Ihope he’ll do the same,” he added.
Asudden image rose toCelia’smind.Itwas during their second date—Peterhad taken her out to a fancy restaurant and afterwards to see yet another investment property that he had bought and wanted her to decorate.Whilethey were there a huge palmetto bug—an enormous flying roach native toFlorida— had suddenly appeared, crawling on the wall.
