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Everybody went their separate ways after the warehouse incident. Aisling and Sabina kept to their rooms. Tobias and Priscilla tended to Samuel, who made a slow recovery, and Oliver lurked around the lodge. Skye was pretty sure he was hoping to see Priscilla, but from the way Tobias dogged her every step, the possibility of a chance encounter was slim to none.
By the next morning, the storm had thankfully cleared. After rolling out of an empty bed, Skye joined North in the dining room. He sat on the couch, a cup of coffee in one hand, and his chin propped on the other, staring at the fire. His eyes cut to her as she settled next to him.
“Hey,” he said, switching the cup to his other hand and draping his arm around her. “Sleep well?”
“Yeah.” She cocked her head. “How about you?”
“Yeah.” He gave her an unconvincing smile.
“Uh huh.” All night, he’d tossed and turned. Maybe he’d gotten a couple of hours at most. When she woke this morning and found him gone, she hadn’t been surprised.
His smile pulled into a grimace. “Okay, I didn’t sleep great, but I will after everybody leaves.”
“Yeah, those people need to go.” She snuggled into him. “So, can I ask you a question?”
“Of course.”
“Are you mad at me?”
“Mad at you?” His brow pinched together. “For what?”
“For putting myself in danger yesterday. For attacking Vlad. I know you think I’m reckless, but when he attacked you I couldn’t—”
He hauled her against him and crushed his mouth to hers, stopping her explanation. The movement was sudden but certainly not unpleasant or unwanted. She opened to him and glided her tongue along his. As crazy as it was to say, he was the best thing that had ever happened to her. When Vlad sunk his teeth into North, she’d seen red. All rational thought had fled, only the driving need to protect her mate remained. Even if she’d wanted to, which she didn’t, she couldn’t have stopped her wolf from striking.
North broke their kiss and pressed his forehead to hers. “Thank you.” He lifted his head and gazed at her. “I’m man enough to admit that you saved me.”
“Wow.” She gave an exaggerated blink, leaning away from him. “Where’s my phone when I need it? I want to record this.”
Dragging her against him, he kissed her temple. “Don’t push your luck.”
“Fair enough.” Before yesterday, she would have argued the point with him. Then again, before yesterday, she probably would have let Vlad drink his fill before taking him down. No matter what, she would have eventually taken him down. “You’re welcome, by the way.”
He laughed, but before he could come back with a smartass remark, Sabina and Aisling walked into the dining room. Each carried a small bag and had their coats on. “Leaving?” he asked.
“Yes. The road reports say the Richardson has been cleared for travel.” Sabina walked to the couch, and North stood. “Thank you for opening your home to us.” She held out her hand. “And for your understanding with Vladimir.”
“You’re welcome. I’m sorry things couldn’t have ended better,” he said.
“As do we,” Aisling chimed in. “I hope this hasn’t harmed the relationship between vampires and shifters.”
“Not as far as I’m concerned.” North turned a questioning stare on Skye.
She forced a smile. “Me either. Hopefully, Vladimir was an isolated case.”
“He is.” Sabina folded her hands in front of her. “Some of the fault lies with me. Vladimir was my first turn. Even as a human he had unhealthy appetites. A more experienced vampire would have realized the potential danger, but I didn’t see it.”
“Is his bloodlust why you traveled to Anchorage?” Skye asked.
Sabina nodded. “Yes. Two of Vladimir’s blood slaves died due to overfeeding. I convinced the council that I would keep close watch over him. If any further incidents took place, I promised to deal with him accordingly. For that, I am truly sorry.”
“You couldn’t have known he would attack again,” Skye said, not truly believing it, but what good would it do to pour more salt into Sabina’s emotional wound?
“Again, my love for Vladimir blinded me to what should have been done. His attack on you and Samuel was unforgivable and punishable by death. So...” She let the rest of the sentence hang.
“You’re a good leader,” North said. “Not everybody would have had the fortitude to do what you did.”
Her haunted expression eased slightly. “Thank you for saying so, North. At times like this, it’s nice to hear.”
The sound of boots stomping down the hall thundered above them. “I’ll be damned if I let a vampire marry into our family,” Samuel yelled.
“You don’t have any say over it,” Priscilla shouted back.
Aisling grimaced. “I think Oliver will not have an easy time winning over Priscilla’s clan.”
“Me either,” Skye said. “But Priscilla has a little grit to her. I’m sure she’ll get her way eventually.”
As the three shifters entered the dining room, Oliver slipped in from the kitchen. Instantly, Priscilla zeroed in on him. Leaving her brothers, she walked to where he stood. They spoke in tones too low for Skye to make out, but their connection was clear.
Samuel glared at the two for a few seconds before addressing North. “Thanks for the shelter.” Then he looked at Sabina and Aisling, shook his head, and turned to Tobias. “I’ll meet you outside.” They all watched as he stomped across the dining room and slammed his way into the darkness.
“Sorry about him,” Tobias said to the vampires.
“No worries,” Sabina said. “His reaction is understandable.”
“Still, he doesn’t need to be an ass about it.” Tobias turned to Skye and North. “Thanks for letting us crash here. I keep my promises. No hassles when flying through the pass.”
“I’m going to hold you to that,” North said, extending his hand.
After a hardy handshake, Tobias turned to Priscilla. “We’re leaving.” With that, he headed out the door to join Samuel.
“I guess I’d better go.” She walked to Skye and wrapped her in a hug. “Promise you’ll call.”
Skye hugged her back. “I promise.”
They each stepped back, and Priscilla gave her an exaggerated smile. “I’m going to need all the friends I can get once they catch wind that I’m mated to Oliver.” She turned to him and cupped his face between her hands. “No offense.”
“None taken,” he said in a voice so warm it could melt butter. “Just as long as they accept it.” He drew her to him and kissed her.
Skye glanced at North, wishing they were doing the same thing. He gave her a knowing smile. Being mated definitely had its perks. With just a look or thought, he knew what she was thinking. Of course, if they were fighting, knowing what she was thinking might not be such a good thing.
They walked everybody to the door, watched as the vampires drove away, and the Eagle Shifters disappeared behind the building to shift. Turning, they faced the quiet and empty dining room.
“So, what do you want to do now?” North asked.
“Hungry?”
He pursed his lips and shook his head. “Not really. You?”
“Naw. Tired?”
“No, but I wouldn’t mind laying down.”
“Yeah.” She nodded. “That wouldn’t be so bad.” As she walked toward the stairs, she pulled the drawstring on her sweatpants and let them fall to the floor, stepping out of them. “Be sure to lock the door. We wouldn’t want anybody wandering in.”
“Right,” he said, snapping the lock shut. “Now that I think about it, I am kind of hungry.”
She spun toward him, ready to tell him that breakfast could wait, but the heat in his stare stopped her in her tracks. Smiling, she back toward the stairs. “Well, I’ve got exactly what you’re craving.”
“I know you do.” His lips pulled back in a wickedly sexy grin. “Looks like the hunter just became the prey.”
With that, he launched himself at her. Skye squealed, spun, and took the stairs two at a time. She’d almost made it to the bed when he tackled her. They landed in a heap on top of the mattress, their arms and legs tangled.
“If this is what being hunted was like, give me a lifetime of it,” she said against his mouth.
“I plan on it.” He brushed the hair from her face and gazed at her. “I love you, Skye.”
A lump formed in her throat as his emotions for her poured through their connection. ‘I love you too, North,” she whispered.
He kissed her, wordlessly showing her the promise of their future. Never would she have believed one snowstorm could have changed her life forever. She might have lost her plane, but she gained a love that would soar forever.