Page 5 of Cold Heir

I didn’t doubt that for a second, so I accepted the help when he hoisted me from the ground. What I expected was to be led into the shadows to hide, but instead, I was lifted completely and brought to his rock-solid chest. His strength made me feel weightless as I was carried, noting how the long swim across the channel hadn’t left him winded or fatigued in the least. Meanwhile, the journey had nearly killed me.

A swift reminder popped into my thoughts, bringing to mind that, in roughly a month, that would all change.

Levi’s strength had shown through in many ways while we’d been locked away together—like his willpower when I made a move to seduce him. Again, when he controlled his nature, and deprived himself of blood in order to cleanse his system of whatever substance had dampened his abilities. Now, his physical strength was apparent as he moved quickly even with me in his arms, hurdling stumps and stones, dodging trees as I was simply taken along for the ride.

Our fast pace added to the cold I’d taken in, chilling me to the bone. I shivered so violently my muscles were beginning to tense and ache.

“I’m sorry,” he sympathized. “I know you’re freezing. We’ll stop as soon as we’ve put enough distance between them and us.”

The promise had likely been the result of the nonstop tremors that ripped through my body.

“I’m f-f-fine,” I stammered through chattering teeth, the pitiful sound doing nothing to ease his mind, I was sure.

His arms tightened around me, and only then did I notice how mild heat had begun to emanate from his skin.

It seemed this situation, his concern for me, had been enough to spark his ability to become warm. Whatever the case, I welcomed the heat, encircling my arms tighter around his neck, pressing my cheek to his. It didn’t do more than knock the edge off, but it was something.

We stopped after about twenty minutes to change positions—Levi switching me to his back to block me from the wind. I kept my face buried in the crook of his neck most of the way after that, only opening my eyes to glance behind us, searching for anyone on our trail. From what I saw, we were in the clear, but I waited for the one of us with supernatural hearing and vision to confirm that.

We eventually came to a stop after roughly two hours, and once my feet were again placed on solid ground, I braced myself against a tree. A set of concerned eyes scanned me from head to toe.

“I’m okay,” I assured him. “Thanks to you.”

His response was nothing more than a gracious nod.

This was the first moment we had to slow down since our escape, and my prevailing thought was that I was grateful. Grateful in general that we made it out alive. Grateful to Tomas, to Levi.

My hand was taken, but not to lead me anywhere. He held it simply because he craved the contact, just like I did. It no longer surprised me that I liked being touched by him.

“So, what now?”

My question prompted his silver stare to glance from one end of the nothingness to the other.

A hard sigh puffed from his lips.

“We should keep heading in the same direction,” he suggested. “It’s our best bet. With any luck, we’ll come to a town, or a road to follow. Once we do, we’ll try to alert someone of our whereabouts.” He quirked a brow when I peered up at him. “Unless you have a better idea?”

His willingness to consider another option—if I had one—went a long way with me.

“No,” I answered. “That sounds reasonable.”

We took a few steps as he nodded, but then his gaze drifted back to me.

“If you’d prefer to be carried,” he offered with a cheeky grin, “I didn’t exactly mind it.”

Warmth touched my cheeks when I smiled. “I’m fine to walk, but you get points for offering.”

For fear of how it would make my heart leap, I refused to meet his gaze when I felt it shift toward me.

“There’s a point system? Would’ve been nice to know you’ve been keeping score,” he teased. The confidence in his tone was always so intoxicating. “Care to tell me how I’ve measured up so far?”

Heat spread to my neck, and I suddenly wished I hadn’t stuck my foot in my mouth. He’d never let me get away without answering.

“Let’s just say you’re racking them up quicker than expected.” That was the truth.

His eyes did a slow sweep of me as we trudged through the underbrush, our fingers still intertwined. The heat pulsing through from his palm and into mine was comforting if nothing else, a reminder that I wasn’t alone. If it hadn’t been for his company while locked away at Blackthorn, I might have lost my mind. The solitude, and the fear of the unknown, would’ve driven me insane after a few days. It wasn’t lost on me that Levi’s strength had gotten usboththrough it.

“You ready to tell me what you said to the kid?”

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