Page 23 of Under a Wicked Moon
“Across the Russian border into China?” Although theytraveled the world facing off with paranormal threats, they avoided this city, hell, this country, at all costs. It was tough to get in and tougher to get out. The indigenous people, especially Mongolians, innately picked up on the fact they weren’t human. Perhaps it was the culture’s strong connection to the natural world. Or it could be the fact neither he nor his brothers spoke Chinese or any of the native dialects well. People picked up on their insecurity. Their gift of voice persuasion could command compliance when necessary if they could clearly communicate their need.
“It’s negative twelve outside. We have to run about a half mile to get to the car. Here.” Flynn removed a winter jacket, pants, and men’s shoes from his backpack. He scowled when he looked at Vivi. “We weren’t expecting to have an extra to take with us. I don’t have outdoor gear for you or time to comb the building for some.”
Ky handed the jacket to Vivi. “You take this. I’ll wear the pants.”
Without a hint of shame, he turned away from her and ripped off the scrub pants, revealing his birthday suit, and donned the winter pants.
“Jesus, Ky,” Flynn said roughly. “What’d they do to you?”
He briefly glanced his brother’s way. “You don’t want to know.”
Roman shook his head. “It’s too cold for you to run around in that short-sleeved scrub top. You’ll freeze.”
Ky grabbed Roman’s wrist. “I don’t care if it’s negative forty-five. Get me the hell out of here. I’ll run the entire way, be it one mile or ten. If I have to, I’ll carry her, because she’s got no shoes. Anemia, starvation… It won’t faze me. We’re getting out.”
All three of them stared at her feet.
Flynn cursed.
“You’re not carrying me.” She stared up at the three guys dwarfing her without a hint of intimidation. “None of you are.”
Roman shrugged out of his overcoat and wrapped it around Ky. Beneath that he had on his regular coat, a knee-length custom with pockets everywhere to house magical items and various weapons. They never could tell what kind of trouble they’d be in, but it was Roman’s job to be sure they had the right tools. “I might survive against the freeze. You won’t, at least not until we get you a few steaks.”
“Now I feel like the overdressed ass,” Flynn commented.
“You are.” Roman said without a hint of a smile. Ky might know he didn’t mean it negatively, but it fell flat as a joke. “Let’s go. Maybe one of the humans we pass on the way out has a coat that’ll fit one of us. Guessing reinforcements will arrive in minutes.”
“Here.” Flynn unlaced his boots and removed his socks to hand them to her. He shoved his feet back into his boots. “I’ll carry her.”
“No.” To Ky’s ears it came out as a growl. Ky cleared his throat. “I got it.”
Flynn held up his hands. “Just saying you look—”
“I don’t need to be carried,” Vivi interrupted. “Are any of you listening to me?”
All three glared her way before staring at her feet.
Ky said, “You being prickly is cute, but you’re going to let me pick you up. You can’t run on snow or ice in socks for a half mile. They’ll get wet in seconds. Frostbite is serious, even if you might heal. If a toe falls off, no one can put it back on out here fast enough to save it.”
She pressed her lips together.
“Be reasonable,” he said.
The two of them glared at each other for endless seconds.
Finally, she nodded and whispered, “You’re going to make me waffles when we get out of here. You have to promise.”
Chapter Eight
With bitter cold, snowdrifts everywhere, and an active blizzard impairing visibility, Ky slogged through the snow, one foot in front of the other. With each step, he tried to match the impression Roman left in front of him as if that would make his progress faster. He shuffled her against his chest. Probably should’ve let one of his brothers carry her, since he was too weak to handle it, but he felt this was his right. He didn’t want either of them touching her even if it’d be an impersonal transport.
“You really don’t have to carry me. I know you’re struggling,” she whispered.
“You have no shoes. I’m fine.”
“You’re not.” But she didn’t fight his hold. In fact, she seemed to burrow tighter against him. Her trust energized him, even though she might simply be taking advantage of whatever body heat she could.
He stopped to appreciate the moon as it peeked between clouds. He hadn’t seen it in person in longer than he cared to remember. He didn’t mind the cold burning his nose as he took a deep breath of freedom. “Look up, Vivi.”
