Page 81 of Winter Unleashed

“Holy fuckballs that was intense,” I said. The exertion of using my power had left me utterly exhausted, and the helmet was making it hard to breathe. With what little strength I had, I pulled it from my head and gagged when the stench hit me. “Oh my, that’s potent.”

Liam laughed and took his helmet off too. He pressed his lips to mine for a kiss even though I smelled like I’d been covered in sewage then rolled in hot garbage and dunked in a vat of rotten eggs. We kissed as if we hadn’t seen each other in years. Even as weak as I was, the passion between us was almost palpable.

“You were magnificent,” he whispered against my lips.

“I aim to please,” I said, stealing his line.

Stella ran over to us with tears flowing down her cheeks. “Are you okay?”

“I am. Just tired.”

She turned to Belial. “Do you think you can save Isaac? Do you really think so? He was so close…”

“I believe I can, yes,” Belial replied in his usual nonchalant tone, which did little to inspire hope.

“I’ll make sure he lives,” Astrid interjected as she gave Belial a warm smile. “Belial is a superb healer, but if he needs help, I will provide it. I am sorry I couldn’t do more for your friend while we were here.”

As relieved as her words made me feel, I scowled as a slight breeze blew by. “Can we get out of here? I smell like a hot dumpster.”

“You smell lovely, my dear Vinura,” Belial said.

Liam growled a little. “Lyle, make sure Isaac lives, and I’ll personally make sure Artemis forgives your past sins.”

“Why thank you, my Vinur,” Belial said with a small bow.

I couldn’t tell whether he was being a smartass or not, but at that point I didn’t care, and I was sure Liam didn’t either. Saving Isaac was important to me, so it was important to Liam. Keeping the kids at the Academy safe was a priority to me so it was a priority to Liam. If the demon could help us with these things, Liam wouldn’t stop him.

I groaned as another waft of stink hit my nose. “Home, please,” I muttered as my eyes closed.

I woke upto the sound of rain tapping against the windows inmybedroom, inmyhouse, but I couldn’t remember leaving Alfurgrund. I couldn’t remember returning home or getting into bed. And I couldn’t figure out why I was in my house and not Liam’s. Fear struck for a moment when the memories of Celeste messing with my head flittered through my mind. Then I saw Liam sleeping in the bed beside me and I relaxed.

Liam reached his arm toward me in his sleep, and his eyes flew open when he didn’t feel me. He looked up at me and returned my smile. When he held his arms out, I snuggled into his embrace, tucking my head under his chin as he eased his hand over my back.

“How do you feel?” he asked with his lips pressed against my forehead. It was something I’d only seen in movies or on TV.

“Are you checking me for a fever?” As a shifter, I’d never had a fever in my life, so the gesture confused me.

“You had one when we got back from Alfurgrund. It’s a side effect of the power.”

I grunted and pulled my head back to look at him. “Why?”

“I don’t know. It’ll happen the first few times and then it stops. I think it’s your body’s way of adjusting to it.” He frowned. “Though it sounds a lot like how a human’s immune system works when a virus invades their body.”

“As long as I don’t puke, I’m fine with it.” I covered my mouth with my fingers. “I didn’t puke, did I?”

“No,” he said with a laugh. “You were too far gone for that.”

I breathed in his intoxicating musk and realized I didn’t stink anymore. “But I wasn’t too far gone for you to bathe me?”

He shook his head. “That was Astrid’s doing. She used a spell to clean you up. I dressed you though.”

“That explains it,” I said while rubbing my hands over the silky, too small nightie. “This is Stella’s. She’s smaller than me, remember?”

“Oh, I remember,” he whispered as he touched his lips to mine. “Why do you think I chose it?”

I opened to the kiss, letting him take it where he wanted. His hand roamed over my body to the hem of the short nightie, sliding underneath to cup my ass. He groaned and pulled me against him. The warmth of his erection against my thigh pulled a moan from me. The sound should have urged him on, instead it made him break the kiss and pull his hands from me.

“Hmm, what’s wrong?” The instant I finished my question it all came flooding back… Isaac’s broken body lying still on the ground. The blood covering him. The bones his wounds revealed. The faint pulse of his energy. “Why are we here? Why aren’t we at your house?”