Page 25 of A Kiss of Frost

Johnny moved his hand to reveal the knife he’d been concealing. A long, thin blade, sharp enough to inflict damage. He nodded approvingly.

“That is as it should be. You are responsible for your family.”

“Family?” A look of longing flashed across the boy’s face so quickly he almost missed it, but then he straightened his shoulders. “Yeah, my family. No one messes with them.”

He nodded and after one brief glance at the loft where his female slept, he returned to his room.

But not to sleep. Instead he spent the remainder of the night considering his female’s plans for the upcoming celebration. It had not previously occurred to him, but with the assistance of the nanites, perhaps he too could contribute. He was still considering appropriate gifts when day finally dawned and he heard the sound of activity in the other room. Keffi jumped down and trotted off to investigate. A short time later, Katerina appeared in the doorway, still flushed with sleep, and gave him a shy smile.

“How did you sleep?”

“Not as well as I would have slept with you by my side,” he said deliberately, watching in delight as her color deepened.

She lifted her chin and pretended to ignore his response. “Are you feeling better?”

He considered the matter. Despite the lingering lethargy, the pain in his head had vanished and he felt more like his normal self.

“I am well.”

“Genuinely well?” she asked suspiciously, and he laughed.

“Yes, but perhaps not entirely at full strength. Do you wish me to entertain the children again today?”

He found himself looking forward to the prospect, and was pleased when she nodded.

“I have also promised to show Johnny some training moves,” he added.

“Good. And maybe if you get a chance, you can talk to him about the future. He doesn’t want to listen to me, but maybe you can make him realize that he and the children can’t stay here forever.”

He did his best to keep his face composed as he nodded, but her words were a harsh reminder that this interlude would not last. He should be searching for the location of the technology and planning his next moves, despite the desolation that filled him at the thought of leaving his female and the children. But in the end, he did not reach for his data unit. There would be time enough for that when he was alone once more.

The day passed much as the previous one had passed, but he found no cause for complaint. Teaching Johnny the basic moves proved surprisingly pleasant. The young male lacked strength, but he was swift and agile and possessed an equally agile brain. He would make a fine warrior.

The preparations for the Longest Night continued and he ended up as the recipient of several secrets as the others included him in their plans. He even began his own preparations when his females sent the children out to play in the snow. When the children piled on his bed for the afternoon story and Katerina gave him a conspiratorial smile before disappearing, he was filled with an unexpected emotion.

“Whath the matter, Jack Froth?” Lorna whispered, looking up at him anxiously as she stroked Keffi’s fur.

“Nothing is wrong, little one. I am simply content.”

A contentment he had never felt before. A feeling that, at least for now, he belonged.

And when after the children were asleep, Katerina once again came to talk to him, he was more than content.

She leaned back against the bed as she told him of her endeavors. She made no objection when he stroked the fine silk of her hair, gently freeing it from its tight braid so that he could run his fingers through the soft strands.

“And I think if I soak some of the fabric in boiling water I might be able to make some dye to color Cecil’s wagon -”

“I want to kiss you,” he interrupted.

He wanted far more than that, but he did not want to frighten her.Patience, he reminded himself. She bit her lip, then looked at him from under her eyelashes.

“I want to kiss you too.”

He moved away from the edge of the bed, lifting the fur in silent invitation. She rose and headed for the door, and for a dreadful moment, he thought she was going to leave. Instead, she closed the door and returned, climbing into bed with him.

The soft warmth of her body was an almost unbearable temptation, but he could feel her trembling, and he waited.

“Just kissing,” she whispered, and he smiled. He could work with that.