Page 30 of A Kiss of Frost

“Merry gets some of her looks from him. He’s big and blonde and handsome.” Even though time and alcohol had begun to take their toll. “Most men like him and he’s very good at charming women, but it’s all on the surface. Behind it, he’s cruel and spiteful and has a terrible temper.” She shook her head. “And I don’t want to think about him anymore. What was your family like?”

“I am not sure we have enough time for that subject,” he said slowly, and she huffed in exasperation. “My father was not hot tempered. He was stern and disciplined and never spoke without thinking. I am not sure that I would consider him cruel,” he added as they stopped in front of one of the racks. “But he was not kind.”

“And your mother?”

“She was kind, once. I remember her laughing and telling me stories. But that is not the Tandroki way, and my father was not happy. She… changed to please him.”

She gave a cry of delight when she found a large canister of sweetener and quickly added it to the sled, then gave him a curious look.

“Why do people do that? Fall in love with someone and then expect them to change?”

“There is nothing about you that I would wish to change.”

Their eyes met and her heart skipped a beat at the implication of his words. Did he love her? Before she could gather the courage to ask, his face stiffened and he turned away.

“There are additional supplies over here.”

Half regretful and half relieved to drop the subject, she moved on to the next rack. By the time they finished, supplies were stacked almost to the handle and she gave him a teasing look.

“I hope you know you’re going to have to pull that.”

“I am at your service.”

But when they made their way back down the narrow passage to the mouth of the cave, it was immediately clear that they were not going anywhere. The heavy clouds had dumped their burden and a raging blizzard swirled outside the cave.

CHAPTER14

Jackasarian looked out at the storm in dismay. With the aid of his survival suit, he could brave the weather, but there was no way he would permit his delicate female to take such a chance.

“We will have to remain here.”

She gave him a desperate look, although she was already starting to shiver from the icy wind sweeping into the tunnel entrance.

“We have to get back. We can’t leave the children alone.”

“Johnny is there. He will look after them.” he assured her.

Although he was concerned as well, he had every confidence in the young male. Their encounter that morning had not begun well. As soon as he found Johnny, the boy whirled, his knife in his hand.

“You leave her alone, you hear me? You leave all of them alone.”

His claws threatened to emerge, partially because of the threat and partially because of the insult to his honor.

“I would never hurt any of them. Or allow any harm to come to them.”

The boy scoffed, his face pale with anguish.

“They always say that. They always seem kind. But then…”

His anger disappeared and he reached for the boy’s shoulder.

“No!”

Johnny’s knife flashed, and he felt his skin part. It was irrelevant. He raised his hands and took a step back.

“I will not change. I’m exactly as you see me. Katerina was with me by her choice. She sets the boundaries.”

Johnny’s pale face was even whiter than normal as he looked at the blood dripping from Jack historians arm.