Branded by Frost

by Aliyah Burke

  “I don’t remember.” The words were coming easier. He glanced down to where her hand rested on his arm by the IV. The mist lingered, like it fell from her fingertips, showering his skin whenever she moved them.

  “I’m here to take you home.”

  The door opened and someone else walked in. He didn’t recognize the man but from the way he took command of the room, he supposed it was the doctor.

  “Figured your recovery would be helped along by having your wife here.” He smiled and flipped a page on the chart. “I’d like to keep you here one more night, then you’ll be free to go. Unless you’d like to stay so we can run some more tests.”

  Dex looked to Frost. She sat there, silent, allowing the decision to be his own. “No, I’d rather get home.”

  “Can’t say as I blame you.” He returned the chart and checked Dex’s pupils before grunting. “You’re on the road to recovery. Take it slow. I’ll be back in to check before I leave for the day.” He smiled at Frost and walked out.

  “More tests, wife?” He struggled to sit up, grateful when she just adjusted the bed for him.

  She arched an eyebrow at his words and moved to return the plastic cup. He reached for her, needing to touch her again. “I’m right here,” she soothed, understanding his silent craving. “Tomorrow we go home.”

  “What…what about my team?”

  “They’re all fine. Do you remember what happened once you were on the rescue?”

  He racked his brain as hard as he could for anything other than cold, pain, then nothingness. “No.” He heard the frustration in his own voice.

  Her expression morphed into one of sorrow but not pity or concern, for which he was both grateful and concerned. Why wasn’t she concerned?

  She placed her hand on his shoulder and pressed him back into the bed, making him aware he’d sat up a bit. “I know you have questions,” she murmured. “Just give me until we get on the plane.”

  He went back under, her voice and face the last things he heard and saw before he did.

  Controlling her emotions was a task unlike any Aminta’d done before. She’d been back at the vineyard for three weeks, calling Dex to soothe her itch to be with him. Then Michelle had called her, informing her about the accident, although she’d gotten prior notice about it from Dracen, so she’d been ready for the call.

  No, can’t really say it’s an accident, more like an incident. Lian had sent her on his jet without hesitation and she’d gotten there in almost no time, yet it had been like forever in her mind.

  Speaking often with him had assured her he was fine and They hadn’t been after him. Now she understood that had been a mistake—a huge one—on her part for such an assumption.

  “And it almost cost him his life.”

  She pushed away from the bed and paced the room, pausing by the window that looked out over the snowy Alaskan landscape.

  “How is he doing?” Roz’s gentle cadence filled her mind.

  “Resting,” she replied.

  “Do you want me to come up?”

  “I think I’m okay. Thank you, though. No point in putting anyone else in danger.”

  Roz laughed. “Yeah, well, that was just a courtesy call. We’ll be there in a very short time. You need another pair of eyes to watch your back if you’re going to be focused on Dex.”

  There wasn’t any admonishment for her being focused on Dex in her tone. It was expected and for that reason, Aminta couldn’t begin to express her relief Roz was coming. There were times her siblings knew what was needed better than she did and this was one of them.

  “Thank you,” she said simply.

  “No need to thank us. I like him and how he treats you. It’s a great match. I will see you soon.”

  The connection gone, Aminta took a deep breath and rested her arms on the sill. She remained like that until she heard him shift in the bedding behind her. Turning, she saw his gaze upon her. His eyes were just as potent as the first time she’d been witness to their unique coloring.

  “You’re tense,” he said, his voice stronger.

  “Just ready to get you back to the vineyard where Mal can take a look at you.” She moved toward the bed, wiping her palms off on her cargo pants. Trying for a smile, she retook her chair. “How are you feeling?”

  “Like I had the shit kicked out of me.”

  “That will fade. Do you want some water?”

  At his nod, she got him a bit more and waited until he’d sipped some before taking it away.

  “How did you know?”

  She sat. “Michelle called me after you were taken away in the ambulance.” Aminta laced their fingers together, mindful of the IV stuck in the back of his hand.

  “And you just came up?”

  “Why wouldn’t I?”

  “You left because you had to be home and take care of…some of that Guardian stuff,” he said softly.

  “Taking care of you is Guardian stuff, as you so aptly put it.” She squeezed his fingers. “There is nowhere else I would be.”

  “You’ve been here the entire time?”

  “Yes.”

  His heavy sigh had her pensive. “Alone?”

  “I flew up alone, yes. Why?”

  “Nothing.” He gave a small shake of his head. “I’m just a bit confused. I know my mind played tricks on me.”

  She kissed his palm. “It happens. Sleep. We go in the morning.”

  “To Oregon.”

  “Yes.”

  “What about my things?”

  “Roz is on her way up and I’ll go pack them once she gets here.”

  He nodded and closed his eyes. When she thought him asleep, she tried to pull free her hand but he opened one eye, tightened his grip and gave her a frown before shutting it. She stayed out of the way while the doctor came back in and checked on him one more time.

  Roz showed up an hour after that and behind her walked Altair. On her feet, she hugged Roz and smiled at the man. He wasn’t an overly affectionate person and unlike Taylor, she wasn’t going to push him.

  “Good to see you both,” she said.

  Roz smiled at her and went to the bed where she kissed a now-awake Dex on the cheek. Altair stood beside her as they both watched the exchange.

  “Hey, you,” Roz said. “You’re supposed to be up and about, not lying around.”

  “Thought it was the only way to get the two of you back here,” he said in a teasing tone.

  “It worked, handsome. Now, I want you to meet my mate, Altair.” She beckoned with her hand. “Altair, come say hi to Dex.”

  Aminta remained farther back while the men exchanged pleasantries. Roz met her gaze and winked. “I figured they should be on the same side so they don’t have to face Tiarnán alone. At least the two of them can be friends.”

  Roz had a great point. Aminta walked over to the bed and bent to kiss him. “I’ll be back. I’m going to pack your things and put them on the plane. They’ll be here with you.”

  She walked out without looking back, knowing she’d not want to go otherwise. Still, she paused outside the door and waited. Sure enough, within a minute she heard his laughter combined with Roz’s and that soothed her. Aminta left and got on with the job at hand.

  In the rental four-by-four she drove to his cabin. Michelle was outside with Havoc when she arrived, and she detoured to say hi to her.

  They hugged. “Good to see you again, Frost.”

  “And you. I can’t thank you enough for calling me.” She dropped to her knees in the snow to pet Havoc. “How are you doing, boy?” After receiving one of his kisses, she stood again. “How’s everyone?”

  “Worried for him. How’s he doing?”

  “They’re discharging him tomorrow and he’s going home with me until all is back to normal for him. How are the new pilots and his replacement?”

  She hesitated. “Good. I mean, they’re real good at their job. It’s just the entire feel of the team has changed. Teague said we will learn to mesh b
etter, but I hope it happens soon.”

  “So do I.” The cohesiveness of a team was vital to a rescue. If there was tension, things could easily spiral out of control then there could be a need to send in another rescue team for the first rescue team and the victims.

  They chatted for a while longer then she went to the cabin as Michelle headed off elsewhere while Aminta knocked on the door. Tubbs answered it, his tall frame filling the doorway.

  “Frost, what are you doing here?” he asked, eyes darting around as if looking for someone else.

  “I’m here to pack up Dex’s things. They’re discharging him tomorrow and—” Her sign flared to life, pushing power through her body, calling on her weapons for her. Aminta didn’t fight it—just accepted what it was trying to tell her.

  Dropping, she rolled to the right. Flame scorched the spot she’d just been occupying. She released her spikes, sending them past Tubbs and into the demon behind him. While Tubbs tried to get back in to where she supposed his weapon was, she launched herself at him, tackling him down. He might be larger but she had the power of her sign aiding her.

  His head slammed into the floor, she kicked the door closed and sent more spikes to the other two in there. One more demon and one New Order. The cabin was in total disarray. She grabbed Tubbs by the armpit and hauled him into the living room where she then tossed him on the sofa. It took her a few moments to secure him then she waited for him to come to.

  It was instant. Out one second and there the next. He glared at her.

  “I wouldn’t move, if I were you.” She dragged a chair from the kitchen over and spun it around on one leg before taking a seat, arms settled along the back. She had him stuck to the couch with weapons. None in his skin but if he moved, they would cut him.

  “What the fuck have you done to me, bitch?” Spittle flew from his mouth.

  “I should have known there was more than one of you around. You always filter into places, slithering like the snakes you are.”

  He shifted and wailed in pain. She sniffed and pursed her lips. “I did warn you.”

  He looked down then back to her. “You have something in my dick,” he wailed.

  She shook a finger at him. “Now, now. Technically, that’s not true. Don’t lie. I have something against your dick. If you move, you’ll cut it.” She leaned forward. “I hope being tied up and in the position you are now doesn’t excite you, because if you get hard, it’ll cut it off.” She grinned. “Don’t you love weapons?”

  “Bitch,” he spat.

  “Been called much worse. Now, you and I, we’re going to have a talk. If you answer my questions it won’t be as bad for you. If you don’t”—her grin was pure evil—“let’s just say you will wish one of Them had gotten a hold of you first.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  He paced in the plane as it flew back to Oregon, each movement he could feel more of the lingering stiffness vanishing. To his left, Roz lay cradled in the arms of her mate, Altair. The stern Middle Eastern man spoke rarely and appeared to be content in his silence. However, Dex understood he was alert to all that occurred around him. Right now, Altair came across as softer while he held Roz.

  To the right, he snagged the gaze of his woman. Frost reclined in her seat, fingers around a mug. Unlike Roz, she wasn’t relaxed. Her entire body radiated tension. She was wound tight as a drum.

  He made his way to her side and lowered himself to the adjoining seat. Peering into her mug, he said, “Coffee? Shouldn’t you be sleeping?”

  “It’s my turn to be on watch. Roz was up all night.”

  He angled her face toward him. The large circles under her eyes were hard for him to swallow. “Want to tell me what all of this has been about?”

  She shifted slightly but never dropped his gaze. “You were poisoned.”

  “And you knew this how?”

  She touched the stitched wound on the side of his face. “From the moment I saw your injury.”

  He captured her wrist and held her still then kissed her palm. “How come?”

  “I know what a demon attack looks like.”

  “So while I was dangling from my cable, one of those things attacked me?”

  A shrug. “I can’t say for sure, Dex. It seems logical.”

  To her, maybe.

  She drank some more coffee then passed the mug over to him. He took it and drank as well.

  “But demons are sneaky. It could have been a branch you brushed by. I’m fairly positive it was meant for you, however. They are trying to take you out of the game.”

  “But the artifact is with you, so what good does that do?”

  “They want me off my game.”

  “And if something happened to me…” There was no need for him to finish that sentence—the expression on her face said more than words ever could. Dex pressed his lips back to her skin. “What does this mean now?”

  “You need to be at the vineyard. I thought—we’d hoped—that because they understood we had the artifact already, you would be left alone. We were wrong.”

  Anger blossomed in his gut. “So, what now? I put my life on hold until this big battle happens at some point in the future?”

  “No. I told you Taggart has a place for you to work. Unless you want some time off then you can stay there and just chill out for a while. Have you ever taken a vacation?”

  “Why would I take one when I spend my time rescuing those on theirs who need help?”

  “Dex, I don’t know what you want me to say. Right now it’s too dangerous for you to be in Alaska. More so than we’d anticipated. We have to be able to get to you quickly.”

  The strain in her voice gave him pause. “There’s something else,” he said.

  She licked her lips and turned to stare out of the small window.

  “Frost. What aren’t you telling me?”

  “It’s nothing. I’m just pissed I wasn’t there.”

  He furrowed his brow. “I don’t get it. Didn’t everything go okay once they got me to the hospital?” There were splashes of memories he couldn’t get a solid fix upon and it frustrated him.

  “Sure, once you had been given a mixture of herbs from Lian. The hospital hadn’t any clue what happened to you. All they knew was your organs were shutting down and you were paralyzed.”

  “Why they wanted to run more tests. Why don’t you give them what you had so they can treat more?”

  She frowned. “And tell them what? This stuff is for when you get demon attacks in your emergency room?”

  A valid point. He exhaled sharply and released her hand. Rubbing his eyes, he tried to crack his neck and eliminate the strain that had built between his shoulders. Nothing worked.

  “All that from the gash on my head?”

  “Yes.” Her tone was subdued.

  He opened his eyes and took stock of the woman beside him. Still tense. But that wasn’t all, there was something else. “What else?”

  She shook her head and he reached around to guide her head toward him.

  “What else is bothering you?”

  “Besides my failure? Nothing. I’m peachy.” She stood. “I need more coffee.” Frost strode off down the aisle to the back of the plane.

  He stared in the cup. Half of it still held the rich brew. As she passed Roz and Altair, he watched the man’s eyes snap open and hold hers with a quiet understanding. Frost touched Roz’s head before walking on to the small galley.

  He stared at her while she fixed herself another drink. Her braided hair hung forward over her right shoulder. Her cargo pants and tight ribbed three-quarter tee emphasized the tininess of her waist.

  She chose that moment to lift her head and look at him. Dex gave her a smile, one she didn’t return. He swore under his breath and got to his feet. Making his way back to her, he blocked her in the small area, well aware she could probably just push him over and he’d fall, but he was determined to say something else first.

  “Yes?” She continued to stir her coffee.
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  “Look at me, Frost.”

  He waited a couple of moments before she complied. Her haunted gaze tore at his gut.

  “This wasn’t your fault.”

  “Yes, it was.” She broke their eye connection.

  “Explain, because as far as I’m concerned, you weren’t even around.”

  She tossed the spoon down, clattering it on the counter. “That’s the problem. I wasn’t.”

  “Does this plane have a bedroom or just a bathroom?” He wasn’t sure what the doors were.

  “Why?”

  “Because you and I need to be somewhere alone right now.”

  “We land in less than an hour.”

  “Now, Frost.”

  “The bedroom is Lian’s. I’ve never been in there.” She pointed to one of the doors.

  Dex took the other. “Then it’s the bathroom.” He yanked her in there with him. Her coffee sloshed over the side of the cup and she hissed. He took the entire thing from her hand and dumped in down the sink before putting her on the edge. They were close to one another in there. He didn’t much mind.

  She widened her legs and he stepped between them, wishing they were elsewhere right now, without clothing hampering their touching.

  “You need to stop blaming yourself,” he ordered.

  “Why would I do that? It is my fault.”

  “Because even if you had been there, you would still have been flying the helo and wouldn’t have known immediately.” He leaned closer to her warm body.

  Her pupils dilated and the tip of her tongue between her lips mesmerized him. “It would have been a sight sooner than hours later. You may not have been in that coma for almost a week if I’d gotten to you sooner.”

  “I’m fine, Frost. You need to cut yourself some slack.” He slapped a hand over her mouth when she moved it. “Listen. I get you’re a Guardian but I’m not an invalid. If their goal is to distract you, you’re letting them win. I will be fine. Hell, I think I am now. Won’t be fast lining anytime soon, but I’m up and mobile.”

  She wrapped her arms around him and held him tight. “I could have lost you.”