Series: Lee Savino
Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 63295 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 316(@200wpm)___ 253(@250wpm)___ 211(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63295 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 316(@200wpm)___ 253(@250wpm)___ 211(@300wpm)
I have to pause and close my eyes against a wave of dizziness. Have I been drugged? Or am I just weak from the medicine?
As soon as I can, I push up from the bed. I’m in nothing but a faded flannel shirt. It’s half buttoned and so large that when I stand up straight, it falls to mid thigh.
Tap, tap, tap, something goes at the window. I pad barefoot to see the shining dark head of a raven pop up and peck at the thick glass with its black beak. It turns its head and lets out a squawk, then flies off in a flurry of wings.
Weird.
The cabin window offers a view of a tufted meadow lined with rows of pine trees. Beyond the snowy boughs is a rolling mountain vista, magnificent under a clear, blue sky.
It’s breathtaking. And horrifying. How did I get here? How long have I been passed out?
A small draft comes in from the cracks around the window. I shiver and take a step back but not before a huge shadow falls across me. I can’t be sure of what I’m seeing until a huge furry head ducks down, and the creature stares at me with beady black eyes.
I shriek and back away from the window. I’ve never seen a bear outside of a zoo, and here it is, staring like it’s thinking about smashing a paw through the window, so it can eat me.
The door behind me bursts open. “Paloma?” It’s Darius.
I stagger to him, and he scoops me up. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
“Oh!” I try to catch my breath, feeling foolish for screaming bloody murder. “There was a bear.” I point. “Looking in the window.” The bear’s gone from the window, but I see it lumbering across the snowy field. It’s massive. I had no idea bears could get that big.
“It’s okay,” Darius soothes me. “He’s probably more afraid of you than you are of him.”
He?
“You can put me down. I was just startled, that’s all.”
Darius seems reluctant to set me back down on the rough-hewn wooden floor of the little cabin, but he does. I watch as the bear reaches the end of the field and rises to hind paws. A small, dark shape swoops down. The raven lands on its shoulder.
What? Why does this feel like I’m in a fairy tale? I went from Rapunzel to Snow White.
The two creatures disappear into the trees.
“Wh-where are we?” I turn back to Darius. He’s clean shaven now, and out of the tuxedo ensemble that made me swoon. Now he’s drool-worthy in the complete opposite vibe: a thick flannel shirt and a faded pair of jeans. His feet are bare. The light blue and tan plaid matches the shirt I’m wearing.
“New Mexico. Bad Bear Mountain.”
My mind spins, trying to assimilate it all. The last thing I remember is standing with him in the kitchen at a beachfront safe house in Rhode Island. Now we’re two thousand miles away on…did he say… Bad Bear Mountain?
“Why?” I splutter at the same moment I remember that bad bear was also the safe word he gave me.
This must be his home.
“You passed out, and I had to get you medical care.”
“In New Mexico?”
“Medical care with someone I trust.”
“Right. Your brother.” It’s all coming back to me. He’d said his brother could prescribe something for me.
“Yes.”
“Did he…did he find the right prescription?”
Darius’ expression is troubled. “I’m going to let him tell you what he found.”
I blink. “No, you tell me. What is it?”
“Come here.” Darius takes my hand and leads me out of the tiny bedroom and into the living room of the cabin.
A wood fire burns in the grate, making the room cozy. At the kitchen table sits a man, wearing a crisp white button-down shirt and black-framed glasses. He stands when we emerge, and I realize he’s even taller than Darius. Other than their height, though, I see no resemblance. They are obviously not full brothers if they’re biologically related. His skin is dark brown, and he’s more slender than Darius.
“Paloma.” The man has a voice as deep as my Viking’s. “I’m glad to see you’re awake.”
“This is my brother, Matthias.” Darius ushers me forward with a reassuring hand at my lower back.
I extend my palm and shake Matthias’ hand. “Thank you for caring for me.”
“Of course. Are you feeling more like yourself?”
“I feel a bit weak and dizzy,” I admit. “Were you able to match my medication?”
“Yes, about that.” He wears the same troubled expression Darius had.
“What is it?” I look from one tall man to the other. The way the hairs prickle on my arm tells me something is very wrong.
Maybe my condition is fatal–worse than Thom made it seem. Maybe that’s why he wanted to breed me–to ensure he had someone to carry on my work when I’m gone.