Page 56 of Bound by Vengeance
Nathan’s teeth clamped together when he sawhow deep the stake was embedded into her. It took a few moments forhim to compose himself enough to speak again. “Perhaps,” hemuttered, more concerned with her than hunter politics. Loweringhis head, he kissed her temple. “The stake has to come out.”
“I know.”
“It’s going to hurt when I remove it.”
“I can take it.”
Nathan nestled her head against the hollowof his shoulder as he steadied himself. She could take it, but heloathed inflicting further pain on her. Her breath warmed histhroat when she kissed him tenderly.
“Go on,” she murmured. “I won’t heal untilit’s out, and I’d like to be able to use at least one of my handsagain sometime soon.”
Leaning back, he glanced at where her otherarm hung awkwardly at her side. The palm of her hand was turned up,her fingers curled in, but there was no movement in them.“What—”
“It’s broken; it will heal soon. Please,just get thatthingout of me.”
Nathan resisted climbing to his feet andgoing over to beat Jordan into a bloody, lifeless pulp. She’d comeso close to being killed tonight and by one of hisown.
Nathan had no idea what he would do, but hehad to figure out a way to keep Vicky in his life.
But that was something for him to figure outlater; now, he had to help her.
“I’ll do it as quick as possible,” hepromised.
“I’ll be fine,” she assured him.
His fingers gripped the inch of stake stillprotruding from her body. Unable to get a good enough grip on it toyank it out, he had to twist it to maneuver it out of her. He feltit scratching her bone, but she didn’t make a sound as she kept hermouth against his neck. When it was a few inches out, he wasfinally able to pull it free. A small grunt, followed by a sigh,were the only sounds she made throughout it all.
“Are you okay?” he demanded as he tenderlyclasped her face.
“I’m fine. That was nothing, believeme.”
“Vicky—”
“I’ve experienced far worse, Nathan.”
“Never again,” he grated through his teeth.“Neveragain.”
“You can’t promise that; our lives are toodangerous.”
“Maybe not, but I can promise I will doeverything in my power to protect you.”
Tears burned her eyes. “You shouldn’t saysuch things.”
He brushed a straggling strand of hair awayfrom her face. “It’s the truth.”
She didn’t have the strength to argue withhim, and neither of them needed a reminder of his loomingengagement.
Lowering his head, he kissed her lips,careful not to apply too much pressure. “You could have beenkilled.”
“Not the first time, and probably won’t bethe last.”
Nathan couldn’t stop the involuntary snarlher words tore from him. She washisto protect, and someonehad brutalized her again. The possessive feeling ripping throughhim rocked him back on his heels as an unfamiliar emotion swelledwithin him. Not only did this woman continually astonish and excitehim, but she’d dug her way into his heart until all he wanted wasto hold her and keep her from experiencing any more atrocities.
He’d failed her in that today.
“I kicked his ass with two useless arms,”she said with a smile, hoping to distract Nathan from whatever hadhardened his face into something murderous. However, her words onlycaused a vein to throb to life in the center of his forehead andhis lips to whiten when he clamped them together.
“Jordan will pay for doing this to you,” hevowed.
