Page 90 of Starting a New Life

“I cleaned myself with snow,” he explained and let out a small laugh, then pulled a grimace as he looked at me. “I’m sorry I kissed you with blood all over my face. And I’m sorry I smeared blood all over your face. Here, let me clean you up.” Before I could protest, his arms were gone, and he’d leaned down to gather snow in his hands, waiting for it to melt.

“I can help,” I said, placing my hands over his, sending out thrills of magic to heat the snow until it’d melted completely and the water was a nice, comfortable temperature.

Gray laughed. “Damn, I should’ve asked you to do the same for me.” He kept his hands formed into a bowl and waited for me to wash my face.

“Better?” I asked as I scrubbed over a spot on my cheek that felt crusty and tight.

“Yes.” Gray nodded and shook off the water. “Perfect, actually.”

I laughed, but my heart skipped a beat, and the bond inside my chest pulsed so intensely I stumbled right back into his arms. Gray chuckled, his eyes fixated on my lips.

“You said I could kiss you again…”

I didn’t wait for him to finish his question; I grabbed him by the back of his neck and pulled his face down, fusing our lips with conviction. My magic pulsed, a wave of energy rushing through my veins as heat pooled in my gut. His lips were dry and warm and perfect, his tongue hot as he dipped into my mouth, exploring me with urgency.

I groaned, pulling him closer while my cock jerked in my jeans. My magic was going crazy, my body aflame, and I just… holy shit.

I panted, desperately trying to catch my breath, though for a completely different reason than a few minutes ago.

If I’d known kissing was this great, I might’ve tried it earlier.

Gray laughed, equally out of breath as me, his sweatpants visibly tented. “You’re fire,” he said with a chuckle. “I should’ve known. You’re Phoenix after all.”

I didn’t say anything, just leaned back against him, my ear pressed against his chest as I listened to his heart thundering. I’d done that.

Gray wrapped me up in his arms, his warmth and scent surrounding me, and I let out a sigh. This. This was what peace looked like.

It was a startling realization to come to. That I felt safe in the arms of a shifter. Completely safe. So safe that I only noticed someone was standing right next to me when they cleared their throat.

“The bodies are loaded up. We just need to clean up the blood, then we’re all done,” Rhett said, his eyes shifting from Gray to me. “Do we have to shovel it into bags, or is there a way for you to take care of it?”

I bit my lip.

“Would it be sufficient to melt the snow and let the blood and water soak the ground?”

Rhett shrugged. “Should work just fine. There’s fresh snow coming tomorrow, so every sign of a fight will be gone by tomorrow night.”

With a sigh, I stepped out of Gray’s arms and followed Rhett back to where the wolves had crashed into the barrier.

My stomach cramped as I looked at the three pools of blood on the ground. I was responsible for that. My stomach churned at the thought, but there was also a lightness inside me. The absence of fear that used to weigh me down. I should feel bad, and I did, but I was also okay with what had happened.

I was responsible for their deaths, but it wasn’t my fault. If they hadn’t tried to enslave me, none of this would’ve happened.

Closing my eyes, I sent out my magic, heating the snow and blood until everything had melted.

“Done,” I said after a couple of seconds and looked at the now-brown forest floor in front of me for one last time before turning around.

It was over.

The threat was truly gone.

I was sitting behind Gray on an ATV, the helmet he’d provided on my head, holding on to him for dear life.

Why did he have to be so broad and big all over? I couldn’t even get my arms all the way around him. Not that I’d usually complain, but right this minute, it was kind of terrifying. The way we were driving over the uneven forest floor, through the snow, getting thrown to the left or the right when we drove over roots.

“Are you okay?” Gray’s voice echoed inside the helmet, making me flinch. It was distorted and sounded far away, even though the Bluetooth speaker was inside the helmet.

“Yes?”