Chapter 10

Nickie gripped the wheel with her small hands. How could someone so slight hold enough power to control such a beast—or vehicle—as the one they rode in? He processed the information in his mind, seeking answers, finding them along with a general impression of how the machine worked. His sweet angel didn’t have in depth information on all things, but her intelligence far surpassed that of the humans he’d dealt with prior to his captivity. Stunning. That is what she is. Both inside and out.

When he’d sipped at her knowledge and visualized her short life, he’d witnessed her kindness. Her generosity. The sweetness of her soul. But he’d also found her pain. The heartaches she’d overcome, and the all-consuming fear of her mortality. He did not yet understand the link between them or how it came to pass, but the timeline was too exact to be a coincidence. When his body had given out, so had hers. When he’d risen, she’d come back to life. She’d somehow absorbed some of his pain into her, damaging her heart in the process.

The remembered pressure from the first time her little heart had given out as a small child made him want to grip his own chest. The pain she’d suffered each time had intensified or diminished in correlation with the viciousness of his death. When he’d slowly starved to death, her misery had been slow and gradual. Her body had failed her for weeks. She’d seen it coming and had lived with the terror of knowing what lay ahead, yet not being able to stop it. But on those occasions when the nidhogg had found him and torn him to pieces, the acuteness of her pain had stolen her breath, seized her heart, and driven her to her knees.

Then he’d seen the endless line of healers, needles, and procedures his Nickie still had nightmares over, and the protectiveness of her parents stifling her youthful exuberance in their misguided attempt at keeping her safe.

“I’m sorry, my angel,” he whispered. He’d had no knowledge of what was happening to her. The blame was not his to bear, but he wished it had been different for her. No child—no woman—deserved that kind of pain or fear.

“What for?” she asked, casting her gaze to him before peering out of the windshield once more.

“Your life has not been easy.”

She looked at him again, her serious expression softening. She huffed and then pursed her pretty lips. “That was nothing compared to what you’ve been through. Besides, all that is in the past now, thanks to you.”

As a phoenix mate, she would live for the length of his life, which was endless unless the Gods and Goddesses called him home. But they were not mated yet. If he were to succumb to death, he would rise again. There was no doubt. He’d take her with him and bring her back as he always had. The catalyst for his death mattered naught.

But Nickie was human. If the past was an indicator, then she would rise with him at his death. But what of her own? If she were injured—if death came for her without him—she would perish. Her body did not regenerate.

For the first time in his never-ending existence, fear streaked through him, leaving his molten blood cold in his veins. His phoenix roused inside him, his feathers ruffled, his wide beak open in a silent screech only he could hear.

Her sharp gasp filled the cab, and the SUV lurched to the side, skidding on the loose gravel for a moment before Nickie regained control. “What’s wrong?”

“There is nothing to fear.”

“So, why, then, do I feel like you’ve just seen the worst monster you’ve ever laid eyes on? Is something out there?” She took a steadying breath, her eyes wide as she peered outside and up into the night sky even as she drove.

Using more mental capacity than he’d had to use in a long time, he blocked off his emotions. Nickie had had more than enough worry in her life. There was no need to add his to them. “There is nothing. I simply revisited a memory I should have left alone.”

She looked as though she would say more, but when the road straightened ahead, the domed tents came into view. “Let’s hope everyone is in bed by now. If not, I’ll make excuses so that you don’t have to deal with their million questions tonight,” she said, giving him a reassuring smile as they came to a stop.

His own crept onto his face, tightening his cheeks. She wanted to save him as she’d mentioned, but there was more to it. Thorn-like spikes of jealousy pricked at his energy. She may not be willing to admit it, but she didn’t wish to have the other women near him.

“There you go with the dimples again,” she uttered as she opened the door and stepped down, glancing over her shoulder at him.

“Since you’re fond of them, I shall display them proudly.”

The one named Jas came rushing up to them as soon as they rounded the vehicle. “There you guys are. I was going to send out a search party.”

The faint scent of something akin to mead wafted toward him. Sweet. Fruity.

“Did you guys pop open my wine?” Nickie asked, laughing at her friend who stumbled to the left before righting herself.

Jas’s eyes, less focused than before, lit on his face and back to Nickie. “We did. You were taking too long. But we saved you a bottle so you could celebrate together.” Jas gave Nickie an exaggerated wink.

“You’re such a lightweight,” Nickie said as Jas wrapped her arms around her in a clumsy hug.

“I’m just so happy for you. I’m going to miss you, but I’m happy, you know? For real.” Jas said, her voice coming out wobblier than before.

Nickie pulled back so she could look her friend in the eye. “Hey, none of that. I’m still going to be around. All the time. You won’t miss me. You’ll be trying to get away from me.”

Jas snorted and gave her a watery smile. “Not a chance. And you still owe me a shit ton of sundaes. Remember it.”

Nickie shook her head and glanced in his direction, her gaze full of love for the drunken woman in her arms. Yes, this Jasmine, he would protect. For Nickie.

“You got it. All the sundaes in the world.”

Jas stepped back and gave him what he assumed she thought was a stern look. “And you, mister, better take care of my girl. I don’t know how to hurt a phoenix, but I’d find a way, and you’d be in a world of trouble.”

He cleared his throat. If he thought for a second that the spirited female was a threat, he’d remove her from Nickie’s side so fast she would be left reeling, but she wasn’t. “I shall treat her with the utmost respect and care, if for no other reason than to avoid your wrath.”

Nickie giggled. “Don’t listen to her. She’s a softie. She’ll even share her ice cream if you ask her nicely.”

“Will not.” Jas stuck her tongue out of her mouth and wrinkled her nose before yawning wide. “Now that you’re back and I know you’re safe, I’m going to bed. Everyone is already settled. Big day tomorrow. Looks like we’re going to Canada.”

“Canada?” Nickie asked, her gaze flitting to his.

“Yep. Jackie hasn’t narrowed down the exact coordinates yet, but she said it was in snow country somewhere near the west coast.”

Zenon’s heart thudded hard. “That is where one of my brothers is held?” He could no more control the tension in his voice than he could the hope from blossoming in his chest.

“I dunno. That’s all the information we have. We don’t know who we’re going to find or which mate he will belong to. Could be your brother, but…” Jas shrugged. She didn’t speak with malice, but the spark in his chest dimmed at her words. Perhaps setting his hopes high would not be wise. Should they find a different phoenix, the pain would be less intolerable that way.

“We set up the big tents over there.” Jas pointed to a spot near the lake before whirling around and pointing in the opposite direction. “You guys are there. We don’t want to hear the two of you going—”

“Okay, right. Well, good night, Jas. We’re going to bed now, too.” Nickie cut in, interrupting her friend, as she shooed her toward the larger tents.

The woman waddled to the first one, then struggled with the zipper before falling inside. “Will she be all right?” he asked, stifling his merriment.

“She’ll be fine by morning. She can’t drink. Never could. It’s cute that she felt the need to have a glass of wine in our honor, though.”

Zenon looked up at the stars, his body taut. “She cares deeply for you.”

“I love her, too. We’ve been friends for so long she’s more of a sister to me. I’d be lost without her.” She licked her lips and glanced at the smaller tent a distance away. “Are you hungry? Or thirsty? I didn’t think to get you anything when you got here. I could grab something for before we settle in for the night.”

Tugging at the bottom of her thin shirt, she twisted the soft material until the fabric molded itself more firmly to her breasts. A scrupulous man would have looked away, but his mate was gorgeous, and it would have taken a nidhogg to appear for him to tear his gaze from her.

“Zenon?” her voice, breathy and sweet, curled around him, drawing him deeper under her spell. Perhaps his angel was a witch in disguise. The thought, however fleeting, was enough to break the hold she had on him.

When his eyes met hers, she blinked up at him, her cheeks flushed and her breaths coming fast as she waited for his reply. What had she asked?

Her lips pulled up at the corners. There was no shadow of incense in her eyes. The passion burning there stole his breath. It seemed the women in the modern age—or at least, his mate—did not mind the perusal he’d given.

“Are you hungry? Thirsty?” she asked, her small tongue darting out to wet her lips.

Stifling a groan, he cleared his throat. “I hunted before coming to you, but I would do with a drink of water. After so many years with nothing more than the occasional drops that fell from the sky for sustenance, I find myself craving it,” he admitted.

He wouldn’t tell her that when he’d hunted, he’d gorged himself on his prey. He hadn’t been cruel or wasteful in his killings, but he’d filled his belly with as much meat as he was able, which, for a healthy phoenix, was substantial.

“I’ll grab a few bottles, then we can get to bed.”

***

Nickie entered the tent and stepped aside, holding the flap open for Zenon to follow. She set the small lantern and water she’d grabbed from the back of the SUV onto the ground at her feet. Her heart hammered away, making her almost as breathless as when it had given out. Had the tent shrunk? The two-man tent had seemed plenty big, but with his six-foot frame and extra wide shoulders, it was crowded. Even near the center, he was hunched over to keep his head away from the ceiling. The light shone up, giving his face a sinister look that should have had her backpedaling to get away, but she’d seen inside him. He wasn’t going to hurt her.

“Had I known how big you are, I would have bought a bigger tent,” she said, as she zipped the door shut, keeping insects out.

Zenon poked at material on the side wall, curiosity making his brows draw to the center. After a moment of silence, he glanced her way. “Nylon. And after so long under the stars, any relief from the elements is welcome. I appreciate your thoughtfulness.”

Her heart stuttered. As much as she’d been through, it was nothing compared to him. Living without shelter at the mercy of the elements had been his reality. One she’d never survive. It was hard to reconcile this man with the broken one she’d stumbled onto less than twenty-four hours before. He’d had no choices. No hope. Until now.

“I don’t know how any of this works or what you want,” she admitted, her cheeks flaming. She had a good idea—she wasn’t blind. She’d noticed his lust filled gaze on her chest when she’d fidgeted with her shirt before coming in. Her nipples pebbled again just thinking about it. Part of her—the one that hummed with need—wanted to offer herself to him like a banquet for a starving man, but the other part wanted to slow things down. She couldn’t say she didn’t know Zenon. She’d shared his mind and seen his horrors, but the disconnect to her heart was still there.

“The one thing I dreamed of more than any other over the years was relief from the never-ending loneliness. You can not imagine what it is like to spend each day with nothing but your weary thoughts for company.” Zenon reached for her hand, stroking her skin with his thumb. “What I wish for most of all is to hold you in my arms as sleep claims us both.”

She was already nodding before he was done speaking. That, I can do.

“I, uh, I can’t sleep in my jeans, but I have a T-shirt I can wear. I just need to change into it. You can sleep however you’re most comfortable,” she said as another wave of heat rushed into her cheeks.

Nickie ducked around him to where her bag waited for her and rifled through it for a sleep shirt. The air mattress and bedding were set up and waiting for them. She’d have to thank Jas for doing all this. It had to have been her. The other women weren’t nearly as thoughtful. Or maybe it was just that Jas got the jump on them. Either way, she was grateful not to have to deal with all of it after the tiring day they’d had.

“Since this is the only clothing at my disposal, I shall wear them to slumber,” he said, indicating the sweats. She didn’t know where the T-shirt was, but she didn’t mind that he didn’t have it on.

“That’s fine. As long as you’re comfy.” She turned her back on him but didn’t make a production out of hiding as she pulled her sweat damp T-shirt from her body. She only hesitated for a second before reaching behind to unhook her bra and pull it down her arms. Only once she had her nightshirt on did she wriggle out of her jeans and pull off her socks.

When she faced him again, his muscles were taut and his jaw clamped shut. She didn’t have to look straight at his groin to know the effect watching her change had had on him. Zenon took a deep breath through his nose and released it. His chest shone in the dim light of the lantern.

“Do you mind if I unzip one of the window flaps? It’ll get warmer in here with our body heat,” she asked rather than flinging herself at him and regretting it come morning. Lord only knew she was already getting hot. “We can always zip it up again if we get cold.”

“Not at all.” Although his voice remained tight, his jaw loosened, and the bunched muscles in his torso and shoulders relaxed.

This doesn’t have to be awkward. Just get into bed with him. He’s your mate. She gave herself the mental pep talk as she tugged at the zipper, then rolled the flap, securing it out of the way. “There, that will be better.”

“Would you prefer sleeping alone, my Nickie?” he asked, proving once more that her thoughts were no longer private.

After all he’d been through, and having only moments before confessed his loneliness and his need to hold her, he was giving her an out. Yeah, that wasn’t going to happen. There was no way in hell she would deny him. It wasn’t that she wanted to be anywhere else. She just needed to get over her nerves. She wasn’t a virgin, but she hadn’t had many lovers, and not one in a while. Having a man in her bed wasn’t the norm.

“No, I want to be in here with you.” Rather than discussing it further, and allowing her nerves to keep building, she pulled the sleeping bag back and slid onto the mattress before scooting to the other side, giving him room to come in next to her. “Come to bed, mate.”