Chapter 17

 

 

Watching as the treetops go by it’s a bit chilly up here. I know Garrett is trying to keep me warm and it helps. Seeing the river and how swollen it just about takes my breath away.

“Garrett, can you land over there right on the road next to the bridge?” I ask. Looking down, I see kids playing on the bridge, I think it’s way too cold to be doing that, but I’m not their mother. Garrett sits us down next to the bridge just out of sight of the kids playing. Looking around, I don’t see the others.

“Where are the others?” I ask, rubbing my hands together trying to get them to warm up. It’s freezing out here.

“They will be here shortly, they landed in the clearing a ways back so that the children don’t see us,” he says matter-of-factly. Walking over to the edge of the bridge, I see that the water is just about up to it. Hearing the groaning of metal, I look over to Garrett. He turns his head slightly, listening. Hearing the others walking I turn to see them. Andy comes and wraps his arms around me from behind, keeping the wind off my back. It helps a lot. I feel warmer already.

Hearing the moaning, again, this time it’s even louder. I leave the warmth of Andy to make my way to the bridge. I look down, and notice that the bolts are loose and moving under the strain of the water hitting the bridge. It’s not going to hold out much longer, watching the water it keeps raising. Knowing what’s going to happen, I make my way quickly to the men. And that’s when it happens. Metal grating against metal. Andy runs over and grabs me shielding me from the explosion of water and ice flying up on the banks.

“Go save those kids now!” I yell. Garrett and the three other guardians take to the air and head for the kids. Turning around, I see the bridge floating down the swollen river the kids are screaming for help. Watching another spray of ice water come at us, Andy doesn’t turn in time, and I get drenched. Shaking, I can’t believe how cold that water is. My teeth start to chatter; I’m freezing. There’s no way the kids will make it if they go in.

“Spring, they got the kids. Let me get you back; you’re freezing,” Andy says. Looking up at him, I shake my head no. “We can’t; I want to make sure the kids are OK,” I say, shaking. My joints are aching because I’m so cold.

Looking over the bridge, I see the men take off with the kids taking them over to the other side. They touch their foreheads and then take off up into the sky coming back to us. Garrett lands right next to us. The bridge is entirely under the water. Watching the water, I realize it keeps going higher. We are now cut off from the small little town. Andy wraps me up in his arms and takes flight. The wind hitting me is making my clothes turn to ice. I have no clue as to why Andy can still fly with me in his arms since I’m shaking so bad.

He gets us home in record time. Landing in the driveway, I see Nick running up to us.

“What the hell happened to her? Her lips are blue.” Slowly, he lifts me up in his arms and runs into the house taking the stairs three at a time. Kicking open my bedroom door I see Faith standing there with my dirty clothes basket in her arms. Nick yells at her to get out, and I can see the look of hurt flash across her face. He struggles in the bathroom with me running a hot bath. After that’s taken care of, he starts to undress me taking off my frozen clothes throwing into a heap on the floor. He begins to take his off, but it seems to be hard with me on his lap. Somehow, he manages to do it, and he’s holding me naked. He climbs into the bath slowly lowering into the hot water. It’s burning me as I go in deeper. He takes it even slower until we are all the way under the water. He adjusts me so that I’m leaning back against his chest. He starts to rub my arms and legs Getting the feeling back slowly; I look up at him.

“It’s not Andy’s fault,” I say. He looks down at me with a grim look on his face.

“It wasn’t he wanted to get me back sooner, but I had to make sure those kids were safe,” I say. I feel him move a little, and then he gets out leaving me alone in the tub. He walks over to the towels and grabs a few off the shelf. I’ve missed seeing him naked.

“Stay with me tonight?” I murmur. He turns around with a sexy grin on his face.

“I did not doubt that I was staying with you tonight, those young pups will just have to wait a while,” he says.

“Cocky much?” I ask, laughing. He kneels down next to the tub. “Don’t ever scare me like that again, Spring, you were near frozen to death.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to,” I say. There’s a knock at the door and Sammy walks in. I don’t cover myself. What’s the point?

“Mick is back he wants to meet up in ten minutes,” Sammy says, taking a long hard look at me in the tub. There are no bubbles, so nothing is hidden.

“OK, we will be down,” Nick says, looking over at me smiling. Sammy beds down and kisses my forehead then leaves.

“Just tease them some more with your hot little self, Spring.” He chuckles. He reaches his hand out to help me out of the tub. Grabbing his hand, I stand up, pulling him in close.

“You’re the one I want pounding inside of me,” I whisper. Growling, his lips meet mine in a hot kiss. Promising me of what’s to come later. Shivering, he wraps a towel around me and goes out into the bedroom. Walking out, I hear him in my closet, so I go and sit on my bed to wait for him. Watching him walk out with a little grin on his face he lays the clothes on the bed. He leaves me on the bed and goes over to start a fire. Looking down at the clothes, I have to laugh. A thong and a matching bra. Smiling, I put them on and then wiggle into my jeans and an oversized sweatshirt. Grabbing my socks, I pull them on.

“You ready?” he asks.

“Yep, nice choice of undergarments you picked out, Nick,” I say, smiling.

“I know, can’t wait to see you in them tonight.” Grinning, he opens the door, and we head down the hallway. Walking down the stairs, I can hear all the men talking or should I say shouting. Looking up at Nick he just shakes his head. Great, everyone’s fighting. As soon as I hit the bottom step, everyone gets quiet. I see Mick looking me over from head to toe. Smiling at him, I let Nick lead me to the loveseat that has been set closer to the fire. Sitting down near the fire, Nick drapes a blanket over my legs. I’m grateful as I’m still cold; I don’t know if I’ll ever warm up.

Maggie comes from the kitchen with a big mug full of hot cocoa. Taking the steaming mug, I look inside and find tons of whipped cream.

“Thank you, Maggie,” I say.

“Anything for you, my Queen,” she murmurs, straightening her shoulders she walks back into the kitchen. Blowing on the cocoa, I watch as everyone finds a place to sit. Stayne comes padding in and lies down by my feet. Bending down, I run between his ears. He looks up at me with the piercing red eyes. Tanner comes running in and jumps on the loveseat and stumbles onto my lap. Laughing, I hug him close kissing him on his little gray head.

“We have a lot to talk about, so we need to get started, Maggie and Faith will bring in plates of food for everyone so that we don’t have to stop. First Mick is back, and his news is not good. We know the Maddox, and his goons are after the Queen, but now half of hell is too. Stayne came back with that news. Not only do we have to worry about Maddox, now a high roller in hell wants her.”

“What does that mean for me, Nick?” I ask.

“Well, for one you have to have a guardian with you at all times or Stayne. I think we need to get ahold of Michelle and let him know what’s going on and the best course of action would be at this point. I don’t want to hinder what you are to do I just think we need to use caution. With that being said, you need to start training tomorrow so that we can start going into town and saving people from being changed for evil,” he says matter-of-factly.

Everyone starts talking at once. I can’t get a word in edgewise. Finally giving up, for now, I listen to what they all have to say. Standing up, I get everyone’s attention.

“Hey!” I yell. Everyone stops talking at once, and all eyes are on me. Taking a deep breath, I look over to Nick.

“Are you saying innocent people are getting turned and you haven’t sent in any help?” I ask.

“No, I haven’t, but we need …” I don’t let him finish.

“From now on I want five guardians sent to the town or towns and start cleaning them up,” I say. I see Sammy grinning and trying to cover it with his hand.

“Knock it off, Sammy!” I say, looking over at him.

“I will be ready in ten minutes to go to town, what better way to train than hands-on. And before anyone says anything, my word is final.” Standing up, I gently set Tanner on the loveseat and make my way through the men. I won’t even make eye contact with Nick; I bet he’s really pissed.

“Maggie, we will be leaving, we can have dinner when we get home,” I tell her and continue up the stairs and into my bedroom. Walking to the closet, I have no clue what to wear. Nick comes in without knocking, clothes in his arms.

“You mad?” I ask him.

“No, it’s about time you step up and take your rightful place,” he says with a grin on his face. “And it was priceless how you put Sammy in his place; the young pup had it coming that’s for sure.”

“I thought you’d be pissed and here all along you wanted this?” Shaking my head, I go and sit on the bed. “What do you have there?” I ask.

“These are for you to wear.” He sets the pile of clothes on the bed and leaves the bedroom going back downstairs. Picking up the clothes, I find that they are all leather. Oh, my God. I’m going to look like a hooker in this. Taking off my clothes, I pull the pants on, and they fit me like a glove. Lying down, I zip them up and button them. I grab the thing that’s supposed to be the top and put it on; it’s a long-sleeve leather shirt that is just as tight. Next goes on the belt that has a wicked looking dagger hanging from it. It’s beautiful with blue stones on the handle. Putting it back, I put the belt on and walk to the mirror and check myself out. This outfit hugs all the right curves that is for sure. Grabbing the boots that he left on the floor, I slip into them lacing them up—combat boots are the in thing now. Laughing, I go to the bathroom and pull my hair up into a ponytail, that way it won’t get in my eyes. Walking out of my bedroom, I hit the stairs jogging down them, I look around and see everyone staring at me.

“What?” I ask, looking down at myself. Do I have a clown nose or something? Nick comes over and takes my hand to help me down the last step.

“This shows every curve and is sexy as hell,” he whispers in my ear. Blushing, I look up at him.

“Leather?”

“This is what all Queens wear into battle, really not my fault you fill it out wonderfully,” he says grinning. “Let’s get a move on, everyone to the back of the bar.”

Taking my hand in his, we make our way outside, he lets his wings out and wraps me in his arms and takes to the air. So much for me being ready. I grab him harder and hear him chuckle.

“So, what’s the plan, once we get there?” I ask over the wind.

“We will go in like regular people and see what’s going on,” he says. Nodding, I tuck my face into his chest and enjoy the flight. Being in his arms is what’s most enjoyable.