“Don’t be alarmed, fragile mate. I won’t harm you. Come now, we have to go,” Wrath said slowly, approaching Belleron in the most non-threatening way he knew how. Yet, still the intriguing man scowled at him. He paused, tilting his head. “Problem?”
“I’m not alarmed and I’m not fragile,” Bell gritted out, his breathing sounding shallow.
Wrath quirked his brow. “I haven’t known you very long, and you’ve already been killed once. I think all evidence points to the contrary,” Wrath nodded towards Bell’s weakened legs.
Bell hissed, his eyes glowing with venom, making Wrath gravitate towards him.
Can you stop insulting him and get him to safety! Wolf barked.
Wrath bristled. Fine. I was only stating facts. And if telling the truth made Belleron glower and seethe at him that way, then Wrath was looking forward to an oath of complete honesty. He found he liked the feeling he got from Bell’s ire.
“Then let’s go.” Wrath bent and slid one arm under Bell’s hip—still wrapped in the cover—and lifted him off the ground, then pressed him snug to his body. He quickly let the beautiful immortal feel his warmth. He found himself doing it without thought when Bell lifted his legs and wrapped them around his waist, straddling him between two soft, yet toned thighs. He noticed how close their faces were as Bell’s hot breath panted across his cheek. He had to swallow thickly before he asked, “Are you warm enough?”
Bell dipped his head once, then draped both arms around his neck. Wrath didn’t understand why Bell was staring at him like he was. Not with fear but with something else. Something he wasn’t familiar with, so he got to his work. “Hang on as tight as you can,” he warned, and then took off fast… upwards.
Wrath, what in the hell are you doing? Oh gods, please don’t tell me he’s… Wolf sounded half disgusted and half horrified.
I’m afraid he is, Wolf, Alek deadpanned. He didn’t intervene with Wrath’s decision… but, what the fuck?
Wrath held Bell securely with one hand while he barreled through branches and thick foliage, climbing up the tall spruce that must’ve been there before civilization, because of its sheer height and bulk. He moved up the massive piece of landscape as if it had stairs, clearing his pathway fast.
“What are you doing?” Bell ground out. He had his eyes shut tight, and he hung on to Wrath’s neck as if he was trying to strangle him or perhaps to keep from getting jostled too much from the climb. “Don’t you dare put me up here.”
Oh, this is gonna be bad, Alek mumbled.
Wrath got to the very top where there was nothing to block the cold wind but he made sure to place Bell carefully on a cluster of branches and leaves. He thought it was rather comfortable, all things considered. The vampire shot upward, looking in all directions. There was nothing but sky and treetops. Bell was breathing heavily, as if he’d made the trek himself, his chest rising and fall so fast. Pulling the blanket tight around him, he turned those furious, deep gray eyes back on Wrath. “You. Better. Not. Dare.”
“Or. Else. What?” Wrath scowled right back, getting in Belleron’s face. He almost had to bite his cheek to keep from smiling, “Will you continue to be… angry?” Wrath asked, lowering his voice.
Bell shivered but he didn’t lose eye contact, not for a second, which again only proved to ignite Wrath even more. Bell’s lips curled up into a snarl, a hint of both sharp fangs showing when he spoke between clenched teeth, “Yes. I will be extremely angry if you leave me up here.”
Wrath’s stomach flipped, the weird feeling confusing him. He wanted more, wanted Bell to keep threatening him. He returned the immortal’s threatening sneer, “Good. This is just where I’m going to leave you then, and later if you so desire… we can fight about it.”
Bell bit his bottom lip then appeared to stop breathing a moment, before choking on a shocked exhale.
“You’ll be safe here,” Wrath assured him one final time, then moved down a few branches. Wolf howled into the night, calling on their siblings. Choosing to take the fastest way down, Wrath leapt away from the tree and descended the six or seven stories, shifting in mid-air and landing on four huge paws with a ground-shaking thud.
They’re close. The King’s guards and the mercenaries should be able to smell them now. Wolf informed.
Wrath felt Alek shaking his head and grumbled, “What?”
Okay, yes, I said to do what was necessary but, damn. You really couldn’t think of anywhere else to tuck him until we were all finished, Wrath? Really?
Wrath was sure they could all feel his nonchalance. Bell was safe. Period.
In a tree? Like a helpless little bird, Wolf bit out.
Wrath snickered. If I’d left him anywhere on the ground the rebels could catch his very unique scent. Up there at that elevation he can’t be detected.