Page 4 of Xander
Xander laughed.“No, we’re government assassins.”
Frost had gone quiet and when he glanced down, her brows were lowered in thought for long minutes before she spoke.“That’s how you were able to take care of those men so easily.I’m glad I ran into you.”
As the house came into view, Frost glanced up and her eyes widened as she surveyed the massive structure.She darted a glance behind his shoulder and cringed.“Sorry I brought them so close to your house.”
“It’s not your fault.You didn’t know.I take it you didn’t volunteer to lead them?”
Frost scoffed.“No.My boss, that asshole, told the mercenaries that I was the best tracker they had.I mean, come on, mercenaries?Another group I had no idea really existed until three days ago.When I found out what he hired them for, I figured the only way to save humans and animals from being slaughtered was to lead the expedition, but away from anyone they could harm.I tried to steer them farther up the mountain, but they became impatient after two days of spotting nothing and started their own way.If you hadn’t come across us when you did, I was afraid that they would’ve started killing randomly.I wonder why my boss wanted to kill you and your friends?”
“Your boss is probably the middleman.Dark Company is very lucrative and it’s only because we’re trained and very successful at what we do.Anytime there’s money or power involved, someone will try to make a grab for it.It’s not the first time, and it won’t be the last.”
“When the leader, the one who shot me, doesn’t call to check in, they’ll send another group to the last known GPS location.He makes the call at ten every night.”
They reached Xander’s front door and he grabbed the spare key in a hiding spot beside the door, all while glancing at her face for any signs of pain.Making sure not to jostle her, he pushed it open.He turned toward the living room.His plan was to lay her on the couch, but as he leaned down, she balked.
“I would prefer to sit somewhere the blood won’t stain your furniture.”
“It’s comfortable and I can always get another couch.”
“No, don’t worry about my comfort.I’ve had worse.The bathroom is fine.”
“What?”
Frost blushed and looked down.“Early on in my career, I was attacked by a mountain lion.I had been tracking a bear cub who had broken his leg and I wasn’t paying close attention to my surroundings or the direction I headed.The mountain lion pounced and caught me on the side with his claw, before something scared him away.That hurt worse than getting shot.”
She had spoken easily about a wound that might have killed her, and he had been so stunned by the matter-of-fact delivery, that he moved toward the bathroom before he could process what he was doing.He gently lowered her onto the bench in the shower, grateful that it was large enough to cradle her body.
Frost’s face pinched in pain and he silently called for Liv to hurry.To distract both of them, he kept asking her questions as he removed her outerwear and sweater carefully, leaving her in a long-sleeved shirt and jeans.
“Why did your parents name you Frost?”
She laughed and something inside him bloomed at the light and infectious sound.
“My mother loves everything about winter.But I was the opposite of what she expected.They both have light, almost white hair, like yours.They have pale skin and light-blue eyes.And of course when I was born, I had a full head of black hair, and while I do have pale skin, my eyes are green.My mother loves that I’m different.I’m twenty-seven, with no prospects to even think about getting married and I work with animals.She worries about me, but she’s given up on thinking I’ll do anything normal.”
He smoothed his hand down her black hair and she leaned into his hand.He smiled knowing that she trusted him.
Before they could continue the conversation, he heard Liv’s tiny footsteps as she rushed up his staircase.She rushed into the bathroom and directly into the shower stall where Frost struggled to sit up the moment she spotted the tiny vampire in the room.Xander propped her up on the bench as she stared at the small, curly-haired vampire who came to a stop inches in front of her face.Xander shook his head as he watched Kai, Gunnar, Kane, Seth, and Jade rush into the already crowded room.
Frost’s movements had slowed significantly, but when she spotted Jade trail after the others, a low growl erupted from her throat.When Jade stepped forward, Frost erupted with a more animalistic growl that had Jade take a step back and hold her hands out in front of her.Frost’s eyes never left the red fox, but Jade made the mistake of glancing over to Xander before she took a tentative step forward.
“Get the fuck away from Xander, before I rip your head off.”
The room stilled at the threat, and for the first time since he’d known her, Xander could see actual fear reflected in Jade’s eyes.
Xander stepped closer to Frost and felt her entire body relax.But he could see that the tension in her body caused her to bleed profusely.He knew that he needed to get Jade out of the room before Frost went critical, but when he said Jade’s name, he realized his mistake at once.A loud roar, the sound almost deafening, erupted throughout the room.Disregarding her injury, Frost stepped in front of Xander and bared her teeth at Jade.
Before Jade could leave or Frost could attack, Liv stepped in Frost’s view, despite Kai’s protesting snarl.Instead of pushing Liv out of the way and attacking, Frost slumped back against Xander and he wrapped his arms around her to pull her closer.
Xander could spot the anger in Liv’s eyes as she glanced up at him.
“You haven’t explained it to her yet?”
Xander shook his head, not sure in Frost’s condition that she was ready to hear about their connection.
Liv turned her gaze to the woman in front of her.“I’m sorry, honey.I didn’t catch your name.”
“I’m Frost, and you’re beautiful.Are you Liv?”Frost’s voice sounded strained.
