What if we were somewhere that no one could find us? What if Serlotminden died, and I was here alone? What if—I viciously cut that train of thought off.
Spiraling into a pit of fear didn’t help anyone, least of all me. Logically, I had to remain calm to stay alive as well as help Serlotminden. Being freaked out about whatmighthappen wouldn’t help anyone. Survival had to be my main focus. Surviving so I was alive to return to Vince, becausehedeserved to be saved.
With great difficulty, I closed my eyes and breathed.
Once my pulse slowed, I popped open another panel and found several blankets, which was good because it was balls-cold in here, and who knew how cold outside. I covered Serlotminden in a heap of blankets, then kept searching. I needed to make some sort of tent because staying warm was going to be priority number one. My jumpsuit was thin, and Serlotminden was in a high-collared sleeveless shirt and pants—neither offered much warmth.
After more searching, I found a tarp made of a plastic-like material. It should work. The plastic would help contain our heat, and it was big. I unrolled the sheet to make a tent and saw an image of Serlotminden winking on it as well as a place for ties. It was a flag. Nice to know.
The end result, with several pieces of wreckage and ties I’d found, was a fort-esque tent, like I’d made as a kid with my moms and sisters. A sudden twinge in my chest started at the thought of them, and I pushed it away. Now wasn’t the time to dwell on them. I had to stay focused.
I pushed all the remaining blankets, pillows, and even his clothes into the tent before joining Serlotminden. It was already warmer than the rest of the cabin.
Settling under the blankets with him, I cuddled close. There was no point in being shy. I didn’t want to freeze, and I doubtedhe did either, not that he was awake to ask. Snuggling for warmth wasn’t a new concept for me. When the weather turned cold on Xome, Vince and I had often shared a single cot for warmth because Agk had never given us a blanket or warmed our cell, saying it was unneeded. I scoffed. Agk was a sack of shit.
I curled against Serlotminden, draping an arm over his waist. The scent of musky rain wafted off him and made me take another deep inhale. Fuck, he smelled good. I was sure I smelled like B.O. and death had a baby, but bathing was a luxury I didn’t often get. My smell was what it was.
I lay there, watching his chest rise and fall with each breath. If he died, I had no idea what I would do. Panic began to creep in. I tried to push it away, but it didn’t want to go. I had successfully remained focused on surviving when I was moving. Now that I was still… I started to shake, fisting Serlotminden’s shirt.
My thoughts flipped to Vince. Alone. God. He wasn’t going to know what happened to me. Agk might punish him for me leaving, or sell him. I hoped not. The first thing I was going to do when we got rescued was go back for him. I would never leave Vince behind.
I burrowed under the blanket, hiding like that usually calmed me, and rubbed against Serlotminden’s arm, soothed by the scritch of his scales. I took deep breaths to force the fear away, but it danced under my skin like ants.
What was I going to do?
Serlotminden had to survive. That big drakcol would come for him, and we would get out of here. Together. No other option was acceptable. This stupid ice and snow would not kill me. I had lived through too much to die here. I needed a chance to make up for my mistakes. I had to save Vince, who deserved to be rescued.
A tremor went up my spine, but I forced myself to still. I did not want to think about anything. Survival was all that mattered,and that was what I would focus on. I took several deep breaths to calm myself, but my pulse kept racing.
I slammed my eyes closed and pressed against Serlotminden, relishing the warmth emanating from him. First sleep. I had nothing else to do, and oblivion would be a welcome relief. When he woke up, we’d figure out the next step to fixing this horrid rescue attempt.
My stomach ached and my head throbbed in time with my soul, making me groan, but I was warm. That was an unexpected surprise, and someone was pressed against my side, another nice surprise. My tail was curled around them, and I pulled the thin form closer, nuzzling the spiky hair. Bartholomew. My eyes popped open, taking in my flag and the blankets surrounding me.
He’d created a shelter for us.
Bartholomew was curled against my side with his head on my shoulder and his arm slung over my waist. His bones were poking out beneath the threadbare jumpsuit; he was severely underweight. Something I needed to remedy shortly. He was covered in dirt and the stench of sweat mixed with smoke clung to him, but he was alive. He was here.
My rescue hadn’t gone well, but we were alive.
While aching, my stomach would heal.
I was going to have to protect this human until we reached safety. I might even be able to convince Dontilvynsan or another captain to make the six-month journey to Earth. That was if my brothers found me. I had no doubts they would search—they would never stop—but I didn’t know how far we’d traveled in the slipstream.
It was possible Bartholomew and I were in uncharted space, making it near impossible for anyone to find us. If that was the case, I would protect him for the rest of his life.
I cradled him close, and my tail coiled up his leg, holding him securely. I liked the feel of him in my embrace. He fit. It was odd. No one had ever fit beside me. I’d always felt the urge to leave right after fucking, once the intimacy had vanished. Not that this huddle for warmth was romantic, let alone a post-fuck snuggle, but still, I had no urge to move. I had no words to express why, and perhaps it didn’t matter. Bartholomew fit against me. It didn’t have to make sense.
He shifted, and I tightened my hold, unwilling to let him go. If he fit, he needed to remain. Right here. That was only logical.
Bartholomew opened his eyes and his expression was completely blank. Caleb bounced around as much as possible in his body, and Seth was always fidgeting or turning red. Both were so expressive, but this tiny human showed no emotion.
Humans, of course, came in as many personality types as us, but I’d expected him to be similar to my mate-brothers.
“You’re alive,” he said calmly in an even, smooth voice.
“I am.”
“Good.” He closed his eyes and remained against me. Even he knew where he fit. Itwaslogical.
