evil, really?”
Sol leaned down and kissed her softly on the mouth. He pulled back just enough to speak. “No, really, you’re not. I love you, Ruby. I couldn’t love you this much if you were evil.”
She exhaled a small, tired sigh. Today had taken a great toll on her, and she was fresh out of her transition, which had almost killed her. Then she’d been immediately thrust into a life-and-death situation. She was deflating before his eyes, and he couldn’t fault her for it. Isser helped her pull a shirt over her head. She let him dress her as if she were a helpless child. The exhaustion that poured out of her was the kind of bone-deep weary that took days of rest to recuperate from. Sol helped Isser lay her back down as gently as they could. Bruises were already starting to appear on her pale arms, face, and torso. She’d be hurting for a few days, but to his relief nothing was permanently damaged. She watched the men get dressed.
He finished cleaning her up. Isser brought him fresh water. She was asleep before they finished. Sol sat looking at her. Her long, dark lashes left perfect crescents on her cheeks. Her skin was as soft as a flower petal. Everything about her looked fragile, but after today, he knew she wouldn’t break. There was comfort in knowing she could kill to defend herself. His tigress would protect him as fiercely as he protected her.
“She’s amazing,” Isser whispered.
Sol nodded. He was afraid to speak and wake her. The peace he felt looking at her was so rare he didn’t want to disrupt the spell. Isser clasped him on the shoulder. His brother’s understanding washed over him in a wave of compassion. Isser stood and went to the console. He began a diagnostic sequence.
“I’m going to go fix whatever the fuck they did to the landing gear and the door.”
Sol nodded. He glanced at the door as Isser left.
Reluctantly he stood up and cleaned the blood and grime away with some of the leftover water. He dressed in fresh clothing. All he wanted to do was get home and keep his woman safe, but Isser was right. The ship needed some repair. Sol grabbed the comm.
“You need some help out there?”
“Hell yeah, those assholes really messed things up down here. I could use a light and an extra pair of hands.”
“Be right there,” Sol replied. He glanced at the sleeping woman. She needed rest. He forced himself to leave her and go outside to help his brother.
Chapter Seven
Jewel lay still with her eyes closed. Waiting. She hoped the younger wolves were okay. Her throat closed painfully as she thought about how sad they would be when she was gone. She wished she’d be able to say good-bye, but that wasn’t going to be possible. Every day she grew weaker. Her exhaustion was taking a toll. She’d written both Isser and Sol a short good-bye note, before her strength ebbed so drastically. Jewel asked them not to feel responsibility for her death and to take care of Rion, Makis, and her children. Her passing wouldn’t be their fault. She just couldn’t hold on longer. She loved Isser and Sol and hoped the men she considered brothers would find a way to help her husbands through their loss.
“My love?” Rion whispered quietly.
She opened her eyes. Her husband looked…happy?
“This is Dr. Jordan. He’s already given the cubs an exam. His treatment is working. Kelila is eating again. Color is returning to Torr’s face too. This doctor is a specialist in shifter medicine.”
“How?” Jewel asked weakly.
“Rusty has come to help us. He wouldn’t see you because he didn’t want to upset you. I could feel the truth of his remorse. He’s sorry he let your father sell you. He’s staying at the inn. He wanted me to tell you how much regret he feels, and how much he loves you. If we weren’t so desperate, I think I’d have killed him. Makis wanted to rip out his throat too. But, damn it, I love you too much to let my male pride say no to his help.”
She nodded, her eyes
Sol leaned down and kissed her softly on the mouth. He pulled back just enough to speak. “No, really, you’re not. I love you, Ruby. I couldn’t love you this much if you were evil.”
She exhaled a small, tired sigh. Today had taken a great toll on her, and she was fresh out of her transition, which had almost killed her. Then she’d been immediately thrust into a life-and-death situation. She was deflating before his eyes, and he couldn’t fault her for it. Isser helped her pull a shirt over her head. She let him dress her as if she were a helpless child. The exhaustion that poured out of her was the kind of bone-deep weary that took days of rest to recuperate from. Sol helped Isser lay her back down as gently as they could. Bruises were already starting to appear on her pale arms, face, and torso. She’d be hurting for a few days, but to his relief nothing was permanently damaged. She watched the men get dressed.
He finished cleaning her up. Isser brought him fresh water. She was asleep before they finished. Sol sat looking at her. Her long, dark lashes left perfect crescents on her cheeks. Her skin was as soft as a flower petal. Everything about her looked fragile, but after today, he knew she wouldn’t break. There was comfort in knowing she could kill to defend herself. His tigress would protect him as fiercely as he protected her.
“She’s amazing,” Isser whispered.
Sol nodded. He was afraid to speak and wake her. The peace he felt looking at her was so rare he didn’t want to disrupt the spell. Isser clasped him on the shoulder. His brother’s understanding washed over him in a wave of compassion. Isser stood and went to the console. He began a diagnostic sequence.
“I’m going to go fix whatever the fuck they did to the landing gear and the door.”
Sol nodded. He glanced at the door as Isser left.
Reluctantly he stood up and cleaned the blood and grime away with some of the leftover water. He dressed in fresh clothing. All he wanted to do was get home and keep his woman safe, but Isser was right. The ship needed some repair. Sol grabbed the comm.
“You need some help out there?”
“Hell yeah, those assholes really messed things up down here. I could use a light and an extra pair of hands.”
“Be right there,” Sol replied. He glanced at the sleeping woman. She needed rest. He forced himself to leave her and go outside to help his brother.
Chapter Seven
Jewel lay still with her eyes closed. Waiting. She hoped the younger wolves were okay. Her throat closed painfully as she thought about how sad they would be when she was gone. She wished she’d be able to say good-bye, but that wasn’t going to be possible. Every day she grew weaker. Her exhaustion was taking a toll. She’d written both Isser and Sol a short good-bye note, before her strength ebbed so drastically. Jewel asked them not to feel responsibility for her death and to take care of Rion, Makis, and her children. Her passing wouldn’t be their fault. She just couldn’t hold on longer. She loved Isser and Sol and hoped the men she considered brothers would find a way to help her husbands through their loss.
“My love?” Rion whispered quietly.
She opened her eyes. Her husband looked…happy?
“This is Dr. Jordan. He’s already given the cubs an exam. His treatment is working. Kelila is eating again. Color is returning to Torr’s face too. This doctor is a specialist in shifter medicine.”
“How?” Jewel asked weakly.
“Rusty has come to help us. He wouldn’t see you because he didn’t want to upset you. I could feel the truth of his remorse. He’s sorry he let your father sell you. He’s staying at the inn. He wanted me to tell you how much regret he feels, and how much he loves you. If we weren’t so desperate, I think I’d have killed him. Makis wanted to rip out his throat too. But, damn it, I love you too much to let my male pride say no to his help.”
She nodded, her eyes
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