otsteps in the snow ec

ght, pulling her

oody corpse of a hairless, boar-like mutant behind him. Snow dus

es. He stopped just short of touching her, his eyes scanning her face with inte

chest at his genuine panic. She sho

od he had gathered before his coma. He poi

rist, and the blue flame shot into the wood. The pile erupted into a

Lake supplied in her mind. Extremely destructive

icked up the jagged, blood-slicked bone, its edge as sharp as any blade. With brutal, practiced efficiency, he used the makeshift knif

ld it over the blue flames. The firelight dan

e. The rich, primal scent of roasting flesh filled the air. It

nto thin, bite-sized pieces, placing them carefully on a wide, clean le

a clumsy attempt to please her. "Eat it while it's hot

A male's offering of food was a sacred act in this world. To refuse woul

h. There was no salt, no spices. Just the heavy, blo

, the tight muscles in his jaw finally relaxed.

with his teeth. He ate like the apex predator he was, ripping mus

p in her peripheral vision. She checked the

leaf back toward Dax. "I'm full.

, wiped his bloody hands in the snow at the entrance, and sat back d

eep breath, her voice steady. "The storm is dy

"You need a safe place to nest. Wher

ed to go back to my settlement. My father is there

f other males. Most of all, he was terrified of running into the bastard who had left her p

ora's eyes. She was asking for his support. Hi

voice was a low, unbreakable vow. "Alright. I'll take you back. And if anyon

ise sent a jolt of absolute

genuine smile breaking acros

iolent urge to drag her into his lap and kiss the breath out of h

ed the heavy fur coat and wrapped it tightly around Cora's shoulders, bury

white fox lowered its massive head to the ground. "Cli