“General Jaydon?” Hope asked.
Pax’s dark eyebrows rose, and his eyes glittered a silvery blue through the darkness. “Yeah. Jaydon. I take it Drake told you?”
“Yes. He’s as upset about it as you are. Said that his father didn’t know of Jaydon’s plans. Jaydon is dead now, I think?” She took in Pax’s jeans and dark T-shirt. “I thought you went with my dad.”
“I did. We went to take Jaydon’s island and rescue the Enhanced females.” Pax scrubbed his hands down his scruffy jaw. “It was a good campaign, and we were the better trained force.”
She frowned. “Was Drake there? He had an injury.”
“I didn’t see him,” Pax said. “But there were several skirmishes, so he could’ve been there.”
Maybe Drake had fought with Jaydon or a Cyst. That would explain his injury. “I am getting really tired of people keeping me out of the loop.” She turned and sneezed violently.
Paxton waited and then cupped her jaw when she turned back toward him. “We’re just trying to protect you.”
“I don’t need protection.” At least Drake had told her what was going on, even if he’d left out a few details. “You don’t trust me.”
Pax sighed. “I don’t trust Drake, and I know you’re talking to him. He’s not a good guy, Hope. Even if you’re meeting him in a dreamworld just like your parents did.”
She didn’t want to think about romance. Not right now. It was all too confusing. “What if we’re wrong?”
Pax straightened. “What do you mean?”
“What if Ulric doesn’t have some grand plan to kill all Enhanced females? What if Jaydon planted that idea as a front for his kidnapping all those Enhanced females so he could perform his own ritual? What if it’s not true? Yeah, Ulric was a really bad guy, but he’s been in a prison paying for what he did.” Much that Drake had said made sense.
Pax twisted his lip. “Then we’ve been wasting a lot of time on legends.”
She chuckled. “Right? I believe in what I see and hear and feel. The rest isn’t clear enough to act on. Not yet, anyway.”
“I agree.” Pax held her hand. The same one that Drake had held. Pax’s hand was warmer and slightly bigger. Interesting. Drake was taller. Pax was bigger. They were both…a lot. Already. “We have to go with our gut feelings. I did so recently, and I think it was the right decision. We’ll see.”
“Tell me more.”
He tightened his hold on her hand. “I won’t ever lie to you, but I’m done talking about this. For now, let’s not worry about the big stuff. Well, except why the only female vampire hybrid in existence keeps catching a little human cold.”
She smacked his arm. “Not nice.”
“Never said I was nice.” He pushed her beneath the covers and snatched the TV remote control off the table. Then he settled down next to her, a solid and warm force in a turbulent world. “We haven’t watched a movie like this forever.”
“You’re always training,” she mumbled, her eyelids growing heavy.
His words brushed over her with his heated breath. “Yeah, I am. I smell war on the breeze, Hope, and I’m going to win this one.”
“We’re going to win,” she whispered, tumbling into sleep as a movie started on the screen.
“Same thing,” Pax whispered. “You just don’t understand that yet.”
Chapter Forty-One
Honor held tight to Sam’s hand as they stepped out of the truck and walked to their cabin, where several males were busy pounding nails and making a new deck. “You sure you’re okay?”
“I feel great,” Sam said, standing tall and looking over the cabin. “Well, almost great.” He rubbed his chin and turned her, putting her rear gently against a tree. “There’s something I forgot to do.”
Her eyes opened wide. “Back at the island?”
“No. Here.” He kissed the top of her nose, sending sweet tingles through her entire body.
She looked around. The deck was coming along nicely. What had he forgotten?
One of the men saw them and turned around. “Hey. Doc Honor. I was wondering if we could talk.” He was a monster of a male at about seven feet tall, and even in human form had the eyes of a grizzly.
“Sure,” she said, noting Sam’s stiffening. “In a few minutes, okay, Burt?”
The mammoth clapped his hands together. “Great. I mean, it’s no big deal, but I was kind of hurt Bear didn’t want me on the run. Sure, I know that we needed cover here, and I’m good at scouting, but still. My feelers are kind of hurt.”
Sam’s chin dropped. “Feelers?”
“Yeah,” the bear snapped. “Feelers are normal, right Doc? I mean, I’m not wimpy.”
“You’re not wimpy, Burt,” Honor agreed. “Feelings are good, and it’s wonderful you want to explore them. That’s healthy.” She nudged Sam’s shoulder. “I’ll be over in a few minutes.”
Burt ambled happily away, swinging the hammer hard enough to rock the whole deck as he put another board in place.
“Sorry about that,” Honor said, looking up at Sam. “I’ve created a support group for some of the bears, and I’ll make sure to invite him next time. For now, what’s wrong? Can I help?”
“Yes,” he rumbled. “There’s a lot you can do to help.”
When he used that tone, all she wanted to do was get naked. At least she’d been able to change into jeans and a sweater in the truck and get rid of the bloody white gown. “I would love to help you,” she said, leaning toward him.
“Good.” He slid his hands down both of her arms to take her hands. “Here’s the deal.”
“Hey. Honor.” A tall woman with stunning blond hair strode by. “Jasper is coming back to visit Nessa again about witch business, and I took your suggestion and texted him, so I’m on his mind. What should I do next?”
Sam growled.
Honor tried to hold up a hand, but both of hers were captured in Sam’s. “Um, let’s talk about it after dinner, okay? We can have dessert and mull it over.”
“Great,” the blonde said, moving toward the food tent.
Sam watched her go, looking as if he was going to throw something.
“Sam? What did you forget?” Honor asked. If it was a knife or sword or something like that, maybe she could get him one for his birthday. Once she found out when he’d been born.