Page 137 of New Nebraska Heat

“He’s here,” Hunter murmured against my mouth.

“Really?” My giddy gasp pulled at the scar tissue on my stomach, and I reached under my cotton pajama top, fingertips gingerly following the narrow, raised line left by Conrad’s blade lines. When they’d found me, the medics said my wound had been cauterized. That had stopped me bleeding out and becoming Conrad’s final victim. I’d saved myself from him.

“Yeah. They just got our guy settled in his room.”

I gripped Hunter’s shirt. “Take me to him. How does he look?”

Hunter tried to hide it, but my roving eyes noted the strain at the corners of his smile. “He could use some TLC, I’m sure, but he’s all right.”

The tightness in his tone only solidified the thoughts that had kept me awake into the wee hours last night. I’d made up my mind.

“Come on.” Hunter flipped back the covers and tucked his arms under me. “Let’s go see him.”

“You don’t have to carry me everywhere. I can manage if I go slow,” I protested just for show as I rested my head on Hunter’s mammoth pec.

No one had let me lift a finger since I was discharged. They ought to be careful, or I might just get used to it.

Hunter kissed my forehead with soft lips and a hint of scratchy scruff. “Maybe I like carrying you around?”

Cradled in Hunter’s arms, nothing could hurt me. My past couldn’t touch me. My future was sunny.

Conrad was dead. My guys were safe and—mostly—sound. There was just one obstacle left between me and an idyllic life that would’ve seemed an unreachable fairytale not two years ago. And I intended to burn through that obstacle today like I’d burned through Conrad.

Seb needed me. The catastrophic injury he’d sustained protecting me had nearly killed him. He was stabilized, but his vamp healing had slowed in the days I’d been incapacitated. The hospital staff had tried giving him blood bags, but while they kept him alive, they were more like bandages when he needed sutures. They kept his heart pumping but didn’t trigger his accelerated healing.

I, on the other hand, had made a miraculous recovery, sprinting away from death’s door in a matter of days.

I still wasn’t entirely clear on all the details, but I knew the fire phenomenon and my newfound almost-paranormal healing hadto be tied to the loves of my life. The bonds we’d woven channeled strength in all directions. I didn’t know exactly how mate bonds worked, but whatever I’d forged in making love to Bryce had saved my life. A perfect symbol of the harmony shared when we’d made our bodies one.

Last night, as I’d tossed and turned, worried about Seb, I’d wondered if the fire in my blood was Bryce’s mark. The twins and Seb had mentioned marks, too, but they’d held back because the process for shifters and vampires required bites.

The idea didn’t scare me anymore.

I wanted to be theirs forever, and I was ready to take Ceci’s advice and embrace the strangeness. Every new experience with them had brought me nothing but pleasure and happiness and a feeling of home. Why should their marks be any different?

Hunter crossed the hall and nudged the bedroom door open with his knee.

Seb’s smile blazed like a star in a wane, grayed face. He pushed his glasses up his nose, and the shine in his eyes eased the needling sting of worry in my chest.

I missed you, Superman. Tears tickled my lower lash, heart swelling.

You have no idea, he groaned back.For a second there, I worried I’d never get to see your face again. In this life, anyway.

He worked to sit up, and the sheets slid down to reveal his heavily bandaged midsection.

Oh, that looks painful, I sympathized when he grimaced and held his middle.

I’m fine, now that you’re here. Are you feeling better, beautiful?

Much. Not sure how much it has to do with the no walking rule, but I’m not complaining.

Dagger stood from the chair he’d pulled up to the bedside and fluffed Seb’s pillow to help him sit straighter. In the far corner, Brycerose from a lazy boy at the sight of me. “Morning, angel. Seb voted for pancakes for breakfast. Any protests?”

I tried to take a snapshot of the moment in my mind. All of us here together.

“No. That sounds great, but…”

I thought you might need a pick-me-up for your other half, I told Seb.