Page 74 of Frosted Torment

Baz groaned, his hand clutching his stomach as he sat up and leaned against the wall. His eyes now glowed and pulsed the way the other angels did. “I’m all right,” he managed to say.

Despite the pain etched on his face, I wanted to believe him, to cling to the hope that we could find out what was happening to me. But as I looked at the troubled faces of my friends, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was something far more terrifying than I had imagined.

“We need to get you out of here, Noa,” Lex urged, his voice rising. “Vincent is bound to know this was a possibility, and Maros will follow suit. You’re not safe here.” He looked down at Baz and held out his hand to help him stand.

A cold fear gripped my heart at the mention of Vincent and Maros. The thought of facing either of them again sent a fresh wave of terror through my body. I wanted to fight them. I wanted to stay alive, but I didn’t know how.

Lex helped Baz stand, then they walked out into the living room while I got dressed. Ena stood with her back to me in the doorway as I zipped into a fresh pair of jeans and a sweatshirt. My hands didn’t want to work because I kept dropping my clothes no matter how fast I tried to get them on.

I assured myself that what I did to Baz was a fluke, but I couldn’t let anyone else get hurt because of me. Once dressed, I retrieved the belt of daggers from the backpack and slid Vincent’s into my back pocket. After securing the belt to my leg again, I turned Ena around by her shoulders and made her face me.

“Forgive me, please,” I begged with all sincerity.

I pushed her to the side with more strength than I meant to, sprinting toward the door on the side of the container. My only goal was to escape before anyone could stop me. But before I could make it out of the doorway, Baz caught me and held me close.

I struggled against his solid hold, my mind reeling with the need to escape, but it was futile. Ena looked at me, annoyed, as she rubbed her arm. I expected her to be angry with me, but she shook her head in disappointment.

“Seriously, Noa?” she asked with a glare, then glanced at Baz.

Baz released me from his embrace, but kept a steadying hand on my shoulder as his eyes hardened onto mine. “You have to give us a minute to gather our backpacks before we can leave.”

“No,” I objected. “You’re safer if I go alone, so let me.” I pleaded and held my wrist up to his face.

Lex cracked his knuckles as he drew in a sharp breath. “This is the exact type of thing I said not to do that would get us all killed.”

As a tear ran down my cheek, Baz lightly wiped it away with his thumb. His eyes never left mine while he spoke.

“Ena,” he calmly requested. “Take two of the wolves and getback to Dawson’s. There has to be something about this bracelet in the vault somewhere.”

“On it.” She nodded and started to open the door, but Lex stopped her.

“And grab one of the satellite walkie-talkies to stay in touch, please,” Lex added with wide eyes.

My eyes broke from Baz right as Ena hurled a glare at me, and my heart dropped. “I like you, Noa,” she sighed. “So, please get a handle on this before you wipe us all out. Forever.” She kissed Lex’s cheek and walked out the door.

“We have to move fast,” advised Lex as he walked into the bathroom, picked up my clothes, and stuffed them into my backpack. Handing it to me, he asked, “Can you handle this?”

“I want to, but Lex—” I began, and I looked at the floor.

“You have the strength, Noa.” He placed a hand on my shoulder. “I’ve seen it every day since we met.”

I nodded in agreement, taking deep breaths to try to steady my nerves. Baz cleared his throat and touched my jaw with gentle pressure, prompting me to meet his gaze.

“It’s time for me to change,” he informed me, then strode confidently toward the fireplace, removing his clothes with ease.

CHAPTER 27

First went his shirt, then he unzipped his pants. His chiseled torso caught my eye, with muscles rippling beneath his skin. I instinctively turned to Lex, shielding my gaze from Baz’s transformation into a powerful beast.

Despite my reluctance, I couldn’t resist sneaking a peek at the stunning display of nature’s power. His skin rippled, and he fell to the ground, quickly transforming into a massive wolf. His dark fur glimmered with shades of silver and blue that danced in the shadows of the fire.

“It’s almost unfair how all of you look like perfect statues,” I remarked with a hint of frustration.

Lex chuckled, his chest rumbling beneath my hand. “Would you rather we look like those pudgy cherubs in the store? No one would take us seriously then,” he joked. “Besides, you’re a strong woman. You can handle it.”

“Creep,” I muttered into his arm, trying to hide my smile.

As Baz padded towards the door on powerful paws, I turnedaround, mesmerized by the sheer magnificence and primal beauty of him. We stepped outside into the cold afternoon air, and three others from camp greeted us, waiting with backpacks.

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