Page 112 of Forging Darkness

Absolutely intentional.

The amount of strength it takes to set her on her feet and move away from her is astronomical. I have to pretend I’m scouting the empty area to the right of her while I get control of my body.

We’re in a forested spot on the outskirts of Mont-Tremblant, a small ski village in Quebec. I need her awake and on her feet so we don’t attract too much attention when we march down the street.

I answer Emberly’s questions about where we are and what I have planned without meeting her gaze. I hand her a coat I nicked from a chalet we passed when she was sleeping.

Thank goodness for trusting people who leave their coats outside with their snow gear.

It’s not until I’m sure she’s wrapped up in an insulated puffer jacket that I allow my gaze to track back to her face.

Putting her in an oversized coat did not tone down her appeal. She doesn’t need me all over her right now. She needs food and rest, and perhaps a shower—I know how much she loves those.

“Where did you get this?” she asks, oblivious to my wayward thoughts.

Tilting my head down I lift a single brow, a smile curving the corners of my lips. Cute question. “Borrowed them.”

“Sure ya did.” She zips up the coat and wraps her arms around herself. “Mad props for grabbing something without waking me. Skills.”

“Not really. You were dead to the world. I was only worried your snoring would wake the homeowners.”

“Funny.” She shoots me a droll look, but the color reddening her cheeks is unmistakable. I could spend a lifetime making her blush.

Hmmm. Interesting thought. Maybe I will.

“This way?” Emberly points a thumb over her shoulder, and I pull myself together.

Mumbling confirmation, I stalk past her. She falls into step next to me as we navigate the European-style streets of Mont-Tremblant. The street signs and storefronts are in French, which is typical of this part of Canada. We hear French, English, and a smattering of other languages before we push through the revolving doors of a sprawling hotel lobby.

Guests clomp past us in heavy plastic ski boots and skis slung over their shoulders on the way to catch the morning’s first powder. I keep my gaze sharp, looking for threats as we step up to the front desk. After a brisk conversation in French with the concierge, I manage to snag us a suite and ask for clothes from the gift shop to be sent up to our room. Emberly blinks back at me when I steer her toward the elevator.

“You speak French?”

“My whole family does.” I shrug. It’s not a big deal. Generations of our family have come from France, so it’s only natural.

Her eyes are wide as we enter an elevator with a built-in couch and a bellman. It strikes me that this is probably the nicest place Emberly has ever been to before. It’s easy to forget she’s not used to the luxury most angel-born are. Accumulating wealth isn’t difficult when you’re around for several hundred years.

Anger rises in my gut at the parents who clearly abandoned her. If I ever find her father, angel or not, it won’t be pretty.

The elevator stops on the sixth floor and we get out. I lead the way as we twist through long-carpeted hallways. We reach our room and I unlock the door, holding it open for Emberly to enter.

Passing me, she makes a beeline for the mini fridge, grabbing a bottle of orange juice and then a couple of bags of nuts. I head for the phone and dial the one number I have memorized. It’s only seconds before I’m connected. I quickly explain the situation to the Keeper and am told a bird will be dispatched immediately to retrieve us. After ending the call, I drop down in the seat across from Emberly. In the short time I was on the phone, she went through four bottles of sugary drinks and three bags of snack foods.

“I was hungrier than I realized,” she explains when she sees me eyeing the carnage she left behind.

“I can see that.” Her body demanded calories. I’m glad she listened to it. Guilt twists in my gut that I couldn’t get her fed sooner. “Help’s on the way, but it’s going to take them about an hour to get a bird up here.”

“That’s good.”

There’s a knock on the door, and I go gather the items I asked for. Emberly’s eyes light up when I return with a stack of fresh clothes. “I asked them to send these up if you want to change.”

Picking out the larger sized items for me, I hold the rest out to her. She snatches them up and hugs them to her chest. “Clean clothes! How I missed you.”

“There’s a bathroom in there.” I nod to the door behind her.

Jumping up she calls over her shoulder, “I’ll be out in five minutes.” There’s a pause when she enters the bathroom. “Make that ten,” she yells as the door clicks shut.

Chapter Thirty-Six

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