Page 24 of The Knotty Clause

If he wanted to be part of her life, he would have to dismantle them completely and give her everything. He knew the risks, but as he knelt there in the snow, he knew the rewards were worth it. He only hoped he hadn’t ruined everything with his panic attack.

Between his wet fur and the blizzard he was practically encased in ice and he had to struggle to break free. A fitting metaphor, he thought as he finally managed to rise. He hurried back inside and returned to the hot springs cavern. The cavern was empty, silent and deserted. His heart ached but he refused to be daunted. He dipped himself in the water long enough to wash away the last of the ice, then toweled himself dry and went in search of her.

The living room was empty, the decorations sparkling softly in the dim light, and he padded quietly to her bedroom door. The door stood slightly ajar and enough light reflected off the snow outside for him to see that she was there, Liam tucked against her side, safe and protected.

She looked at peace, and he hesitated, reluctant to wake her, but then her eyes fluttered open. Instead of accusation or hurt, warmth filled her expression. She lifted her hand toward him, palm up in invitation.

“Come here,” she whispered, her voice soft in the stillness.

His heart thundered against his ribs. One step would bridge the gap he’d torn between them. One step would change everything.

He went to her.

CHAPTER 13

Gemma drifted into consciousness, enveloped in a cocoon of warmth. Her eyes opened to find Yede’s massive arm wrapped around both her and Liam, his white fur tickling her skin. The weight and heat of his body pressed against her back sent tingles down her spine. She hadn’t really expected him to stay the night but it was a good sign that he had remained with them all night.

Unwilling to disturb Liam, she hadn’t given him the opportunity to do more than murmur an apology the night before. Today they would have to talk—talk and perhaps more, she thought with a smile.

She tilted her head to peek down at Liam. Her son’s face glowed with contentment, his hair tousled against the pillow. No trace remained of the haunted look he’d worn at the mining camp. Here, wrapped in Yede’s protective embrace, he finally looked like the carefree child he deserved to be.

The wind dropped long enough to let sunlight catch the crystalline patterns of frost on the glass, scattering tiny rainbowsacross the room. Outside, fresh snow blanketed the mountain in pristine white.

Just a short time ago, she’d been desperate and terrified, fleeing through a blizzard with only her son and her determination. Now she felt truly safe for the first time in years.

A smile curved her lips as she nestled deeper into Yede’s embrace, savoring the moment. His arm tightened instinctively around her and Liam, drawing them closer. The simple gesture filled her with happiness—even though she wasn’t sure he’d completely managed to overcome his fears.

The peace didn’t last long. Liam stirred next to her, stretching, and she winced as an elbow caught her in the stomach. His eyes blinked open, unfocused at first, then widening as he spotted Yede’s massive form behind her.

“Yede!”

His excited squeal pierced the quiet before she could stop him. She tried to hush him but his enthusiasm couldn’t be contained, and Yede laughed from behind her.

“Good morning, little one.”

His voice vibrated through her body where they touched, unexpectedly intimate, and she felt the heat flooding her cheeks. His arm still rested heavily across her waist, showing no signs of retreating despite Liam’s boisterous awakening. The thought pleased her immensely.

“Good morning,” she murmured, twisting her head to meet his gaze.

“Good morning to you, too.”

His breath was warm on her ear and a delicious shiver ran through her body. Liam, thankfully, was too focused on his plans to notice the sudden heat between them.

“Are we going to make more ornaments today?” he asked, bouncing in excitement. “Can I make a snowflake? Or a tree?”

“We’ll see,” she said. “But first, breakfast.”

Liam bounced out of bed, already chattering about his plans for the day. She smiled at Yede and slipped out of bed. He followed her. He didn’t say anything but he brushed his hand across her face and the warmth in his eyes took her breath away.

“I’ll start breakfast,” he said, his voice low and intimate.

By the time she had Liam washed and dressed, Yede was already measuring ingredients into a mixing bowl. His fur brushed against her arm when she went to join him, sending tingles through her skin.

“Can I help?” Liam bounced on his toes next to the table, practically vibrating with excitement.

She lifted him onto the bench. “You can stir. Gently. No more flour explosions.”

He nodded solemnly as he bent over the mixing bowl, his tongue stuck out in concentration and they shared an amused look over his head. The kitchen filled with warmth and the sweet scent of cooking batter.

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