Page 23 of An Avalanche Hero Christmas

Nothing good.“Wait here,” he instructed. “There’s someone at the door.”

As if to confirm his suspicions, the banging resumed, more persistent this time. Lance felt his stomach clench as he made his way to the front door. The blizzard had ended over a week ago. The chances that whoever was at the door was in dire need of help were slim. He started to unlock the door but hesitated with his hand on the handle.

“Who is it?” he called.

There was silence for the next few seconds. Then, the banging continued harder than ever.

Lance muttered a string of curses. Whoever was at the door clearly wasn’t here to talk. The possibility that they might be dangerous crossed his mind, but the panic that initially grippedhim was quickly brushed aside by the realization that he could shift if things went sideways. A polar bear was dangerous to have as an enemy around these parts.

He opened the door and stared.

“Oh, hell.”

The man before him was almost a foot shorter than he was, and tiny wrinkles lined his face. He wore a dark coat that mostly hid his slim figure, but it took Lance all but two seconds to realize what he was. Blue eyes glowered at him from underneath a wide-brimmed hat.

He wasn’t alone. Flanking him on both sides were four other men. Except these were bigger, taller. This man certainly hadn’t come for a friendly conversation. Lance felt his stomach sink.

“Can I help you?” he asked, although he already knew why the man was there.

“Of course, you can,” the man responded. “Where are you keeping my daughter?”

***

They were moving again, which Lance was grateful for. It had been some days since they left the cave after making certain that Boris wasn’t lurking nearby and waiting to spring another attack. Lance and Mallory were back in the woods, having returned to higher ground. Together, they climbed up the mountain, Lance half-consciously touching his bandages.

Sounds reached him from multiple directions, keeping him aware of their surroundings. A few small creatures scurried through the snow. Snow fell from trees as a gentle wind blew, whispering in his ears. His stomach growled, but he ignored it. They would get some rest and eat some of the food Lance had gathered earlier once it got dark.

Clutched in one hand was a large duffel bag they’d discovered a couple of days earlier, apparently abandoned by someone elseon the mountain. Lance suspected the owner was probably dead or had left it behind in frustration. The bag was stuffed with clothes, which Lance and Mallory were grateful for. Over the next couple of days, they’d kept whatever food supplies they could gather in the bag’s pockets.

That was the thing about Frost Mountain, Lance thought now, as they advanced through the woods. It was always full of surprises. The possibilities were, to put it simply, endless. You could find almost anything,anyone, on this mountain. Or be found by them, as he and Mallory had days ago.

His injuries were healing quickly; Mallory made sure of that, checking on him now and then. Lance thought he might be imagining things, but it seemed she had become a different person ever since they jumped over that ledge. Or had it been when Boris attacked? The terror and helplessness he’d seen in her eyes before was slowly fading, replaced with a fierce determination.

And she’d been looking at him a lot lately. At first, Lance had figured the nurse was simply examining his bandages, but he’d soon realized it was something else. More than once, he’d glanced up to find her gazing at him, a curious look in her eyes.

What’s that about?he’d asked himself.

But he already suspected the answer. And it filled him with embarrassment. He hadn’t forgotten what had happened that evening in the cave, either. And it didn’t help matters that he tended to get the same reaction whenever he looked her way for too long.

Hopefully, her hands wouldn’t find his crotch again.

Or maybe they should, he found himself thinking.

No.Lance shunned the thought, forcing back the tidal wave of desire that threatened to crash over him as he glanced in her direction. He shifted his gaze to a nearby tree they were passing.You’re keeping her safe. That’s all. Nothing more.

A wry voice in his head reminded him that he’d promised to keep Julia safe as well. And how had that turned out?

“What’s on your mind?” Mallory’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

She blinked expectantly at him. Lance felt the front of his trousers tighten.

He cleared his throat. “Nothing,” he said a little too quickly.

Mallory groaned suddenly, pausing in her tracks. “I need to stretch for a bit.”

And as he watched, she pulled off the coat and the blue sweater she’d been wearing, baring her back to his eyes. But for the thin strap of her bra, she was completely topless, her shoulders and the small of her back exposed to the cold air. The creamy texture of her skin was not lost to him. Extending from right between her shoulder blades, wrapped around her torso, her gossamer wings gleamed softy in the sunlight streaking through the trees.

Mallory slowly unfurled her wings. It briefly occurred to Lance that they could get attacked any second now, but the sight of her transfixed him too much to pay the thought much attention. He simply stared, lips parted, as she spread her wings with a sigh of relief.

---