There's Snow Escape: BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance (Paranormal Dating Agency Book 7) (6 page)

FIFTEEN

Charlotte helped strip Razzy of her wet clothes. The girl was unconscious and didn’t move or respond to anything they said. Her long fire red hair dried in waves around a young pale face.

“She looks like a little kid,” Charlotte said as Alessandra rummaged through a closet, retrieving a kimono-style, long robe.

“She is. She’s just turned twenty.”

Charlotte’s eyes widened. “Twenty? She looks twelve!”

Alessandra helped her get Razzy in the robe and the material heated until the girl was once again covered by warmth. “Here, a person can live well into the hundreds. So twenty is a baby in our years.”

Crying sounded from another room in the house. Alessandra frowned at the door, but Tatiana didn’t stop.

“Go to her. I’ll stay here,” Charlotte said.

Moments later, it was only her and the girl. She sat, watching the rise and fall of the girl’s chest when her eyes fluttered open.

Bright purple irises stared at Charlotte. “Who are you? Am I dead?”

Charlotte smiled at how shocked the girl sounded. “No. You’re not dead. I’m Charlotte.”

The girl’s eyes popped wide with surprise. “You’re from earth!”

She laughed and shook her head. “Is it, like, stamped on my forehead?”

The girl sat up, ignoring Charlotte’s hands trying to keep her still and sighed. “No. You’re so beautiful. Your skin is so dark and lovely. We have many skin tones here, but nothing like yours. That’s how I know.” She smiled. “Plus, I heard my brother telling one of his guard that he met a lovely earth woman at the wedding.”

Charlotte helped Razzy stand. “How are you feeling? I’m not sure what happened, but you were soaking wet when they brought you in.”

Razzy turned on her heel to face Charlotte. “Who is they and where am I?”

“They are Brecc and Eros and you’re in Alessandra’s cabin.”

Razzy slapped a hand on her forehead. “Shit. Vikter is going to kill me.”

“Why? What happened?” Charlotte asked. Concern for the girl put her on alert. Razzy paced the room, mumbling to herself about Vikter and a stupid feud.

Razzy stopped and gave her a look that broke Charlotte’s heart. “I argued with my brother over the wolves.” She bit her lip and let her shoulders drop. “I told him I was tired of whatever the hell was going on with him and them and I wanted them to be friends like when I was little.”

“Do you know what happened?” Charlotte liked Eros. Maybe she didn’t understand Brecc and his cold disposition, but she knew he wasn’t a bad guy.

Razzy shook her head. “All I know is things changed when my father died. Vikter stopped smiling. And Brecc didn’t visit anymore.” She sat at the edge of the bed, her head hanging forward.

Charlotte couldn’t take it. She sat next to her and patted her arm. “I know it’s rough, but don’t let it get to you. Adult problems are sometimes not easy to resolve.” She pushed Razzy’s hair back and cupped her chin to get her to look at Charlotte. “How did you end up wet?”

“I fell.” She pouted her lips and rolled her eyes. “Vikter got me so angry, I left the castle and decided to make my way to the wolves to tell them they needed to talk to him. I chose the river shortcut, which has been the biggest argument they have lately. It should have been simple to cross it, but I guess I stepped in a soft spot and fell in.”

Charlotte gasped. “You fell in a frozen river? With as cold as it is out there?”

She couldn’t believe the girl didn’t die.

Razzy nodded. “I should have been paying more attention, but I was distracted by my anger. My dragon tried to warn me, but I ignored her.”

Her what? Charlotte blinked at the girl and hopped to her feet. “You’re a Dragos.” How did she not realize this child was a dragon-shifter?

Razzy laughed. “Don’t look so shocked. Everyone in Dragos land is a dragon.”

“I’m sorry. I’m a little slow on the uptake. Happens when I go too long without coffee.” Charlotte yawned. “Plus I’m really tired from the weird hours in this place.” She sat next to the girl and met her gaze. “Ah, honey. I know this sounds like total bullshit, but I bet things will work out.”

Razzy shook her head. “Not without help.” She stared at Charlotte, a new light brightening her purple eyes. “Will you help me? This place is so miserable with everyone angry at each other. Help me fix it so they’re all friends again.” Her eyes filled with tears that dropped onto her cheeks, ripping Charlotte’s heart into pieces. “I want my brother to smile again.”

Oh boy. So far, she loved everything she’d seen in Aurora, but she knew nothing of the local gossip. Still, she felt so bad seeing Razzy crying over her brother, how could she say no? Maybe the issue wasn’t as big as they made it out to be.

She’d attempt talking to Brecc and see if maybe he’d be more forthcoming with information. She needed to figure him out anyway. It was driving her crazy. The attraction she felt for him was just as powerful as the one she felt for Eros, but his aloof attitude pushed her away.

If the damn wolf didn’t turn her on so much, she’d just ignore his existence, but it was hard. The fact these guys were supposed to be gay was another thing she needed to figure out. Eros had not kissed her like he didn’t like girls. Her conclusion was they were bisexual. They had to be because no way in hell she could be confused for a guy. Not with her curves, her ass, and her tits.

“Don’t worry, Razzy,” she said with hopeful smile. “I will see what I can find out for you. Maybe things can be easily fixed.”

Razzy threw her arms around Charlotte’s neck and sniffled. “Thank you. I knew the moment I opened my eyes that you’d be a wonderful friend. My dragon is never wrong about people.”

If only Charlotte had a dragon inside to help her figure out her feelings for the two wolves. Shit would be a lot less complicated.

SIXTEEN

Charlotte woke with a headache. She’d been awake half the night even though her room had tried hard to help her relax. The events of the previous night were still clear in her mind. Eros took Razzy home, back to the Dragos land. It took everything in Charlotte not to break down and cry with the girl. She remembered being that age. Feeling alone and having no one. Even her sister had her own things going on.

Poor Razzy. Her sole family member was distancing himself from her. Charlotte had to help her.

She put on her warmest thermal underwear, with a scrunched nose. Good thing she wasn’t getting it on or she’d look like an old lady wearing these.

After dressing, she rushed to the living room and saw Eros headed to the kitchen, leaving Brecc behind in the living room. She licked her lips, wishing he didn’t look so damn good from where she stood and cleared her throat.

“You don’t need to make noise. I know you’re there.”

All righty then. The guy had some serious communication problems.

He turned to face her, his eyes in that cool blue that distanced him from the world.

“I was hoping,” she said with a wobble in her voice. Shit. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I was hoping to go out for a hike.”

He lifted his brows, his gaze roaming down her body and then back up, so hungry and filled with lust, she started to feel hot in her layers.

“We’d love to take you for a hike. Do you want some tea?” he offered so politely she couldn’t figure out what was up with him. “Eros will return shortly and we can go.”

“I had some already. Alessandra left it in my room, I think. Or someone did.”

His only response was a slight lift of his lips into a wicked smile. Lord those lips did things to her brain she couldn’t even explain.

She’d been hoping to get him alone, but having Eros with them would help ease the conversation. She found being around Eros soothing, something she couldn’t say about any other man. Once Eros was back, they headed out, taking slow strides. They walked a path in silence at first. Then, as if Brecc’s curiosity had gotten the best of him, he started to ask her questions.

“You like the cold?”

She shivered but smiled. “I do. I’m thinking I must be a masochist because this is way more than the cold I’m used to.”

Eros laughed. “Yes. We have seen many videos about earth and the different weather patterns.”

Brecc frowned, worry pulling his brows into a deep curve. “Do you want to go back?”

“No way!” She shoved her hands deeper into her coat pockets. “I’m fine.”

“Eros said you have a sister who might worry if you stay too long. What about your parents?” Both Brecc and Eros offered her a hand to help her over a branch. It surprised her they continued holding after they got over it.

“I don’t really speak to my parents much.” She met his gaze and pressed her lips into a line. “Not for lack of trying, either. They’ve just never been interested in being parents.”

“She holds it all in,” Eros said to Brecc. She did, but how Eros noticed was beyond her.

“That hurts you,” Brecc said in a low growl. “I don’t like it.”

She grinned at how angry he sounded on her behalf. “It’s okay. I’m used to it. They’re probably not the worst parents out there. Neglectful, yes. Evil, no.”

It dawned on her that the hike was turning out to be very nice. Both men held her hand and kept her engaged in conversation. If she were an adventurous woman, she’d wonder what she might have to do to keep them.

Be adventurous. Take them both and run!
Of course her brain would start fucking with her when she was around the two wolves.

Eros pointed down a path of freshly coated snow. “Let’s go to the Crystal Cave.”

She had no clue what that was, but it sounded interesting, except she had never been inside a cave. “Um, I don’t know.”

Eros frowned. “What’s wrong? I promise the Crystal Cave is beautiful.”

“Yeah. That sounds great and all, but I’ve seen a lot of horror movies. You don’t go into a cave.”

Eros threw his head back and laughed, the laughter so rich and filled with joy that she smiled despite her insecurity over going into the cave. “You are precious, Charlotte. This is not like your earth caves.”

“Oh, in that case, okay. Let’s go.”

Brecc shook his head. “She’s not ready for that.”

There he went again. Making decisions for her. She bit her tongue trying to stay away from getting hostile.

Eros came to the rescue. “She’s an adult.” He glanced at her, his gaze filled with heat and promise. “Would you like to go to the Crystal Cave?”

She nodded at him and then at Brecc. “Take me.”

Fire flourished in Brecc’s gaze. “Fine, but if you can’t handle it at any point, just say so.”

She frowned but continued walking.

It took a moment before she saw the opening of the cave. It was big, but since she’d been expecting something dark, it caught her off guard. The cave was lit inside.

“Is someone in there?” she asked as they got closer to the mouth.

“No,” Brecc answered. “There are bits of the cave where crystal replaces rock allowing natural sunlight inside. It keeps the place light in the day. At night, it lets the light of the moon in as well.”

They entered the cave and she stopped dead on her tracks. “Holy, wow!”

Across the expanse and walls, thick yellow crystals bonded with smooth white rock creating pockets, or windows. One of the most beautiful natural formations she’d ever seen.

Naturally formed crystal spikes hung from the ceiling of the cave like stalactites. She winced at the size of the razor points. “Would one of those fall from there?”

“None ever have,” Eros replied.

She strode forward, sliding her hand on the white stone and watching it turn pale yellow. “This is a mood cave?”

“Yes,” Eros said. “I thought you’d like seeing it in nature.”

She was amazed. Her body heat rose suddenly and she found herself stripping off her coat and hat. “It’s hot in here.”

“The cave changes temperature to allow those inside warmth.” Brecc shoved off his lightweight jacket.

She gulped the saliva gathering in her mouth. Boy, he was big and strong. She still didn’t get how he and Eros walked around in next to nothing. Not that she was complaining or anything.

Hell, if it were up to her, she’d get them down to their birthday suits and keep them that way. Of course there was that whole cold making certain things small. She blinked and her gaze shot down to Brecc’s crotch. He didn’t appear to have problems with shrinkage.

Her gaze shot up to his face and heat crowded her cheeks. He had that sly grin on his lips. He knew she’d been checking him out.

“We have something awesome to show you,” said Eros, yanking off his shirt. Well, shit. If this is what he considered awesome she was so game. She blinked and tried not to drool on the spot. All those lovely muscles contracted with every move he made.

“Oh? You mean there’s more?” She followed behind him, aware of Brecc standing too close to her back and making her all kinds of jittery.

They went down a rocky path into an opening with a big crystal shining light inside. At the center of the opening was a pool giving off steam. The closer they came to the pool, the hotter she got. She stripped another layer, until she was wearing only her thermal top and ski bottoms.

She’d just taken off her sweater when she caught Brecc grinning openly at her. “Feel free to keep going.”