Cloudburst Ice Magic by Siobhan Muir Read Free Book Online

packs and screwed them down tight, stalling for
time. “Usually, that’s true. It’s always better to go as a team.
But I happened to be closest”—while not strictly true, he could
find his mate anywhere—“and already out here when she texted me.
And I had an idea of where you were.” He shrugged. “I’m just glad I
made it in time to help them get you out of the chute.”
    “Well, I just wanted to say thanks. Do you
think we’ll get out okay?” She looked vulnerable for a moment and
his primal male need to protect stepped forth.
    “I know we will. Ms. Sinclair is one of the
best and now that there are three of us, it shouldn’t be a
problem.”
    Caroline nodded and opened her mouth to say
something else, but Randy’s voice calling for them to get ready
interrupted. Zach caught Lily’s eye and gave her a smile, but she
didn’t respond as she picked up the rope and tied the end around
her waist.
    “Ready to move out?” Zach held her pack as
she fit her arms through the straps.
    “Yep.” Her tone made him pause, but her
scarf covered her face and hid her expression. “You’re walking with
me and the others will follow. Randy will bring up the rear.”
    “Good. Lead the way, Sinclair.”
    Lily nodded sharply and strode off through
the snowy woods. Zach followed her, sensing anger from her in her
stiff movements, but he couldn’t find a reason for them. Most
likely it’s the stress of the situation. Everyone’s frustration
ran high during these kinds of events and until they reached
safety, it would be easy to lose equanimity.
    The others trailed after Zach and his
shoulder blades itched with the sense of someone’s attention, but
he kept his focus on his mate as she led the way. The wind howled
through the trees and the branches creaked overhead. The snow
kissed his cheeks and he wanted to dance and celebrate with his
demonkin, but it would have to wait until he and Lily found some
moments alone.
    Then he’d show his mate what made a true
celebration.

Chapter Seven

     
    Lily’s anger and frustration warmed her more
than the exertion of plowing a trail through the snow to the Forest
Service shed. How could he? A little over a year apart, and
the minute Zach feasted his eyes on the flirty redhead, he turned
into every posturing male out there. Lily resisted the urge to
waste her precious energy on stomping through the knee-high drifts
of heavy, wet snow.
    She’s not even aware of what he is and
was dumb enough to come out in a spring storm. Lily clenched
her jaw as she picked her way closer to where she hoped the Forest
Service equipment shed sat. It would add insult to injury if they
missed it because she let her anger get the better of her.
    What the hell is wrong with me? Her
logical mind tried to insert some calm into the morass of her
churning emotion, but the primal part inside snarled and roared at
the intruder encroaching on her male. He’s mine. Her fists
closed inside her gloves and she pushed her body harder.
    He’d said they were mates, true mates, back
when he pulled her out of her depression. What the fuck? Lily forced herself to calm down, taking a steadying breath. It
was over a year ago. My memory might be a bit skewed. But it
didn’t assuage her anger and she pushed on doggedly.
    She almost swung at Zach when he touched her
shoulder to get her attention, but played the motion of as if she’d
lost her footing.
    “Whoa. Are you okay?”
    “Yeah.” She gave a short nod, trying to
ignore how good it felt to connect with him. “Thanks. Did you see
anything?”
    “Not yet, but the smell of used oil is
coming from up ahead and a little to the right of our path.”
    Lily scanned the winter world around them,
but everything looked about the same in the snow flurries. She
pulled out the map and tried to gauge where they were based on
slope angle. “Do you think we’ve come down too far?”
    “No. I think we just need to angle a little
to the right and we’ll run into