38. Hayden
I trembled against Knox as the SUV bumped over the gravel road. The divots in the ground just made me shake harder. All I could think about was how cold I felt. The kind of cold where your bones felt brittle.
Knox pulled me closer against him. “You’re safe, Hayden. We’ve got you.”
The faintest whimper left my lips. I hated the sound, the sign of weakness, but I couldn’t pull it back.
“How’s she doing?” Easton asked from the driver’s seat. Tension radiated through his voice like a live wire.
“She’s in shock. Shaking like a goddamned leaf,” Knox growled.
Easton’s fingers tightened on the steering wheel, bleaching white. “I hope Cill lets Cáel loose on him.”
I pressed tighter into Knox’s chest. I didn’t want to be the reason for Cáel losing another piece of himself. But I also didn’t want to see Professor Brent ever again.
Memories slammed into me. His hands on my throat. My shirt tearing.
Knox’s lips ghosted over my hair. “We’re almost home. Almost there.” His head lifted. “Faster.”
“I don’t want to hurt her with the potholes,” Easton muttered.
“We just need to get her home. Pete texted that Marcus left healing balms for us there.”
Healing balms. I had no doubt that the caster would’ve made something that would erase all evidence of what had happened to me. I wondered if he could make something that erased the memories, too. I didn’t want to see Brent’s face twisted with rage or see the intent in those dark eyes.
I shuddered against Knox.
“What can I do?” he begged. “What do you need?”
“C-cold,” I whispered.
Knox tried to cover more of my body with his. “We’ll get you into a bath as soon as we get home. That’ll warm you right up. Then we’ll get the balm on you and into bed.”
I nodded jerkily as we passed through the open gates to the guys’ territory. Open but with several guards standing sentry.
It only took Easton a matter of minutes to get us to the house. He took each turn like a racecar driver before skidding to a stop by the front door and sending gravel flying.
Easton was out of the driver’s seat in a flash, coming around to open the back door. Knox slid out with me in his arms. He carried me as if I weighed no more than a feather. But with shifter strength, maybe that was all I felt like.
Easton jogged ahead to open the front door, and Knox carried me inside.
Knox inclined his head toward a set of jars on the hutch in the foyer. “Those must be the balms.”
Easton nodded, grabbing them and following us up the stairs.
Knox carried me toward my bedroom. The familiar sights and smells should’ve eased my anxiety, but it still had me in a vicious grip. And the cold wouldn’t let go.
Knox made his way through my bedroom and into the bathroom, flicking on the light. He carefully set my feet on the floor. “Can you stand? I’m going to run you a bath.”
I bobbed my head in a nod. But as he stepped away, I started to falter.
Strong arms came around me. “I’ve got you,” Easton whispered.
My whole body trembled. “C-cold. So cold.” My teeth chattered violently, and Easton cursed.
“We have to get her warm,” he told Knox.
“I know. Running the bath now,” Knox shot back.
“Okay, Hayden. We need to get you out of those clothes. Can we do that?” Easton asked gently.
I nodded again, but the movement was some sort of staccato motion that barely made sense.
“All right. Can you lift your arms for me?”
I did as he asked, and Easton carefully lifted the sweatshirt over my head. As his eyes narrowed on my torn shirt, they bled to gold, and his breathing became ragged as he battled back his rage. He swallowed hard. “Shirt, okay?”
“’Kay,” I whispered.
Easton slid the shirt off my shoulders, and the ruined garment fell to the floor.
Knox moved in beside us, dropping to his knees. “I’m going to get your jeans, okay?”
I nodded in that deranged way again.
His fingers moved quickly, removing my shoes and then my pants and underwear.
My fingers fisted in Easton’s T-shirt as I shook even harder. “Don’t let go,” I begged.
He pulled me into him. “I’ve got you. Not letting go.”
Knox stood then, unfastening my bra and managing to get it free, even with Easton holding me. “Tub’s full enough.”
I felt Easton nod more than saw it.
“Hayden, can I get you into the tub?” he asked.
The shaking was back in full force, but maybe it had never gone away. I didn’t want to be alone. Didn’t want the memories to come. “Don’t let go.”
It was all I could say.
Easton cursed, lifting me into his arms as he kicked off his shoes.
“What are you doing?” Knox asked.
“Keeping my promise.” Easton strode toward the massive tub and stepped into it with me in his arms. He somehow managed to lower us both into the water.
It was so hot it scalded my freezing skin. I let out a whimper.
He stilled. “Too hot?”
I shook my head violently. I needed that warmth.
“Okay. We’re getting in together.” Easton lowered us deeper into the water. His jeans were soaked now. Then half of his tee. But he didn’t seem to give a damn.
Finally, we were fully submerged. Easton cradled me against his chest as the warmth seeped into me, and the shaking eased a fraction. “That’s my girl. Nice and warm. I’ve got you. I’m not letting go.”