Hope screamed, high and loud, and ran for the back door.

Pax’s dad jumped over him, going for her, and Paxton kicked up with all his strength, even though the world was going black. His foot nailed his dad right in the groin, going so far he felt something stretch and pop.

The sound his dad made defied description. He fell to the side wall, grabbing his groin, panting in pain. “I’m going to kill you for that.”

Yeah, probably. The back door opened and Hope ran for freedom, still screaming at the top of her lungs. Paxton closed his eyes, letting some of the darkness in. He’d done his job. She was safe, and he didn’t have any more fight in him. Not now.

His dad pushed himself away from the wall, his big boots crunching glass. “I’m going to kick your fucking head from your body.” He lifted his leg, and the boot started to fall. Paxton watched it come.

A growl sounded at the back door and a dark blur tackled his dad back into the wall. Paxton blinked. Zane? A strong hand gently touched his shoulder, and he turned to see Talen Kayrs bending over him, his golden eyes concerned. Oh, shit. They were going to hate him for getting Hope into danger like this. “I’m sorry,” he whispered.

Talen leaned down to pick him up, and Paxton pushed his hands away. “I can walk.” Whatever they were going to do to him, he would take it standing up. Especially since Hope hovered in the doorway, tears streaking her cheeks. He stood, his stomach rolling over, his legs wobbly.

Zane and his dad fought, but it was pretty one-sided. Within seconds, his dad was unconscious on the floor, bleeding from the nose. Zane turned toward him, his green eyes nearly black, fury across his face.

Paxton’s legs shook but he stood straighter, even though his face felt caved in. He deserved whatever they did to him.

Hope ran for her dad, who enveloped her in a hug, looking so big and dangerous that Paxton knew she’d be safe without him. At least for now.

Talen put an arm over his shoulders and turned him toward the door, standing even taller than Pax’s dad. “We’ll have somebody else clean up this mess,” he rumbled, letting Paxton lean on him as they exited the house. “Your face looks damaged. I’ll give you some blood to heal it as soon as we get back to the warm lodge.”

“I can heal it,” Paxton said, letting the chilly air wash over the heat bombarding him from within.

Talen started. “You’re young to be healing yourself.”

“I’ve been doing it for years,” he mumbled, letting the cells go to work. Had Zane just growled at that? Talen stiffened and then relaxed as well. Pax shook his head, trying to concentrate and fix his face. “Where are we going?”