Free Exodus by Bailey Bradford Page B

were tinted blue from the cold, as were Rivvie’s. Rivvie put an arm around Matt’s shoulders. “We’re both fucking frozen, Val. I don’t think we’ll be able to feel warmth for days.”
    Valen’s anger didn’t vanish. It did become manageable. The fear didn’t recede at all. “Where’s Lanaka at? She’s our shaman. She’s supposed to be here in our time of need!”
    Rivvie patted his back. “That’s what I wonder. How could she abandon us at a time like this? She’s supposed to know when this kind of freaky shit is going to happen.”
    With no answer readily coming to mind, Valen fumed over the shaman’s desertion. There might be a logical explanation for her being gone. The storm that had come upon them days ago was so freakish, he supposed even Lanaka might not have been able to foretell its coming.
    He still felt abandoned by her, and worried about Aaron.
    “How far should we go?” Matt asked him sometime later.
    Valen had long since lost track of time. “I don’t know,” he said tiredly. The sky was still against them, still angry, still pelting them with rain. It didn’t matter that it wasn’t nearly as bad as it had been. Valen was exhausted nonetheless, just as everyone else was. He needed somewhere dry and out of the wind to tend to Aaron.
    “We have to keep on until we come to decent shelter for all of us.” It was the only answer.
    And it was how Valen and his pack ended up walking for hours, until the sun was about to rise in an almost clear sky, and they came upon a land he’d never seen before.
     
     
     

Chapter Nine
     
     
     
    At least they were out of the storm. Valen curled up behind Aaron, briskly rubbing over one of Aaron’s arms, trying to warm him up. The fever had broken after Anita had administered some rank-smelling liquid to Aaron shortly after Valen had found the pack shelter in a series of cliffs and caves.
    The red rocks and boulders were unlike any kind of land Valen had ever seen before. There was no grass anywhere to be seen, only sand and dirt, rocks and mountains.
    And water, lots of water. It stood in puddles and streams, in rivulets and lakes, even rivers. He’d spotted two waterfalls cascading down red mountainsides before taking shelter.
    “A barren land about to be barren no longer,” he mused, whispering the words into Aaron’s ear. “You’ll be blown away by it when you wake up, love.”
    “M’awake,” Aaron mumbled. “Feel like shit.”
    Valen chuckled at that. “I imagine you do. You had a fever, and I bit you. The bite isn’t infected, though. Anita thinks you had a fever because of something else.”
    “Sick.” Aaron shivered and pushed back against Valen. “Hate being sick. My bones ache.”
    “Ah, mate, I’m sorry. I wish it were me instead.” Valen kissed Aaron’s temple, below the cut he’d cleaned. “You also hit your head. The swelling’s all but gone already.”
    “Hn.” Aaron groaned. He licked his lips then cleared his through. “Head hurts.” Aaron wiggled. “You could make me forget I hurt.”
    Valen’s dick twitched. “No, you’re in no shape to— Oomph!” He gasped, trying to catch a breath. Aaron had knocked it right out of him with one bony elbow.
    “You don’t get to decide if I’m in shape to fuck or not,” Aaron seethed, scooting away and rolling over to face him. “I’m an adult, not your pup. I’m hurt, but not broken. I want you. If you don’t want me, just say so.”
    Valen was startled by the temper Aaron displayed. He put it down to the injuries and fever. Not that he’d say as much. Stupidity wasn’t something Valen suffered from often.
    He’d just be gentle with Aaron. Valen brushed the back of his knuckles over Aaron’s cheek. “I always want you. Never think I don’t.”
    Aaron bared his teeth in something that wasn’t a smile, nor was it a snarl.
    It was fucking hot, that’s what it was, Valen decided. “You want to fuck me?”
    Aaron shook his head. “No, I—” Then he