Melting the Ice Witch Read Free Page B

know if he'll fly again," Lenny said with a frown as he studied the break. The wing was seriously bent.
    Lor gripped Kam by the shoulder and pulled him back to his sled.
    "Sit," Lor snapped. He thrust Kam's abandoned packet of food into his hands before bending down and removing Kam's boots. Kam's left woolen sock was soaked and Lor glared up at him at the sight. "You'll lose your toes," Lor snarled, drawing the sock down and showing toes that were pale, frosty white.
    Kam gulped at the sight. Those were not healthy toes. Lor reached out and cupped Kam's toes in his hand. Kam hissed at the sudden extreme warmth that enveloped the numb digits.
    The fierce look of concentration on Lor's face made Kam bite his lip. Lor was very handsome normally, but when he was so focused his distinct cheekbones and brilliant, hard blue eyes almost had a radiant glow. Lor's beauty, coupled with just how kind he was while taking care of so many difficult responsibilities, made Kam's eyes follow him around the camp and his belly quiver with want.
    Lor was touching him, even if it was only to work a spell, and that made Kam inordinately pleased. He had rescued the falcon and had Lor by his side for the moment.
    Lor slowly drew his hand away, leaving behind five healthy pink toes. "If your feet get wet, change your socks immediately," Lor cautioned. "If your socks freeze, you could lose your entire foot."
    "Thanks, Lor," Kam said softly, smiling up at the large man as Lor stood.
    "Eat," Lor replied gruffly as he turned away. He walked over to where Lenny was shaking his head over the injured falcon and gently placed his hand over the broken wing. The bird screeched and tried to wiggle free, before subsiding back into calm sleep underneath its hood. The feeling of pain emanating from the falcon faded away as if it had never been.
    They all climbed back into the sleds for the journey back to the camp. Kam could tell Lor was tired, but he still worked hard to keep the sleds moving safely. They reached the outer tents just as the bottom edge of the sun began to dip behind the mountains. Kam was grateful when Mae sent other men to help unload the sleds and to bring the meat where it could be properly cleaned and preserved.
    Kam focused on unhitching the dogs while the bustle continued around him. He was ducked down behind a sled, trying to untangle a set of traces so he could find the clip to free the dog still attached when Mae pulled Lor aside.
    "We got another note," she said quietly. "He says he's got a woman this time and swears that even though she isn't a witch both her parents are."
    "A woman with witch blood?" Lor asked, sounding excited. "That's excellent. She could really give the clan the help we need. When does he want to meet?"
    "In two days," Mae replied. She sounded a bit disappointed in Lor's reaction, but there was also a lot of understanding in her tone. Kam could understand the dilemma from personal experience. He had been through the same thing that woman was about to experience. Kidnapped from whatever life she had been leading in the human city, the woman would be brought north and would be enticed to have children with one or more of the men from Lor's bloodline. Witch blood from both sides of the parentage would help ensure that a new witch would be born to the clan, something they desperately needed for their very survival.
    While Mae may have been disapproving of the overall plan, Kam knew she was aware of the consequences of failure as well. Lor, well, Lor had been watching as the subsequent generations of his people slowly grew smaller and smaller. His desperation to save the Tribe would force him into agreeing to any plan, even the most remote and morally repugnant idea.
    Lor and Mae moved off and Kam finally untangled the leather straps and found the tie to free the dog. He got a lick of thanks from the sled dog, which made him smile, but Kam still felt unsettled for the remainder of the evening. He didn't want to go back