Born of Ice

Syn inclined his head to him. “Take it.”


Because right now they had something a lot more important to fight over.

Devyn’s life.



Alix wiped at the tears in her eyes as she waited for word from Syn about Devyn. They’d been in surgery for hours, and she couldn’t stop herself from crying like a baby.

Gah, what is wrong with me?

But then, she knew. The only man she’d ever loved, the only one who’d ever shown her kindness, was lying in surgery and could be taken from her at any moment. Over and over, she saw his smile and felt his touch.

She remembered every detail of him. How could he have come to mean so much to her so quickly?

And yet if he died . . . she wanted to die, too.

She choked on more tears.

“Here.”

She looked up as Shahara brought her a mug of hot cocoa and placed it in her cold hands. Devyn’s mother had been amazingly kind and attentive to her. Most of all, she was frighteningly composed. “Thank you.”

Shahara inclined her head. “I really hate hospitals.”

“Me, too.” She took a sip of her cocoa, still awed by Shahara’s composure. “How can you be so calm?”

Shahara’s gaze burned her. “I know my husband won’t let our baby die.”

“But what if—”

“Shh, Alix. There are no what-ifs. Syn will move the universe itself to keep Devyn alive. I have faith in him. Besides, he knows if he fails, I’ll kill him where he stands.”

Now she understood the source of Devyn’s morbid humor. “I’m surprised you’re even talking to me after everything that’s happened.”

“Me, too, to be honest. I’ve never been able to stand any woman my son has brought home.”

“Then why me of all people?”

Shahara smiled gently as she smoothed a piece of Alix’s hair behind her ear. “Because I see a lot of myself in you, and you’re one of us. You put your family first and when Merjack threatened Devyn and Syn, you answered the same way we did. You took the means necessary to stop him. Without hesitation. Most of all, my son and grandson love you. Even Vik and Sway love you, and that’s no easy feat. Vik still hates me most of the time.”

Those words meant a lot to her. “I would laugh if I wasn’t so scared.”

She rubbed Alix’s arm. “I know, baby. But have faith. It took me a long time to learn it. Now I don’t know how I ever lived before Syn catapulted into my life.”

As if in answer to her words, Syn came out of the OR door. Alix couldn’t take her eyes off the specks of blood on his right sleeve.

Devyn’s blood from surgery.

But by his relieved demeanor, she knew Devyn was alive. He went to Shahara and hugged her.

“He’s fine?”

“You think I’d be out here facing you unarmed if he wasn’t?” Syn kissed her forehead. “He’s in recovery and will be back on his feet in a few weeks.”

For the first time, she saw the chink in Shahara’s armor as she wept in happiness.

“What about Paden?” Alix asked.

“I couldn’t kill one son to save another. It took a little bit, but we patched him up. He’s in recovery, too.”

Shahara cleared her throat and regained her composure. “How did you fix Devyn?”

Syn flashed her a grin that reminded Alix so much of Devyn that it sent a chill down her spine. “I am that good, baby. I took parts from Vik and reconstructed another chamber for him. His heart should be stronger now.”

Shahara leaned into her husband as she looked at Alix. “I think you’re definitely right, Syn. His heart is much stronger now.”



Devyn came awake to the worst pain imaginable. He felt as if someone had clawed him into pieces. But as he blinked his eyes open, he was surprised to find Alix beside him, holding his hand.

Her smile dazzled him. “Hey, sweetie.”

He grumbled as more pain throbbed. “What did you do to me?”

“That was your father, hon, not me. He had to do some repair work on your heart.”

He breathed slowly, trying to mitigate the pain. “I take it I lived, though I don’t feel like it right now.”

“Bitch, bitch, bitch. Most people would just be grateful they’re alive after all you went through.”

He laughed until he saw his parents, Vik and Omari in the corner. “Why are you guys being bashful?”

His mother smiled. “We didn’t want to intrude.”

“Oh, please. When has that ever been your concern?”

His father’s gaze went to Alix. “Since you finally found a woman your mother approves of. And me, too, for that matter.”

Devyn started to ask how Paden was doing, but before he could get the words out, Paden was leaning against his doorframe. Like him, he wore a blue hospital gown.

“The nurse said you were awake.”

Devyn held his hand out to him as he approached the bed, and Alix made room. “I heard what you said when you were shot. You’re such a lying sack of shit, I have no idea what to believe where you’re concerned.”