Page 12 of Savage Elites

Over an hour later, the jeep’s engine stopped, and I opened my eyes to find myself in the middle of a snow-covered landscape. A thin layer of white covered the naked trees, making them look skeletal. The treehouse stood within its sprawling oak with a dusting of snow on its shingled verandah.

I sucked in a deep breath and hoped that this quiet, happy place would unlock my memories before the beginning of term.

After getting out, Leopold walked around to the back seat and opened my door, letting in a gust of freezing air. He undid my seatbelt and scooped me up into his arms. “I’ll give you a lift.”

I gulped at the snow-covered branches. “Are you sure there isn’t a ladder somewhere?”

His chuckle reverberated against my arm. “Believe me. I can navigate any slippery surface.”

As Leopold made a hair-raising descent up a twisted branch toward the verandah, Sebastian walked around the back of the jeep to the trunk. I squinted at his feet. He was no longer wearing the leg brace.

“Here we go.” Leopold opened the door and deposited me on a brown, leather couch. “I’m going to get a vat of glühwein started. Would you like some?”

“What’s that?”

“Mulled wine.”

Sebastian stepped into the treehouse, letting in a gust of cold air. After kicking the door shut, he set down four bags of groceries in the kitchen area. “It’s probably not a good idea to mix alcohol and prescription medicine.”

Leopold kissed the tip of my nose. “Another time, then.”

The boys set to work, pulling out gourmet dishes from Marks and Spencer, a national chain of supermarkets we hardly ever visited because of the high prices. Sebastian placed a whole chicken in a stainless-steel oven along with a pack of roasted potatoes and stuffing, while Leopold organized the vegetables on the kitchen counter.

“Who takes care of this place while you’re at the academy?” I asked.

“One of the builder’s wives works at Hessington Hall,” Sebastian replied. “She pops in once a week to replenish the firewood and basics like wine and milk and chocolate digestives.”

I nodded and took a closer look at the kitchen. There seemed to be eight of everything, making it better equipped than ours at home. It sounded like they came here often and had enough space to invite friends.

Whatever seemed to bother Sebastian melted away after a few glasses of warm, spiced wine. His features relaxed, and he cracked his first smile of the day. Perhaps the alcohol had chased away the awkwardness about not sticking at my side on Monday night. He brought over a glass of water and sank into the sofa on my right.

Resting my head on his shoulder, I took hold of his large, warm hand and laced my fingers with his. The kings had done so much for me since the incident with the pork ribs. It was unreasonable to expect them to become my bodyguards, too.

Sebastian pressed a kiss on my temple. “When are you due to take your medicine?”

“Around now.” My heart filled with sweet contentment. Not only did I sit in peaceful and spacious surroundings, but I had two gorgeous guys to help me convalesce. “It can wait a bit, as I’m still feeling okay.”

“Don’t leave any gaps between doses, or you’ll regret it,” said Sebastian.

“Right.” I reached down into the shopping bag I’d borrowed from Aunt Hortense and pulled out into my baggie of painkillers.

“What have you got?” Sebastian looked over my shoulder. “Codeine phosphate, ibuprofen, and Zopiclone. I was on the same after my accident.”

“Did you have any memory loss?” I asked.

“Fortunately, I didn’t hit my head.” His gaze flickered over my hair. By now, the cuts in my scalp had scabbed over, and I’d gotten rid of the bandages. “But the broken wrist and ankle wasn’t fun. Neither was the wait for mountain rescue.”

I extracted the correct number of pills from each bottle and placed them in the back of my throat. Then with a nodded thanks, I took the glass of water and downed its contents. Having recently finished a course of medication designed to protect me from the dangers of close contact with raw meat, I was no stranger to swallowing pills.

“Did you go to the Royal Infirmary?” I asked.

“At first, but Grandfather had me moved to London and kept me at his side for the entire summer.”

“He even missed his welcome party,” Leopold said from the stove.

Sebastian’s lips spread into a grin that made my heart flip-flop. His eyes sparkled with the kind of mischief that promised I would enjoy whatever he planned to do or say next. “I was there. But I met the most fascinatingly beautiful girl. After giving her a ride home, I didn’t feel like socializing.”

My cheeks warmed. I dipped my head and gazed at him through my lashes. It only made his grin widen.