Bethany's Heart (Unearthly World Book 3) Read Online Free PDF Page B

all. The final sips of heated broth were gone, their food supply exhausted. If the storm lasted too long they would die. It was only a matter of what form of death would take them first.
    Nothing living could be found in such extreme cold. The holes they made for ice fishing could turn lethal if they could break through the ice at all. More than once Bethany or one of the others had needed to be pulled from a watery grave. In the morning Bethany would remove the fur of one of the blankets they used and they would boil the hide for nourishment. They were desperate. Even if they removed every hide of fur from rugs, clothing and sleepwear they would still die.
    Soft weeping to Bethany’s left made her sad. In the dark she wasn’t certain who it was. They were a strong bunch but as of late each fought a battle within, knowing death was a certainty. Bethany blamed herself, she was responsible for their lives, insisting farther north was safer; she had failed. Or perhaps their luck had finally run out. Their seal oil lamps, a kudlik, used to hold melted fat and wicks as lanterns were empty. Their wood torches were nubs. The air dipped into the negative temperatures. Their home might as well be their tomb, their furs their coffins.
    As the hours passed the weeping subsided, only Bethany remained awake. Her nightmares tormented her even when sleep eluded her. She wasn’t certain what drew her attention to the back wall. At first the ice dripped, which was an anomaly in the below zero temperatures without the aid of fire, then ran in a river down the side. A river gone wild, oozing across the ice wall, opening a sliver to beyond. A black hole became apparent as more ice formed puddles.
    Sitting up Bethany watched, heart in mouth, wide-eyed, as part of the wall disappeared, giving way to an eerie black void even shadows were too afraid to invade. Amidst the darkness was a beacon, a hope, as light was referred to. The light created was coming from the glow of two red eyes. Finn stared at her for a moment, his strong facial features bathed and reflected amidst the glow, before crawling through the opening he had made, an opening which iced in seconds where the water had once dripped. Bethany was frozen by his stare. He crept forward, followed by his partner. Looking all the world as though crawling from the crypt of Hell with their wild hair dancing in the stillness of night and stale air. Bethany remained motionless. Her short gasps misted once expelled past her icy lips. Cold air invaded her cheeks making her tongue cold, her words were thick.
    “I’m dreaming.”
    The huge creatures advanced. It registered in her mind they were real, she was aware of them, wondering how they fared in the storm, if they were alive. Only Bertha had been outraged Bethany had offered them food, and Bethany couldn’t have cared less what Bertha said. All any of them had left was decency, kindness and honor—except Bertha, and she had never, to Bethany’s knowledge, bothered to explain why, even though the others had asked her many questions.
    Mouth gaping at the scene, Bethany had suspected the aliens had the power to break through their walls. Indeed, they hadn’t, just simply melted them. Both were a formidable sight, larger than life. Furs slipped to her waist and the chill made her chin quiver. A hurtful whimper tore from her lips, Bethany never whimpered, she was too strong. How could this be happening? Freeze, starve, or aliens? She hadn’t meant for the beings to die. Had they died and now come seeking revenge? Or was their intent evil to begin with while the women lay vulnerable? It couldn’t be when Finn’s touch had been so gentle.
    Her breath expelled in a whoosh when she remembered to breathe. Finn’s large body was close enough to lift her hand against his broad fur covered chest if she chose to, she didn’t. Human males weren’t this big, this powerful. His gaze traveled the length of her, down to her squirmy feet under the