“Do I hear a but in there?” Sergei asked.
“Don’t hurt her.”
“My people cherish our mates. You saw the bond between us, the golden cord. It connects us heart-to-heart and mind-to-mind. I cannot live without Lindy and she cannot live without me. We are two halves of the same soul.”
“Who are your people?”
Raven saw Sergei hesitate. Then he nodded as if making a decision.
“My people are the Lycans of Siberia. Like you, we live in secret from mankind.”
“The Shadow Walkers are secret from the general population, but there are those in the American government that know about us,” Raven paused and waited as a nurse wheeled in a cart with food for Sergei. Once she left, he continued. “We are descendants of a Native American tribe called the Nuni Nagi. Many generations ago, the gift of walking through Shadow was given to us. Our people guard the dimension. Only those marked by Shadow, or escorted by a Shadow Walker, are allowed to enter.”
“The strange burn?” Sergei asked as he took a bite of a sandwich.
“Yes.”
“So your Shadow dimension also recognizes me as Lindy’s mate?”
“It would appear so.”
“You sound disappointed,” Sergei said gulping the food. He paused and waited for Raven’s answer.
“No. I think I’m feeling what every protective brother feels. I try to be understanding, but what brother can accept his sister’s future husband at the first meeting?”
“Plus, I’m lycan, not Shadow Walker.” Sergei opened a bottle of water.
“What exactly is a lycan? Are you a werewolf?” Raven steeled himself for the answer. How could he let Lindy mate an animal?
“Not as Hollywood would portray. Yes, we see the movies in Siberia. The Alpha’s mate is American and enjoys sharing them with our pack. I can shift into a wolf if I wish. My people are old, as old as yours I’m sure. Surely, we can accept each other’s abilities, as you called them.”
Raven stroked his chin. He’d heard of shifters. Other native tribes had developed abilities throughout time. Could he be prejudiced? He leaned forward.
“Forgive me, if I sound hesitant. Lindy is the baby in our family. Whatever makes her happy, makes me happy.”
“I see. Meaning of course, if I don’t make her happy, then you will take care of that as well.” Sergei laughed. “You are the Alpha of your pack and protect your little sister not so differently than our Alpha would act. I appreciate your need to protect Lindy. Now, however, as her mate, it is my privilege to protect her.”
Raven pursed his lips and nodded as Cara hurried into the room and gave him a brilliant smile.
“I found some clothes for Sergei and called Gwen and Quiet Thunder. They should be here soon. What did Dr. Rick say about Lindy’s condition?” Cara asked. She put the clothes on a counter and hurried to the side of the bed. “She looks very pale.”
“I’m sure that’s probably normal, honey,” Raven said walking over and putting his arm around his wife. “Rick said she’ll sleep it off in a few hours.”
“Oh, that long?” Cara asked. “Can’t Dr. Rick give her something to wake up?”
“I think if he could, he would have. Why don’t we wait down the hall until Quiet Thunder and Gwen show up? The chairs are much more comfortable and Sergei will call us if she wakes before then.” Raven glanced at Sergei and he nodded. It would also give the lycan a chance to call his family.
Leading his wife from the room, Raven looked closely at the golden cord that attached the couple. He’d heard stories of mates that connected heart to heart with a golden rope. Was it the same thing? He’d ask Quiet Thunder when he arrived.
Chapter Five
“Finally, we are alone,” Sergei said gazing at the woman on the bed. He’d called the pack’s apartment in Moscow and left a message. His brothers would find it when they arrived. Then he changed into the soft denim jeans Cara had provided.
Her long dark eyelashes rested on Lindy’s pale face. He held her hand gently in his, his thumb rubbing over her skin. Deciding to strengthen their connection even further, he reached for her mind with his telepathy.
Her memories swirled around him and he chose several to experience, getting a feel of the woman who was his mate. It was time to go on the hunt and find Lindy’s consciousness.
Sergei’s senses shifted to a visual landscape inside Lindy’s mind. He followed the heartmate cord through valleys and across fields. There were forests and meadows, then mountains and rocky cliffs.
The heartmate cord led into a tunnel in the ground. Sergei hesitated only briefly and then followed the cord inside. This was a memory of Lindy’s. He touched it briefly when in her mind before. She had been a small child and followed a rabbit into the tunnels, but became lost and couldn’t find her way out.
Lindy had panicked and became disoriented. She was very young when this happened and still had problems with small spaces.
Sergei followed the mating bond and found it led to and through a cave in. He could feel Lindy’s consciousness on the other side of the rocks and mud. She was wrapped tightly within herself, fighting her terror and panic.
Sergei wanted to shout with rage. This is what the drugs had done to her, trapped her mind in this nightmare. He reminded himself this wasn’t real. That Lindy only believed it to be real. He crouched and concentrated on the golden cord, sending his mind through it to Lindy on the other side.
Sergei found Lindy’s consciousness. She appeared as a small ball of pulsing light. He frowned when the light appeared to be growing dimmer.
“Lyubov moya, pridi ka mne, Lindika, I am here with you. You are safe now, in your brother’s place. You must awake, come, lyubov moya.” Sergei called to her as he surrounded her consciousness with his own. He felt her stirring and called to her again.
“Lindika, you must awake. You are safe now, lyubov moya, pridi ka mne. I need you; come to me.” Sergei sent to her, putting more strength behind his call.
“Sergei? You’re here?”
“Da, Lindika, I am here. Wake up so I can look into your eyes with joy.”
Sergei felt her consciousness slowly unfurling from the ball. He continued to surround her and prod her towards wakefulness. Slowly they followed the heartmate bond up out of the tunnels in her mind. Then with a lurch Sergei was back in his own body looking down at her face.
Lindy’s eyes fluttered and then finally opened. Sergei felt his breath catch and thought he would drown in the chocolate depths of her eyes. She blinked and focused on his face, Sergei watched her as he saw confusion sharpen into recognition. Lindy reached up and cupped his face in her hand. Sergei took a deep breath, only just realizing he must have been holding it. He reached for her mind through the heartmate bond.
“You are safe now. I am here with you and I will let no harm befall you. Your family is here, as is your doctor. If you wish it, I will call for them.”
“Not yet. I’m still trying to believe that you’re here and not a dream.”
“No dream, Lindika. I heard your call and traveled long distances to reach you. The golden cord showed me the way.”
“Thank you for coming for me.”
“You’re my mate, of course, I would come for you, and now that I’ve found you, we will work at having a life together. I have very little to offer you, but my protection and care.”
“You’ve given me my life back, don’t belittle yourself.”
“Your family was as much a part of your rescue as I was, lyubov moya. I will not let you go. Come, there is broth you must drink to regain your strength. I’ll help you sit up.”
Sergei lifted Lindy so she could easily hold the cup of broth the nurse left. He encouraged her to drink it all and then handed her the cup of tea. When she finished the tea he replaced the cup on the tray. He arranged Lindy so she laid comfortably in his arms. He felt the possessive rage come over him and tightened his hold on her. She seemed to know what he felt and reached over to pat
his chest. Just the act of eating seemed to wear her out, and she dozed in his arms. He could feel that this time she rested lightly.
“Tell me about yourself. Are you an only child?” she asked.
“Nyet, I am the oldest of five brothers. We live deep in the Siberian tundra, hidden from prying eyes.”
“That’s hard to do, stay hidden. Now with satellite imaging and infrared cameras they can find you wherever you hide.”
“Da, it is harder to stay hidden. We give them no reason to look for us. Our village is small and we live simple lives, much more simple than the life you have lived.”
“How do you know of the life I’ve lived?”
“Your memories were open to me while you slept, lyubov moya. In order to get to know you I looked at them. Forgive me if I’ve offended you. Mates should not have secrets between them. My mind is open to yours if you care to look.”
“Maybe later. I still feel awful.”
“I feel your fatigue. You should rest, Radost' moya. Your body needs time to heal.”
I don’t want to go to sleep. I’m afraid I’ll wake up in the cave again.” Lindy shuddered.
“Sleep, lyubov moya. I will guard your dreams and be here holding you when you awake.”
“Spokojnoj nochi, Sergei.” Lindy sent him a mental caress.
Sergei couldn’t help but run his fingers down her cheek and across her lips. He pressed light kisses on her hair. He felt so incredibly blessed to have her safe in his arms. She snuggled closer and sighed as she rested her head on his shoulder.
§
Lindy dreamed of running through the woods near her father’s house. A huge white wolf ran beside her. She wasn’t afraid, instead, knew she was protected and safe. They dodged around trees and played hide and seek. She was free, nothing could harm her. She slowed when she came to the hole that led to the tunnels. The wolf nudged her away and then nipped at her heels to get her to move past. She laughed and ran on, away from the darkness, away from the nightmares.
She sighed, contented. Her eyes opened and she immediately recognized the clinic at Isanti, Inc. in New Mexico. The smells of antiseptic and cleaning fluids filled her nose. She turned her head taking in the scent of fir and pine trees from the chest of the man she lay sprawled on in the bed. His arms held her close and he sighed in his sleep when she sat up to look at him. He was gorgeous. Everything feminine in her stood up and took notice of the muscles in his chest and abs. She had a sudden impulse to lick his skin and see how he tasted.
She pushed down the lustful urges and noticed a golden cord connected them at the heart. On his pectoral muscle a wolf paw was burned into his skin by Shadow. She had a small wolf paw on her left breast and felt it warm. She waved her hand through the yellow light and didn’t feel anything solid. Frowning, she remembered his name was Sergei; he came for her in Moscow. He was her mate.
“I began to think you’d never wake,” a voice said behind her. She smelled the familiar scent of sage and smiled.
“Até, Father, you’re here,” Lindy said, turning to look at the old shaman. Her father walked up to the bed.
“Where else would I be? I needed to see you were recovered. Your brother explained how he found you. Here drink this,” her father handed her a small brown bottle of liquid. “It’s one of my healing draughts and will finish healing any lingering wounds. Has your mate told you who he is?”
“Just his name and a few other facts. He spoke to me telepathically while I was drugged. I don’t remember much of what he said only that he gave me hope when I was trapped in the darkness. He came for me.”
“I will always come for you, Lindika.” Sergei yawned and sat up. He hit the button to raise the head of the bed and then leaned back against it.
Quiet Thunder walked over and held out his hand to Sergei. “I’m Lindy’s father. Please call me Isanti.”
Sergei shook his hand. “Sergei Sokolov. It’s nice to meet you.”
“You must bring your mate to the ranch, Lindy,” Isanti said before turning back to Sergei. “We own property in Montana. You’ll like it there. Lots of natural places a wolf could explore.”
Lindy glanced at her father in surprise. Did he somehow know what she dreamed? Sergei nodded. “I would like that,” he answered.
“Christmas is only three days away. There is a community children’s party my family sponsors tomorrow night. We could use some help.”
Lindy held her breath. Would Sergei agree to help? “If Lindy wants to go, then I will be happy to accompany her.”
“Good. Come as soon as Dr. Rick releases you. We have much to discuss. I… well, never mind. It can wait.” Isanti walked around the bed and kissed Lindy on the forehead. “I sent your sister home last night to get some sleep. She’ll want to see you.”
“Tell her I want to see her too. We’ll come through Shadow as soon as Dr. Rick gives the okay. I love you, até.”
“And I you,čhuŋkší.”
§
Sergei watched as the old man leaned down near the floor, his silver braids swinging forward. He stuck his hand into a shadow and it vanished. Then the man stood and walked into a black doorway and disappeared. Sergei hadn’t seen Raven open the portal to the Shadow Dimension. He’d been too busy with Lindy at the time and it was dark.
“It must seem strange to you, that we have these abilities,” Lindy said.
“I have abilities of my own, milaya.” She blushed. Isanti clearly knew about lycans, but Lindy seemed ignorant of his kind.
“The doctor will be coming in. Could you get out of the bed? I don’t want him to see us.” Lindy’s cheeks turned a delightful shade of pink. Sergei chuckled.
“Your doctor already saw us and complained loudly. I’m surprised you didn’t hear him. Your father told him to be quiet.”
“Oh. I don’t really know you. I know we’re connected. I’m just, well…”
“A little shy?” Sergei asked. “Don’t worry, Lindika. You’re going to see a lot more of me.”
Lindy dropped her eyes and her face got even redder. Deciding to take pity on her, Sergei slipped from the bed and picked up the shirt Cara brought him last night. He heard Lindy’s sigh when she saw he was partially dressed in jeans. Was it a sigh of admiration or regret?
He walked around the bed and pulled the chair near the door closer. Then he sat and reached for her hand. She studied him and laced her fingers with his. He took that as a good sign. At least she wasn’t fighting him.
“I saw the mark Shadow put on your chest. I’m surprised. I thought it would be a small heart like the other Shadow Walker mates. Instead it marked you as it would a warrior. Your spirit animal must be a wolf.”
“Yes, the wolf. Yours too right?” Sergei asked. Lindy nodded. “I thought so, since we are mated. My people believe our mates hold the other half of our souls.”
“Soul mates? Our beliefs are not that we share the same soul, but that we are destined to be together. We mate for life.”
“My people also mate for life. The golden heartmate cord ties us together heart, mind, and spirit. We must be together physically or within telepathic reach or we will become uncomfortable and begin to grieve our mate’s absence. You are tied to me now, Lindy. Whether you wish it or not.”
“So wherever I go, you must be near?” Lindy rubbed at her temples.
“It is even more than that. If something happened to you and you left this world, I would follow you. I cannot live without you.” She looked so small in the bed, her black hair falling around her like a curtain. Sergei wanted nothing more than to climb back in and hold her close. He could feel her uncertainty; smell the tinge of fear on her skin. Both their lives had been changed forever when the mating bond snapped into place.
“Don’t be afraid, milaya. I will never harm you. I only want your happiness.”
“I’m not afraid, just a little overwhelmed, I guess.”
Sergei nodded. “Search my mind. See me for who I really am. All you have to do is connect
with me through our bond. You will come to know me and see your fear is unnecessary.”
§
“I said, I’m not afraid,” Lindy said more strongly. Well maybe a little, but she’d never admit it. She wanted this mating. Every girl dreamed of finding their one and only. When Sergei touched her electricity ran through her body. Her heart beat faster and all she could think about was the feel of his skin.
“I would hope not, you’ve been in my clinic enough times in the past,” Dr. Rick said, walking in the door. “You’re up early. I thought the drugs would take longer to leave your system. How are you feeling?”
“Fine, I guess. Dad gave me one of his healing potions.” Lindy remembered Sergei finding her trapped in the cave in her mind. Did he bring her back to consciousness early?
“Well then, I can take out the IV. Make sure you continue to drink extra liquids to help flush your system.” Sergei moved to stand by the door and Lindy held out her arm while lowering her legs. Dr. Rick pulled off the tape and Lindy grimaced. She turned her eyes to Sergei so she didn’t have to see the needle removed. She hated needles.
His light blue eyes, as cold as ice, heated. Lindy couldn’t look away. She felt caught, drowning in the desire so clearly evident in his gaze. Tingles ran over her skin. Her breasts ached and she pressed her thighs tightly together. Never in her life had she reacted to a man like this.
“Your father said he would watch out for you. If you begin to feel badly, come back to the clinic,” Dr. Rick said, throwing the items away. “Your sister brought clothes. They’re in the bag in the bathroom.
“I would usually keep someone with a head injury and shoulder wound for at least twenty-four hours, but you seem to have made a very rapid recovery. Probably thanks to your father’s potion. You’re free to go, whenever you’re ready. I’m glad you’re home safe, Lindy. Just make sure you call me immediately if you start to feel anything unusual.”
“Thanks, Dr. Rick. I’m glad to be home.” Lindy tore her gaze away from Sergei. “Will you be at the house for Christmas dinner?”
Shadow Mate Page 5