Ice Bear's Bid (Northbane Shifters Book 4)

by Isabella Hunt

  “I won’t say—”

  A finger lay on my lips. “In a second,” Kal whispered in my ear, “you’re going to figure it out. It’s not something you can ever say out loud. It has to remain a secret, and I can’t tell you why.” His lips suddenly found mine, and the kiss had a tinge of desperation. “I wish we could speak telepathically already.”

  “Doesn’t that take time?”

  “Probably doesn’t help that I’m hard-headed,” Kal said. “I’ll be right back.”

  Kal walked away, and my mind was churning, sorting, and deciphering. Gathering up a rag off the counter, I began to walk towards the study when it clicked.

  Xander was often short for Alexander.

  Alexander K. Bane and Brody H. Sampson.

  Groping, I pressed a hand against the wall as I thought of the enigmatic leader of Winfyre and the mystery around him. If he was a shifter, no one knew what kind.

  Six knew part of it. Now, it’s seven.

  I thought I might fall over as the sheer impossibility, even after the Rift and everything I’d seen, crashed down on me. My brain buckled, and I leaned against the wall, unseeing.

  Twin dragons, one lost.

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Iris

  I was writing in Orion’s book again when Beylore dropped into the seat across from me. It had been only a day since I’d found out about Brody and Xander, and I was still reeling. Peering up at her, I wondered how she'd felt about her late husband's abilities. If I had to guess, she'd probably been staunchly supportive and excited, and had taken it in stride.

  It made so much sense, all the mystery and intrigue about Xander. The way he held himself, his incredible abilities and even more incredible burdens. An ache lodged in my throat. The Rift was nothing if not wrapped up in tragedy and miracles.

  All of this flashed through my mind as Beylore sat there quietly, playing with a braid and staring down at her lap. Finally, she heaved a sigh and said, “Welcome to the Northbane Fight Club.”

  It was so unexpected, I snort-laughed, and Beylore let out a shocked laugh at the sound. Then we couldn’t stop for a good few minutes.

  “Strange to think I went from being no one to this,” I finally said, and Beylore gave me a look. “Sorry, I wasn’t trying to be self-pitying.” I let out a small laugh. “Guess I did belong here.”

  “Of course you did,” Beylore said warmly. “Now, what can I help you with?”

  “There’s something I’m missing here, some piece of the puzzle that I know is staring me in the face and I can’t put my finger on,” I said. “Want to take a look?”

  I went to spin the book toward her, and Beylore held up her hands. “You’re using that?”

  “Why not?”

  "Wait. You-you've tamed the little beast," she said and reached out a hand toward it. The book actually snapped and scooted closer to me. "Oh, my." She grinned. "You are one hell of a witch."

  “Is that what we are?” I asked absently and patted the book. It did seem to have a personality, like a badly-behaved pet that couldn’t be trusted around other people and was nice to only you. “And I suppose I have, in a way. We did spend a lot of time together.”

  “You’ve unspooled the horror from its pages,” Beylore said and accepted the translation written down on a different piece of paper. “I’m sure it’s grateful.”

  “You think it’s possessed?” I asked and picked it up. “It has been more active lately.”

  “Mm, probably just animated,” she said and ran her finger down the page. “I see what you’re saying. There is a missing thread here, maybe one that ties it all together.”

  We discussed it at length, much like Kal and I had the day before. But nothing came up, and I was careful to avoid the mention of the twin dragons. Unfortunately, this didn’t yield any clues, either, and soon we drifted into a conversation about the Bloodlust.

  “Xander is considering locking down the borders,” Beylore said and heaved a sigh. “We’ve never had to do that before. I mean, back in the months after the Rift, I suppose we did in a way, but not like this. I can’t imagine the strain it would take, either.”

  “Can he do that? Does he do that?”

  Beylore glanced around and waved a hand. Sparks hovered in the air, and Orion’s book vanished. “Sorry, it might be listening. And yes, he could.” Her green eyes searched mine. “Have you noticed that this territory is a bit different from the others?”

  “Yes,” I said.

  “It’s Xander.” I stared at her. “He’s connected, somehow. It’s a long story, but something happened, and he is attuned to Winfyre in ways we can’t even...at first, we all were, to an extent.” She shook her head. “If he does, he won’t be able to leave. At all. For anything or anyone.”

  “Oh, no.” I went to reach for her hand and stopped, but Beylore took it anyway.

  “You once asked me why Kal locked his heart, and probably wondered why he was so infuriating about mates,” Beylore said, and I nodded. “This is why. Kal tries to take as much of the burden off of Xander as he can—they all do, bless them. But they can’t. Each of them struggles with it, but for Kal, the oldest, it was the hardest. It still is.”

  “God, I wish I could do more,” I said.

  “You’ve done so much, Iris,” Beylore said. “That’s what I wanted to tell you, too. Kal’s happiness means a lot to Xander, and it also means fewer headaches, too." We both laughed. "And I suppose, besides the missing piece, your work with Orion's book is done. I'll have to find you something else. Any hand at deconstructing poisons?"

  “I could try,” I said dubiously.

  Beylore laughed lightly. “I was kidding about the poisons. I’ll find you something to do. Right now, we’re trying to figure out if there’s a way to create a spell that reverses the Bloodlust. Antidotes don’t work fast enough, and healing is so painful.”

  “You mean what you had to do for Kal?” I asked.

  “Similar,” Beylore said. “Only think longer scale and a bit more intense. Most of the Bloodlust shifters succumb to the poison before we can even save them.” I bit my lip, and she read my face. “They won’t try what they did on Kal again. We already have that antidote. Bloodlust is different; there are so many layers and Excris influences.”

  “Could I help with that?”

  “Oh, sure,” Beylore said. “It’s a bit dry.” She snapped her fingers, and a stack of papers appeared on the table next to me. “Eventually, it will click together. Bit like your gifts.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Well, you’re not fully blossomed, you know,” Beylore said, and at my nonplussed look, she blinked. “Wait, didn’t we speak of this? Yana noticed it.”

  “Like, I could do more?” I asked.

  “A lot more,” Beylore said. “It’s hard to say, exactly. But your gifts seem to be sleeping. I’m honestly surprised the run-in with the Unseen didn’t wake them up. Hypothermia setting in probably didn’t help, though.”

  I went to ask her another question when there was a distant thud. We both turned to see Kal furiously rubbing his face and yelling, but it was like someone had switched the volume to low.

  “Oh, I forgot about the wards.”

  “These damn things down before I…” Kal blinked and poked the air in front of him. Both of us laughed, and he scowled. “I don’t appreciate that—I almost broke my nose.”

  “Didn’t see the invisible wall?” Beylore asked. “Huh.”

  “Yeah, well,” Kal sighed and sat down. “Wanna stay for dinner?” Beylore’s lips parted, and she leaned forward, touching his forehead. He jerked back and glared at her. “What?”

  “Iris Lisay really is a miracle worker, isn’t she?”

  “Among other things,” Kal said, and Beylore’s eyebrows went up higher. “Stop. You’re not embarrassing me, but you are embarrassing her.” He was right; I was pink. “Stay.”

  “I think I will,” she said, and he nodded, getting up again.

&nb
sp; “It’ll be ready in fifteen, ladies.”

  Once he was gone, Beylore turned to me and grinned. “I wish Brody could see this.”

  “I heard that,” Kal called back.

  “Good,” I said and winked at Beylore, who laughed again.

  It was a normal, boring day a few days later. Early in the blue-gold winter afternoon, the sky was quiet, and the world soft. Kal was putting books away, and I was helping by reorganizing them.

  A knock came, and I ran to get it, slipping a bit in my fuzzy socks.

  The second I opened the door, the world crumpled a bit, and I gripped the wood to steady myself. Fallon and a dark-skinned man she introduced as Jeques were standing there. Both of them were solemn and grave, with the faces of soldiers, not friends.

  My mind began to spiral, wondering what had happened, who was in trouble, and I didn’t move, standing in the doorway, cold air rushing in. I didn’t move until a big, warm hand squeezed my shoulder. It was Kal who closed the door and then gently led me away from it.

  “Xander is on his way,” Fallon said, following us, and we stopped in the living room. Her movements were jerky, and her eyes didn’t quite meet mine. “Should we wait?”

  “I’m here.”

  He’d soundlessly appeared and walked toward us, radiating concern even though his face was still. My relief at seeing him was enormous, and I smiled when he caught my eye. Something about that must have surprised him or been a relief because I saw his shoulders drop a half a fraction.

  For a moment, I didn’t understand, and then I gave him a sharp, fierce look. Like I could ever think less of you, Xander Bane! I thought, wishing I could tell Kal to tell him.

  But a small smile lit Xander’s face. He’d gotten the message, and he nodded at me, a small thanks. Kal’s fingers squeezed my shoulder again, and I knew he’d gotten the message, too.

  None of you are monsters. My thoughts were intense. Damn the SB and Skrors and whoever else made you feel that way.

  “We received this from a runner at the southern gate about twenty minutes ago,” Jeques said. “Thank goodness the kid who got it was smart enough to get it to me and not let anyone else see it. He won’t tell anyone, Xander.”

  The note was passed to Xander, who read it, and his fingers tensed, wrinkling the page.

  “It came with this,” Fallon said quietly and handed him something.

  For a moment, Xander said nothing, staring at the object in his hand.

  “Let me see it,” Kal said, and Xander pulled back, wary. Immediately, Kal tensed, and from the look Xander was giving him, I knew the contents couldn’t be good. I wondered if I should leave. “Xander, come on. Isn’t there a ticking clock on this thing?”

  “How did you know that?” Jeques asked.

  “Could tell by your faces,” Kal said and took it. A choked sound escaped him, and he looked at Xander, who passed him the object. “Shit.”

  He turned away and let out a hollow laugh. We all watched him, and my uneasiness increased. I wanted to go to him, but I could see Kal withdrawing, shutting down and trying to hold on. Whatever this was…

  “This…” His voice shredded my heart. “This can’t be happening. This is low. It’s despicable.”

  “We must have something, anything else,” Fallon said. “It can’t…they can’t. None of the rest of the Northern Wilds territories would condone this.”

  “Kal,” Xander said. “Yes or no?”

  I didn’t understand what he meant, not until Kal turned around and looked at me with such a pure mixture of anguish and helplessness that fear stabbed through my heart.

  “What is it?” I whispered. “Kal.”

  “I don’t think you’d forgive me if I kept this from you,” Kal said, and his teeth gritted together as he came forward. “As much as I want to.”

  He handed me the letter, and I took it, puzzled and even more fearful. Steeling myself, I read it, and my lips parted. Buzzing filled my head, and the paper shook.

  Return Iris Lisay and Orion's book for extraction at the Southern Pass, today, 6 p.m.

  Failure to comply will result in the execution of Tiani Elkhadi.

  “This-this is real?” My voice was shaking. “Who is this? The Greyclaw? Skrors? Packless?” I looked more closely at the paper, not understanding why there were discolored splotches, and then gasped, dropping it. “Is that blood? Wait, what was…?” I couldn’t get my breathing under control. “What was that thing it came with?”

  Kal handed it over, and I stared at it, heart hammering in my ears.

  In my hand was a ring. One she’d always worn on her index finger. Thin, battered gold etched with delicate flowers. Still shining brightly, even under a dark crust of blood.

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Kal

  There was a brief splinter of a moment where I wasn’t sure I could handle the pain in Iris’s eyes. I was terrified she would fall apart and fall away from me, retreating back into that dark hollow in her heart.

  And suddenly, it hit me that I’d probably caused this pain for everyone I cared about.

  But instead of shutting down, Iris’s eyes blazed with fury, and she lifted her tearstained face, fingers gently closing around the ring. She took several deep breaths, and her steel shone.

  "Who?" Her voice didn't shake; she was as icy, sharp, and furious as a raging winter storm. Awe and pride filled my veins.

  “We’ll find out,” Xander said.

  “So, we don’t know,” Iris said. “Let me clean this off and compose myself.” She held out the letter, and Xander took it back. As she passed me, going into the kitchen, she squeezed my arm.

  I glanced at Jeques and Fallon, who looked a little shell-shocked, then at Xander. There was amusement and admiration in his gaze, as well as a cold fury. He was already running through a hundred plans in his head, I was sure, asking Tristan, Luke, and Rett for help.

  Iris came back, a towel in her hands, and her fingers working methodically over the ring. At first, I had been sure that the Greyclaw had sent it, perhaps even stolen it to use for dramatics. Norson did have a flair for them, and Hamlet was definitely not his real first name.

  But this would be a monumental betrayal. It would turn the other territories and the Tiselk against them. So, either they had someone in their ear promising to make it worthwhile, or this was someone else. Maybe the Skrors, maybe an old cohort of the SB, or even a new packless faction.

  “Was it common knowledge that you and Tiani were close?” Fallon asked gently.

  “Yes, probably,” Iris said and sighed, moving to sink onto the couch. “We met when we were teenagers and lived together for years. After the Rift, we worked together for the freedom fighters, which, as you know, became the Bloodfang…”

  “That’s how you knew Orion?” I asked and sat down next to her. “Iris, I wish you’d said something sooner.”

  “It didn’t seem relevant since I didn’t last long with our new leadership.” Her lips twisted.

  “Orion had just taken over and was culling the ranks. He wanted fighters, shifters, and so forth. Not Riftborn like me.” She blew out a breath. “But he wanted to keep Tiani because she was a doctor. She didn’t stay, though—we went and became frogs, bouncing from territory to territory. But our home was in the Greyclaw.” Iris’s lashes fell onto her cheeks. “She’s like the sister I never had. I should’ve said something sooner. Dammit! I knew something was wrong.”

  “Orion got rid of Riftborn when he took over the Bloodfang?” Xander asked.

  “Not all, but most. Especially those of us with quieter gifts.” Iris’s jaw gritted. “It was devastating to be told in soft, condescending tones by this great hero that you were basically a burden to the cause. That you’d get in the way, more a hindrance than a help.”

  “You listened to him?” I asked, surprised and more than a little outraged. That bastard.

  “I didn’t have a choice,” Iris said. “At least not about staying. And, like him or not, he does have
a persuasive power. Plus, the way he treated those that he respected or admired, it gave them a glamour. Especially for shifters, it was like he was justifying their existence. Riftborn were an afterthought, and someone like me was useless.” I went to speak, and Iris’s cool fingers covered mine. “Kal, I know that none of that is true. He was a charlatan, a con man, and it was a good thing I left. I know what happened, and Laia filled in the rest.”

  “You never met?” Xander asked.

  “No, we probably missed each other by a month or so. I went to the Greyclaw, the Burnfur…they were more focused on shifters, and, well. It doesn’t matter. I always felt like I’d turned my back on my friends, that I’d let them down by not being stronger.” Iris’s breath came out in a sharp burst. “And then, when I found out what the Bloodfang became, who Orion was—I was shocked. Tiani wasn’t. But we were concerned for our friends and tried to find them, the shifters and Riftborn we left behind…”

  Iris took several seconds before she spoke again.

  “They were dead.” Fury and grief broke through her voice. “Most of the freedom fighters, the shifters who’d worked so hard for their friends—they were gone. The ones who survived were different, angrier and violent. The others we were never friends with, the ones who liked spilling blood and didn’t mind working with Skrors…Tiani and I, along with our friends from other territories, we began working to take Orion down.” She looked at me. “But you beat us to it.”

  “Those Bloodfang shifters died? How?” Xander asked, and I shot him a glare. “We have to know, Kal.”

  “According to the one person we could find whose mind wasn’t completely ruined by what he’d seen—our friend Dare—it was mainly the experiments. Or the fights with other shifters. Or being pitted against Excris.”

  “How many?” Fallon asked in a cracked voice, and Iris shook her head. “How did we not know about this?”

  “How could you?” Iris asked. “They weren’t part of a pack; they were kept a secret on purpose to foil the Stasis Bureau. Even after the SB fell, it was a secretive group. But of all our friends, I think three survived. Only Dare could talk about it, and only because he was so angry with Orion. Dare blamed him for his mate’s death. I think he’s in the Tiselk now.”