Ursus Borealis: Book One

by D. L. Lewellyn

  He did not disappoint when he eventually did run his hand through his hair, eyes smoldering while he caged me against the car to tell me, “You look so hot in this red dress against my car, Selena. I have had a violent need to ravage you since I saw you cock that PPK.”

  Electricity charged the air around us, and I answered him with my own smoldering look, giving him no doubt that I would be just as happy to ravage him. He covered my lips in a fierce kiss, which soon had us both groaning into each other’s mouths, heat flooding my core, my knees going weak.

  As we tasted each other, my hands went instinctually, eagerly to the exposed skin of his broad chest, smoothing them over the soft skin covering his hard muscles, affirming that he was real, and we were alive, still together. When I ran my hands down his powerful arms, I reflected again on the fierce strength he had demonstrated tonight.

  When we pulled apart for air, I focused on his neck, drawn to it irresistibly as always, and buried my face in that spot that gave me so much comfort, breathing in his alluring scent of pines.

  He hummed into my ear as I nuzzled him, then he cupped my butt with his hands, pulling my body up, drawing me closer as he backed me against his car, so I could wrap my legs around him and feel his hard length as it nestled against my heat.

  He gripped my jaw and pulled my mouth to his for another scorching kiss, and as my tongue swept through his mouth in exploration, he made an animal sound at the back of his throat that vibrated right to the intimate places we were pressing into each other. His voice rumbled through our mouths, “I can smell your arousal, Selena. Gods, you make me feel alive.”

  The kiss deepened and the connection became so powerful I never wanted it to end. His hard heat burned through my dress lighting a fire inside me, desire thrumming along every nerve. He pulled back to look at me, eyes still smoldering, and growled, “Wow.”

  He let me slide down his body onto my own two feet, just as I was about to ask him if we could crawl into the backseat. I closed my eyes and concentrated on getting my legs under me as they were struggling to support me.

  My head drooped to his chest while I caught my breath. He laid his head on top of mine doing the same. After a bit, I breathed out a question that had been hanging around in my head since he revealed his bear.

  “Is this why you’re so hot?” He barked out a laugh making me blush then laugh with him.

  “I mean because you change into a huge bear. Your body is always so warm, like you could easily go without clothing.” An image of him stark naked in the snow suddenly blossomed in my mind.

  And I leered up at him at that thought, then continued as he enjoyed the look on my face, “I’ve been wondering why I feel this amazing, sizzling energy when I’m near you. Is it your metabolism? It must be super-efficient.”

  He nodded. “That’s part of it, but you should know I feel that same sizzling energy sparking from you, Selena.”

  “You do?”

  He grinned, “I do.”

  I tried to explain my feelings, “I thought it was just me being overwhelmed by your…uh, well…you know. I thought I was the only one who felt this overwhelming heat…uh energy.” I quirked an eye at him.

  I could see he was enjoying that I had spent time thinking about why he was hot, and now struggled to express the concept. I batted his shoulder. “You will explain more of this to me Andras Johns.”

  In his deep rumbly voice that I was coming to love, he said, “I will tell you anything you want to know, little dove.”

  Peering into his eyes, I said, “I cannot stop seeing the powerfully beautiful creature you turned into just a short bit ago, but as I hold you now, I am beginning to grasp the reality of it. It explains the aura you gave off from the first time I saw you. I knew there was something more to you.

  “I’m starting to feel this giddy excitement at all the possibilities of what you represent. I mean, I’m an avid reader of fantasy and horror, a huge movie buff too. I love Lon Chaney and all the Underworld movies. But a grizzly bear? Just…wow. It truly was magical to witness such a thing. How is it that you could take on all those powerful tigers?”

  Amusement and affection thickened his voice as he said, “You were there. That’s why we succeeded.” He crooked his fingers under my chin and pulled my gaze to his.

  “I believe I heard two questions in there somewhere. First, the energy you’re feeling between us is part of the supernatural world and is significant to the bond formed between two beings destined to be soul mates.”

  My brows raised, and my heart raced at the thought of this, a romantic notion that I had relegated only to fiction before now, but I urged him to continue.

  “Second, I come from a long line of powerful alphas. When a shifter inherits the role of alpha, more powers are bestowed upon him or her. On top of that, being a bear lends its unique strength, but I’m also a rare Kodiak bear. It’s one of the most powerful shifter forms.”

  I let my mind absorb his fantastical explanation, thinking again about his beautiful, tattooed totem trailing down his long torso and its connection to the heavens, his stars, my moon, and that made me think of the mark on my arm, which I realized I had laid my hand over subconsciously.

  The person I was when I lived in the city would not so easily have believed this world beyond the human existence. I had been practical and uninspired in that life, which is one reason I moved to Quincy, to free my creative nature. My imagination had been allowed to flourish these last five months, and I thought in wonder that it had prepared me for Andras.

  Even tonight battling beside him, after the initial shock of seeing the unbelievable, my mind quickly adjusted, and it had felt natural to take on the threat by his side. We clicked together, and there had been no place I would rather have been even when facing that utterly startling menace.

  These profound realizations were likely showing on my face, judging by Andras’s amused expression.

  “One last thing I should tell you about shifters, Selena, especially alphas. We are extremely possessive. Our society is divided into feudal territorial hierarchies for a reason. We claim and then defend to the death what is ours. We are inherently territorial.

  “Because of the vast power that exists in the supernatural world, it takes vast power to control it and protect it. What I’m trying to say is that you have become part of my territory, an especially important part, which has unfortunately put you at risk, unlike any risks you have experienced as a human.

  “But we will stand together to face those risks and I will always protect you, with my dying breath. I hope you’ll understand this about me.”

  As the power of his words washed over me, I took care with my next words as this seemed a pivotal point for us.

  “I think I have understood this about you from the beginning. It was this very nature that spoke to me, drew me. My base instincts responded to this part of you, and now I understand better why I was drawn to you in different ways.

  There seemed to be a traditional attraction that I easily related to. But there was also a powerful attraction to the dominant, primal side of you, your bear I suppose that I have been trying to sort out, the part of my attraction that has been confusing me.”

  I smiled up at him in wonder at acknowledging these feelings that were taking form in my mind. “Well, I have to say this has been a night for revelations.” His warm chestnut eyes had never left mine as I spoke.

  He said, “Sharing my bear with you tonight has been truly something special, and the first time in my long life I have done so with a human, and I never imagined sharing with a human that I relate to so powerfully.”

  He kissed me tenderly on the bridge of my nose, a spot that I was coming to realize was special to him.

  Chapter 26

  Andras

  I grabbed Selena’s hand, “Come on, let’s go talk to Isaac about your room. It hasn’t escaped my notice that you’re just about ready to drop where you stand.” Seemingly, to accommodate my observation, she g
ave in to a huge yawn.

  “Please indulge me because I feel the need to carry you. After all, you just admitted you like the bear side of me,” and I swept her into my arms and walked us through the garage to the side entrance of the house, passing a few more of my exotic automobiles.

  “I really do want to see your collection sometime, Andras,” she said sleepily against my chest.

  “Of course, little dove.”

  Still reeling at what she had so eloquently expressed about my nature and her acceptance of it, I shook my head as I realized I had never had a clue until now about what it meant to be connected at a primal level with another being.

  It settled something deep inside me that I had not known needed anchoring. She was it for me, this small human dynamo who could bloody the noses of shifters and wield an automatic pistol, and not even sully her sexy dress. I tucked her closer to me.

  This route took us into the kitchen. Isaac, who always managed to appear when he was needed, day or night, was waiting for us there.

  “Isaac, is the West Suite ready for Ms. Aires? She needs to sleep, sooner rather than later.”

  Isaac peered at Selena, and I noted the glimpse of his inner mother hen that only I could recognize. I smiled to myself.

  But his voice was formal as usual when he said, “I took the liberty of preparing that suite for her yesterday, Sir, just in case. The items arrived an hour ago and everything is ready whenever Ms. Aires is.”

  Selena’s nose crinkled and I saw she was torn between her curiosity at what he meant about the room being ready yesterday and her appreciation of his actions on her behalf. I was truly getting to know my girl.

  “Andras, can you set me down now?” I complied, setting her on her feet and pulling her into me with a grin.

  “Please both of you enough of the ‘Miss Aires’. Call me Selena, Isaac. And thank you so much for making me welcome,” she added warmly, her rare dimple showing, and I think that about did him in, if the glint in his eye was anything to go on.

  She looked up at me and raised her eyebrow. “I will show her the way Isaac. You have my thanks as well for anticipating our needs.” I gave him a knowing smile acknowledging his unfailing foresight and assistance as always.

  Then I saw the concern he had been hiding, and I said, “We are both fine. It could have been bad, but we made a good team.” He nodded.

  Grasping Selena’s hand, I pulled her through the house to the rooms I thought she would especially appreciate. She truly looked exhausted, and I felt a twinge of remorse at how our evening had ended. Then, I forgot all about that as I watched her face as she stepped into the suite of rooms.

  This suite housed some of my favorite art pieces. The colors of the room were bright, and they made me think of Selena. The walls were a buttery yellow and the yellow was accented primarily with navy and a small amount of white and turquoise.

  The art represented many styles from abstract and modernism to impressionism, and there were a lot of pieces hung throughout interspersed by wall sculptures done in various metals or woods.

  “This is amazing, Andras!” She swung back to me enthusiastically clasping her hands. I smiled at her from where I was leaning against the door jamb. As I looked at her beautiful face, the art faded into the background.

  She moved around the room taking in everything and asking about where I had gotten this or that piece, and I contentedly told her the various stories about acquiring them. Then she spotted a robe laid out on the bed and quirked an eyebrow at me.

  “You should have everything you need. There is a mini fridge in that cabinet, and you will find bottled water, juice, and even some fruit I imagine. Whatever Isaac put there for you. There is even a Bluetooth sound system if you want to listen to your music, and Wi-Fi. The password is on the desk. Look in the closets and drawers.”

  She did, then sputtered in surprise. “When…how did you manage this?” There was a slight edge to her tired voice.

  I pushed away from the door jamb and took a step towards her, saying, “When you dozed on our last leg home, I called Colin and asked him to work with Gemma to pack you some things. Gemma kindly helped Colin to obtain what was needed without any questions.

  “You needed things and I have the means to see to them. It’s in my nature, you know, as an alpha. I was not planning on kidnapping you,” I ended gently.

  She let out a breath and relaxed, “Of course, Andras. I wasn’t thinking anything like that. It just took me by surprise.” She looked around again, “I am going to enjoy studying every piece of art. Then, I’m going to sink into oblivion in that beautiful bed. Thank you.”

  She gave me a brilliant smile. I moved the rest of the way to her and took her face in my hands and kissed her. “Breakfast is at eight but if you miss it, there’s a variety of things you can get in the kitchen, so sleep as long as you like.”

  Tearing myself away from her was getting harder to do. “Good night little dove. Sleep well.”

  ✽✽✽

  My council was waiting for me in my study where Isaac had set out five tumblers of whiskey. When I arrived, everyone had solemn faces. I had already given Colin the report on the attack, and he of course had shared with the other three.

  Sam spoke first. Though he hid his feelings well, I had known him for long enough to know he was angry with himself. “Well, this is certainly a sudden leap from inaction to action by the Anurashin that I am sure does not bode well. But before we get into that. How the hell did you manage to fight off six Malayan tigers?”

  His worry for us sharpened his tone, and I looked steadily at him. He sighed and ran his hand through his hair. “You both could have been killed or worse. What if they had taken you both?”

  “But we were not killed, Sam. And we are here safe and sound.”

  Colin was not much better, “Andras, we made a mistake. No more going off with just the two of you I am afraid.”

  The look on his face kept me from saying anything to the contrary. Instead, I nodded at him. I looked at each of the others and said, “Agreed.”

  However, when I got done telling them about Selena taking on six tigers by my side and how she handled that Walther PPK in her red dress, four faces were looking back at me in open admiration of my girl’s fighting spirit.

  Ross said, “You mean to say, that after you had only just told her about our kind, and she was still absorbing unbelievable things about you, she did not hesitate when that net was thrown at you, and shot a supernatural being she had no clue about before he could form another one?”

  I raised my glass, “And now you understand my amazing girl. I am still trying to wrap my head around it. Breaking free of Mad Mulligan’s hound had me nearly undone, and now this. I wish you could have seen her in action.” My blood heated at the vision, and I quickly swallowed my shot of whiskey.

  “There is more to her that I need to tell you. Developments that I have not yet been able to share. Two of them came up during the attack. But when I was with Selena last night…” and they each looked sharply at me with a question in their eyes.

  “Never mind that.” I grinned at them and continued. “I found a mark on her shoulder shaped like a moon with a star behind it and a symbol of wind within it.”

  I gave them a moment to focus on the idea of the mark, and get the image of Selena’s bare shoulder in an intimate setting out of their collective minds. Then, I could see the dawning on each of them when it sank in.

  Ramsay spoke up now as our resident history expert. “There is a memory tugging at me about an ancient prophecy that is referred to as the prophecy of the marked maidens, human women who will rise up against the Anurashin with the help of their shifter mates.”

  He looked inward for a moment as if recalling the details, then, “My gods, Andras. Could it be? Could Selena be a marked maiden?”

  Looking around, I saw shock on each of their faces. “It seems it may be a possibility.” I described in detail Selena’s drawing of a man who looked like
an Anurashi warrior but different, marked with many glowing symbols, whose image she claimed was from a dream.

  They were looking astonished now and then I added, “She had also superimposed the image with that of a tiger.” Sam started pacing and Colin took a swig of his whiskey as I continued.

  “Selena is a pretty bad liar, and I don’t think I am telling you anything you don’t already know, so I don’t feel too bad. I suspect she knows I can read her well. Yet, she felt compelled to insist the image came from a dream.

  “I think she has encountered this man. Something about him has her protecting the encounter. Selena is also a good judge of character. This makes me curious about an Anurashi who can engender protection in Selena. Could he be part of this prophecy?”

  “Then tonight, two odd things occurred, one extremely alarming. One of the attackers may have been one of the princes or at least in a high position of authority. He was obviously commanding the attack and he seemed different from the others, like no other Anurashi I have seen or heard described, powerful, old, eerie green eyes.

  “After fighting, we had an opportunity to escape and I ordered Selena into the car as I made my way there, but before she could make it, the leader had turned back into a man and grabbed her. It was clear he wanted to take her.

  Various expletives now sounded from my four friends, and I said, “He took her scent and told her she was his.”

  The guys were clearly alarmed, as I expected they would be at hearing that my girl was now a target of a powerful enemy. It was enough they had me to worry about, not to mention the empathy they felt for what this fact would be doing to me.

  Hearing the arm of the chair protesting with a crack, I forced myself to relax my grip.

  Sam asked me, “And what was the other thing?”

  Looking up from my hand on the chair I said, “A strange tiger, not part of the attackers, appeared in time to help free Selena from the leader’s grasp, even as a mist started forming as if the leader was getting ready to disappear with her. Of course, Selena helped matters along for herself when she head butted him and twisted from his grasp.”