He left her cradling the teacup. She could hear him opening cabinets in the kitchenette. He came back carrying two plates with scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast. Gwen placed her cup on the nightstand and scooted against the headboard. Mischa handed her the plate and then leaned down kissing her quickly. Her mind flashed back to their night of lovemaking in Somerset. Her hand wobbled, but she caught the dish.
Mischa chuckled. “Careful.” He handed her a fork. Sitting on the end of the bed, he balanced his plate on his lap and took a bite of eggs. “I hope this is okay.”
“It’s great. I never had a man cook for me before. When my mom died, I liked to cook, so I took over the kitchen. Lindy can cook if she needs to, but she doesn’t enjoy it that much.”
“You and your sister sound close.”
“We are. I tried to make up for Mom not being there. I guess I overdid it sometimes.” Gwen took another bite.
Being like this with Mischa was nice. She felt completely at ease, and maybe a little turned on by the handsome man sitting on her bed.
Mischa winked at her as if he caught that last thought. Her face heated and she studiously went back to eating. Darn mating bond, or was it that sensitive lycan nose?
“Grigori called this morning before you awoke. He’s worried about us investigating Thomas’s death.”
“Why?” Gwen frowned.
“I guess the case has hit the news stations. Interpol is involved. Lewis called and told him about finding us at the scene.”
“Tattletale. I’m not sure Lewis is up to finding the murderers.”
“It’s his job, Gwen.”
“I know.” Gwen put her now empty plate down and picked up her tea. She blew over the surface before taking a sip. “Mmm, so good.”
Mischa smiled. “I’m glad it pleases you. When I see that look on your face, I want to take you to bed and keep you there for a week.”
“Don’t you mean me tying you to the bed for a week?” Gwen blushed at her audacity.
“There are many ways to make love without me pressing down on you. I wouldn’t need to be restrained to show you.” Mischa winked at her.
“You know I have to go into work today. Brencis and I are supposed to go out on location for one of our clients. He’s expecting me.”
“He wouldn’t mind . . .”
“No, but I would. I love my job, Mischa.”
“I know you do, detka. Here, give me your plate. If you want to get to work on time, you need to get up.”
Gwen looked at the clock and gasped. “Why did you let me sleep so late?” She threw off the covers, and still clutching her tea mug, hurried into the bathroom.
§
“So how are things going with your mate?” Brencis asked as he maneuvered the car through London traffic.
“Good, I think. Mischa is so giving and supportive. He’d do anything for me.”
“I knew once you gave him a chance, you’d see he was the right one for you. He looks better too. I think he’s gained some weight back.”
“He cooks for me.” Gwen smiled, remembering breakfast that morning.
“So you’ve domesticated the wolf. Funny, I thought Mischa was all Alpha. He was a handful when he was a boy.”
“He’s still Alpha.” Gwen jumped to Mischa’s defense. “You’re not that much older than he is.”
“I’m glad the two of you are finally bonding.” Brencis turned the car and found a parking spot on the roadside. “We’re here.”
Gwen leaned forward and looked up at the huge glass and steel building. “It’s pretty modern compared to the rest of the block.” She undid her seatbelt and opened the door.
Brencis waited on the sidewalk. “I think that was the idea. To revitalize the area and bring in the younger generation.”
Gwen smiled when Brencis’s accent thickened on the words “younger generation.”
“Feeling old?” They walked toward the entrance to the building.
“No.” Brencis shook his head. “Everything has changed so quickly with the pack. First Grigori found Melisande. Then I found Meadow. Tolya came and found Angeline. Valerii is in Paris with Josephine. You and Mischa are finally together, and Desya is trying to woo his mate, though from what I’ve heard, not very successfully.”
“That’s what you all wanted, right? To find your mates?”
“Dmitry plans to send another group of single wolves next week. The pack is growing so fast. I’m not sure we can keep up with it.”
“I see what you mean.” Gwen stepped into the lobby and looked around at the trees planted in the foyer. “The one thing I love about this pack is how intimate it is. If too many more people come, we’ll lose that feeling.”
“Exactly, though I don’t think there is anything we can do about it. The way things are going, the pack in Siberia will consist only of the old ones. I don’t think Dmitry realized that most of us would stay where our mates lived.”
“Do you miss it? Siberia?” They walked up to the receptionist’s desk.
“Sometimes. Things were simpler there.” Brencis turned to the woman behind the counter. “We’re here to see Miss Lynch. We’re with Solovyov Security.” He handed her his card.
“Yes, sir. Room 704. I’ll ring and let them know you’re on the way up. The elevators are over there.”
“Lynch? Wasn’t she the blond witch in--” Gwen followed Brencis over to the elevators.
“Yup, she’s the one. Needs a security system for her apartment. Should be fairly simple since she’s on the seventh floor.”
“I worked out the camera placements from the blueprints of her apartment. I have them right here.” Gwen patted the folder she carried.
The doors opened and they both stepped in. Brencis hit the number seven button and they both stepped back to wait.
“I guess you and Mischa will go back to Montana?” Brencis asked.
“I don’t know. We haven’t talked about it much. I think we’re still trying to get to know one another. Plus, with the diamond theft and work . . . . Things have been busy.” The doors opened and they stepped out. They turned left and walked down the hall. “My sister is already asking us to come, but I like working for you, and the pack here feels like home.”
“You’ll always be welcome here with us, Gwen. We love you. If you do decide to go back, you can visit as much as you like. Being a Shadow Walker should help with that.” Brencis stopped in front of the door to room 704 and knocked.
Gwen glanced at the security camera near the ceiling, noticing the similarities to the one at the government building where Mr. Thomas worked. She gasped as understanding hit her. Her chest ached suddenly and she reached up and pressed her hand against it. Mr. Thomas disabled the camera after she left on Friday. But if he was in on the burglary, why did they kill him?
§
“Ready to go?” Mischa asked from the door of her office.
Was the day over already? Gwen glanced up and smiled. She looked him over and noticed Mischa’s hair seemed to have recovered its shine and his complexion looked healthy. “Almost,” she answered. “I’m running a computer diagnostic of the new security system we installed today. Once it’s finished, the system will be fully functional.”
Mischa walked in and sat in the chair in front of her desk. “Another job done.”
“Yes. I love the feeling and Ms. Lynch was so nice. I didn’t know if she’d be kind of full of herself since she’s a star, but she promised to pass the company’s name to her friends and was awesome to talk to.”
“Solovyov Security, Security Systems to the Stars,” Mischa suggested. Gwen laughed.
“Something like that.” Her computer dinged signaling the end of the diagnostic procedure. Gwen read the results and smiled. “We’re up and running and looking good. I’ll shut everything down and we can leave for the day.”
“If you’d like, we can stop for dinner on the way home, or we can stop by a store and I’ll pick up some groceries.”
Gwen reache
d for her purse. “You don’t have to cook tonight, though I appreciate the offer. Why don’t we get a bite to eat? I know a little place on Lincoln’s Inn Fields.”
“It wouldn’t happen to be near the London Diamond Exchange and the Knight Tea Shoppe would it?”
“By the time we get there, they both will be closed. But I thought we might want to look around. Using Shadow, of course.”
Mischa groaned. “Gwen, Grigori asked us to stay out of it.”
“I know, but what harm is looking? We’ll stay in the Shadow Dimension so no one will even know we’ve been there.”
Mischa sighed. “Let’s go. I think I need a big piece of meat for dinner.”
“Hungry?” Gwen asked.
“That and it could be my last meal if Grigori finds out we disobeyed him. I want to make it a good one.”
“You are such a foodie.” Gwen laughed as they walked out of the office.
§
Gwen rested her hand on her stomach. “Wow, I couldn’t eat another bite. That was delicious.”
Mischa smiled. “I agree.” He’d finished his food as well and sipped on a cup of coffee.
The sun set on the horizon and the sky started to darken. Lights began to come on, up and down the street. People walked hand in hand laughing and talking outside the small café. Mischa watched everything, taking it all in. So different from Siberia and the little town in Montana where the Argent pack lived. He could see why Gwen liked London, but truth be told, at times it overwhelmed him. All the smells and noise seemed to multiply until all he wanted to do was run and hide.
“Are you okay?” Gwen asked. She leaned forward and put her hand to his head. “You’re not getting sick are you?”
“Lycans don’t get sick, Gwen. At least not like you mean. You shouldn’t either being half lycan and able to shift.”
“You’re right. I don’t think I’ve ever really been sick from an illness. My father has though.”
“Your father can’t shift, so he can’t heal the illness immediately. His metabolism is probably slower than ours as well.”
“Instead of shifting, he makes healing potions using his shaman abilities. I’ve seen it work really fast.”
“You don’t seem very close to your father.” This might’ve been a touchy subject for Gwen, but Mischa was curious.
“He’s the tribal shaman, so he is called on a lot to heal this person or fix that problem. He adopted any orphaned Shadow Walker children so they could stay with the tribe. He is busy all the time teaching the young warriors how to Shadow Walk, and after Mom died, it seemed like he didn’t have anything left to give Lindy and me. Don’t get me wrong, my father loves me and I love him. I don’t want to be another burden on him when he has so many.”
“I think your father would say you and Lindy were his most important burdens.”
Gwen laughed. “I noticed you still called us a burden.”
“I used your words. Maybe responsibility would be better.”
“You’re uncomfortable here in the city aren’t you?” Gwen asked suddenly.
“What?” Mischa asked confused.
“I can feel it through the mating bond. You don’t like the noise or the smells.”
“As long as I’m with you, detka. I’m happy.” Mischa tried to subtly close the mating bond down a little. He didn’t want to upset her with his discomfort, though he was delighted she caught the feelings through the mating bond.
“Don’t do that.” Gwen slapped the table. “I want to know what you’re feeling and don’t go all stoic on me, either. If our relationship is going to work, then we have to be open with each other.”
“Okay. Forgive me. You’re right.” Mischa put his hands up in surrender.
“You bet, I’m right. Now answer me truthfully, do you like it here in London?”
“In small doses, it’s fine, but the noise, and smells, and the people thinking so loudly, has a tendency to gang up on me. I’m used to being in the forest, not surrounded by millions of people.” Mischa hated to admit his weakness.
“What about your mental defenses? Can’t you keep the thoughts of other people out?”
“Of course, I can, but with so many people, it’s like their thoughts pound against my shields. It builds until I feel brittle.”
“I didn’t know. We should go to Somerset. Let you get away from everyone for a while.”
“It isn’t that bad. I’m fine, really. Besides, the Shadow Dimension is extremely quiet. A little time in the darkness and I will recover my center.” Mischa reached over and patted her hand. Her concern for him touched his heart.
“If you’re sure.” Gwen searched his face.
“I am, detka. Besides we have a mission tonight, right?”
Gwen smiled, stealing his breath. “Right.”
§
Gwen braced herself for the cold of the Shadow Dimension and pulled Mischa inside the darkness. She felt the slight tremble of his body beneath her hand. The frigid air affected them both. Black mist writhed around her and kissed her face. Her tribal tattoo heated and the mist fell away to circle their feet.
Gwen kept her hand on Mischa’s arm and began to visualize the inside of the Knight’s Tea Shoppe. She pictured the counter, the canisters of tea, the round tables and chairs situated loosely around the room. The cream colored walls, and the window overlooking the street finished the scene. The ground beneath their feet shifted and Gwen opened her eyes to see exactly what she had been picturing.
There was an alarm system. Not of the quality of Solovyov Security, but it would go off just the same if they came out of Shadow without entering the code. Gwen walked toward where the keypad sat on the wall near the door. She leaned close to read the display and frowned. The alarm wasn’t on.
Mischa tugged his arm to get her attention. He pointed to a line of light under the storage room door. Gwen nodded and they walked to the entrance. She smiled and winked at Mischa before pushing her head through the door to see who was in the room. She’d always thought that she probably looked like something out of a children’s movie. The ghostly face coming through the door. Of course, the door didn’t exist in Shadow.
Gwen stiffened in shock. Mildred made out with a man. Not Mr. Lerner from the diamond exchange, but Mildred’s own brother, Henry.
“Eeww, her own brother?” Gwen turned to Mischa. He’d connected with her telepathically and saw the scene played out through Gwen’s thoughts.
“Perhaps they aren’t related by blood. Let’s see if they say anything incriminating.” They both stepped through the door and watched the couple going at it. Mildred reached for her brother’s zipper on his pants when he stopped her.
“I’ve got to go, Millie. I won’t make my flight.” Henry held her hands in his.
“I want to go with you. I don’t want to be alone.” Mildred continued to kiss Henry after each sentence.
“I know, love, but you have to keep an eye on Steven. I think he called the cops about Thomas.”
“Are you sure Nigel recorded you with his cell phone? Maybe Beechum was wrong about what he saw.”
Gwen gasped and looked at Mischa. Didn’t Mr. Thomas say something that sounded like “beach” before he died? Was he trying to tell her who shot him? She didn’t remember seeing a cell phone at his house.
“Wrong or not, Beechum is dangerous,” Henry said. “I’ll text you when I arrive. It won’t be long, Millie, and we’ll have everything we’ve ever dreamed.”
“I should be taping this,” Gwen sent to Mischa. She searched her purse and pulled a digital recorder out and turned it on.
“When can I come to South America? When can we be together again?” Mildred wrapped her arms around her brother and kissed him passionately.
“She’s laying it on a little thick, isn’t she?” Mischa asked telepathically.
“Heat of the moment?” Gwen suggested. “We have to let Lewis know Mildred’s brother is leaving for South America.”
Henry opened th
e storage room door. “You need to be patient, Millie. We can’t take any chances. Trust me to know what to do. Now come on. You need to drive me to the airport. Beechum will meet us there.”
Gwen closed her eyes as the couple walked through where she stood. She felt a cool breeze as they passed. It always unnerved her when that happened. She turned and watched as the couple left the building holding hands.
Gwen sighed and squeezed Mischa’s arm. Time to get out of here and talk to Lewis. She pictured her apartment in her mind and they translocated.
Chapter Ten
“Dammit, Gwen! I told you to stay out of this case. I could arrest you for obstruction of justice. I don’t even want to know how you got that recording.” Lewis paced in front of the table in the kitchenette. Mischa leaned against the wall and listened.
“Officer Lewis, Mildred’s brother is going to South America tonight! He’s going to get away.” Gwen frowned.
Mischa felt bad for her. Lewis wasn’t going to help. The small bit of conversation Gwen thought to record didn’t prove that Mildred and her brother were in on the diamond heist or Mr. Thomas’s murder.
“So you say,” Lewis said. “But everyone will think you’re a disgruntled employee who is trying to make trouble for the man that fired you. I can’t take anything you say as fact, Gwen.”
“At least say you will investigate Mildred and Mr. Lerner. You’ve got to do something to find Mr. Thomas’s killer.” Gwen rose from the table and filled the electric kettle. “Tea?”
“I can’t stay, and I can’t tell you about the case either. For the last time, stay out of this, Gwen.” Lewis nodded at Mischa before turning toward the door. “I’ll show myself out.” Gwen went to follow him.
“Let him go, detka.” Mischa stopped her with a hand on her arm. “He can’t help. This isn’t our case and any evidence we bring has to be concrete. Henry and Mildred’s conversation was vague even to my ears.”
“I know it doesn’t add up to much, but I know they’re in on it and I promised Mr. Thomas.”
“If the evidence won’t stand up to scrutiny, it won’t help anyone. Give it a rest for tonight. We’ll keep trying to come up with something that will prove they’re guilty.”
Lycan's Mate: Book Twelve of the Siberian Volkov Pack Romance Series Page 10