Instead of having Gwen call in another employee, Mischa volunteered to take the shift. It kept him close to Gwen without breathing down her neck. Mischa smiled. He’d done that last night and gotten a delightful reaction from his mate.
Other parts of his body began to remember last night. Mischa moaned, tamping down his reaction. He didn’t want Gwen to feel him lusting after her while she spoke to her boss. A knock sounded on the door. Mischa got up to open it. He frowned when he saw Grigori waiting.
“I thought you were with Gwen?” Mischa asked.
“I was. She did her Shadow Walking thing to go to her apartment to retrieve notes she took while working at the Knight Tea Shoppe. I came to tell you I’ve called in an employee to cover this shift. When Gwen gets back I have another job for you.”
“Another job?” Mischa asked.
Suddenly terror rushed into his body. His skin began to sweat and he shivered.
“What is it?” Grigori asked. “What’s the matter?”
Mischa’s wolf rose to the surface, fur ran under his skin while lights began to swirl around him. His body wanted to shift forms.
“Not here!” Grigori pushed Mischa back into the monitor room. “Get a grip on your wolf and tell me what’s going on!”
“It’s Gwen,” Mischa growled.
§
“Ms. Stone? Is there something I can do for you?” Gwen asked.
Mildred Stone stood in the doorway. She wore wrinkled clothes and her messy hair flew around her face. She appeared pale and her eyes seemed strange. Her hand was in the pocket of her jacket. Gwen startled when she realized Mildred pointed a gun at her.
“You’ve ruined everything!” Mildred stepped into the apartment.
Gwen took a step back and shook her head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Yes, you do. You told the police about Henry.” Mildred stepped closer and pulled the gun out of her pocket. “I heard them talking when they came to search our apartment. They found evidence in his room. I couldn’t stop them. I didn’t know Henry foolishly left the blueprints of the Diamond Exchange and Sardinia Government Building on his desk.”
“But didn’t he go to South America?” Gwen looked around. There really wasn’t anywhere to escape. She couldn’t open an entrance into Shadow with so much light coming in the windows. Unless she could get behind a door, but Mildred could kill her before then.
“Yes, they picked him up at the airport when he landed, him and Beechum too. Henry called me to hire a Solicitor and Barrister. But you did this! You couldn’t keep your nose out of our business. Now you’re going to pay.” Mildred raised her gun, murder in her gaze.
Time seemed to slow. Gwen raised her hands in a futile gesture to ward off the bullet.
“Don’t,” she said.
At the same time her mind screamed out to the one person she didn’t want to leave. “Mischa!” A cool breeze blew across Gwen. The shot sounded and she flinched, closing her eyes. Something heavy fell against her and she landed on the floor. She opened her eyes to see Mischa lying on top of her.
“Mischa?” She couldn’t believe it. He’d come to save her.
Noises of a scuffle filled the room. Grigori subdued Mildred. As the struggle quieted, police sirens could be heard from the distance. Gwen pushed against Mischa’s still form.
“Mischa, thank goodness you came. Get off, you’re heavy.”
Mischa’s only response was a moan. Gwen frowned and scooted out from under his weight. She sat up. Blood covered Mischa’s chest. His blue eyes fluttered open.
“I will always love you . . .”
“Mischa!” Gwen put her hands over the gushing wound. “Grigori, help me. You’ve got to do something!”
“Govno! I’m sorry to do this.” Grigori punched Mildred in the face.
She fell to the floor in a slump. He kneeled next to Mischa.
“He’s bleeding out. He needs to shift and heal. Grab onto his spirit, I’ll give an Alpha command.”
Gwen threw her mind into the mating bond and followed it into Mischa’s body. A small flicker of light seemed to be moving farther away from her. She chased after it and surrounded the light with her own, holding it and not letting it leave.
“Stay with me, Mischa. I need you. I know not all lycans are like Chuck. You prove that to me every day, but I sometimes slip back into the panic. I need you to hold onto me. Please, Mischa, don’t leave me.” Tears dripped down her face and onto her mate’s. She shared her memories of each touch, each look of compassion and understanding Mischa gave to her, his undying faith that they could have a life together.
Grigori issued his Alpha command. White lights began to appear around Mischa. Then swirled around his form until the light blinded her eyes. Gwen felt movement under her hands. Mischa’s clothes shredded. When the lights blinked out, a silver and white wolf lay under her palms. The wolf licked her face.
“You’re all right!” Gwen exclaimed.
“Hurry!” Grigori said. “The police will be here any second. We called them from the office. Mischa get in the bathroom and change back. Make sure to wash off any blood. Gwen grab his clothes and hide them. I’ll answer the door and stall Detective Inspector Lewis.”
Mischa ran off down the hall. Gwen grabbed his clothes, opened a small hole into Shadow behind the door and tossed them inside the other dimension. She hurried back and washed her hands in the kitchen sink as someone pounded on the door. Grigori opened the entrance and Officer Lewis glowered at them.
“Lewis, glad you got here so quickly.” Grigori stepped back and motioned him inside. "Mildred Stone tried to kill Gwen. If I hadn’t gotten here when I did, she would have succeeded. I believe her gun landed over there.” Grigori pointed to the weapon that fell from Mildred’s hand in her struggle. “I’m afraid I had to punch her. She didn’t want to stop.”
Lewis glanced at the gun and then kneeled down to check on Mildred. “I know you said you saw Ms. Stone on the camera monitor, but how did you get here so quickly?”
Gwen dried her hands. How did they get here so fast?
“Just lucky, I guess.” Grigori winked at Gwen.
§
“I can’t believe you risked going through Shadow to get to me. You both could have been lost.” Gwen glared at Mischa and Grigori. Her heart hurt at the thought of losing either of these men.
“I paid careful attention to the procedure when you were doing it before,” Mischa said. “Lindy said I should be able to become proficient in entering Shadow on my own and the mating bond helped me connect to you. I will always find you, Gwen.”
“Yes, I think you will.” She leaned over and kissed Mischa, her heart bursting with love for her mate.
“That was Lewis,” Grigori said, hanging up the phone.
They all came to Solovyov Security while Gwen’s apartment was considered a crime scene. Grigori sat behind his desk while Mischa and Gwen sat in the chairs in front.
Gwen ordered lunch, including an extra steak for Mischa who still looked pale to her. The food would arrive any moment. Mischa held her hand. He wanted her to sit on his lap, but she refused. She nearly complained about the hand holding, but Mischa almost died for her today, the least she could do was let him hold onto her.
“You asked me to. I heard your voice asking me to hold onto you.” Mischa’s voice brushed up against her mind. Gwen smiled. She had asked him to hold onto her.
“If you two are finished staring soulfully into each other’s eyes, I have some news,” Grigori said. “Ms. Stone has regained consciousness and admits to trying to murder Gwen. They recovered most of the diamonds from Beechum and Stone’s brother along with Thomas’s cell phone. He recorded the robbery and the men using the alley between the government building and the diamond exchange to escape.”
“What was his last name anyway? Wasn’t he a Stone?” Gwen asked.
“No, Mildred was adopted. Stone was her given name. Her brother was Henry Lerner. He’s brother to St
even Lerner, the manager of the London Diamond Exchange.”
“So Mildred really was in love with her adopted brother Henry,” Gwen said.
“They kept the heist in the family,” Mischa said.
“For the most part,” Grigori said. “Beechum and Thomas were the other accomplices. I’m sorry about your friend, Gwen.”
“I’m sorry Nigel made some bad choices,” Gwen said. Mischa squeezed her hand and she smiled at him. “I guess Tolya was right, they did want to use the government building next door to get into the diamond exchange.”
“Don’t tell him,” Mischa groaned. “He’ll never let us forget it.”
The buzzer went off on the intercom. “I hope that’s lunch,” Grigori said as he answered.
“Mr. Grigori, there is an urgent phone call for Ms. Quiet Thunder on line one,” his receptionist said.
Gwen frowned and walked around the desk to pick up the phone.
“Hello?”
“Gwen, it’s Dad,” her sister said, Lindy’s voice sounded tearful. “He’s at the clinic at Isanti, Inc. in New Mexico. You need to come. He’s asking for you.”
§
Mischa growled when the flash of fear traveled through the mating bond. He hated that Gwen had to deal with another trauma so closely after almost being killed this afternoon. Gwen hung up the phone and looked at him, her face drained of color. He moved before he thought, gathering her into his arms, trying to protect her.
“I have to go to New Mexico. My father . . .” her voice faltered.
“We have to go, detka.” Mischa sent reassurance through the mating bond. Gwen wasn’t going anywhere without him. He almost lost her today.
“Go,” Grigori said. “I’ll handle things with the police. Come back when you can.” He rose from his chair and held out his hand.
Mischa shook it. Gwen walked out of his embrace and into Grigori’s. “Thank you, for everything. I don’t think I could have survived without your training and help.”
“You are always welcome in my pack, Gwen.” Grigori gave her a hug and nodded at Mischa. “Come back to us when you can. Melisande will expect you for the birth of our son.”
“It’s a boy?” Gwen asked, wiping tears from her eyes. She reached for Mischa’s hand.
“Yes, we connected telepathically to the baby last night. I’m thinking of naming him Nikolai, after my father. Give my regards to your family, Gwen.”
“I will and congratulations again on your son.” Gwen looked up at Mischa. “Ready to do some more Shadow Walking?”
Mischa squeezed her hand. “Where you go, I go, detka.” Gwen nodded and moved behind the door where a small shadow wavered. She opened a portal and they both stepped through.
The cold of the Shadow Dimension always tried to steal his breath. Mischa gritted his teeth as they moved through the darkness. A hallway soon appeared with people wearing white uniforms hurrying back and forth. Gwen found a small alcove holding a couple of vending machines and opened their exit.
They stepped back onto the Earth plane. Warmth quickly surrounded them as well as the sounds of medical machines and the smell of antiseptic and cleaning solution. Mischa wrinkled his nose at the scents.
“Gwen!” a voice called from down the hall. Lindy ran up and hugged her sister. Sergei walked up behind her and clamped Mischa on the shoulder. “You did it. I can see the bond between you and your mate. It’s as thick as my fist,” Sergei said in awe.
“Yes, we’ve managed.” Mischa winked at Gwen. Color suffused her face.
“Dad?” Gwen asked.
“This way. He’s been asking for you,” Lindy said.
“Do we know what’s wrong with him?” Mischa asked.
Lindy shook her head. “Dr. Rick is running tests, but so far nothing has turned up positive.”
§
Gwen and Mischa followed her sister down the hall at the clinic. She wrung her hands and her stomach burned. It became a struggle to move forward. Suddenly, strength and reassurance filled her, flowing to her through the mating bond from Mischa. Gwen glanced back at her mate and smiled in gratitude. Mischa always knew what she needed. She was blessed to have him for a mate.
He reached for her hand, and threading his fingers through hers, he linked them.
“Together, forever, detka” whispered into her mind. She nodded and took a deep breath before stepping into her father’s room.
Gwen frowned at the frail old man lying in the bed. Where was the vibrant shaman that ruled the tribe?
“Até, Father?”
Isanti’s eyes opened. He reached out a quivering hand. “You came.”
“Of course, I came,” Gwen said, sitting in the chair next to the bed.
She took her father’s hand in hers and felt the bones so distinctly under his paper-thin skin. When did this happen? She’d only been gone six months.
“Forgive me,” Isanti said. He coughed. “I should have protected you. You should have told me Chuck assaulted you.”
“I couldn’t, Até. I was ashamed. Ashamed of who and what I was, but I know now it wasn’t my fault, nor was it my wolf’s fault. Grigori and Mischa helped me realize that being lycan isn’t bad.”
“Yes, I can see the bond between you. I’m glad. Now that I know you will be protected, I can go in peace.” Isanti’s eyes closed.
“No!” Gwen cried out. “Please don’t leave me. Not now when I am finally whole again.”
Isanti sighed and opened his eyes. Gwen almost smiled at the look of censure on his face. There was the man she knew her father to be.
“Daughter, you have never been anything, but whole. You are strong. You survived and learned to thrive. I’m proud of you.” He dropped his head back onto his pillow, looking exhausted. “Life is a journey, not a destination. I have journeyed long. I have passed my knowledge on to you and your sister and my other foster children. It’s finally time for me to go to your mother and find my eternal rest. You must let me go, child.”
“Not yet, please. Stay a while longer. I’ll sit here and we can talk. I can tell you all the things I’ve learned. I can share how Mischa was able to overcome my fears.”
“A brave man, indeed. I am glad to have him for a son-in-law. Only a true warrior could claim your wild heart.”
“Stay, Papa. Get to know him. It’s too soon for you to go.” Gwen held her breath. Would her father be willing to stay, to fight to live a while longer?
“Perhaps you’re right,” Isanti said with a twinkle in his eye. “I should warn him how to handle your moods. You are a dangerous warrior in your own right. I would hate to have him accidently anger you.”
Mischa chuckled. He stood leaning against the doorframe. “She’s dangerous all right. I could use all the help you can offer.”
“Very well, since you need me. I’ll stay, but just a little while longer. Come, sit by my daughter and tell me how you won her heart.” Isanti patted the bed next to him.
Lindy sighed in relief and Sergei hugged her. Gwen smiled and held her hand out to Mischa. Nothing could stop her father from leaving this Earth if he didn’t want to stay. Thank goodness getting to know Mischa would keep him here a while longer.
Chapter Twelve
The day was cool and crisp as they stood at the cemetery in Greenenough, Montana.
Mischa kept his arm around Gwen’s waist while keeping the mating bond wide open. He could feel her grief at her father’s passing, but at the same time, she seemed accepting. Lindy stood nearby with Sergei. Next to them stood Raven Darkwood, chief of the tribe, and his wife, Cara, as well as Katherine, Derek’s wife. Derek, the new tribal shaman stood at the podium set up for the event.
Mischa looked out at the mass of people that still grew even as he watched. He recognized some of the lycans standing in the crowd as well as three women he knew were known as the Baba Yagas, two of them finding husbands from the Nuni Nagi tribe. Derek finally began and the crowd grew quiet.
“Isanti Quiet Thunder worked his entire life t
o save those few families left of the tribe known as the Nuni Nagi. He gathered them from where they had been scattered throughout two countries and gave them a home. He taught them to cherish their heritage and abilities and gave them a purpose that helped the new nation of which they were now a part. He provided jobs and medical care, created a company that has since made enough to support us all and believed in a dream of unity and freedom for us. That dream is now our reality, because of Isanti’s love and dedication. We now return our loved one to the earth from which he came,” Derek intoned.
Isanti kept his promise and stayed almost two weeks before passing quietly in the night. He and Gwen spoke for hours, catching up on things that had never been spoken of before.
Lindy had time with her father as well, as did their foster brothers, Raven and Derek Darkwood. Gwen’s foster sister, Tatiana Powell came with her new mate, William Cody, between jobs with the state department. Other tribal members came as well, giving the old shaman their last respects.
The whole tribe gathered now to support Isanti’s family and make sacred his final resting place. Mischa’s family now, too.
Gwen leaned back into Mischa’s embrace as each person came to shake her hand and offer their condolences. A few tears slid down her face, but underneath, Mischa felt her strength. His mate truly was a warrior in her own right.
Lindy and Sergei said their goodbyes before Sergei took his grieving mate home. Raven and Derek were the last to walk up with their wives. They each hugged Gwen and nodded at Mischa.
“Isanti left the company in my hands,” Raven said. “But the ranch he left to you and Mischa. He said Lindy and Sergei had the Argent pack lands, so Lindy didn’t need the ranch too. Of course, since you’re part of their pack, you might want to join the land together. It’s up to you.”
Gwen nodded. “I’ll think about it. Mischa and I haven’t discussed our future plans yet.”
Mischa nuzzled Gwen’s hair, pleased she thought to include him in her decisions. Of course, whatever she wanted would be fine with him. Her happiness was his first priority as her mate.
Lycan's Mate: Book Twelve of the Siberian Volkov Pack Romance Series Page 12