by JL Madore
"Do you think I care what anyone else thinks? The Fates got this one so right, it's a slam-dunk, baby. We could be great together. You just have to believe that."
He brushed a finger along the polished curve of his bear-claw pendant and smiled.
Another wave of tears threatened. "I'm sorry . . . the thing with Katsu . . . blaming you for the bonding . . . all of it. I'm so sorry."
He shook his head. "It doesn't have to be easy to be right."
I chuckled and swiped my cheek dry. "Well, in that case, we should be golden, 'cause not one thing about this has been easy."
Bruin pulled me against his warm, powerful chest and wrapped his arms around me. A sob ripped up my windpipe and I got pulled in tighter. He held me, strong arms loving me, protecting me, holding me. And when he picked me up and set me in his lap on the edge of his bed, all my anger and fear and rejection bubbled up and broke free. He didn't mind.
And that was the point, wasn't it?
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
It was amazing what a little heart-to-heart could do for a girl.
With our bodies entwined under warm, weighty blankets, Bruin and I claimed the morning for ourselves. For once, we didn't have sex. We lounged. We talked. We listened. We slept. It was a kind of intimacy I'd never experienced before. And each time I'd woken, Bruin's bear had been wrapped completely around me. Warm. Protective. At peace.
Turned out, his bear was as much of a snuggler as he was. And how wonderful was that.
When we finally tore ourselves away from our love-in, we checked on Aust's recovery—he'd moved back to his own suite before lunch—and recapped the info Julian and I had found on the chemical shipments. The idea that the Scourge might be able to tranquilize Weres and torture them or mask their rotting stench would upset the balance of Were defenses.
Bruin didn't like the implications at all.
While he poured over the photos once again, I hopped into the shower and got ready for a night of stargazing. Today we'd started to get our bearings. Tonight, we'd build on that. With Aust feeling better, the three of us were taking Grandfather to Nash's celestial gathering.
I braided my hair and wrapped a towel tight across my chest before fumbling through my dresser . . . sweats, jeans, khakis. Bruin wore black jeans—no holes—and a white collared shirt that highlighted the golden tone of his skin and a black leather vest. This was our first outing as a real couple and I wanted to look the part.
"What do you wear for a romantic night out watching comets?"
"As little as possible."
I rolled my eyes. "When other people are going to be there too."
His playful growl had me running, but there was no escape. In two predatory strides, he closed in and caught me. Ignoring my protest, he caged me in his arms and nipped at my neck while I squealed. When I was out of breath, he kissed the end of my nose and set me free. "Why don't you check your closet? Maybe something in there might work."
I straightened my towel and headed into my suite "I didn't bring enough to need the closet. I haven't even been in—"
My breath caught as I stepped inside and flipped on the light. Sliding one hanger after another down the chrome bar I stared at the collection of clothes: blouses, evening dresses, designer jeans, leather jackets and wow, the lingerie. I ran my fingers along the skimpy silk teddies, leather corsets and fine French lace as my cheeks burned fifty shades of scarlet.
"When did you do this?"
He pressed in behind me and kissed the bare skin at the back of my neck. When he spoke, his voice was husky and deeper than usual. "The night Jade started her Yearning. I couldn't sleep and felt bad about ignoring you. I, uh . . . was thinking about you . . . a lot."
I held up an embarrassingly flimsy teal teddy and raised a brow. "I see that."
Firm hands splayed across my belly and over my towel. "Try it on. Go on. I dare you."
I stuffed it back between the others as quick as I could. While he continued to chuckle behind me, I slipped into a cute pair of embroidered blue jeans and a white Grecian top. Man, he had a keen eye for shopping. And he could accessorize too. I buckled a chunky leather belt over my shirt. It hung low on my hips and looked awesome with the pair of gladiator sandals I strapped on. With a couple bangles clamped on my arm, I twirled in front of the mirror.
"Stunning," he said, lifting me up by the rounds of my ass and pinning me to the wall. "It's even more beautiful on you than I imagined. Too beautiful to stay on you, actually."
Nice. Amazing what new clothes could do for a girl's outlook.
The knock at the door had Bruin cursing and me giggling. "Save that thought for later."
I wriggled free from Bruin's hold and rushed to the door. Aust stood in the hall as Faolan bounded in. He looked a million times better than he had. Better even than this afternoon. "Hey there, we're almost ready. Come in."
Aust inclined his head to Bruin and paused inside the door. He looked from me to Bruin and back again, the tension obvious. "Mika tells me you will be joining us this evening."
"If you don't mind me tagging along."
Aust’s ice-blue gaze narrowed. "And if I did?"
Bruin stood to his full height as his smile grew wider. "I'd come anyway."
Why did men have to be such . . . men? I sighed. "Well this is shaping up to be a fabulous night. What's going on? You two are friends, remember?"
Aust closed the door and touched the shiner on his cheek. "Friends indeed."
I stepped back and looked at them both. "What? Tell me you two didn't fight?"
Bruin exhaled. "Faolan recounted what you saw in the garden to Aust and he rose to be your champion before I could explain. It's all sorted out now though."
Aust waved away my glare. "Let us focus on the night ahead. You look lovely, neelan.
"Thanks." I spun slowly so he could get the full effect. "Bruin picked the outfit for me."
He inclined his head to Bruin and swallowed. "You have wonderful instincts. Your choices suit her perfectly."
I thought about all that silk, leather and lace in the closet and wondered what Bruin's instincts told him when he picked those out. I excused myself to check my pony tail and finish the last touch-ups to my makeup. Leaning close to the vanity mirror, I brushed my cheek with extra blush to hide my flush. When I straightened, the air around me swirled.
Rabbit? The Creator is waiting for us to come and be awed by him.
I smiled at the excitement in Grandfather's gravelly voice and freed Bruin's claw pendant so it rested on top of my blouse. Focused on the warm breeze, I answered over the wind. "Yes Grandfather, we're ready. Are you in your suite?"
No. I am by the pool drinking mead with Cowboy and his warrior brothers.
"We'll be right down." I snagged a cute jean jacket from the closet and Bruin shrugged on his leather jacket. Though it looked like a regular biker jacket, I knew from trying to move it earlier, that the thing weighed a ton and was stuffed with weapons.
Aust and Faolan stepped into the hall and Bruin closed the door behind us.
"He guys. I'm glad I caught you." Julian jogged up the hall, coins jingling in his pockets, his loafers quiet on the beige hallway carpet. I read the slogan on his t-shirt and smiled. Definitely a gift from Bruin . . . Come over to the geek side. We have Pi.
"Bree's been looking for you two," he said, scrubbing his palm over his short-trimmed hair. The smooth, brown skin of his forearm brought me up short. Where was his tattoo? He seemed to notice me staring and crossed his arms over his chest. "She's almost nailed down the exact formula of the pills, and you were right, Mika. They are scent-repressing. She also has a few more questions and wanted to talk when you have a chance."
"Oh, okay," I said, "we can head right over—"
Bruin shook his head. "Tell Bree we'll swing by the bar in a couple of hours, after we're done at the observatory. There's nothing to be done tonight and we have a date."
The observation platform, five stories above the
Academy astrology center, was buzzing when we arrived. Nash had the group's attention, making his way around the 360-degree balcony, pointing out key elements of the meteor shower. "If you trace the paths of the Delta Aquarid meteors backward what will you find?"
"The star Delta Aquarii—also called Skat," a bookish girl with frizzy curls answered.
"That's right, Mercy. And what two species draw its power from the Delta star?"
"Well," she continued, "unlike Weres who draw strength from the moon cycles, it's Star Faeries and Fire-Drakes who are powered by celestial movements including meteors and stars."
Nash nodded and moved to greet us. "Hey, welcome. Thanks for coming. I saved an observation station for you over here." He bowed his head to my Grandfather and led us to what looked like a large view-finder on a pedestal. As Grandfather, Aust and Nash discussed the celestial events of the past few weeks, Bruin and I pointed into the northern night sky and talked constellations. His favorite, of course, were Ursa Major and Ursa Minor.
When the evening eventually waned, we were the last to step away from our telescopes and give up for the night. Every question had been asked and answered about legends and beliefs from my world, his, and Aust's. I hadn't even noticed the observation deck was almost deserted.
Grandfather stepped back, his eyes twinkling with contentment. "What a wonderful evening."
"Glad you enjoyed it." Nash said. "Will you stay for the reception downstairs? It's always a lot of fun." As if on cue, music wove its way up the stairwell and students and guests began flooding from the main floor onto the cobblestone patio below. From where we stood at the railing far above, the glowing luminescence of cocktails shone like neon lights of fuchsia, lime and tangerine.
Grandfather picked up his walking stick and started toward the door to the stairwell. "I shall leave the festivities to the young. Mika and Bruin should stay though."
"Don't be silly, Grandfather. We'll walk you back."
"Nonsense." He waved a weathered hand between us. "Aust and Faolan will see me home well enough, won't you son?"
Aust bowed his head and gestured toward the doorway. "It would be my sincerest pleasure, Grandfather."
I knew better than to argue with Grandfather once his mind was set. I kissed them both goodnight. "All right, then I'll see you in the morning."
He winked and patted my hand. "Have a good time, Rabbit. And remember, every new day is another chance to live your life."
"Thanks Confucius."
Grandfather laughed and tapped my calf with his walking stick.
When the remaining students moved downstairs, Bruin walked around over to speak with Nash and I strolled to the other side of the platform for one final look. What a night. My hand skimmed the cold brushed chrome of the railing as hundreds of stars glittered above. It amazed me that the grandeur of the universe could be lost in a night sky filled with city lights. But here, in this realm of natural and magical wonders, Earth Mother's power really came through.
"Mika?" I turned to the sweet smile of a young girl with blue mottled skin. She was tall and slim, with an unnaturally long neck loosely covered with a swath of colourful silk. Her hand was propped by her shoulder, balancing a tray of multi-coloured drinks. Lifting a margarita glass filled with a sparkling crimson liquid, she offered it to me. "Something sweet while you wait for your mate's return?"
"Uh . . . thanks." I stared at the concoction swirling in the glass, mesmerized by the candy apple scent. "Is this okay for me to drink? It's not going to give me gills or Faerie wings or anything, is it?"
She giggled. "No, but stay away from the yellow shots the Faeries have downstairs. Bruin should avoid the swirly green ones too."
"Oh, you know Bruin?"
She smirked. "I think most every woman on campus knows Bruin."
The skin on my neck tingled and a gentle wind lifted my hair as the Earth Sprits whispered in my ear. Run, Mika.
Something sharp punctured my skin. I reached for the point of pain, blinked and tried to clear the hum of confusion. My vision clouded. The blue girl spoke. The unfamiliar language circled in my mind. Words blurred my senses. She plucked the margarita glass from my hand.
The smooth, seductive youth of the blue-skinned girl undulated in the moonlight like a mirage. Soulless, black eyes replaced gold, a twisted, pointed-toothed sneer instead of the girl's sweet smile. "Sorry about this, but the master found you weren't affected by his charms the last time he visited you."
My limbs buckled and I crashed to the concrete observation deck, paralyzed. Master?
Long, clawed fingers fished a leather cord from the cleavage of her blouse. At the end of the cord, hung a small golden flute, etched with black runes. She covered the holes and poised the mouthpiece to her lips. The high-pitched tune sent a shiver up my spine.
I swallowed and tried to speak. No sound came. My gaze dragged across the platform.
Bruin—Bruin dropped to his knees, the golden fury of his bear glowing in his eyes as he gazed at Abaddon gloating above him.
"Now, now, my young lovebirds, you didn't think I'd forgotten about you, did you?"
Movement in the sky had me rolling my gaze as far as I could to follow. Something was coming. Something big. A silhouette against the brightness of the stars grew larger, flapping powerful wings as it drew nearer. The rhythmic swoosh of giant wings cut through air. I searched the sky for the incoming bird, only it wasn't a bird. My mind reeled as the brindled wings of an enormous golden eagle flapped above me, lowering the massive body of a lion, five feet from where I lay.
Abaddon's amusement rang in his silky voice as he stepped over to me. "Never seen a Griffon before? Magical, aren't they? Quickly. Get her onto the mount."
A kaleidoscope of colors flashed before my eyes as the blue girl's silk scarf blocked my vision. Strong hands plucked me up and slung me over the coarse, golden fur of the Griffon's back. Within moments I was bound and felt the pull of being lifted up and up, into the night sky.
I struggled against the magic and drug binding me immobile. I fought to scream or call to the wind whistling in my ears. Nothing worked and I was losing consciousness. Being blindfolded for the flight was good though. The last thing I needed was to be staring at the ground below, dizzy and about to pass out. Tight ropes held me snug to the flexing muscles of the beast. Tight enough to keep me from falling . . . I hoped.
What were they doing to Bruin? Had they kidnapped him too? The thought both enraged and comforted me. We banked a hard right and I slipped. My body shifted several inches on the fine fur of the beast. I gritted my teeth and my world dimmed.
CHAPTER FORTY
I suppose it was naïve of me to expect that a massive flying lion-bird beast would land us in a massive lion-bird nest, but somehow it caught me off guard when I woke on a pallet and found myself locked in a modern-styled prison. The room wasn't massive, but still large enough to have several cells divided and self-contained, the windowless, chiseled stone walls honed to a smooth honey finish, the rough stone floors and ceilings pierced with black iron bars dividing the space. How welcoming.
In the space beyond my prison, large woven tapestries hung, flanked by broken sculptures and defaced art. It was like Metropolitan Home met Caverns and Cages.
If I wasn't being kidnapped the mystery of this place alone would keep me busy for days.
A baleful whine had me on my knees and shaking the fog from my head. In the next cage over an extremely agitated silver-tipped Kodiak reared off his haunches, threw back his head and roared toward the ceiling.
"Bruin," I hissed, scrambling forward. "Calm down, big guy. I'm all right.
I crawled to the bars and shoved my arm through.
In the split second my arm touched the iron bar, it singed and sizzled. I screamed as my flesh burned and threw myself back.
Bruin's bear went wild. Over and again he threw himself at the bars until the fur on his shoulders had singed and the pads of his paws bled raw. Being out of his mind wasn't
helping either one of us.
"Bruin. Hey big guy, look at me." His head swayed on a violent pendulum as if he wasn't hearing me, but I knew he did. I also knew he hated feeling helpless. "Bruin. I need you to calm down. I'm scared and I need you. I need my mate."
His massive, heart-shaped face tilted to one side as golden eyes froze in a haunted stare. "That's right, baby. Please. Come to me."
Carefully this time, I reached through the bars and wriggled my fingers. After a moment, Bruin lumbered over. The throaty huff and the solid colour of his eyes told me his bear still held complete control, but he'd stopped hurting himself. When he was close enough, I scrubbed my fingertips into the ruff of his fur. When my fingers sank deep into the soft, smooth undercoat, my tension eased a little.
"That's right. Come closer, baby, let me scratch your ears."
I locked my fingers into Bruin's fur and blinked my eyes clear. Think. I needed to—
"How heartwarming. Beauty tames her beast." Abaddon clapped his hands as he stepped into view. Deceivingly handsome, the man carried himself with an unmistakable air of someone accustomed to being admired. Dressed in black slacks and a black silk shirt, the guy would give Bela Lugosi the creeps.
Bruin's violent spin knocked my arm against the bars and again I screamed and withdrew. His bear raged, throwing itself against the doorway of his cage as Abaddon passed Bruin's cage and came to mine. He held up his palm and the door swung open for him and latched behind him once he let himself inside.
The agony in Bruin's growls hurt my ears as the smell of his burning flesh and fur raised my urge to gag. I breathed through my mouth until my stomach settled. "What do you want?"
Abaddon bowed his head, his icy gaze locked on mine. The nearer he got, the stronger my senses reeled. He oozed an unnatural energy, a power that countered the very fabric of everything the Earth Mother governed over.
Though the compulsion in his words didn't hold me captive, when he brushed my cheek, my sixth sense exploded. Every cell in my body crawled in revulsion. It was like being infested by a million spiders and having them scurry around on my insides.