Captivating the Bear

by Jane Godman

  Although Lidi knew he was right, she had grown to love the funny little animal who had been such an important part of their adventure. She felt strongly that Bruno had more to give them, but even if he wasn’t a mystical protector, even if he was just a dog, he was her dog.

  “I will care for him.” She tilted her chin upward, looking Ged firmly in the eye.

  To her surprise, he nodded. “We all will.”

  Even Andrei, who had been unimpressed by Bruno at their first meeting, placed a hand on the dog’s head. “He’s one of the team.”

  “Will he be able to keep up with us as we cross the mountains?” Sasha asked.

  Ged laughed as he pulled his sweatshirt over his head. “We’re bears. He’s a dog. He’ll probably enjoy trying to chase or herd us.”

  Although Bruno inspected them thoroughly once they’d shifted, he appeared to find nothing strange about the fact that they had been humans one minute and were bears the next. Moving in a group, they set off toward the mountains. They climbed high peaks, ran through gentle valleys and into steep ravines, skirted glaciers and lakes, and plodded along plateaus. As a human, Lidi would have struggled with the pace. As a bear, she was enjoying herself.

  Even so, the approach was physically draining. Ged kept close to Andrei, but his brother coped well with the terrain. After a few grueling hours, Lidi recalled the conversation Ged had overheard between Vasily’s men. They had said she wouldn’t take this route into Callistoya. Perhaps they had been wise.

  Finally, up ahead, she saw the ridge topped with white-veiled polar birch trees that marked the Callistoya border. This was where the atmosphere changed and became charged with an extra, supernatural dimension. She could feel it, a magnetism in the air that was unique to Callistoya. Very few humans would come to this remote part of the world. Those who did would remain oblivious to its enchantment, perhaps experiencing only a shiver down the spine as they passed. Only a true shifter or those with enchanted genes would feel the pull of the magical realm and be able to see the land that existed beyond those earthly peaks.

  As they drew closer, Bruno began to whine and trail behind her. Lidi nudged him with her nose, but the little dog sat down, refusing to go any farther.

  She looked up at the ridge, catching a glimpse of what was causing Bruno’s distress. The movement was so slight it was barely perceptible. Lidi drew level with Ged, bumping his shoulder to get his attention. He followed her gaze. There it was again. A figure walking among the trees. Someone, or something, was patrolling that section of the ridge. Yet again, Bruno was warning her of danger. Could it be that Vasily’s men had changed their minds? Was her arrival expected?

  At the base of a rocky outcrop, well out of sight of the ridge, Ged gave the signal to shift back. Lidi recalled her former modesty about nakedness and was pleased to find it was gone. She had a feeling there were going to be several shifts between human and bear on this journey. Worrying about other people’s eyes on her body wouldn’t help the resistance cause.

  “We need to check that out.” Ged nodded toward the ridge above their heads. “It may be nothing, or it could be that Vasily has posted guards along this section of the border. We have more chance of stealth in human form.”

  “From a wheelchair to a naked rock climb in the space of a few hours.” Andrei shook his head. “Who knew finding myself a brother would prove so interesting?”

  They ascended the opposite side of the ridge to where they had seen the figure, passing Bruno between them until they reached the top. In spite of the icy breeze blowing powdery snow in her face, it was an easy climb. Lidi enjoyed the harshness of the rocks beneath her bare feet and hands and delighted in the freezing temperatures on her flesh. The mystery person ahead was yet another obstacle, but they were within touching distance of Callistoya at last.

  Lidi carried Bruno as, stealthily, they moved toward the woodland. The forest grew denser as they approached from behind the point where they had seen the movement, but weak sunlight penetrated, showing them a path through the trees. She stayed close to Ged, drawn to his side even in this situation. Her need for him was primal and uncontrollable. She could try to contain it, tell herself she was a warrior and this was a dangerous mission...it was no good. She may as well tell her heart not to beat.

  The border wasn’t physical, but it was real and it was right here in this forest. Almost like a film shot in soft focus, it made the trees ahead of them look slightly faded compared to the ones close by.

  “Are you ready for this?” Lidi whispered to Ged. She knew how hard it had been for him to face this challenge. Even now, could they really be sure the spell was broken? Would he walk toward that haze only to be driven back once more?

  His jaw was so tense she wondered if he would be capable of answering. Then he smiled down at her. “With you at my side, I’m ready for anything.”

  Lidi had only crossed that invisible barrier once, but she clearly remembered the sensation. It was like the creepy chill that would sometimes shimmy down her spine for no reason and have her looking over her shoulder even though she knew no one was there. Gone as soon as it started. A collective indrawn breath, a shared shiver, and they were across. They were inside the magical land of Callistoya.

  “We did it.” She gripped Ged’s forearm, unable to celebrate any further because of the mystery person up ahead.

  He dropped a kiss onto her temple and Bruno wagged his tail as though sharing the caress.

  Andrei looked at Sasha with a shrug. “If I’m meant to feel something, I don’t know what it is.”

  “Bewildered.” She managed a slight smile. “That’s what I feel. Oh, and cold.”

  “Let’s keep moving,” Ged said. After a few hundred yards, he dropped into a crouch and the others copied the action. From their position, shielded behind a clump of trees, they watched as a man in military-style garments walked along the edge of the ridge and back again.

  “What is he wearing?” Ged kept his voice low. “That is not the uniform of the Callistoya army.”

  “No.” Lidi smiled as joy built in her chest and warmed her whole body. “It’s the clothing worn by my family’s household guard. I know that man. His name is Bogdan. He is known as Bogdan the Brave, and he was one of my father’s closest friends.”

  She was about to rush forward to greet the man she had known since she was a baby, but Ged placed a hand on her shoulder. “Wait. We don’t know what’s been happening while you’ve been away. Let’s make sure he’s alone.”

  They remained hidden while Bogdan patrolled the line of trees several more times. When they were certain there was no one else around, Ged nodded and they moved out from their cover. The contrast between the mortal world, where four naked people would be shocking, and Callistoya, where it was normality, caused Lidi to bite back a smile. Yes, she was home at last.

  Hearing a noise behind him, Bogdan swung around. His eyes widened as he recognized Lidi and he smiled before bowing his head. “My lady!”

  “Bogdan.” She stepped forward to take his hand.

  As she did, Bogdan caught sight of Bruno. His face paled and he took a step back. “My lady, is that wise? To touch such a creature...one known to carry bad luck in its very pores...”

  “Bruno is my friend.” Lidi spoke firmly. “I don’t expect others in Callistoya to share my liking for him, but I will not have him maligned or harmed.”

  Bogdan cast a wary look in Bruno’s direction. “No, my lady.”

  “Why are you here?” Lidi asked. Although her home was close to this mountainous border, it was still several miles away, and it was unusual for one of the Aras guards to patrol here.

  Bogdan cleared his throat and looked at her companions. Since he seemed to be uncomfortable talking in front of other people, Lidi looked over her shoulder at Ged. The people of Aras had always been loyal to King Ivan, and she didn’t believe their allegiance
would have changed in the short time she’d been away. Even so, she and Ged had agreed to keep Ged’s identity secret.

  Following her train of thought, he gave a small shake of his head. She understood what the gesture meant. Keep my identity secret.

  “You can talk in front of my friends, Bogdan. They are loyal to the true king.”

  It was only now she was able to observe Bogdan up close that she noticed how much he had altered. Time was measured differently in Callistoya. Once a bear shifter reached maturity, their immortality kicked in and the aging process slowed. It became almost impossible to judge a person’s age, but their bodies were marked by experience. Gray hair and lined faces were a sign of wisdom and expertise, but they were acquired over many centuries.

  To Lidi, Bogdan had always looked old. Now he appeared old and ill. And exhausted. The lines on his face could have been carved with a knife, and his dark eyes were bloodshot, as though he hadn’t slept since the last time she saw him.

  “Aras House has been under attack. Vasily the Usurper has declared your father to be a traitor and has claimed his lands.” Bogdan shook his head. “He sent soldiers to take the house by force. We fought them off, but they will be back. The next attack could come from any direction, so we have posted lookouts on each of the mountains surrounding the house.”

  “How long ago was this?” Ged asked.

  Bogdan turned to face him. His hesitation was momentary, and Lidi could see the instant in which he deferred to Ged’s obvious authority. “Two days. The commander of the Usurper’s troop declared his intention of returning once he had reinforced his numbers.”

  “Can you get a message to Eduard Tavisha?”

  Bogdan’s eyes widened. “I don’t know where the leader of the resistance is hiding.”

  “No, but I do,” Ged said. “Lead us to Aras House. We can talk more once we get there.”

  * * *

  Lidi took Ged’s hand, her touch branding him like white-hot iron. No matter where they were or who they were with, she would always affect him this way. May as well get used to it. Whether she knew it or not, she had claimed him for life. Could he do the same with her? She had made an emphatic declaration to the contrary. It was up to him to put that to the test.

  “Aras House.” Lidi sighed as she said the words. “My romantic heart always aches when I hear that name. It’s an incredibly dull name for what must surely be the most beautiful castle in this or any other world. It was typical of my traditional bear-shifter parents that they never gave the aesthetics of our surroundings a thought.”

  “Oh, it’s like something out of a fairytale,” Sasha exclaimed as soaring white turrets came into view.

  Perched dramatically on a perilous cliff, the castle overlooked the rolling hills around it and could only be reached by a narrow drawbridge.

  “Vasily must have been mad to send his soldiers to attack this place,” Ged said, assessing his surroundings.

  Bogdan gave a harsh laugh. “Have you never heard of our so-called king, my friend? He is not known for his military acumen.”

  Lidi smiled in response to Ged’s wry expression. “Vasily Petrov? I’ve come across that name once or twice.”

  The drawbridge was closed so that the castle entrance resembled a mouth twisted into a rocky snarl. As they stepped closer a trumpeter sounded a few bars across the valley, the signal that friends were approaching. Slowly, the drawbridge was lowered.

  “Have you heard any news of my father?” Lidi asked Bogdan.

  “Only that he is still alive,” Bogdan replied. “I sent a spy south disguised as a traveler. He was able to ascertain that the Count of Aras is still held in the dungeons beneath the royal palace.”

  Lidi’s shoulders slumped and Ged knew it was with relief as well as sadness. She had been afraid that her escape might have prompted Vasily to take revenge against her invalid father.

  “We will free him,” he told her.

  “I know. It’s just...” She brushed away a tear and managed a weak smile. “That prison is like hell and he doesn’t know we are coming for him.” She turned to Bogdan. “Can we avoid the central courtyard? I’ve no wish to be greeted like a celebrity. Not until I’ve had a chance to bathe, sleep and dress.”

  He nodded. “I understand.”

  Once they had crossed the drawbridge, he led them to the right and up a narrow staircase. When they reached a gallery, they were able to look down on the open courtyard below. It resembled a small, bustling village. Some of the inhabitants were in human form and were clothed. Several, like the new arrivals, were naked, clearly having just shifted. A few bears wandered freely among them.

  “Where do they all live?” Sasha asked. She appeared stunned at the way she had stepped from her own world and into the pages of a history book.

  “Most of these people are servants, or castle guards. A few will be travelers, come to sell their wares,” Lidi explained. “The members of my family reside in the central tower of the castle and the rest of the inhabitants live in other accommodation within the fortified walls.” She smiled. “It can feel overcrowded sometimes, but I’ve never known a different way of life.” She turned to Bogdan. “We will need rooms in the family quarters and my friends will require clothing.”

  “Consider it done, my lady.”

  Although Ged could appreciate Sasha’s feelings, he felt at ease with the difference between the mortal realm and Callistoya. He had often speculated about how it would feel if he came back. The contrast was so sharp, he had wondered if it would jar on his nerves. The old-fashioned courtesy. The rules and regulations that had been in place for centuries, their original purpose lost in the mists of time. The lack of technology. No more pressing a button to get what he wanted.

  But he slipped back into the rhythm of Callistoya as easily as breathing. He had barely even noticed the border when they crossed. A slight tingle. An awareness of the difference, and then nothing. No pain, no barrier spell pushing him away, no sense that this was not the right time. He was home.

  For good? He considered the question. Yes, of course. He would stay, but to make it happen, there were two things he needed. His crown and the woman at his side. Not necessarily in that order.

  Bogdan showed them to their separate rooms. Ged looked around the wood-paneled chamber with its four-poster bed and log fire with a smile as he remembered his modern New York apartment. Some things would take a little getting used to.

  After a moment or two, there was a knock on his door, and before he could answer, Lidi slipped inside. She was wrapped in a bedsheet and she walked straight into his arms.

  Ged removed the bag from around his neck as he held her close. “I know why I’m naked, but you have access to your own clothes.”

  “I didn’t want to waste time dressing. I couldn’t wait another minute to be with you.”

  As he lifted her so her face was level with his and their lips could meet, Ged knew nothing mattered except this. Fine dining, luxury hotels, the celebrity lifestyle? Those things were in his past. In his arms, he held his future. But there was a long way to go before he could begin to claim her.

  Chapter 17

  Lidi sighed with pleasure as Ged carried her to the bed and placed her on it. This was what she had dreamed of during the long hours of traveling. Just the two of them, alone together. They might have worlds to conquer and villains to vanquish, but when his arms were around her, she was at peace.

  “This question may be a mood killer,” Ged murmured. “But what have you done with Bruno?”

  “My room is next door. As soon as we got inside, he dived onto the bed and fell asleep.” She turned her face into his neck to hide a smile. Her big, strong bear tried hard to pretend he didn’t care about the dog. “I’ve locked the door and we’ll hear him if he barks.”

  “If he barks?” He growled the words against her lips. “If t
hat little cur interrupts us, I’ll tie those ridiculous ears of his in a bow around his snout.”

  She rose up on her knees and moved closer, stopping just inches away. Taking one of his hands, she placed it on her breast and leaned in, kissing him slowly and passionately. When she broke the kiss, he was smiling, his eyes alight with desire.

  “I think we can find better things to do than talk about a dog, don’t you?” she asked.

  She pulled him down onto the bed. With a firm hand flat on his shoulder, she pushed him onto his back and crawled up his body until her thighs straddled his naked waist. Ged tucked his hands behind his head, his smile widening.

  “You have my full attention.”

  Lidi leaned close to whisper in his ear. “That journey was torture. Not being able to touch you when I wanted to drove me crazy. But I’m going to make up for it now. I’m going to start by caressing you...” As she spoke she slid off the sheet she had wrapped around her body, enjoying the flare of pleasure in his eyes. “Then, I’m going to taste you.” She changed position slightly, letting him feel the heat of her arousal rubbing against his erection.

  “What happens next?” His eyes were locked on hers, his voice hoarse.

  “Then, I’m going to let you take over. I hope you’ll have come up with a few ideas of your own by that time.” She smiled as her gaze wandered down his body. “Perhaps you already have.”

  He groaned. “Lidi, are you trying to torture me?”

  “That’s the idea.”

  She moved to his side. Starting at his feet, and with a featherlight motion, she began to lightly massage first one leg, then the other. When she reached his straining erection, her fingertips danced teasingly close, making his throbbing flesh jump and twitch. Ged’s hips jerked upward, but Lidi moved on to his chest, shoulders and arms, ignoring his gritted teeth and moan of frustration.