Dark Ice

by Connie Wood

  She nodded and instantly he lowered his blade.

  “You never learn, Rin,” Avery said. She looked at him, turned and bolted back down the alleyway toward the back of the buildings.

  “Kuso,” Rin said for the second time that day. He sheathed his sword and took off after Avery, as she knew he would.

  He turned the corner slowly, half expecting her to ambush him. Methodically, he searched the back streets. Irritation gnawed at him. Her sudden appearance after hundreds of years could mean only one thing. She was playing with him, tormenting him. He heard a bird call out before he saw the hawk fly over him again. Damn her, coming into his life after so long and wrecking havoc with his emotions.

  Another cry brought him out of his reverie and back to reality. But this one was a human scream. Lea! The appearance of Avery had driven her from his mind. Cursing his stupidity, Rin turned on his heel and ran toward the sound. By the time he reached the alleyway, Lea was nowhere in sight. Sebastian, the shape shifter stood near the side entrance of the bar, cursing and snarling. His hand a bloody mess.

  Rin slowed his pace, placing his hand on his sword, readying himself for a fight. Sebastian looked at him, growled deep within his throat, turned and slinked off toward the street.

  Rin’s first instinct was to go after him, but he needed to know where the woman was. And if she was okay. If she wasn’t, it would be his fault for abandoning his post. He entered the bar and scanned the crowd. The woman stood at the bar, shaking and looking terrified, though she was trying hard to hide it.

  His respect for her went up a notch. She looked over at him as he opened the door and fear and recognition widened her eyes as he went over and stood next to her.

  “My name is Rin, would you please come with me?” He tried to keep his voice calm yet authoritative.

  “Are you the police?”

  “No, ma’am”

  “Then I’m not going anywhere with you.” She went to turn away and Rin placed a hand on her shoulder to still her.

  “I’m an—” Rin struggled for the least frightening explanation. “Acquaintance of the polar bear, Dane.”

  He felt her stiffen under his hand.

  “You’ve been following me,” she said. It was more of a statement than a question.

  “Yes.”

  “Why?” she asked.

  “I cannot discuss it here.” Rin removed his hand from her shoulder and offered it to her, palm side up, in what he hoped was a gesture of friendship. “Please, come with me. I will tell you all I am permitted to.”

  She eyed him with a healthy dose of skepticism. “And you know Dane?”

  “Yes.”

  “Dane the—”

  “Polar bear. Yes.”

  “And you expect me just to leave with you?” She shook her head. “I can’t, I’m waiting for the police to arrive.”

  “The police cannot protect you.” Rin grasped her elbow, gently but firmly. “You must come with me.”

  “Is everything alright, ma’am?” The bartender leaned slightly over the bar that separated them. “I heard you mention the police?”

  “Everything is fine,” Rin said firmly, his grip increasing against Lea’s arm.

  “I wasn’t addressing you, sir,” replied the barman.

  Rin felt his ire rise at the man’s tone.

  “Ma’am?” The bartender glanced disapprovingly at Rin’s grip on Lea before catching Lea’s gaze.

  Rin detected Lea’s reluctance, her confusion at the day’s events. She obviously didn’t know who to trust. But she needed protection and answers. And he was offering both.

  “Thank you,” she smiled at the bartender. “But I’m fine.”

  The bartender exhaled sharply, raising his eyebrows questioningly, obviously unconvinced.

  “Perhaps you ought to wait for the police,” he said in one last attempt to keep her at the bar.

  “No, it’ll be fine.” Lea half smiled at him before she turned to back to Rin.

  “Come,” Rin quietly demanded, tugging at her arm.

  “Okay, I’ll come with you,” she said with reluctance. “But you had better start explaining what the hell is going on.”

  They walked out together, Rin felt the bartender watching their every move until they were out of sight. He was going to take her back to the venator headquarters. It was the only place she would be safe for now. And with Avery around, he wasn’t sure he could do his duty and what his honor demanded, as well.

  Chapter Six

  Dane roared into the silence. A smattering of snow fell from the ceiling of his den, cooling his face, but not his temper. He transformed from his natural bear state into a human. His emotions too overwhelming to be held in check by his purely animal form.

  For the second time today, Lea was in danger. The first time was from a mere human, but it was enough to send her a warning, which he hoped she headed. The second time was much more serious. Dane felt it, his animal instincts, the magic of his species coursed through him stronger than ever since he’d met Lea. Now those sensations threatened to overpower him. He felt what was happening to her, knew her fear, sensed her emotions. And they became his.

  Dane stepped out of his den and scanned the ice fields. The pale yellow sun hung over the horizon. It would be dark soon. Rage fumed within his chest, making his heart beat furiously fast. He fought the animal rampaging inside him. Now that he was human he needed to stay that way, to think clearly and logically, so he could come up with a plan. But all he wanted to do was kill and maim to protect Lea.

  How was it that she’d come to mean so much to him? It was as if her very life force flowed with his. She was in danger and it consumed him.

  A foreign emotion racked his soul. Hopelessness. Unable to be with her to protect her, Dane sent the only warning he could. He engulfed her with the coldness of his beloved icy home and hoped she’d understand and recognize him.

  The urgent foreboding danger he felt, slowly ebbed away. Was Lea safe? And for how long? He needed to be with her, to defend her. He made up his mind in a split second. He’d go to Whitehorse, see her safe and eliminate any enemy that stood in his way.

  The animal in him snarled to life and Dane finally allowed it to take over. He welcomed the heat of ursine blood thumping through his veins, forcing him into action. He stretched his gigantic legs and pounded across the ice, toward the horizon. It would take him no time at all to reach the airport but from there, the trip to Whitehorse would be the longest of his long life.

  ~* * *~

  Dane reached out with his senses. Nothing. And everything. At the same time. He stood in Lea’s home, his massive bulk making him feel cramped and uneasy in the cozy living room. Lea’s scent clung to everything, and Dane’s head swam with the thrilling essence of her. But she wasn’t here.

  Dane concentrated, relieved she wasn’t in danger. But where was she? He paced, rarely undecided about what he should do. He didn’t like the feeling. Agitation made the animal in him want to come to the forefront. His animal side knew only raw emotions. He wanted to protect, to hunt, to kill those who endangered Lea.

  His human emotions ran through him and complicated his thoughts. Fear and uncertainty were foreign, but now sat at the edges of his mind. It made him mad. He turned on his heal and headed out the door, any action feeling better than just standing there.

  The night air was fragrant with the vines creeping up the brick wall of Lea’s house. Underneath, the smell of the city, the dirt and grime, hit his nostrils. But it was the scent of the humans that caused him to growl. It had been too long since he last fed. And now with his emotions in turmoil he wanted to give rein to his base instincts and feed.

  Dane walked over and placed a steadying hand against the top of the rental car door. His hungers would have to wait. He needed to find Lea. Getting in the car, he started it and drove slowly down the street. His eyes scanned the shadows on the sides of the road as he drove, searching for anything unusual.

  On the other
side of town, he parked in front of a high rise apartment building Dane recalled the last time he was here. He’d saved Lea from the shape shifters at the youth club and left her sleeping safe in the home he just left. His heart skipped at beat at the memory, the feel of her, soft and warm in his arms.

  Dane took the stairs, two at a time, up to the penthouse, avoiding the confined space of the elevator. He knocked on his cousin’s door and waited only a moment before Darius appeared.

  “Cousin, I was wondering when you would show up,” Darius said as he stepped aside, letting Dane into the plush apartment.

  “Why?”

  “There’s been a lot of interest in the woman you saved from the dark moon massacre; supposedly she reeks of your scent. It’s driving the shifters crazy not knowing why. They all think you’re in town.” Darius shut the door and turned to face him, amusement mingled with concern in his pale blue eyes.

  “I’m in town now. I want to know where Lea is,” Dane said, getting straight to the point. He didn’t have any time to waste. Not knowing was driving his emotions to breaking point.

  “Is she in trouble?” asked Darius.

  “She was. I don’t know where she is now.”

  Darius nodded, obviously understanding his frustrations.

  “How do you know she’s in danger?” Darius asked.

  “I can feel her.” Dane started pacing the length of the living room, needing to do something physical. “I’ve been dreaming of her for the last month and now—”

  “The dreams are becoming more real, they’re starting to blend into reality, aren’t they?” Darius sat down on the sofa facing the windows to the outside balcony and looked up at Dane as he stopped his pacing.

  “How do you know?”

  “I’ve been there before, Cousin.” Sad bitterness edged his words and despite Dane’s agitation, he felt true pain for Darius. “That’s how it started with Beatrice, dreaming of her, feeling her no matter where she was. She consumed me.” A haunted expression crossed Darius’ face before he shielded himself. “It also explains why your scent is all over her.”

  “Are the shifters after her because of me?”

  Darius merely nodded.

  “Fucking hell,” Dane cursed as he resumed his pacing.

  He didn’t realize his scent marked Lea, it meant she was in more danger than he originally thought. His presence in this town usually meant he was the supreme alpha. He’d only ever had to prove himself once, it had been a bloody and violent massacre, but now most shifters gave him a respected berth. But if the shifters saw an opportunity to demonstrate a bit of power and take something that was dear to him, Lea would pay the price.

  Darius cursed and rose from the sofa, his gaze focused on the balcony outside. Dane’s instincts kicked in a split second later and he spun on his heel to see what held Darius’ attention. A huge white hawk, its feathers reflecting the balcony’s lights making them almost luminescent, landed on the edge of the railing.

  “What the hell is Avery doing in town?” Darius headed toward the floor to ceiling glass sliding doors, opened them and stepped out.

  Dane followed him into the cool night air. The beautiful hawk transformed into a woman he hadn’t seen in many years. Dane was kin to very few shape shifters and Darius was one of the only ones he felt any deep feelings for. But most of the shifters knew each other, even if by reputation only. And some of the shape shifters had known each other for what felt like forever, even if their paths did only cross from time to time.

  “Darius, Dane,” Avery greeted them with a nod of her head.

  Dane nodded his greeting.

  “Avery, what brings you here?” Darius’ voice was slightly cooler than usual and Dane instantly understood why. This was his home, his sanctuary and tonight it had been unexpectedly invaded twice. The animal in him was probably trying to protect his territory.

  “He does,” she answered, nodding toward Dane.

  “I only just arrived, how did you know I’d be here?”

  “Where else would you go? I already went to the woman’s house to see if you’d been there, but I guess I just missed you.” Avery tilted her head in a very bird like manner and eyed him with curiosity.

  “Why did you go to Lea’s house?” Dane demanded.

  “I was curious. I saw her in the street and your scent was all over her. I went down for a closer look and guess who was protecting her? Rin” She said his name with a bitterness that sent shivers down even Dane’s spine, but then after what he did to her, he could understand why.

  “Why is the venator watching Lea?” Dane clenched his hands into fists to try and control his rising anger. Too many shape shifters were becoming involved and now the venators were starting to show interest. He’d never meant for Lea to get caught up in his world. That was why he left her to sleep as his heart broke from what could never be.

  “I don’t know why he was protecting the woman, only that there were a few shifters showing a lot of interest in her. But what do you expect if she goes around reeking of you?”

  “Watch your tongue, hawk,” Dane warned. He was obviously in no mood for her smart mouth which was renowned to be as sharp as her talons.

  “What did the venator do with the woman?” Darius asked.

  “He took her back to their headquarters, I followed them. They were still there when I left. I waited for Rin to leave, but he never did,” Avery said, slight disappointment edged her words.

  Rage pounded through Dane at the thought of Lea in venator headquarters. She would come to no harm there, but they were his enemy and she was his woman. He didn’t know how or when he started thinking of her as his, but he knew it with every fiber of his being. She belonged with him, not with those who hunted his kind.

  “Thanks for letting us know,” Dane heard Darius say, but his thoughts were with Lea. Now he knew where she was, he was going to get her.

  “No problem, tomodachi.”

  Dane started at the word. It had been a long time since anyone considered him a friend. In his isolation in Alaska, he’d forgotten there were some who still regarded him that way.

  “Thank you, Avery,” he said.

  She bowed her head and turned on the railing, about to transform and take flight.

  “Be careful of the venator, Rin,” Dane warned her, this time with true concern in his voice.

  “Don’t worry. I won’t make that mistake again.” She turned and in an instant turned into a white hawk. She let out a haunting squawk and took flight over the city.

  Dane immediately turned and strode toward the front door. He reached for the handle when a strong hand clasped his shoulder and stopped him. Dane growled deep in his throat and forced himself not to turn around and throw his cousin across the room.

  “What are you doing, Darius?” Dane managed to growl between clenched teeth.

  “You can’t just wander into their headquarters and demand the woman.” Darius finally moved his hand from his shoulder.

  “Want to watch me.” It was exactly what he was planning on doing. And if anyone tried to stop him, he’d rip them to shreds. The mood he was in, he probably wouldn’t even have to transform into a bear to do it.

  “We’ll go in together.”

  Surprised, Dane looked down at Darius. He was serious. Dane felt some of his anger lessen.

  “I don’t want you involved. You live in this city; the venators can make your life hell.”

  “At least it’ll be exciting. I’m coming anyway, you’re not going alone,” Darius said with steel in his voice.

  “Okay, cousin.”

  Dane clasped Darius on the shoulder in gratitude before they both walked out the door. They were going into their enemy’s lair to find his woman. He tried to reach out with his senses for her, but he felt nothing. Soon he would see her in the flesh for only the second time. How could someone he hardly knew mean so much to him that he was willing to risk his life?

  But he did know her, he corrected himself. The dre
ams they shared bound them together in a way he didn’t understand. But he felt it and now he fought for a semblance of control. He would soon know if she felt the same way. But what if the dreams had all been one sided and he looked down into those deep brown eyes and saw only fear and hatred? Would it shatter the last piece of his human soul?

  Chapter Seven

  The shadows shrouded the darkened street and relief seeped through Lea at the fact she wasn’t out there. There was an ominous thickness that lay over the city tonight. Perhaps she only felt that way after all the strange events of the day.

  She pulled closed the curtains to block out the small window and the stark city night that sat beyond it. Turning, she bypassed the large over-stuffed armchair in the corner of the room that she’d spent the last hour in watching television and headed straight for the door. To be honest, she half expected it to be locked.

  Rin brought her straight here from the bar. She questioned him ruthlessly on the car ride over here, but he’d given her one word answers that only left her with more questions. She was mildly surprised when he pulled up in front of the hall and ushered her inside. A feeling of unease rippled down her spine as she walked past two men on either side of the door, as if standing guard. Guarding what, she didn’t know. But the sensation of normalcy was slipping away fast today.

  Rin had shown her to a small but comfortable room off the main hall, brought her a cup of coffee and bowed himself out. Lea sat in the room, sipping the drink, grateful for a moment of quiet to collect her thoughts. And yet, at the same time, frustrated over the lack of answers. She’d mulled over the day’s events in her mind until they mingled into a blur of confusion. She was left with only feelings and sensations to act upon. The psychiatrist in her rebelled against relying only on her senses without the fortification of logic.

  Now stepping out of the security of the small room and into the vast hall, Lea allowed herself the luxury of instinct to come to the forefront. Logically, the day didn’t make any sense, so her only alternative was to feel her way through these new and foreign experiences.