Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 87193 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87193 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
He reached the shoreline where Nadia stood flushed and furious, her eyes blazing. Bussy and Margaret hovered just behind her, both pale now that they could see the blood.
“This isn’t what you think,” he said.
“Well, it kind of is,” Taryn muttered.
Nadia gasped. “You’re bleeding. What happened?”
“Underwater drones,” he snapped, then looked past her to the two women behind her. “Do either of you know anything about that?”
Their mouths fell open.
“Underwater drones?” Bussy said. “Are you kidding? We’re practically in the stone ages. Where would anyone even get underwater drones?”
“I don’t know,” he ground out. “But when I find Solomon, we’re going to have a discussion.”
He looked at Taryn, then back at Nadia. He was done. He was pissed. He was exhausted. He was freezing his ass off, standing naked in front of a bunch of females with blood drying on his skin.
“Nadia,” he said flatly, “if I choose a mate, it’s you.”
Taryn stiffened.
“Taryn, you’re strong and capable and likable,” he went on. “But we’re not mating. You need to know that.” Then he turned fully to Nadia. “You, on the other hand, have a very real chance of becoming my mate. But we’re going to have a serious discussion about what you actually want out of life.”
He pointed at Bussy and Margaret. “And you two are not going to be part of that conversation.” His voice dropped, dangerous now. “She should not be out here after what happened yesterday. Bulwark is still unaccounted for, and he wants Nadia dead. You should’ve kept her inside. I didn’t even know she was out of the house.”
That failure burned. It had been his job to keep her safe, and somehow she’d been standing on ice in the dead of night. “There should be three enforcers on that house,” he continued. “And she should be behind locked doors.” He pointed at Nadia. “Now. You’re going back.”
He exhaled hard and then let out a short whistle. Seconds later, several patrolling wolves burst out of the forests. “Get these females all back to safety, and make sure Bulwark doesn’t get anywhere near them.” The soldiers were good and well trained.
Nadia kicked an ice chunk toward him. “You’re being too bossy.”
Too fucking bad. He glared at them. “All of you get back to safety. Now. I’m going to find a hot spring before I freeze solid.” He turned and stormed off, blood streaking behind him on the snow, done with the entire situation for now.
“Well,” Bussy said faintly, her voice carrying on the breeze behind him, “he’s got a cute ass.”
“I wish he’d look at me like that,” Margaret murmured.
Nadia groaned. “God, he’s grumpy.” She coughed. “Where in the world did anyone get underwater drones? We could use drones in farming.”
Even pissed off, even bleeding, even furious, Caidrik felt a reluctant smile tug at him. There she was. Still thinking. Still planning. He shook ice from his hair, leapt into the air, and shifted mid-motion into wolf form.
God, he needed to run.
Chapter 16
Nadia knocked on the cheerful green door of the white clapboard cottage at the end of town and waited as the morning light sparkled off the surrounding snow. She had tossed and turned all night, thinking about a very naked Caidrik. And a nude Taryn. Then more of Caidrik. The couple had looked good together, strong and sure.
But he’d said he wanted her. He also said they needed to talk, but he hadn’t come through her window all night. Where was he?
The door swung open.
“There you are,” Gail Johnson said, grabbing Nadia’s hands and pulling her inside before she could say a word. “We’ve got coffee and tea, as well as some pastries I picked up this morning.”
The cottage smelled of sugar and warm dough. The wood floors were worn smooth, braided rugs laid where people walked most. Framed photos covered the walls. Weddings. Babies. Wolves. Old black-and-white pack shots that made Nadia slow even as she was ushered forward.
Bussy and Margaret followed on her heels.
“Here we go,” Gail chirped. “She’s here.”
Two elderly women looked up from a square table where Mah Jong tiles were spread in neat rows.
“Well, hello,” Lorraine said. She nudged her thick glasses up her nose with one finger. Her silver hair was cropped short and curled under, and she wore a bright blue cardigan over neatly pressed slacks. “It’s good to finally see you,” she said. “I heard you got dunked in the river.”
“I did,” Nadia said.
Ruth set a tile down with a soft click and adjusted the row in front of her before looking up. Her dark hair was pulled back, streaked through with silver, and her cardigan looked well worn, the cuffs softened by years of use. “We’re very glad you’re all right. That river’s no joke.”
“Everyone, please make yourself comfortable,” Gail said, already tugging a chair out. “Sit here, Nadia.” She was tall and thin despite her age, white hair braided down her back, her floral dress half-hidden beneath a cream sweater. “Luanne’s not feeling well today, so she couldn’t join us. We play with Charlie when someone’s missing.”