Brother Bear Mated (8 page)

Thames stiffened, frowning over at her. His eyes were nearly glowing with how near he was to turning. His irises flickered between steely sapphire and the deep brown of his grizzly.

“No,” he said, his voice hard. “We just have to keep looking. We’ll find something to keep you safe.”

“How, bear? How can we find something that doesn’t exist?”

His frown furrowed deeper, making his jaw look hard as flint. “I’m not losing you,” he growled. “If we can’t anchor you, then we’ll run away. Go far from your sisters so you can’t hurt them. Hide out in fucking Iceland if we have to. I don’t care. I’ve prepared for this. I’m not giving up.”

“Prepared?”

Jaw set, he looked at his hands where they hung over his knees.

“Thames?”

“The Mother Bear. She gives a mating prophecy for every male when they enter adulthood. It’s our custom. But our Mother Bear was especially cruel. She cursed both me and Theo.”

Nastia shook with anger and sadness. The way her bear’s voice went dark talking about his past made her hurt inside.

“Why would she do that?”

Thames shrugged, except it was anything but casual. A stiff jerk of his shoulders. “We were Ursa Gemini. Twins. Rare for our kind. Celebrated, until she declared us to be Ursa Inferior. Outcasts. The lowest of the clan. Simply for being born. She even had our parents killed for producing unworthy offspring. Look, I told you, those weren’t my best days. I don’t know why she hated us, and I never will. All I know is she cursed us with her
readings
,” he rushed out.

Her bear didn’t like talking about it, and she understood. What a horrible way to be brought into the world. Born into hate that had no basis for existing. Forced to grow up as orphans.

Nastia had no parents, but she was well cared for by the tutors. She’d had her sisters to laugh and play with, as well as the other Sorcera-in-training. She’d never felt the pain of loneliness she could imagine Thames did.

“What was her prophecy for you?”

He eyed her. But if he was debating whether or not to tell her, it must be bad.

Thames blew out a heavy breath and let the words fly. “That my future mate would be filled with evil. That she’d have no love in her heart, and especially none for me.”

Filled with evil. Filled with darkness. The Mother Bear had known all along that there was no hope of Nastia keeping her light.

“That’s why you have the chapel,” she murmured, making sense of things. Thames had left the cave daily to help Gash with security for a few hours and pray to his god in the chapel. “Did… did you know all along there was no hope for me?”

If so, why,
why
, did he attach himself to her? Why anchor to a sinking ship unless you wanted to drown too?

“No, baby,” he choked out, reaching for her. She let him draw her close, his scent and the feel of his skin beneath her cheek soothing her. “I’m the one who still has hope, remember? It’s you who wants to give up. But I’m not going to let you, Nastia. Hear me? This is never going to be over because I’m not letting you go. Mated and marked means forever. I told you that the first night.”

Forever
.

The aching in her mating bond eased. They were forever, her and Thames. No matter what. Whether she turned dark, whether they found another way. She would always be his.

And he… he was hers. Maybe not her Anchor. Maybe not her savior. But he was her bear. The one who made her happy. Who loved her smile. Who’d fight tooth and claw for her and their future.

He was better than an Anchor. He was Thames.

“I’m not giving up,” she mumbled against his chest.

“Damn straight.”

She lifted her head to find his determined eyes and decided the Mother Bear’s prophecy could go to hell. Who was she to poison their future? If Nastia was going to turn dark, it would be because of her own actions, and not because some jealous shifter leader had spoken ugly words over her mate.

But running away with Thames wasn’t the answer either. Because if she became a Magei, she wouldn’t be dangerous to only her sisters. She’d be a danger to everybody. The urge to join a dark coven would become her obsession. The rock counting would be nothing compared to it. Once she caved, she’d work the darkness like it was her own personal magic wand, stopping at nothing to get whatever she wanted. And if Thames got in her way, she might do unspeakable things to get around him.

The mere thought strangled her with fear. She could never hurt him. No matter what, she had to make sure of that.

Suddenly, Adira’s idea didn’t seem so frightening. Not if it meant keeping everyone she loved safe.

“There… there might be a way to keep the darkness at bay.” Nastia hesitated. Saying it out loud would make it real. “Adira and Mirena are working on a spell to turn me into something else.”

Frown lines framed his mouth. “Something else? Like what?”

“Something that has the potential to be good
and
bad. Not one or the other. Something that doesn’t use magic.
Can’t
use magic. And isn’t bound by its rules.”

“A commoner?”

“No, not exactly. Not a living one anyway.”

Thames canted his head. “I don’t understand. And frankly, I don’t like the idea of you being turned into anything else.”

Well, they were running out of options. Unless there was something left to be discovered in the tomes Mirena and Theron had gone to retrieve from the Sorceras’ cabin, this was their
only
option.

But it didn’t make it any easier to say out loud.

“An undead, Thames. They can turn me undead, and then the darkness, the Magei, wouldn’t come for me anymore. I wouldn’t be of any use to them because I wouldn’t have magic. Light or dark. I’d just be… me, without any abilities.”

“But… undead? You’d
die
?”

“The only way to prevent the exchange of power within me is to completely cut ties with the mystics that source my magic. Become something… other.”

Thames’s eyes flickered again, brown to blue. “You’d die,” he said, his voice hard.

Nastia nodded. “And then rise again. I’d drink living blood for life. Yours perhaps. Or from a bag like on those television shows.”

“A vampire? They don’t exist,” he argued.

“They would if my sisters’ spell was successful. I’d be the first. And hopefully the only.”

He shook his head. “What if it doesn’t work? How can we be sure it’s even possible? What if the spell fails?”

Then she’d die and remain dead. It was a chance they might have to take.

Nastia curved her hand around Thames’s cheek and his eyes went stormy with realization.

“No,” he said. “We aren’t doing this. It’s too dangerous.”

“For who? Me? I’m already in danger. And it could save the people I love. Thames…” She reached deep down for the strength she’d come to rely on throughout her life. She pushed it through their mating bond hoping he’d feel it and understand she needed her family to be safe. The coven, the clan, and most importantly, him. “It’s worth the risk.”

It was the logical choice. The possible benefits outweighed the stakes.

Tension loaded seconds eked by before he leaned forward with a growl and kissed her lips hard.

“I don’t like it,” he warned.

“I know. But we don’t have to decide yet. There’s still time. Adira and Mirena, Mason and the others, they’re still researching. And I am too. If there’s another way, we’ll find it.”

“Damn it, Nastia. I don’t like it.”

She pressed her forehead to his. “You won’t like it if I turn Magei either. Won’t like who I become. Trust me.”

“I’ll love you no matter what you are. You’re mine.”

She breathed out a heavy sigh, relieved to hear that from him. “Then you’ll love me as an undead too, if that’s what it comes to.”

Thames squeezed her tight, his hand cradling the back of her head. “I’ll always love you. But it won’t come to that.”

They’d find out soon. Theron and Mirena would be back with the books and the clan was getting serious about finding a solution for the coven. In Magic’s words, it was balls to the wall tomorrow night at the lodge. Dinner-n-research starting at four and going until they found something useful. And now that Adira had removed the boundary spell, it looked like Nastia would be there too.

Together maybe they could find an answer that didn’t include her dying. Because happily ever after with Thames was something she wanted more than anything.

Chapter Ten

“Where is it?
Where is it? Where!
”

Thames heard Nastia’s shrill scream long before he reached the door of their cave. He’d never seen her lose her temper before. Not even when the witches had first arrived at the lodge and fought the clan. She was more dry humor and sarcasm rather than hot-headed.

After their picnic and the vampire bomb she’d dropped on him, he’d taken his bear for a walk through the woods. With Theo gone, he didn’t have anyone to talk to about Nastia’s plan. And as much comfort as prayer had brought him over the years, he didn’t feel like talking to God either.

No offense, Big Guy
.

Lumbering through the forest as a bear sometimes made things seem simple. He needed only a few things in life. His mate safe, his family safe, and if he was fortunate enough, he wanted them all happy.

He wanted his brother to find love. Wanted him to feel all the amazing things he felt with Nastia. Wanted him to have a family to call his own that would erase all the ugly things done to them as young. But that required things turning out at least a little right with his own mate. He had hope Theron and Mirena would bring back something that would turn this vampire plan on its ass.

“Grrrr. Newt! This isn’t funny.
Where is it?
Show me before I… I…”

Thames picked up the pace, shifting to human as soon as he reached the cave, shaking off his fur and letting skin slide back into place.

He walked through the door to find the great room in complete disarray. Blankets and pillows were strewn about. The cushions from the lounge couch were tossed. Drawers from the dresser and side tables were scattered. Pens and notepads littered the floor along with their underwear and shoes. In all the mess, it took him a few seconds to locate his mate.

Nastia was curled over on her hands and knees, digging through the pile of cushions on the floor until they were cleared so she could see underneath the couch. She let off a frustrated squeal and then rose to kick the cushions viciously out of her way.

Thames stood staring in disbelief. His mate was in a full blown fit. In fact, she could rival a toddler right now, the way she was acting.

“
Newt!
” she screamed, and from the corner of his eye, Thames could see the black and yellow lizard streak across the floor toward the hall. With a throaty growl, Nastia stomped after him. The look in her eye was feral. Less witchy and much more wild than it should be. The Wisest looked like The Craziest right now.

Without another thought, Thames charged forward, tackling her down to the cushions and rolling with her so she wouldn’t land too hard. Her yelp of surprise echoed off the stone walls and when she caught her breath, she went at him, waylaying his chest with her tiny fists.

“Get off me you beast!”

“Beast?” he questioned, trying to hold in a laugh.

“I don’t care how sexy you are, bear, I’ve got ninety nine problems right now and a skink is one.”

And that did it. Whatever dam he’d built to keep the laughter in was crushed to pieces with that single indignant sentence. His chuckles punched forth until he was howling with them. Nastia’s eyes narrowed to slits and he laughed so hard tears pricked his lids and he couldn’t catch a breath.

“This is not funny, bear.” Her stern tone sent him on a fresh peal.

“Do you…” Balancing above her on one arm, he swiped the wetness from his eyes. “Do you even know what that phrase means? What song it comes from?”

Her chin jutted with her answer. “I saw it on YouTube.”

And his laughter exploded again, but it felt so good he didn’t try to stop it this time.

“What?” Her brows came together in a frown.

“You... Oh, damn.” He tried to picture it. Nastia with her sweet composed expression and her nun-level modest dresses, iPhone YouTube app open, listening to Ninety Nine Problems. “You listen to Jay Z?”

“It’s a catchy tune.”

He snorted between chuckles and finally her face relaxed. “That it is, little witch. That it is.”

“Now would you kindly let me go?”

“Never.” He leaned down, pecking at her pursed lips until she softened and kissed him back. “Now, what has your cute little panties in a tangle, huh?”

She sighed, and he could see the urgency reflected in her eyes. Like whatever was happening was dire.

“It’s my heart stone. The one my sisters gave me. It’s missing.”

Thames frowned, helping her up. “You sure? Did you check your box?”

Her second day in the cave he’d given her a small mahogany jewelry box to keep her stones in so she wouldn’t need to collect them in her pockets anymore.

“Of course I did,” she huffed, swinging her arms out wide. “Look at this place. I’ve searched everywhere.”

Thames gripped her shoulders, making her meet his eyes. “It’s okay, mate. Your rock will turn up. It couldn’t have gone far. And you have plenty more to work with in the meantime. Relax.”

She shrugged him off. “Don’t tell me to relax. I
need
that rock, Thames. I
need
it.”

Thames’s bear bristled inside. The way she’d emphasized the word need… it was like she was desperate for the rock. He didn’t like it. Up until now she’d only been desperate for one thing and that was him. She hadn’t even seemed desperate about the possible vampire resolution to her darkness problem. When they’d spoken about it, she’d been calm, reasonable.

Herself.

“Newt has it,” she grumbled. “He’s hidden it away in some crevice of rock somewhere and I’ll probably never find it.”

Thames watched her as she began to straighten the cushions, disturbed and confused.

“Why would Newt take it?
How
would Newt take it? I doubt he could move it very far.”

“I don’t know,” she answered. “He doesn’t like it. He hissed at it the other day. And he scurries away every time I pick it up when I’m holding him.”

None of this made sense. It was just a rock. She had plenty of them. Why was she so intent on having this one nearby? And blaming Newt seemed unreasonable.

Thames bent to help her clean up the mess she’d made, tossing the clothing back in the drawers and refolding the bedding.

Suddenly, Nastia went still, index finger propped on her chin. Then she turned to face him so fast the skirt of her dress did a little flurry.

“Maybe I dropped it outside in the woods. Maybe it fell out of my pocket when we were, um, you know.”

“Fooling around?”

She nodded, her eyes going bright. “Yeah. I bet I lost it out there. That’s the last time I remember having it.”

She took off toward the door and he chased after her. “Wait,” he said, grabbing her arm. “Let me go look for it. You stay here and clean up.”

Nastia looked back and forth between him and the door. “Are you sure? We could both look and find it faster.”

But Thames didn’t want her leaving the cave. Something was off. His bear was hackles high on edge. He wanted to find the rock fast and get her calmed so he could figure out what was happening.

“If it’s out there, I’ll find it,” he vowed. “You stay here and try to be nice to Newt.”

Nastia nodded and stepped aside. He gave her lips a quick kiss as he passed and then rushed out the door before she could change her mind. It was only when the cold night air hit him that he realized he was still buck ass naked from his shift earlier.

Thames sighed. Oh well. He was going to make this quick anyway…

Two hours later, he’d retraced their steps at least ten times, searched the entire picnic area, and come up empty. No sign of his mate’s purple heart stone.

Trudging back to the cave, he devised a plan to take Nastia’s mind off the missing rock. It involved his body and a can of Redi-Whip. But when he walked through the door, his plan went up in smoke.

The room was spotless, everything put back in its place, and Nastia lay curled on her side in their bed, fast asleep. Stopping at the edge of the mattress, Thames took a few minutes to just stare at her. She wore one of his t-shirts and it was so big it nearly hit her knees. Her hands were folded under her cheek and a soft snore snuffed from her throat. So peaceful. So different from the frantic, desperate woman he’d left earlier. He didn’t know what to make of her little breakdown, but he knew it was a sign things were worsening.

Sighing, he pulled the blanket over her, and headed to the bathroom for a shower.

There was no sign of Newt, so Thames did a quick look around the cave, checking out all the secret hiding spots he knew of. But there was no skink and no purple heart stone.

The things Nastia had told him about familiars came to him, and he had to wonder if the lizard was becoming something more than just a pet. She’d seemed convinced the skink had something to do with the missing rock.

Moving to the bathroom, Thames showered quickly, washing away the grime from the outdoors that remained on his skin. When he’d finished, he toweled off and strolled back to the great room.

Sssssth
.

Screeching to a stop in the middle of the cavern, he listened for the sound. It seemed to be over by the bed. His bear bristled, instinct telling him there was an intruder.

Sssssth, sssth
.

Thames crossed the room in three strides and found the source of the noise. Newt seemed to be squaring off with two mammoth sized black beetles, hissing and spitting for all his life was worth. Each insect was as big as Thames’s thumb, their antennae rotating in the air as if to gauge Newt’s threat. And strangest of all, Nastia’s missing rock lay on the floor between them.

Thames let off a quiet snarl and the insects scattered. But he wasn’t about to leave them for Nastia to find. He had to get rid of them. It was part of his mately duty to kill the creepy crawlies. Pretty sure that was in the contract. She carries his mark and his cubs, he smashes the bugs.

His hand shot out to grab one of the work boots he kept by the bed. With a
thwack
, he annihilated one of the little buggers while the other one scuttled under the bed frame. But Newt, the smart little lizard, had anticipated the move and headed the beetle off, hissing at him until he backed out.

“Good skink,” Thames murmured, and brought the boot down on the second insect. “I’d give you a high five for the team work, but it might be dangerous.”

Newt blinked his response.

“Yep. Be right back.”

Thames jogged to the counter for a paper towel and scooped the bugs up to flush down the toilet. When he returned, he found Newt attempting to drag Nastia’s rock away.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Thames hissed, shooting a glance at his mate to make sure she was still sleeping soundly. “You asking for trouble or what?”

He bent to pick up the stone and if he wasn’t mistaken, he’d swear the lizard glared at him.

“
This
is not yours. Hands off or I’ll toss you outside.”

After a moment of Newt considering his options, he seemed to decide the stone wasn’t worth it and burrowed into his scarf bed.

“Good choice.”

Thames put the stone in Nastia’s box so she would find it in the morning, and climbed into bed. Pulling his mate close, he let his bear settle. This little twilight-zone episode felt like a warning. Like things might be getting a lot stranger for them. But as he told her earlier, he’d prepared for this. Let the hard times come. They were part of the package anyway.

He buried his nose in her hair and inhaled.

Worth it. Whatever trouble lie ahead was worth it.