by M. D. Grimm
Poe exhaled sharply and proceeded to pack up his camp. Even one-handed it didn’t take long, and by the time he was done, the painkillers were working. The pain had dulled just enough that he was able to think better. Poe was convinced he would get over Nordik’s magnetism the longer he was with him. He had to.
Nordik turned around and looked at Poe over his shoulder, expectantly. Poe frowned. As they stared at each other, he realized what Nordik wanted. The master shifter moved his body slightly and jerked his head to his own back. Great. Now the master shifter wanted Poe to get on his back. He slung his bag onto his back, and with a small hop, managed to slide onto Nordik. With his good hand, he gripped Nordik’s fur, praying he didn’t pull any out. Nordik began trotting away. Poe pressed his wounded hand close to his chest and tried to keep it from being jostled too much.
He tightened his legs around Nordik’s sides and tried but failed to ignore the rubbing sensation of his groin with Nordik’s back. He hoped to God Nordik didn’t notice. He’d been told that shifters could smell arousal.
Perfect.
It wasn’t long before Poe noticed the fact that Nordik never made any noise as he moved. His footsteps were silent, his movements smooth. Poe was never jostled. How could such a massive shifter move like a ghost? Amazing. Poe leaned lower onto Nordik’s body and felt the master shifter’s muscles move under the fur.
That was when he finally felt exhilaration. He’d accomplished his task. He’d found the master shifter Nordik. He was actually riding a master shifter.
Poe grinned. Wouldn’t the other agents be jealous when he told them?
Chapter Five
Poe ended up dozing as Nordik led them farther into Sanctuary’s heart. They crossed several fields and streams as well as thick forests, and they passed under tall, imposing mountains. The scents changed in each location, as did the animals they encountered. Poe remembered several large bears, but they were small compared to Nordik, and they only watched as the master shifter trotted past.
Nordik took a sharp right. Poe snapped fully awake to notice that they were by a short mountain range. A small field of tall grass was on his other side and tall, sturdy spruce trees were beyond the grass. Nordik jogged alongside the wall of rock, and Poe wondered when this strange trip would end just as Nordik turned sharply again. For a moment Poe thought they would smash into the rock. But instead, they passed through thick bushes, which hid the entrance to a cave. His eyes widened as Nordik took them deeper beneath the mountain. The air grew cooler and staler, and Nordik’s footsteps echoed dully off the walls. Poe couldn’t see a thing, and he tightened his hold on Nordik’s fur.
Nordik turned left, trotted a few more steps, then he stopped. Poe slid gracelessly off Nordik and let his bag fall to the ground. He couldn’t see a thing at first, and then he felt the air shimmer before the lighting of a match drew his attention. Nordik proceeded to light a kerosene lantern. He lit ten, and they were placed strategically around the interior of the cave to give the maximum amount of light.
Poe’s jaw dropped. He was standing in the middle of a sparsely furnished living room. In a cave. There was carpet on the floor, old and slightly soggy, but soft. A ratty, but oddly comfortable-looking, couch sat next to a table that held a windup radio. Two chairs sat facing it, in the same state of rattiness. There was an antique trunk on the far side of the cave and an opening right beside it. The opening was covered with beaded strings.
“They were made by my tribe,” Nordik said, apparently noticing where Poe’s gaze had landed. “They are one of the few things I have left of them.”
While Poe had been looking around the cave, Nordik had pulled on an old, thin pair of jeans that he didn’t bother to button or zip. They clung to him way too alluringly, and Poe’s breath backed up in his throat. Then Nordik smiled. It was a nice smile: soft, gentle, and full of amusement.
“I welcome you to my home. And by the look on your face, I can see you thought I lived like a Neanderthal.”
Poe relaxed under Nordik’s gentle gaze. He even managed to smile back.
“Sure I did,” he said. “You abandoned the civilized world and decided to move out here to the wilderness to live. Of course you have to be a Neanderthal. And a crazy one at that.”
Nordik chuckled. The sound came up from his chest, and it sounded rusty, like he didn’t laugh much. It was a shame; he had a nice laugh and a nice smile. Nordik turned around.
And a really nice ass. Poe’s face heated and his groin tightened. He looked away and kicked himself mentally.
Focus, you idiot!
Nordik was like nothing Poe had expected. He wasn’t sure what exactly he’d expected but this wasn’t it. He’d considered Nordik to be some sort of wild man and more animalistic than human. Considering he did seem to spend most of his time in the forest in bear form, what else would he be like? But instead of rough and gruff, Nordik was―considerate, gentle even. But Poe wasn’t fooled. He remembered what Nordik did to the two knights. He was capable of repulsive acts―but only when his territory was threatened.
“This is one of my many homes,” Nordik said as he took something out of the trunk.
“How many do you have?” Poe asked, looking longingly at the couch.
“A lot,” Nordik said easily. “Please, sit.”
Thankful, Poe dragged his bag over to the couch and sat down with a low sigh.
“Would you like coffee?” Nordik asked.
He realized that Nordik had pulled out a handheld coffee grinder, and a small box of coffee beans. Two mugs sat next to it, and Nordik was now turning on a small gas-powered heating plate to boil water.
Who was this guy?
“I’d love some,” he said, amazed at the items of civilization Nordik had tucked away. He leaned back against the couch, which was soft and made him think of a cocoon, when his hand flashed with pain. He hissed and gripped his wrist.
Nordik was beside him immediately. “I never did thank you. For your sacrifice.”
Poe met Nordik’s gaze as the master shifter took his hand.
He was about to say it was his job, which it was, but instead he said simply, “You’re welcome.”
Nordik nodded and considered his hand. “I didn’t have time to stitch the wound. You were bleeding heavily. But I should now.”
Poe nodded. “There’s needles and thread in the first aid kit. And antibiotics―”
“I found that,” Nordik said, rummaging through his bag again. Poe stared at him.
“You did?”
“Yes.” Nordik said set the kit on the table before sitting next to it, his knees bumping Poe’s legs.
“I found those helpful instructions from your friend, Genii, I think, and injected you.”
Wow. “Thanks, Nordik. Seems you saved my life.” Poe tried to keep his tone light, but it wasn’t often that someone saved his life.
Nordik smiled again, and Poe felt his toes curl. What. The. Fuck? His toes did not curl. Poe popped some more Advil to keep himself occupied and tried―but failed―to ignore the strangely vulnerable feeling he got as Nordik continued to hold his wrist.
Nordik sterilized the needle with the bottle of alcohol in the kit before threading it. Poe took a deep breath as Nordik unwrapped his hand and prepared himself.
“You shouldn’t look―”
“I’m not a child,” Poe snapped. Fear made him angry. “Just do it.”
Nordik took off the last of the wrappings, and Poe finally saw the damage to his hand. He already knew that his left hand was basically useless now, the tendons, muscles and bones shattered and torn. But to actually see the hole, the charred skin, made him slightly ill.
“Jesus,” he whispered at the mangled remains.
“They paid,” Nordik said in a strained whisper. The skin of his face rippled and the muscles tightened around his jaw. Those dark brown eyes glowed. Poe knew that meant he was extremely pissed but―why would his injury piss Nordik off so much?
Nordik stitched his
hand quickly and with such skill, Poe wondered how many such injuries he’d sewn before. Then Nordik poured alcohol on his hand, and it stung horribly, but Poe kept silent. Nordik bandaged his hand again and then simply held it.
Before Poe could think of what to say, Nordik lifted his hand to his nose and took a deep breath. Poe’s mouth went dry when those rich brown eyes met his.
“You have a unique smell, Agent Poe,” Nordik murmured. “Like the earth, but in the spring when flowers bloom. Why is that?”
Is the master shifter trying to flirt with me? Poe blamed his lack of focus and his urge to kiss Nordik on his wounded hand and the blood he’d lost. And the painkillers, they must be dulling his mind.
“My father’s a dwarf,” Poe said hoarsely, seeing no way to divert the conversation since he’d momentarily forgotten why he’d been sent to find Nordik in the first place. “You know, like in Norse mythology?”
Nordik looked delighted. “A dwarf? How fascinating. I thought they had all died out.”
“My dad’s one of the last.”
Nordik regarded Poe’s hand, still holding it gently in his own. Nordik’s hand was large compared to his, and it made him feel weak. He knew what it was like to be weak. He wouldn’t go through that again. Vulnerability. It wasn’t something an agent was allowed to have.
“But you have such small hands,” Nordik said before Poe could open his mouth. “Dwarves have big hands.”
“Just one of those things, I guess.” He pulled his hand out of Nordik’s grip. “We have things to discuss, Nordik.”
Nordik looked amused. “Do we? Well, then by all means, let’s discuss them.”
Poe narrowed his eyes. “I don’t appreciate being mocked.”
Nordik grinned, and it momentarily changed Poe’s mood. It brightened the shifter’s face, changing him from something formidable to something approachable. It was a charming smile. Then Nordik stood and took the water off the stove. Poe pinched himself, wondering why his training was failing him. Master shifter or not, Nordik’s alliance was his mission, and he needed to stay focused. It still stunned him how easily he could be affected by a look, a smile, even just the damn shifter’s voice. That had never happened before. Was it because he was a master shifter? It must be.
“What is your father’s name?” Nordik asked as he brought the mugs over and handed one to Poe. Then he sat in one of the chairs and appeared completely relaxed. Poe wasn’t fooled. He could never let his guard down around this shifter. Who knew what his moods were really like? Poe didn’t want to end up bear chow.
“Thorgold Bjarnarsonar. But that’s not important―”
“Of course, we have things to discuss.”
Poe curled his fist at the joking tone. “As I said when we met, the Agency would like to make an alliance with you.”
Nordik took a sip. “What sort of alliance?”
“Do you know who the Knights were?”
Nordik frowned and took another sip. “I’m not familiar with that name.”
“Well,” Poe said. “You met two of their members last night.”
Nordik raised an eyebrow. “Actually, I believe I have met five, counting them.”
It was Poe’s turn to frown. “Five?”
“Yes,” Nordik said. “The first was several days ago. I heard a shotgun blast, and I knew it was not hunting season. I ran to where the shot originated and….” He paused and took another sip of the coffee. “Found a dead shifter.”
Poe’s stomach clenched, and he set down his own mug.
“A fawn. Just a fawn,” Nordik said softly. He stared into the mug, and his skin rippled again.
“I tracked the bastard down and killed him.” The hardness and bitter cold in his voice put Poe’s back up. He made a note to himself―do not piss this shifter off. Poe even doubted his great strength would save him.
“Did you find the fawn’s herd?” Poe asked gently.
Nordik met his eyes. “Yes. Her parents were… beyond consoling.”
Poe nodded. “The Knights kill shifters, Nordik. That’s their only purpose. Most are brainwashed as children, others have just had bad experiences with bad shifters and assume all are like that.”
Nordik growled. “And the Agency allows such monsters to exist?”
Poe swallowed his nasty retort and struggled to stay calm. He hated it when anyone spoke poorly about the Agency. “No, we don’t. In fact, we managed to find their headquarters and infiltrated it,” Poe said proudly. “We captured many knights, killed others. But….” He took a breath. “But their leader escaped. A man named Arcas.”
Nordik’s gaze snapped to his. Poe wondered if Nordik had heard of the man before.
“Do you know him?”
“That name,” Nordik murmured, “I thought I heard it last night when you and the intruders spoke. It sounds familiar.”
“Why?”
Nordik shook his head. “I don’t know. I’ll have to think about it.”
Poe shoved aside his disappointment. “So, since Arcas is still running loose, we can’t fully squash the Knights like the bugs they are. There are still too many knights running free, and they are now leaderless.”
Although the woman knight had screamed that Arcas had sent them to Sanctuary. But she could have just been crazy. Yet, it was best not to underestimate them.
Why would Arcas send knights to Sanctuary?
“And that makes them more dangerous,” Nordik said.
Poe nodded. “That is why Chief Anu wishes to make an alliance with you. You’re a master shifter, you own Sanctuary, which covers thousands of miles of woodland, full of shifters. You rule the bear shifters. You’re a powerful ally.”
Nordik smiled. “I’m flattered.”
“It’s fact,” Poe said lightly. He ignored Nordik’s chuckle and grabbed the folder the chief had given him. He pulled it out of his bag and took out the papers the chief wanted Nordik to look over. Poe handed them to Nordik. Nordik glanced at them, and a deep frown furrowed his brows.
“He wants me to contact the other master shifters?”
“Yes,” Poe said, having looked over the papers himself. “He thought―”
“We don’t do that.” Nordik tossed the papers back on the table. A tense silence filled the cave.
“You don’t do what?” Poe asked.
“We don’t contact each other,” Nordik said. He looked agitated. “We don’t know each other’s whereabouts, and we don’t seek each other out.”
Poe was sincerely confused. “Why not?”
Nordik only shook his head and looked away. He rubbed his chin, and Poe didn’t know what to say for a moment. Then fear, anger, and frustration at the entire situation and his own emotions drove him to find his ground again, his foundation. It had been jerked out from underneath him the moment Nordik had burst onto the scene.
He stood. “You listen to me, shifter,” Poe said, tossing diplomacy out of the window. “I didn’t come all the way out here, busting my ass to find you, getting shot in the hand to protect your ass to have you stonewall me now.”
Nordik considered him with a blank expression. That only pissed Poe off more. How could Nordik be so calm when Poe’s insides were churning unpleasantly?
“I didn’t want to come out here,” he said softly. “I have other duties, responsibilities that are more important than this wild goose chase. But I am here and you damn well will do what I tell you to do.”
He knew he’d crossed the line when Nordik’s eyes flashed, when he stood up to his full height. He was slightly under six feet, and yet that was still nearly a foot taller than Poe. Also, despite Poe’s muscles, Nordik still had size on him. Poe was used to people being taller than him, but at that moment it was highly intimidating. Frustrating. And though he didn’t want to admit it, even to himself, it was strangely arousing.
“Do you think me a cub, Agent?” Nordik said, his skin rippling violently, his muscles fairly jumping all over his body. His hands were clenched, his knuck
les popped. Poe wanted to curl up in a ball and whimper. But he stood firm. He forced himself to meet Nordik’s eyes. If he didn’t, he’d have to focus on that massive chest. It wouldn’t help.
“Do you forget who I am? What I am? You are in my territory.” Nordik leaned forward. Poe barely resisted leaning back. “I rule here, Agent.” Those brown eyes were hypnotic. “Here, I am lord. You have no authority. I allow you to be here. If I so chose, I could eject you from here or simply kill you.”
Poe swallowed hard and met Nordik’s gaze head-on. “All right then,” he said stiffly. “If that is your decision, who am I to argue? Nice meeting you, Nordik.”
Poe turned and grabbed his bag. He shoved the first aid kit back inside it, grabbed the chief’s papers, and stuffed them inside as well. Then he slung the bag over his shoulder and turned to head for the entryway. He would simply tell the chief that Nordik wasn’t interested. Better that than remain with this pigheaded, arrogant―
“Do you give up so easily?” Nordik said to his back. “I thought agents were made of sterner stuff. Seems they’re nothing but children. Mice scurrying away from a cat.”
Poe stopped dead. He dropped his bag. He turned, limbs quivering. “Wounded or not,” he said, “master shifter or not, I will hurt you.”
Nordik grinned, or at least he bared his teeth. “Challenging me in my own territory? That takes guts. Or stupidity.”
Enough with this alpha male shit. Poe charged. He ducked under Nordik’s arms and brought his fist to Nordik’s stomach. His breath whooshed out and before Poe could get in another shot, Nordik sidestepped and grabbed Poe’s left arm. Fearing that Nordik would use his wounded hand against him, Poe let his strength surge. He stomped his booted foot onto Nordik’s bare one. The master shifter let him go with a shout, and Poe backed away. He crouched, braced for the next attack. It didn’t take Nordik long to recover.
The master shifter snarled at him, and Nordik’s skin was doing a rippling dance. His eyes glowed eerily in the cave. The lanterns’ flames were casting jittering shadows on the walls. Poe wondered if he was going to shift. He could handle a man, fine, but not a full-grown bear.
