Bear Guards: A Paranormal Romance

by J. S. Striker

  Damn it.

  When his erection had abated, and he was in better control of himself, he stepped out of the bathroom and watched as she finished her spell all over the house—a spell that he couldn’t see but he could feel, as it surrounded them with that same aura he felt at the border.

  Except the border had failed.

  “Can these spells keep them out?”

  Hazel nodded. “They should. It doesn’t feel like much, but that’s because I’ve placed a cloaking spell on top of it. It will mask all energy in this house, too.” A worried look crossed her features, one that had him walking closer. But he stopped a respectful distance.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I’m just worried. The shifters’ and vampires’ energies are safe, but the witches…”

  “Don’t be. They weren’t after you. They were after me. They felt me in this house. As long as I stay away from the others and don’t shift for now, they won’t be harmed. It’s a pattern.”

  That had her shooting him a look, one he already braced himself for. She sighed and looked at the dining table, which he realized had food that was left untouched by the brawl that had happened.

  “How about we get some dinner in, and you tell me all about it?” she asked.

  It sounded like a good bargain—and really, it wasn’t like he had any choice in the matter.

  “Okay.”

  “Great. Let me just clean up. Then you’ll tell me everything.”

  Not what he was planning to do, but he owed her again.

  And Adam knew she deserved to know the truth.

  *****

  “So those demons have been after you for years, and they can detect you through your energy when you shift? And that’s the reason why you’re never in the same place for long?”

  Adam nodded, chewing on his steak with gusto and loving how the flavors burst on his tongue. It surprised him how patient Hazel was as she ate and waited, and he decided that it would be an asshole move to make her wait too long.

  He swallowed the piece and gulped down a glass of water. “Yes. As I’ve told you, my body can’t take it if I don’t shift for a long time. Two years had been the longest, but it drove me crazy and made me violent.”

  “So do they follow all dragon shifters like that?”

  “They do. They come in three waves, and that was the first wave.”

  “What do they need from you?

  “My blood. Dragon shifter blood is sustenance for their kind. It will make them live for a longer time and continue to terrorize this world.”

  “So you just have to defeat them?”

  He shook his head. “If a dragon shifter manages to defeat all three waves, then something worse comes.”

  “What’s worse than violent demons?” she asked incredulously.

  “You don’t want to know. They’ll have to start over to a first wave in every new place—it’s a test and a weird ritual for them. So I’m planning not to have the third wave defeated here. As soon as I find my mate, I’m running out. There’s no need to involve everyone.”

  She frowned, obviously disturbed. The rest of their dinner was eaten in silence, up until he volunteered to wash the dishes and she proceeded to stand beside him.

  “Has any dragon shifter ever managed to defeat…whatever’s worse than violent demons and lived in peace?”

  Adam shook his head. “Not that I know of unless they’re good at hiding. I only got my knowledge from the dragon shifter I knew. He’s dead now.”

  There was no need to explain why, and she didn’t ask. He kept up with the rhythm of washing dishes, and she helped dry them.

  “Not to be cold or anything, but…what if the others find out? What do you have to offer that won’t make them kick you out before you find your mate?”

  He shot her a look. “My size. My strength. I can defeat demons, but I choose not to finish the three waves because the next one that comes will take its time. It’s a demon, too—a stronger one from the depths of hell. It will ruin anything in its path for my blood. I like living. I’m not ready to confront it yet.”

  “Right. Hear me out.” She tossed the drying towel on the counter and turned to him, waiting until his gaze met hers. “Let’s say you do meet your mate here. What if your mate doesn’t want to leave? Most of the residents here settle. Can you offer your protection in exchange for ours?”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “I’m talking about you being a resident here. Protect us. Orville is a sanctuary for our kind, with some evil slipping in every now and then…but with your presence, that can be eliminated—unruly vampires, bloodthirsty shifters, human hunters. The townspeople will be so grateful that they’ll do their best to help you. We have some very powerful witches here, too.”

  He waited for the discomfort to come—but oddly enough, her offer held a strange appeal. He finished the dishes and wiped his hands dry, then turned to her fully as he considered it.

  “And if I find my mate and my mate decides to leave, anyway?”

  “Highly doubtful, since this is the safest place in the world for us,” she muttered. “But we’re not barbarians. You can be free to go whenever you want, as long as you let the council know.”

  He remembered the council, a group of decision-makers composed of vampires, shifters, witches, and humans.

  Again, it wasn’t that bad.

  Adam found himself nodding his head.

  “Deal.”

  She beamed. He looked at her smile, then her lips, and her smile turned into a frown as she frantically shook her head.

  “We’re not having sex,” she admonished. Her cheeks flushed, but her shoulders straightened. “We had a mutual need, and we fulfilled it. I’m not your mate, Adam.”

  “I know.”

  “Good.” She smiled again. “Glad we see eye to eye.”

  The fact that she could so easily dismiss him bothered him to no end, but Adam decided not to dwell on it. She was wonderful, and he wanted her.

  But now it was time to focus on the important things.

  Like finding his mate.

  Chapter 9

  “So that shifter living in your home, my dear…are you really not dating?”

  She tried to focus on her work, which was stitching a dog’s broken bone with her magic in slow, steady waves. Said dog was asleep at the moment, blissfully filled with a sleeping potion until everything was done.

  Hazel wished she could say the same thing about the dog’s owner.

  Mrs. Bing was your regular townswoman who’d grown up in Orville—nosy and warm, like a grandma who just couldn’t resist asking questions. She was a lion shifter, one of the few in town, and her bleached blonde hair obviously tried to retain the glory of her young days. The way the woman eyed Hazel expectedly told Hazel she wouldn’t get away with just ignoring the question, so she inwardly sighed.

  “No, we’re just acquaintances. I offered to monitor him in lieu of the shifter representative. He’s staying at my home to make it more convenient for everyone.”

  A glint entered the woman’s eyes, one that was gone quickly and replaced by a beam. “Oh, that’s good to hear. I just saw him last night with Chandra, and he took her home. Then he kissed her at her doorstep. Is that not going to cause trouble for you?”

  You may as well be an eagle with how you’re looking at me right now, she muttered in her head.

  Outwardly, she graced the woman with a smile and a shrug. “It’s his life. He can date anyone he wants. I’m sure there are lots of women here who’d want to date him.”

  And there were lots, considering this was Adam’s fourth date in almost two weeks. An image of him kissing Chandra flashed in her mind—Chandra, who was a beautiful wolf shifter and as sweet and nice as they came.

  Hazel ignored the jolt of something dark in her chest and kept stitching. She sealed it with a last surge of magic, then patted the dog for a bit before gently handing him over to Mrs. Bing. The woman took him just as gen
tly, eyes still on Hazel.

  “He’s a very handsome fellow. And I haven’t seen you dating anyone in a long time. Is it because you prefer a different…gender, perhaps?”

  Hazel’s brows rose, unable to believe her little stint with the sheriff didn’t reach this woman’s ears yet. It was just as well.

  “Oh, trust me, Mrs. Bing. I love men,” she said with feeling. “I’ll see you around. I have another patient in ten minutes.”

  That wasn’t a lie, as more patients came in the hospital clinic and asked for her help with plenty of things, from minor to major ailments. After staying at home for a few days and almost being driven crazy by the tension between her and Adam—and no, it wasn’t an antagonistic kind—she’d decided it was time to get back to the grind and forget there was a stranger living in her home.

  Except he was no longer a stranger, as every time they came home at night and had dinner together, or even came home late after dinner, they always gathered in the living room to talk about their day. It started as part of the monitoring thing.

  It ended as a comfort for both of them, one that she’d gotten too used to. She’d always been used to going home alone, to finding the house so quiet. Adam was still quiet, but he was a pleasant addition.

  And she really shouldn’t get used to it.

  A knock came at her clinic door, one that wasn’t on her schedule. Hazel prepared her bag for closing and looked up when the door opened, surprised to find none other than the sheriff.

  “Did you need help with anything?” she asked.

  “Actually, I wanted to talk to you.”

  Dread settled in her stomach, already knowing where this was headed. Their conversation at her house hadn’t really ended on a good note, but he hadn’t brought it up again after she told him to mind his own business. Maybe this was something different, though…

  “About what?”

  “About Ushmeg.”

  “What about Adam?” Hazel asked casually, emphasizing the dragon shifter’s first name. The sheriff stood in front of her desk, frowning.

  “He’s been whoring around town.”

  The shock of the word had her stilling. Then she was narrowing her eyes.

  “Oh, I’m sorry. Is he the only shifter kissing women? I believe others are doing more than kissing.”

  As expected, the sheriff turned red. Hazel lifted her chin, waiting for him to meet her gaze. Maybe a part of her was expecting this, but it was rich coming from him of all people.

  “It’s different. He’s a stranger and possibly a danger. I just want to protect the residents.”

  Hazel shot him a look. “You mean you just want to nose into my business. Wasn’t it enough that we had that good time? Can we just stop it at that?”

  Something crossed his expression, and the look he sent her was intense. She found herself not affected by it, other than the annoyance.

  “I’m sorry for hurting you, Hazel. I didn’t mean for you to find out it wasn’t serious that way. I just don’t want to see that guy hurt you.”

  “And he won’t,” she said firmly. “I can take care of myself. Plus we’re just friends.” She sighed, rubbing her face. “Nik, I’m tired. And we’ve been over this—what’s done is done, and we’ve both moved on. Can I just go home now and not be bothered by the same conversation all over again?”

  His jaw clenched, and he looked like he wanted to say more. But to her relief, Nikolai sighed and stepped back.

  “Fine. Have a good day.”

  “Have a great day,” she returned, offering him a nod. Then she was out of there, trusting him to close the door on his way out.

  Friday couldn’t have come any sooner, and Hazel let her tired feet in heels walk her back to her house. She never did get a car, thinking it pointless since walking was healthy. She loved the back field, loved the route she took towards her home and the first glimpse of her garden. It greeted her now as she entered her backyard, a beautiful cacophony of blooms that should have made her smile.

  Except it didn’t.

  Leave it to Nikolai to ruin her day. The man was a great cop and an upstanding citizen, compassionate and just, and she supposed he didn’t mean to harm the women he slept with. But she didn’t want the association anymore, even if he had a change of heart.

  The sight of her patch of orange blooms didn’t lift her mood up as she expected it to, and she stomped inside her place and muttered under her breath. Maybe a glass of wine would fix things up. Or maybe she could rant about Nikolai to Adam, though that wouldn’t do any good because Adam obviously disliked the bear shifter, too, and she didn’t need the extra trouble.

  The sound of her oven timer ringing hit her ears, and Hazel finally wrenched her thoughts away from her personal issues as she looked around. Her eyes scanned the room, and her nostrils caught up to the scent.

  “Hey. You’re pretty early. I thought you’d be home later.”

  Adam was standing with an apron around his waist, looking so domesticated and sexy at the same time as he stirred something in a pot—was that tomato sauce? It smelled like heaven, and she watched in amazement as he opened the oven and got out…

  “Are those fries?”

  “Yes,” he said. “Baked fries in truffle oil.”

  She snatched a piece and chewed, opening her mouth in protest at how hot it was and watching him chuckle. He got some more things prepared, like draining the boiling water from the cooked pasta and adding some pepper to his sauce. She tried to help him, but Adam was adamant on her just sitting on the dining chair. She did as asked, watching him move with a precision that surprised her.

  Once everything was on the table, a plate of pasta was placed in front of her, steaming hot. She twirled a few on her fork, mouth watering, and tasted it.

  Then she sighed in bliss.

  “You fiend. You should have told me you were a fantastic cook.”

  Adam grinned. “I wanted to surprise you. Besides, you like cooking, too. Now eat up.”

  “No date?”

  “No. I decided to take a break from it.”

  The relief that went inside her was stark. She ignored it and swallowed her next bite with gusto.

  “Well, then, I guess you’re stuck with me,” she said.

  He smiled as if that was wonderful, and it made her heart soften. “I guess I am.”

  Chapter 10

  “So have you found your mate yet?”

  The question was asked casually, almost like she didn’t care about the answer. But Adam detected the bated breath as she ate her fries and eyed him, and he wondered what was going on in that pretty little head of hers.

  “Not yet.”

  “So the women you kissed…there were no sparks?”

  Okay, there was definitely something in the tone there, and it had him eyeing her in return. Hazel looked up at the ceiling, an innocent expression on her face.

  “No sparks.”

  “Not even a teeny bit?”

  “Not a single damn spark.”

  That had her eyes flying in his direction, and their gazes connected. There was a moment of suspended silence as something unspoken brewed in the air, his energy coming up to grab at hers.

  Sparks flew. They both knew it.

  They both ignored it.

  “Oh,” she finally said, clearing her throat. “Well. Maybe you just need to keep looking.”

  The urge to tell her that maybe that woman was sitting right in front of him already almost had him speaking, but he knew she’d get mad at that—and really, he didn’t want them to be at odds again, not when they got along so well. So he swallowed his food and tried to find other words.

  “So how was work?”

  She opened her mouth. Closed it right up as her eyes widened, hazel eyes staring behind him. Adam turned his head and watched as a demon’s head popped by the glass window, black tongue coming out to lick it. He almost cursed, then realized that he shouldn’t make any noise.

  Second wave.

 
He tried to signal Hazel—but to his surprise, she was already standing up and stacking plates, eyes narrowed at the demon in obvious dislike.

  “Don’t worry. It can’t hear us. This house is fortified.”

  The demon didn’t look in her direction at her voice, crawling up instead. A negative energy had him shuddering, but the house’s protection spell blocked most of it off.

  “You’re really powerful,” he said, amazed.

  “Thank you,” she said simply. “How many are usually in the second wave?”

  “Around ten. Fifteen on the third. They get stronger each time. If I shift fully, more will come.”

  “Okay. Let them gather. We’ll destroy them when they’re all here.”

  “Right.”

  “I’ll do the dishes. Thanks for the meal. Can I experiment on you later? The house won’t let them detect it.”

  “Uh…sure.”

  “Great!” She looked up at him and smiled, and the normalcy of that reaction despite her tense shoulders finally got to him. She was determined to ignore them, and she was confident that they wouldn’t get in.

  And he should trust her.

  “I’ll clean up the table,” he finally replied. “I’ll be in the laundry room when you’re ready.”

  It was, after all, the only room with no windows in it.

  *****

  Her magic slipped inside him like a sneaky thief, taking his breath away and making him relax at the same time. Adam watched Hazel concentrate, her eyes closed and her body in a yoga-like position as she placed her fingers on him and tried to “sense” him with her magic.

  She’d told him she was curious about the depth of his energy and the storage of it and wanted to help him ease it up if she could with a spell or two. That was highly unlikely, considering witches tried before and couldn’t do so—but really, he owed her so many favors now that he might as well just let her have her way with this one.

  Besides, it was calming. Her presence alone was calming, but her magic was another level altogether, and he found himself relaxing in it, like floating on a warm pool. Her fingers slid to his wrists as she muttered under her breath, her voice just as floating as his feelings.