Bearly Falling

by Ally Summers

  “What’s going on, is that I’m getting Grayson back.”

  “What in the hell are you talking about? Back? Were you two a thing?”

  She cupped her hands over the flame. I watched in bewilderment as the flame grew larger the farther she drew her palms from the wick. She was controlling it.

  With more light in the room, it was easier to see her.

  “Grayson is my bear. Not yours.” She wagged her finger.

  “You know about him?” I didn’t know which part was more unbelievable, the fact that she was blatantly demonstrating magic in front of me or that she already knew Grayson’s secret and I no longer questioned it.

  “I’ve always known about him. He is descended from my magical line. Our lineage is tied. He is destined to be mine.”

  I shook my head. “What? You think you two are destined to be together?”

  “I know he believes you are his fated mate. And that’s possibly true. But he is mine. He is the center of my magic. With him my magic will only grow and flourish. We can pass it along to our children. His cubs.” She smiled at the horror on my face. “You realize I can’t let you out of here.”

  I thought I was going to be sick.

  “Listen, Celia. I’m not a part of any of this. I don’t want to interfere in your relationship.”

  She held up her hand. “Stop. I’m not an idiot. I’ve worked side-by-side with Grayson Hawthorne for over two years. I know everything about him. I know how he likes his coffee. I know what time he goes to bed. I know the funny sounds he makes when he’s angry or happy. I know the shoe size of every woman he has slept with. I know him. And I know he brought you to Promise Lake because he wanted to make you his. I know that. So just stop. Stop pretending.”

  “I’m not pretending,” I pleaded. The ropes cut deeper into my skin the harder I pulled. “I just learned about all of this last night. I’m not trying to be anyone’s mate or have anyone’s cubs.”

  But as soon as I said the words I regretted them. I wanted to take them back and reel them in my mouth the same way I had spit them out. It felt like a complete betrayal.

  I didn’t know if that was true. I wanted so badly to believe that Grayson was the image of him I read about in magazines. I hadn’t let the possibility exist that there was more to him. Another side. A deeper and more intense version of the man I had fallen for. A version that was completely committed to a future with me.

  “You expect me to believe you don’t want him? That you would refuse him? That you wouldn’t evoke the claim bond?”

  “Look, you have a lot invested in him. I see that. But this is kind of personal.”

  Her laugh made my skin crawl. “You have no idea how personal. You have interfered with my line of magic. And I can’t let you have his cubs.”

  “What do you mean?” There was fear in my voice. “I’ve already said I’m not interested in cubs.” She was insane.

  She turned from the flame. Within seconds the fireplace was ablaze with a roaring fire. She waved her hands in front of the sparks, drawing the tips of the flames higher into the pit.

  “I could kill you, Sienna.”

  A cold chill broke over my skin.

  “But, if I did that it would be messy. And I don’t want to deal with the fall out of a murder investigation. Although, I have plenty of ways of hiding your body as I’m doing now.”

  “Hiding me? I’m hidden now?” I looked at the walls and ceiling.

  “You’re properly cloaked for now. That’s what the flame is for. Grayson can’t find you.”

  I swallowed. “Oh God.”

  “Don’t worry. I’m not going to kill you. I’m just going to make you useless to him.”

  There was nothing comforting in her words.

  “Useless?”

  “He needs a woman who can bear his cubs. Give him heirs. Lots of them. A man like Grayson needs a woman who can devote her body to his. His mate has to be able to deliver the most precious gift to her alpha.”

  “What are you saying, Celia? What are you going to do to me?”

  “It’s not going to hurt.” She grinned. “Stop looking so panicked.”

  I yanked at the restraints. “Let me go. Let me go.”

  “I will. Once you drink this.” She pivoted in front of me, holding a chalice.

  “What’s in there?”

  Celia sat across from me. “You will drink this. You will fall asleep and I will return you to the Promise Lake estate. When you wake up in the morning, you won’t remember any of this. So, really you have nothing to worry about. But while you sleep the potion will work its way through your body. You will grow completely resistant to the Hawthorne magic. Any time he tries to plant his seed in you, it will be rejected by the magical essence in the elixir I created. Your body will be toxic to his seed. You will never give him a Hawthorne heir. Never.”

  “No.” I shook my head. “You can’t make me drink that. I won’t.”

  I hadn’t taken my eyes off the chalice. The black liquid was like melted licorice. I would never drink it. I would never repel my body to Grayson’s. She couldn’t do this.

  I screamed in panic. I yelled in frustration. I wiggled and rocked until the chair flipped me on my side.

  “You’re making this more dramatic than it needs to be.” Celia crouched on the floor next to me. “Don’t bump your head with all this thrashing about. I don’t need you to choke on the elixir.”

  She pulled me until I was upright again.

  “Why don’t you just take him? Let me step aside?” Nothing made sense other than she was completely batshit crazy.

  “Because he has to reject you. And once he does, he is then available. Let’s call it the open market. As much as I’ve abhorred your arrival, I’ve needed it. The sooner he rejects you for not giving him the heirs he deserves, the sooner I can have him. A full rejection of his fated mate will ensure that. I couldn’t start my relationship with him and take the chance that you would show up later. I had to wait for you to enter the picture. Now that you’re here, I can take care of this. Finally.”

  “And who says he will reject me? He’s not that kind of man. You think he would throw me aside because I can’t have his children. That’s ridiculous. There’s more to life. There’s more to Grayson.”

  My need to defend him, to defend our future together came out of nowhere. I was suddenly protective of him. Only last night he told me I was destined to have his cubs and I ran out of the room crying. Now it was the only thing I could think about. They didn’t even exist and I wanted them. I couldn’t let Celia destroy this. Grayson wanted cubs with his fated mate. With me. I had to protect that future at all costs.

  I was up against a witch. I had no magical power. I had no weapons.

  “It’s almost ready.” She walked the chalice back to the fire and placed it in the center of the glowing embers. “I’ll have you back before Grayson knows you’re missing.”

  I didn’t know how much time I had, but I had to make the most out of every second. My life with Grayson depended on it. I couldn’t let that wretched liquid cross my lips. No matter what.

  Nineteen

  Grayson

  What in the hell was I watching? I rewound the footage again. I saw it from a far angle, but I still couldn’t believe it. Sienna floated out of the bedroom window. And Celia was hovering next to her. I leaned in closer.

  All this time I had been working with a witch and had no idea. I closed my eyes. She had been working an angle for two years. Serving me coffee. Staying in the office late. Getting there early in the morning to beat me in. Wearing appallingly inappropriate clothes to the office. And she was magical.

  How did I not sense it? How did I not notice?

  It didn’t matter. She had Sienna and I had to find her. I would do whatever it took to track and destroy that witch.

  I tore out of the security room. Celia had flown over the west gate before they disappeared. I didn’t know what was on that side of Promise Lake.
>
  There wasn’t time to call the clan and organize a search party. If Oliver were closer I would ask for his help, but I knew time was essential. I needed to find them before Celia did something worse than steal Sienna.

  If we had secured our claim bond last night finding Sienna would be easy. I’d be able to track her with the flick of a switch, but without that bond it would be more difficult.

  I would have to use every sense I had. I would comb the lake and the mountains. I would sniff out every valley. I wouldn’t give up until I had her back at the estate. I swore I would find her. I barreled into the woods.

  Twenty

  Sienna

  Celia crouched over the fire, stirring the thick molasses I was supposed to drink. It didn’t matter if she poured sugar or a case of champagne in there—I wasn’t going to drink it.

  “Have you always been a witch?” I asked.

  She rose from the floor. “I was born a witch, yes. Magic, however has to be earned.”

  “And I take it you don’t think I deserve it. I don’t deserve Grayson’s magic.”

  “How could you? You’re human. You don’t appreciate it. You don’t appreciate him. His strength. His bear.”

  I bit my lip nervously. “What if I do? Would that change anything?”

  “You aren’t scared of his bear?” One of her eyebrows cocked higher than the other.

  “I’m not sure.”

  “Exactly. You aren’t sure. You aren’t sure of anything. You aren’t worthy of the dynast. And you especially aren’t worthy to carry his child.” There was menace in the way she looked at me. “I hate that I have to let you crawl into his bed, but it’s the only way.”

  “How can you be so sure he’ll reject me? If he’s so honorable why would he toss his mate aside?”

  “It’s the clan’s law. He must have an heir.”

  “And he listens to the laws? You know he will obey the law?” I needed more answers than I had from last night, but I hoped I could stall or distract her.

  “He does. And once he realizes he can move on, he will.”

  “With you?”

  “Yes. I’ll be there to pick up the pieces when he grows tired of you. When he casts you aside. I can be the proper dynastess.”

  I was in awe of the glitter dust that poured from her fingers. She chanted over the chalice.

  “Why haven’t you told him? Why let this affection for him be hidden all this time?”

  I had to keep her talking. I had to find an angle to use.

  “Oh all right. I’ll play along.” She sighed. “I’m only telling you these things because you’ll forget. You’ll wake up unaware anything happened in the cabin.”

  “Sounds like the perfect time to bare your soul.” I faked a smile. “A confession with no consequences.”

  “I hate you, Sienna.” Her eyes hardened. “This isn’t girl talk. We aren’t friends. I hate that he has touched you. I hate that you’ll be under his sheets. Under his body. You don’t deserve any of that.”

  “I never said I’d be his mate.” I realized I had to lie. I had to convince her I was never going to say yes to him. Even though it was all I could think about before I was kidnapped.

  How could I not want him? How could I turn him away? Grayson said things to me I’d never heard from another man. Promises that made my heart melt. That made my blood run like lava for him. I was so stupid for ruining last night. So incredibly stupid. I should have said yes. I should have told him there was no way I could let another man near me after I’d tasted his lips.

  I would have slept in his arms. He would have protected me. He would have saved me. I was stupid and scared.

  “I turned his offer down. I rejected his bear already.” I stuck my chin forward in defiance. “What you are trying to do is unnecessary.”

  “It’s the only insurance policy I have. It’s completely necessary for me. You could change your mind and evoke the bond.”

  “What if that potion kills me? What if you keep me from ever having children with another man?” I waited for her to answer.

  “It’s not lethal magic. Calm down. As far as children. Stick to human men and you’ll be just fine. Stay away from magicals.”

  “I can do that. I will do that. Just let me go. I won’t even return to the estate. I’ll leave Promise Lake. I already decided to quit the design project. You’ll never see me again at Hawthorne Global,” I pleaded.

  Celia strolled toward me. The chalice was outstretched in her hand. “Once you drink, it will be over. All this arguing will be over.”

  I shook my head. “No.” My eyes flared. “I won’t drink it.”

  “I have ways to make you do things you don’t want to do. Are you willing to test my strength?”

  I knew no matter what game I tried she wasn’t going to be fooled. I forged forward with the truth. “You won’t rob me of this. I have a destiny to fulfill. I am Grayson’s destiny. Not you.”

  Her brows knitted together. “You had a destiny.” She pushed the silver chalice to my lips. “Drink.”

  I clamped my lips together and wriggled away from her. I was defenseless, but I wasn’t going to make it easy for her. I’d fight with every breath I had to save my future Hawthorne babies. To protect what Grayson loved. To give him the heirs I was meant to give him.

  I kicked and thrashed, but I felt the strength being drained from my body. With every wiggle of protest, I felt heavier.

  My jaw started to slack. No. No. My head rolled to the side.

  Celia sighed. “You are no match for magic. You’re human. Give in and drink the elixir so I can take you back to the estate before he wakes up.”

  “No,” I sputtered.

  The pain ripped through me and I screamed. It was as if a dagger’s blade had been shoved into the base of my skull. My head jerked forward, tipping toward the ceiling, right where Celia wanted me. The perfect angle to pour the liquid into my mouth.

  A tear slid down my cheek. I didn’t want this. I wanted my family with Grayson.

  “When you wake up, it will be as if this never happened,” she whispered.

  “No.” My whimper was too quiet to hear.

  As she raised the chalice, my eyes blurred with tears.

  Twenty-One

  Grayson

  I hurled through the edge of the forest bordering the property. The tree limbs whirled past as I raced toward my mate. She was close. I could feel her. I had scaled every foot of the acreage. I didn’t know of any buildings on this part of the land, but Celia may be using a cloaking spell. I couldn’t eliminate any possibility.

  With every step I took, the chain in my chest tugged and pulled harder. It was leading me to Sienna. I just had to stay in sync. I pictured her. I listened for the sound of her heart beat. I searched the air for her pulse. And then I heard it. It was distant and feint, but it was there. I ran faster.

  If she could hold on just a little bit longer, I would figure this out. I would save her. Protect her. Shield her from whatever Celia had planned.

  I broke into a clearing. Her heart pounded so loudly I thought I was standing next to her, but the lot was empty. She had to be here.

  “Sienna?” I called. My voice bounced and echoed around the canyon. My ears perked. “Sienna!”

  I moved through the clearing. She was here, only I couldn’t see her. Celia had cloaked the location.

  I had no idea how to break through the magic. How to see them on the other side of the spell. But I remembered what I had told Sienna last night. My shifter side was rooted in magic. Ancient magic stemming from the covens that established Promise Lake. It was a long shot, but if Celia had any ties to one of those covens, maybe I could see them.

  I closed my eyes and focused on my bear. I let him take over. I surrendered to his power and let him explore all his senses. I had the ability to locate Sienna through him. I had to use that power. Harness the control.

  I opened my eyes. It was as clear as my hands. There was a small cabin ten feet
in front of me. I smiled. I had found them.

  I jerked to action when I heard Sienna scream. There was no time. I couldn’t plan an attack or a stealth rescue. She needed me.

  I roared as the fur burst forth under my skin. My fangs extended and my ears reached toward the trees. My bear couldn’t take a chance with her life. My mate needed this version of me.

  The door splintered under my paws as I rammed through it.

  Celia blocked Sienna from me. Something was wrong. Sienna wasn’t moving. She was limp in the chair. Her head rolled to the side.

  I roared at Celia.

  “Calm down, big boy.” She smiled.

  I growled.

  “You showed up a little too early, Grayson.”

  I reared up. I was ready to tear her head off.

  “Grayson,” Sienna mumbled.

  “Shh.” Celia spun, gripping the air with her hand and Sienna seized with pain.

  I lunged forward, but Celia warned me. “I wouldn’t do that. I’ll only cause her more pain.”

  I took a step backward.

  “Why don’t we try this again?” she suggested. “You go back out on the porch and come back in as a man. I’d rather talk to that side of you. I like your fur, but not when you’re angry.”

  I grumbled. I had no way to leverage an attack. She held Sienna’s pain in her hands. I backed out of the house and onto the porch. Within seconds I was back in my own skin. I yanked my tattered pants from the floorboards and put what was left of them over my legs. My strongest weapon was my bear. He had found the witch through her cloaking spell. Celia knew I was vulnerable in my human skin.

  I returned to the room. I was cautious about making any sudden movements. I didn’t want to startle the witch.

  “Let her go, Celia,” I demanded.

  “I don’t think I can do that.”

  “What is this all about?” I still didn’t know how or why this happened. “What’s going on?”