Tempted by Fire

by Kimber White

  “That’s a pretty thin plan. Did Grace also tell you that her father and brother live in the house just next door? How are we supposed to do all of this without at least one shifter sensing us?”

  Finn shrugged. “She said the rest of them will be out tonight. They’re working some side security gig they’re keeping secret from the old man. And he’s doing some handyman shit over at St. Basil’s until about ten o’clock tonight. We’ve got about an hour window. We move fast, stay cloaked, we can pull it off. Leo here will probably put some of this shit together. She’s gonna have to come up with a better story. But for now, this is the best we’ve got. I’ve got a car parked up at the corner. You help me get this poor bastard in the trunk and we’ll be on our way.”

  “This is ridiculous,” I muttered. But, I grabbed Leo’s legs as Finn hooked his arms beneath Leo’s shoulders. He was heavy. Nothing we couldn’t handle, but Leo was probably one formidable wolf at full strength.

  Thankfully, Finn didn’t ask me any more questions or press me about Grace as we drove away from the tunnels and back into Wicker Park. Just after nine o’clock, the streets were quiet. Finn found a shaded parking spot one block over from Leo’s address. Just like she said, his house was empty. There was a narrow alley behind it and it served our purposes. I jumped the high wooden privacy fence. Finn heaved Leo over it. I caught him and carried him to the hammock hanging between two trees in the corner of the yard.

  I heard voices in the lot beside it. My back went up and fire swirled inside of me. I was still cloaked. With any luck, Leo would stay unconscious for at least a few minutes after I got the chains off of him. I needed to be long gone before that, but something drew my attention.

  The voices were louder, gruff, and speaking Russian. I could understand them fine, but I didn’t recognize any of them. I didn’t think these were Grace’s cousin or brother. I’d seen them all coming in and out of the Bagel Bureau over the last few weeks. They were wolf shifters, all of them. I sensed one with sinister power.

  “Andre, you forget yourself,” the powerful one said.

  Andre. That was Grace’s father.

  Finn whistled our signal. I took the chains off of Leo and vaulted back over the fence. “Come on!” Finn whispered. “Time to get the hell out of here.”

  “You go on ahead,” I said.

  “And what are you planning to do?” Finn’s eyes went wide. “Gideon, this is wolf territory. Leo’s gonna wake up. You can’t be here when he does.”

  I handed the chains to Finn. “And you’re going to have to mind your own business. I’m not in any danger here. I don’t plan on doing anything to draw attention to myself. But, I have something I have to do. Go home. You’ve done enough for me today. Tell the others I’m better. I’ll make it back to the penthouse by midnight. Promise.”

  He knew I didn’t throw my word around lightly. Finn didn’t like it, but he gave me a grim nod and tossed the chains over his shoulder. He stepped back and cloaked himself, then he vaulted into the sky.

  I circled back and jumped the fence behind Leo’s. I was now in the yard just behind Grace’s father’s house. I stayed to the shadows. No one would see me unless I wanted them to. I knew this was madness, but something compelled me to stay. To listen.

  “Pavel.” This was Andre talking. I could see him standing in the center of four other men with his back to me. I had never seen the other wolves. They wore expensive suits, and the biggest one had gold cufflinks that flashed in the moonlight.

  My ears pricked and my dragon stirred. Grace’s father was in danger. I could sense the urge for violence in the biggest man. He had cold, yellow eyes that stared straight into the darkness. His teeth gleamed as he cocked his head to the side. His wolf simmered just below the surface. The three men beside him responded to it. He was their Alpha.

  “Everything is under control,” Andre said in Russian.

  “Kalenkov,” Pavel said. He put a heavy hand on Andre’s shoulder. Kalenkov. Grace Call. Why had she changed her name? “I say if things are under control. You think I’d be here if I was happy with the rumors I’ve heard? You know what I risk coming here? If that’s not enough to impress on you what’s at stake, perhaps I can make it even more clear.”

  Andre Kalishikov was a strong man. He kept his back straight and his wolf under control as this Alpha moved in front of him. He wanted to fight. They both did. But, Andre held back. He was outnumbered, sure, but there was something else holding him back. One on one, it would be a hell of a match between them.

  “I told you, you’ve got nothing to worry about. Nothing’s changed. You shouldn’t take stock in rumors, Pavel. And you don’t know Chicago like you know Moscow and Kazan.”

  “We have an agreement,” Pavel said, baring his teeth. He shoved Andre hard. Andre stood his ground but bared his teeth right back. The three other men stirred, fur beginning to sprout on their faces. Pavel put up a hand and stilled them.

  “I’m well aware of our agreement.”

  “I’m not sure your word is good enough anymore, Andre. Things are different back home. You’ve become a legend, didn’t you know? People have the wrong idea about what happened all those years ago. And I am not my father. I’m sorry for what happened to your wife. You know it had nothing to do with me.”

  Andre’s face contorted with pain at the mention of his wife. Grace had told me Andre had to leave the Russian packs to be with her. She lost her life because of it.

  “Let’s not speak any more of the dead,” Andre said. “Not yours. Not mine. I’m no legend. No hero. I’ve always just wanted to live my life in peace. Peace for me. Peace for my family.”

  “And that’s what I want for you too,” Pavel said. He’d turned on a dime, going from sinister power in one second, to calm the next. He moved out of the shadows and the moonlight caught him. He was younger than I first thought. Maybe in his mid-thirties with coal-black hair and a wide, flat nose.

  “I’ll be good for her,” Pavel said. My back went up. I felt my dragon’s wings threatening to unfurl. Her. No.

  “I’m not the monster my father was or his father before him. I’ll treat her like a queen. I can make her happy.”

  A shudder went through Andre. It was all I could do not to tear down the fence and blast all five wolves into a cinder. He hadn’t said her name. I could dare to hope this wasn’t what I thought it was.

  “She’s strong-willed,” Andre said. “She has ambitions. She wants to take over the restaurant where she works. She wants to finish school. She’s American now, Pavel. It would be difficult for her to leave. She’s never even set foot in Russia. You can’t expect her to live there with you.”

  “She won’t necessarily have to,” Pavel said, smiling. “These are details we can work out. But, I cannot have you going back on your word. You made a promise to my father, to my pack. We gave you your life and your children’s lives because of it.”

  “I told you,” Andre said, gritting his teeth. “Nothing’s changed.”

  “Good,” Pavel said. “The Vadim line is strong. You know that. Grace will give birth to an Alpha. This union will seal the rift between our families for good. I can’t condone all of my father’s methods, but even you can appreciate his vision.”

  “Pavel, she needs more time.”

  “Have you even told her?” Pavel asked. I could barely see straight. Smoke wafted from my fingertips.

  “I will,” Andre said. “You have to let me do this my way.”

  “No!” The veneer of civility dropped and I saw the core of the man behind it. Pavel Vadim was black inside. He’d called his father a monster. I saw one now in front of me.

  “You have three months,” Pavel said. “That was the deal. When Grace turns twenty-one, she mates with me. I’ve been fair. Don’t forget what it cost me to become Alpha of the Vadim pack and how you benefited. You weren’t strong enough to take out my father. Only I was. You know it wouldn’t have ended with your wife’s death. You’ve been away too long. Grac
e will come back to Moscow with me, but she doesn’t have to be alone. I’ll allow her brother to come with her, if he can be made to understand how things work.”

  Andre’s control slipped. His fangs dropped and his eyes blazed gold. Fire crackled between my fingers. I would kill them. I would incinerate them all before I let them touch her.

  “You can’t,” Andre said. “I’ve paid enough. Too much. My Amelia is gone. I’ve given up my claims on the pack, changed my children’s names. You’ve won, Pavel. Your father won. I’m not a threat to you.”

  “Your existence in exile is a threat to me. You know I have no personal beef with you. If you follow our agreement. If you don’t...then...I have no choice. I will protect the pack above all else. And I will have my bargain. Tell her however you want. But do it quickly. I want Grace on a plane to Moscow by the end of the month.”

  “She doesn’t turn twenty-one for three!”

  “Enough,” Pavel said. He snapped his fingers and his wolves fell in line. “The sooner she understands and accepts her role, the better. You made this bargain, Andre. And you will honor it.”

  Thunder cracked as I let out a column of flame. I had the presence of mind to cloak the sight, but not the sound. Pavel looked toward the sky, but he saw no clouds.

  Then, he and his wolves shifted. Pavel was huge and gray with golden eyes. The other three wolves were white. Pure Siberian wolves, all of them. The air around them grew just that much colder. They turned and bounded out of Andre’s yard and headed off into the night.

  Andre trembled and sank to his knees. My dragon had stayed contained long enough. Rage burned through me as I unfurled my wings and shot skyward.

  Chapter Twelve

  Grace

  I didn’t know how I was going to face Leo. Finn assured me he wouldn’t remember a thing about what happened the other night. I knew better. Leo wasn’t like Erik and Edward. Those two could easily have a lost weekend when their wolves were ready to prowl. Leo was more cautious, more circumspect. When he woke up in his backyard not knowing how he got there, it wouldn’t matter that he didn’t remember the why. He’d know something was done to him.

  For now, I had a respite. Milo confessed that Val had lined up a job for all five of them that would take them to Evanston for two days. He asked me to cover with Papa. That ended up taking care of itself as my father left me a short text saying he too would be out of town for a day on business. He gave no other details. He said Father Dmitriev would keep an eye on me if I needed anything.

  Whatever Leo thought or told the others, he didn’t bring it to me. That told me he thought it was wolf business or that he didn’t want to talk about it at all. Guilt churned inside of me. There were no two ways about it. I’d just betrayed my cousin for Gideon. I had to believe it was worth it. Gideon was worth it. No matter what else happened in the catacombs, it was my touch that helped Gideon come back into himself.

  Gideon’s fire. It felt so good. I wanted the burn. Two nights in a row, I woke up sweating from it. He was mine. Except, I had no idea what to do about it.

  “You still here?” Nico asked. He was having a rare good morning. Business was slow and he sat at the counter reading a newspaper. I had to laugh. Nico Adamovich was probably the only person other than my father who actually got his news that way.

  “Just making sure everything’s in order for the dinner crowd. The new waitresses did pretty good today. By next week they can be on their own.”

  Nico’s eyes flashed, telling me another wolf was close by. The bell over the door rang as Father Dmitriev walked in. I bristled. He gave me a pleasant smile and Trina, one of the new girls, was ready with a coffee cup for him. The man drank the stuff no matter what time of day it was. I knew he wasn’t here for that though. He was here to check up on me.

  I tossed my apron in the hamper and grabbed my purse under the counter. Dmitriev had just settled into a booth. Wolf or no, I could scoot out of here faster than him and planned to. I’d had enough wolf eyes on me to last a lifetime.

  “You should come to the rectory for dinner later,” Dmitriev said, his tone more order than suggestion. “Mrs. Sorokina is cooking.”

  “Thanks for the offer. It’s been a pretty long, busy day here. I’m going to head home and go to bed early.”

  Dmitriev sat back. He waved his hand over his mug as Trina tried to offer him a menu. She gave him a little curtsy and left him alone.

  “Home,” he said, blowing the steam away from his mug. “You’re still housesitting for the Petrovs?”

  He knew damn well I was. I had the distinct impression the man was trying to catch me in a lie. Stefan Dmitriev was an old-school wolf. Papa would never tell me why he left Russia. I knew he was good-hearted and likely meant well, but I was tired of being treated like a child.

  “For two more weeks,” I answered, wishing it were longer. I hadn’t formed a solid plan yet, but I had no idea how I would be able to move back under my father’s roof.

  “The air will do me good,” he said. “Would you mind some company walking home?”

  “Actually, yes,” I said, hating myself a little. “I mean...I’m sorry...no offense. I just have a few errands to run on the way. Plus, I think Nico would enjoy your company.”

  Dmitriev laughed. “More than you would, you mean? Fair enough. I can take a hint.”

  I went to him and put a soft kiss on the man’s cheek. I felt like a total asshole. He’d been the one to sponsor my father when he first came over. He’d given us a place to stay in those first few months when Papa didn’t speak the language, had just buried his wife, and had two small children to try and raise all alone. I’d figure out a way to make it up to him, but I just could not deal with any more watchful wolf eyes on me right now.

  Nico made himself an unexpected ally. He folded his paper and slid into the booth opposite the priest. I took the out and headed for the back door.

  The second I stepped into the ally, my heart flipped. Another pair of watchful eyes glinted above the building. Gideon’s dragon soared, his wings raising a slight breeze. His scales shimmered like jewels as I made it to the end of the alley. Another couple cut across the street arm in arm, heading for the bagel shop. They couldn’t see the magic in flight above them. Only I could. Gideon’s cloaking magic didn’t work on me.

  He circled, fully in control of his dragon as I cut the corner and started the two blocks to North Oakley. Gideon hovered just above the tree line. I quickened my step. Cars passed and a few more friends from the neighborhood gave me pleasant waves and greetings. None of them saw the magnificent dragon flying just above them.

  I let myself through the wrought iron gate in front of the brownstone and took the porch steps two at a time. Gideon banked right and disappeared behind the house. My breath caught. Sweat broke out on my brow as I hurriedly locked the door behind me and headed out to meet him.

  He was waiting for me in the small, private yard behind the house. He had his back to me as he zipped up a pair of jeans after shifting back. His shoulder muscles bunched and rippled. He was tanned, broad. So strong. I was used to shifter strength and power. But Gideon, was something so different. His heat reached me from here. As he turned, the last traces of fire crackled along his forearm. His eyes still held his golden flame.

  “I didn’t know if I’d see you again,” I said, surprised I could get my voice to work. It was like I existed in two places, two times at once. Each step I took closer to Gideon, his scent enveloped and warmed me. It sent me back, giving me flashes of his touch against the tunnel wall. Hot kisses along my throat. Skilled, strong fingers tickling along my ribcage as he worked his way up to my breasts. His tongue, like molten metal as he licked a circle around my nipples. But, the heat didn’t burn. I’d felt nothing but the most sinful pleasure of my life.

  “I probably shouldn’t have come,” he said, his voice ragged. It was as if I could see the other night replaying behind his eyes too. Gideon had touched me. Kissed me. Made my sex thrum. I co
uldn’t turn it off. I couldn’t go back. God. This was too hard.

  “No,” I gasped, racing down the last of the back porch steps. I wanted to throw myself in his arms. I stopped just short of him, craning my neck back to keep his eyes.

  “Are you all right?” he asked. “I’m sorry about…”

  “Don’t,” I said. “Let’s not do this. I mean, let’s not do that. I told you before. I know what we are and what it means. We didn’t do anything we weren’t supposed to. And you’re not to blame for what almost happened.”

  “Yes, I am,” he said, his voice coming out as a hiss. “God help me, I am. Do you know how close I was to not caring? How badly I wanted to just push you up against that wall and spread your legs and…”

  Gasping, I took a step back. I was wet. Dripping. I felt my nipples go hard beneath my thin cotton t-shirt. Fuck. I couldn’t be this close to him and hear his delicious dirty talk and not have my knees go weak. I was two seconds from stripping naked right there in the backyard and letting him do just what he said.

  Yes! He’s yours! It’s what you were both born for!

  The voice in my head didn’t seem like it belonged to me. It felt like Fate herself was telling me what to do.

  “I’m okay,” I finally said. “You don’t have to beat yourself up about what happened. I’ve done worse damage to my hair with a curling iron, Gideon. It was nothing.”

  He clenched his fists as a muscle jumped in his jaw. “It wasn’t nothing. But I’m so sorry to have put you through that. You didn’t ask for any of this.”

  “Neither did you. Is that what you came here for? To apologize? I told you, there’s no need.”

  He squeezed his eyes shut. There was erotic tension between us, for sure. But, I sensed something else coming off of him.

  “Come inside,” I said. “You can keep it together enough to handle standing under a regular old ceiling, can’t you? I promise I won’t...try to touch you.”