by Anne Kane
Damn right. She slid the thought into his mind without hesitation. Seemed she’d got the hang of this whole bond mate thing. So what’s the compromise?
“I’m hoping you realize I’m not doing this to annoy you, I’m worried about your safety. How’s this for a compromise? You stay by my side at the tree house until we find out what’s going on and are sure you’re safe. You can tell the agency it’s a vacation or unexpected family business. I don’t care how you justify it so long as they know you’re unavailable. Once things are settled, you can go back to business as usual. I won’t make any attempt to stop you or interfere with your career.”
Nikki blinked, and he swore she almost looked hurt. “You’re just going to let me go?”
He tightened the arm around her waist and nuzzled the soft skin behind her ear. “I didn’t say that. We’re bonded, and that’s a lifetime commitment. If you’re going to investigate the books of a firm on the far side of the world, I’ll be right there carrying your luggage. I’m not just going away.”
“So you’re not going to terminate the bond?”
He wasn’t sure if she sounded relieved or annoyed. “No, it doesn’t work like that. A bond is for life, and I’ll do my best to make sure you don’t regret it.” He dropped a quick kiss on top of her head. “We need to get going soon. Say your goodbyes.”
She stood, and he watched her head toward her sister before he got up. He found it hard to believe how much his life had changed in the span of the last few days. He’d never intended to take a bond mate. His job required him to spend long months working far up in the backcountry, away from even the most basic conveniences of modern society. It wasn’t fair to expect a mate to drop her own life in order to follow him, and he wasn’t the kind of man who’d father a family and then leave them to fend for themselves while he returned to the woods.
He couldn’t survive in the modern world. He needed to be amongst the trees in order to renew himself. He’d long ago decided that marriage was out. He’d had casual affairs, some even lasting for a year or two, but the women had all known from the outset that it was a temporary situation, and they all had their own reasons for agreeing to such an arrangement.
Now, without even taking the time to consider the consequences, he’d created a bond with Nikki. His grandfather must be laughing his grizzly old head off from wherever his spirit now resided. He’d always said that when the right girl came along, all Wolfe’s carefully thought-out plans would come crashing down. He’d been right as usual. Instead of wondering how to get out of this, Wolfe found himself considering how he could possibly keep such a sophisticated world traveler happy in the land of mountains and trees. He shook his head ruefully. Yes, his grandfather’s spirit was definitely amused. He walked over to stand beside Nikki.
“I know you’d love to stay and visit, but we need to get going. Maybe when we get this sorted out we can take a trip to Scotland and have a real visit.”
“I’ll hold you to that!” Trina threw her arms around her sister and hugged her tight. “Be safe.”
Chapter Twelve
Nikki opened her eyes, cautiously raising her arms above her head. Beside her, Wolfe watched with an amused smile on his sexy lips. The faint rays of sun poking their way through the windows indicated that it was nightfall. They’d been in the Dream World since two that afternoon, longer than she’d ever managed to stay before.
She didn’t feel the bone-deep weariness that usually followed any attempt to Dream Walk. She cautiously flexed her joints but everything felt just as good as it had before she embarked on the journey.
“I told you so.” Wolfe propped himself up on one elbow.
He looked so damn sexy with his hair tousled and that grin on his face. And he was right. His strength must have somehow allowed her to make the journey without any of the usual side effects. “Yes you did. And it seems you were right. I’m just not sure it was worth the trip. We really didn’t learn much more than we already knew, did we?”
“We confirmed that you are in some sort of trouble, although I have to admit the vision was a bit vague on exactly who is after you and why. I’m going to look into that doctor that Todd mentioned. There could be something there.”
“I felt sorry for Todd.” Nikki lifted a finger to trace the faint shadow of a beard on Wolfe’s face. “He’s a strange kind of guy, but he seems so worried about his sister. I hope we can help find her. I thought he was going to die of fright when you confronted him when he first got there.”
“He’s definitely a bit of a geek, but he seems very remorseful about ignoring his sister’s pleas now that she’s missing. Maybe she really did take off with some guy and just didn’t think to tell Todd. He did say he hadn’t bothered to contact her in a couple of months, so maybe she thought he didn’t care.”
“Quite possible. I guess we’ll find out.” Nikki’s tummy rumbled and she covered it with one hand, feeling heat suffuse her face. “Did I mention that the other side effect of Dream Walking is that it leaves me ravenous?”
“Me too. Something to do with metabolism.” Wolfe swung his legs over the edge of the bed and stood. He held out his hand to her. “What say we go rustle up some dinner?”
“Sounds like a great idea.” Nikki let him pull her to her feet. Wolfe opened the door and her breath caught in her throat at the sight of the setting sun. Streaks of vibrant orange and yellow lit up the tree line, illuminating the clearing in a gorgeous display of nature’s power. In all of her travels around the world on business, she’d never come across any place that affected her as much as the wilds of the Rocky Mountains. Although she’d been born on one of the small islands off the northern coast of Scotland, she’d never felt at home there. The memory of her mother’s desertion was too strongly tied to those cold ocean shores.
She slipped her hand into Wolfe’s and they stepped out into the clearing to stroll over to the steps. Such a mundane act, walking hand in hand and yet it made her feel so special. Damn, it was going to be hard to let him go.
* * * * *
“The view from up here is amazing.” Nikki took a sip of her tea and stared out the picture window in the dining area. “It feels like we’re in the clouds.”
“I’m glad you like it.” Wolfe flipped the salmon steaks over on the grill with an expert flick of the wrist. “This is home to me; where I come when I need to recharge my batteries and get away from civilization.”
“I’m curious.” Nikki put her tea down, and watched his expression. “Why the waterfall and pond? They are perfect, exactly what I need to keep my otter happy but they must have been built decades ago, long before you knew anything about me.”
“That was the first thing we built.” A faraway look came into his eyes. “Grandpa said we needed it to soothe the forest spirits. The sound of the water tinkling over the rocks is pleasing to the oak trees as well. As long as the pond and falls are there, the trees know they will always be nourished, and protected in case of wildfires.”
Nikki nodded, remembering the wildfires of 2003 that had decimated large tracts of the Shuswap forests. “I guess you need to consider fire suppression with an interface like this.”
Wolfe snagged the salmon steaks onto a platter and added vegetables from the steamer. Carrying it over to the table, he set it down with a flourish. “Dinner is served. Grandpa and I set a spell to divert wildfires and other natural disasters around this area. Before he started to build the tree house, he fasted and asked for a vision of what the compound should look like. The pond and waterfalls were part of the vision that came to him so we assumed they were needed in case fire started within the protected boundaries. Magic can only do so much, and nature is unpredictable. We never dreamed that one day a selkie would show up and frolic in the waters.”
“A matchmaking oak tree!” Nikki helped herself to one of the salmon steaks and a generous portion of the vegetables.
Wolfe’s eyes twinkled with mirth. “Got to watch out for those trees.”
&
nbsp; “So what’s the plan?” The first bite of salmon melted in her mouth. “This is fantastic. If I intended to stay with you, I’d insist you did all the cooking.”
“You are staying, and I’d be more than happy to do the cooking. It’s one of my hobbies.”
Nikki could feel Wolfe’s presence in the back of her mind. She’d never admit it, but it gave her a warm cozy feeling. If only she were a normal woman, with normal motherly instincts. She could imagine children running around the clearing, watched over by the ancient oaks. Little boys with Wolfe’s blue eyes and mischievous grin. She gave her head a mental shake. Not happening. As soon as they figured out what was going on and neutralized the danger, she’d be on her way.
And little girls with their mother’s green eyes and freckles.
Damn. She’d forgotten how easily he could read her thoughts. She gave him a tired smile. “Nice thought, but I don’t think so.”
He shook his head and changed the subject, a stubborn glint in those gorgeous blue eyes. “I need to look into the doctor Todd told us about. I have a satellite uplink in my office so I should be able to find out something about him on the internet. I really don’t want to venture back into town until we have a handle on what’s going on. You can take a look around, explore the house and grounds but I want you to stay within the protected boundaries.”
Nikki raised one brow, her independent nature objecting to being told what to do. He certainly was good at throwing out orders. Then again, if he was going to protect her from whoever was after her, she supposed she needed to cut him some slack. “It’s getting late, and the sun goes down early this deep in the forest. I’ll just putter around the clearing for now. Even with your help, I’m tired from the Dream Walking, and feeling kind of stiff.”
A sensual smile curved the corner of his lips. “I could put off the research for tonight and give you a massage. I guarantee you’ll feel a whole lot better.”
She let him feel the heat rolling through her at the thought of his hands moving over her body. “I was hoping you’d offer.” She set her fork down on the empty plate. “A guy who can cook and give a mean massage. How on earth have you managed to stay single all these years?”
He stood and came ’round the table, kneeling beside her chair to put them eye to eye. “It wasn’t hard. I swore I’d never marry unless I found a woman who was as comfortable in the forest as I was. Frankly, I never thought fate would drop someone like you into my lap. Selkies are rare these days, and very hard to find.”
“As are true Druids. Many humans play at it, but true Protectors are born.”
She put her hands on his shoulders, pushing away a melancholy sadness that threatened to overwhelm her. She kept eye contact as she gently moved her lips over his. Their time together was limited and she intended to enjoy every minute of it.
* * * * *
“I’ll be in my office if you need me.” Wolfe paused at the bottom of the stairs. “Stay within the boundaries of the clearing and you should be fine. I’m not sure how long it will take me to find out about the doctor fellow.”
“I’ll be fine. I’ve been amusing myself for decades.” Nikki let a smile play around the edges of her lips. “Besides, my otter wants to explore that pond again. My last assignment was tracking down suspicious anomalies in the books of a multinational import company. The head office where the books were located was in downtown New York, and it’s been months since I’ve been able to let loose without worrying about being discovered.”
“Okay then. I’ll see you later.” Wolfe put the last of the dishes in the dishwasher and turned it on.
Impulsively, Nikki rushed over and planted a kiss on his cheek. Wolfe raised his brows in surprise, and she blushed. “Sorry. Don’t know what came over me.”
A slow sensual smile lit his face and he reached an arm around her to draw her close. “Don’t be. I enjoyed it.” And he lowered his mouth to capture hers.
All thoughts of research and evil plots fled as their hunger burned out of control. At this rate, they’d never find out anything about the mysterious doctor.
* * * * *
Wolfe felt an odd prickly sensation run down his spine, unlike anything he’d ever felt before. He glanced up from his computer and looked out the window. Always a good idea to pay attention to your intuition, especially if you were a Druid. Everything looked fine in the clearing. The sun was shining through the canopy, throwing long green shadows on the ground, and he could hear the squirrels arguing in the treetops.
He could sense Nikki’s presence in the back of his mind, a comforting reminder of their binding. He smiled faintly to himself as he remembered her reaction when she’d realized what he’d done. He’d honestly thought she knew what would happen, but he wasn’t sure he would have stopped even if she’d disagreed.
She’d promised she’d stay in the clearing within the boundaries of protection he and his grandfather had set those many years ago. He couldn’t quite see her, but then she could be on the far side of the tree house. He went back to tracing the career path of Dr. Gruener Kvordic.
The man had quite an interesting life. Once he’d left U Vic, he became hard to follow.
Chapter Thirteen
Gruener listened impatiently while the informant explained his connection to the selkie. He really didn’t care how clever the idiot thought he was, but he had to pander to the fellow’s ego if he wanted a new specimen.
The previous one hadn’t recovered her full strength even after the pregnancy was terminated. There was a thirty-percent probability that she would succumb to the aftereffects.
He’d have to do some research into the possible causes before he attempted to breed the new one to any of his other specimens. A study of the gestational habits of the selkie would make a wonderful addition to his paper, but not if it resulted in the loss of the second specimen. Perhaps the cross-species mating was the problem, but he had yet to discover any male selkies. His brow furrowed. Very odd.
Time to coax the informant to get to the point. “Where did you say this tree house thing is located?”
“Somewhere in the hills above Kally’s Landing. I don’t have the exact coordinates, but it shouldn’t be hard to find with a heat-sensing device. How many houses are located in the middle of nowhere?”
How many indeed. He could send in one of his acquisition teams, drop them by helicopter to snatch the specimen and then extract them as soon as they made the grab. “How many other people did you say are there?”
“Only one. His name’s Wolfe and he’s some sort of forestry guy. Pretty big and muscular, so you might want to take him out first. He’s a friend of the family or something. As near as I could tell, he’s strictly human with some paranormal abilities. I met him in the Dream World, and he doesn’t suspect me of anything. He thinks I’m some sort of pathetic geek. He does seem to be overly protective of the selkie though. They definitely have a romantic connection.”
Shouldn’t be a problem. His men were good, very good. If the forestry fellow proved to be a problem, they could always resort to tranquilizers. Killing was messy and led to too many questions.
He dismissed the informant with a wave of his hand. “You’ve done well. The agreed-upon sum will be deposited to your account as soon as we confirm the information.”
“Pleasure doing business with you.” A greedy smile crossed the man’s face. Then again, what would you expect from a man who sold his own sister for money?
He forced himself not to show his distaste. “Give us a call if you learn of any other creatures that might interest us.”
“Will do. And good luck with the selkie.”
Dr. Kvordic waited until the door closed behind the man before he punched the intercom. “Tell Mr. Black to get the extraction team ready. We have a target location.”
Chapter Fourteen
Nikki reached over to pick a handful of the wild raspberries growing on a bush at the edge of the clearing. They were so large and sweet, she couldn’t r
esist popping a few in her mouth. Heavenly! She pulled off her hat to use as a bowl. The berries would make a wonderful dessert for the lunch she had planned.
She never saw who grabbed her. One minute she was savoring the sweet taste of the ripe berries in her mouth, the next someone clamped a noxious-smelling cloth over her nose and everything went black.
* * * * *
Wolfe’s head jerked up, an uncomfortable tingle running down his spine. Something was wrong. He reached for Nikki, reassured to feel her presence tucked comfortingly in the corner of his mind.
The woods around the tree house were eerily quiet. No birds chirped, and the squirrels had ceased their restless chattering. The animals felt it too.
Nikki? Where are you? He waited for her snappy comeback. Waited a few seconds longer than normal. Nikki? Everything okay?
But it wasn’t.
He knocked the chair over in his haste to get up, to go find her. She’d been out by the edge of the clearing, admiring the flowers that grew rampant in the tumble of rocks there.
The staircase was endless and he hurled himself down, taking the steps three at a time. His stomach roiled in anguish. When he finally reached the ground, he raced across the clearing to where he’d last felt Nikki’s presence.
“Nikki! Where are you?” He shouted the question aloud, frantic now. Deep down in the aching pit of his stomach he knew. She was gone.
A flash of bright red caught the corner of his eye and he swerved to the left at a full run. Her hat lay in crumpled heap on the ground, fresh raspberries spilling out. He could see the scuffle marks on the ground. Three men, maybe four, had been here. They’d taken her with them, one of them carrying her, his footprints deeper as he carried the extra weight.
