The Snow Leopard's Love

by Raines, Harmony

  Ivan shook his head. “No, all I can sense is the tiara.” He sighed. “This is probably a waste of time.”

  “We’re so close now, we might as well go all the way.” Rift side-eyed his brother. “What are we going to do with the tiara?”

  “I gave it to Belle.” Rift clasped his hands together and rubbed his thumbs against each other in a repetitive motion.

  “She can’t keep it. Not if this is the effect it has on you.” Rift stared ahead. He could sense Belle as they neared Reggie’s house. If this was how Rift felt about the tiara then it would be like a nagging toothache that never goes away.

  “I’ll have to figure out how far away it needs to be before I can’t sense it.”

  “How far have you tested it so far?” Rift asked.

  “If it’s in Wishing Moon Bay, I can sense it,” Ivan replied.

  “Which proves the rest of your treasure isn’t there either.” Rift gnawed his lower lip. They were close to Reggie’s house now, close to the place where he’d first met his mate.

  “Yeah, I’ve thought about that. I also don’t think it’s on the dragon isle. I flew out over the ocean last night, just to see if I could sense anything...” Ivan turned and looked out of the window, but he soon went back to staring ahead.

  “So that leaves the world beyond,” Oscar mused. “It could take a while to search the whole world.”

  “It can stay where it is,” Ivan replied. “I don’t want it if it’s going to mess with my head like this. I burnt the sauce I was making for dinner at the restaurant yesterday. I never burn anything.”

  Rift smothered his smile, but his shoulders shook as he started to laugh. “Sorry, but that’s so funny.”

  Ivan jerked his head around to look at his brother. “I’m glad you find my pain amusing.”

  “I don’t know many people who would love their cooking more than treasure.” He sputtered as tears misted his eyes and his brother bristled next to him. “I shouldn’t laugh.”

  Ivan shook his head and cracked a smile. “No, you should.” He chuckled. “It is kind of funny, I guess.” He ran his hand through his hair, his eyes crackling as he erupted into laughter. “Okay, it’s a lot funny.”

  Oscar laughed quietly from the back seat. They’d taken the detective’s car, but he’d insisted on Rift driving so that he could go through his notes once more. The backseat of the car resembled a well-organized office. Oscar’s resourcefulness never ceased to amaze Rift. “I’ve known you boys for a long time, and I believe food has always been important to you. Why would it change now?”

  Ivan leaned on the door and rested his chin on his hand. “Thank you for giving me perspective, Rift.”

  “You’re welcome.” He sensed his mate slowing down, the distance between them shorter. Belle and Katrina had arrived at Reggie’s house. “Hey, can you call Katrina and check if they’re all right?”

  “You’re worried that someone is lying in wait for them?” Ivan picked up Rift’s phone and pressed dial. “Hey, Katrina. It’s Ivan.”

  “Put it on speaker.” Rift’s anxiety grew even though they were only a couple of minutes behind them.

  A lot can happen in a couple of minutes, his snow leopard said.

  If only there weren’t so many houses. There are too many people around. And some of those people might be those guys. Rift ground his molars together. He hated not being there by Belle’s side.

  Why would they be here? His snow leopard had a point, but it didn’t soothe Rift’s fears.

  For the same reason Ivan wanted to come check out Reggie’s house. They might think the treasure is here somewhere. Rift stared ahead, his senses locked on his mate.

  “We’re just parking the car,” Katrina reported.

  “Stay in the car.” Rift leaned toward the phone as he spoke.

  “There’s no one here,” Belle’s voice gave him some comfort.

  “Just in case, stay in the car.” Ivan sounded more like his normal self now even though they were closing in on his treasure as well as Rift’s mate.

  “Okay.” Belle switched off the engine and Rift listened for any sounds of danger.

  “Relax.” Ivan put his hand on his brother’s shoulder.

  “I can see the house.” Relief flooded him as the house came into view. Belle’s car was parked outside. Everything was fine. He let out a long breath.

  “I’m not the only one who needs to let go a little,” Ivan said quietly.

  Rift nodded. “You can end the call, we’re here.” He turned off the road and pulled up next to Belle’s car. “Anything?”

  Ivan shook his head. “If there’s anything else buried here, it’s not my treasure.” He cracked the door open. “But while we’re here, I’d like to have a look around. If that’s okay?”

  Belle got out of the car and joined them. “Go for it. Although we can’t go inside, we already handed the keys back to the landlord.”

  Ivan nodded, his eyes lingering on Belle’s car. The tiara still called to him. It probably always would. Rift’s sympathy for his brother increased. No matter how hard he tried, he would never be free of his treasure, it was like a curse.

  Maybe it’ll fade, Rift’s snow leopard suggested. When we first met Belle, our feelings were more intense, and our emotions were raw. After spending more time with her, things have calmed down. We’ve gotten used to it.

  We adjusted, Rift agreed. I suspect if his treasure had always been a part of his life, Ivan would have adjusted by now, too.

  He just needs time and space. Rift’s snow leopard studied their brother for a moment as he went around the side of the house, heading for the backyard. We should stop him from doing anything rash with the tiara before he’s given himself time to adjust.

  That might be out of our hands. Rift tilted his head back and sniffed the air. Someone’s been here.

  The landlord? His snow leopard prowled around the outside of Rift’s mind, wanting to be free. Or someone else?

  “Rift?” Belle put her hand on his arm as he headed after Ivan. “What’s wrong? You have a crazed look in your eyes. Don’t say the tiara has affected you, too.”

  Rift swung his head around and shook his head. “No, it’s something else. A familiar scent.”

  His eyes narrowed as he scanned the area. There were too many people around for him to pinpoint anyone in particular with his senses. But a scent, a scent he could follow. He could follow a trail and track down whoever had been here.

  Oscar’s phone rang, breaking his concentration. “Hello.”

  “Rift, you’re scaring me,” Belle said quietly.

  “Sorry.” He snapped his attention back to his mate. “Someone’s been here.”

  “Maybe the landlord has visited the house. He might even have brought a prospective tenant to look at the property.” Katrina headed toward the house, climbing the steps where Rift and Belle had first spoken, where he’d shown his other side.

  “Be careful, Mom.” Belle followed after her. “There might be someone here.”

  “There’s no one here,” Rift replied. “But someone has been here.” He went to her and sniffed the arm of her coat. “The smell of the guy who grabbed you still lingers on the fabric.”

  Belle’s face paled. “And that’s who’s been here?”

  “I think so.” Rift swung around and stared out into the distance. “I’m sure they’ve been here recently.”

  “I have news.” Oscar held up his phone. “I have an ID on the person in the photo.”

  “The one who resembles the person who grabbed me?” Belle came back down the stairs.

  “The door has been forced.” Katrina kept her voice low as she joined the others. “Someone has been in the house. And I don’t think it was the landlord.”

  “Okay!” Rift put up his hand. “One thing at a time.”

  I can track the scent, his snow leopard told him. I can hunt down the person who was here.

  We need to have all the facts first, Rift answered.
r />   “Oscar.” Belle folded her arms across her body. “Who is he?” Her eyes sparkled with tears. Belle might insist she had no emotional attachment to her father, but the news that they had identified the person who had killed him seemed to hit her hard.

  “His name is Davy Westward.” Oscar tapped his phone screen and turned it toward them. “Not exactly a criminal mastermind.”

  Rift frowned as he leaned forward to get a better look at the information on the screen. “And this is accurate?”

  Oscar nodded. “My colleague is almost one hundred percent certain. The facial recognition software matched the images. With those details, he then did a background search. Davy Westward lived a couple of miles away from where Murray was found dead.”

  “He’s a schoolteacher?” Katrina’s face paled as she stared at the man suspected of killing Murray. “Is he still alive?”

  “He is.” Oscar nodded and flipped his phone screen. “And this is his son. Simon Westward.”

  “That’s the guy!” Belle covered her mouth with her hands. “That’s him.” She glanced at Rift. “Isn’t it?”

  Rift sucked in a deep breath. “It is. I’m sure.”

  This is the guy we can smell. He was here. His snow leopard fought for his freedom.

  “Someone is moving through the trees over there.” Ivan’s voice at his shoulder made him jump. “Two people, if I’m not mistaken.”

  Rift lowered his head, his eyes unfocused as he pushed his senses out farther. “I’m going after them.”

  “I’ll come with you,” Ivan said.

  “It’s too dangerous.” Belle grabbed hold of his arm.

  “We’ll be fine,” Rift assured her.

  “You don’t know if they’re armed,” she replied.

  “This might be our only chance to end this.” Rift caught her in his arms and pulled her toward him. “We won’t take any risks, I promise. Now that I’ve found you, I don’t intend to lose you.”

  “Then at least take the tiara.” She pulled away from him and went to the car. “If this is what they want, give it to them.” She glanced sideways at Ivan. “Is that still okay?”

  “Yes.” Ivan grabbed hold of it, his fingers gripping it so tight the whites of his knuckles showed. Then he handed it to Rift. “Take it.”

  Rift nodded and took the tiara from his brother. “Wait here.”

  “Hang on,” Oscar grabbed hold of Rift’s arm. “Take the car and move in around the back of them. You can flush them out in this direction.”

  “I don’t want them to come this way.” Rift glanced at Belle and Katrina. “It’s not safe.”

  “And we don’t want them to get away.” Oscar handed Rift the car keys. “Take my car. We’ll get into Belle’s. If we’re in danger, we can just drive away.” He glanced at his phone. “But I don’t think we are in danger.”

  “They already attacked Belle once before,” Rift reminded the detective. “But no one got hurt. At least none of you got hurt.”

  “They thought they could scare two women and children into handing over their precious treasure.” Belle’s face flushed red. “They never expected the guys to be there.”

  “I think you were an easy target. As a mother, you would give them what they wanted with no fuss because you have children to protect. They misjudged the situation. And then they ran.” Oscar showed them the photo of Simon Westward again. “We don’t know if they want the tiara to protect someone they love.”

  “He might need this for his father?” Rift could see how the situation might not be exactly how it seemed.

  From both sides.

  “Let’s go. We don’t want to lose them.” Ivan jerked the car door open and got inside.

  “Don’t take it out on my car,” Oscar called after them as Rift started the engine and pulled away sharply.

  “Do you buy all that?” Ivan asked sourly.

  “Oscar’s right, we don’t have all the facts. Maybe Simon Westward is trying to protect his own family and needs the tiara.” Rift shrugged. “Or maybe they are the bad guys we think they are, and the rest is just a cover story.”

  “You drive, I’ll keep a fix on them.” Ivan half-turned to face the trees on their left as they drove away from the house.

  “You should pull up a map of the area, too, so we can figure out the best route to take. We need to dump the car and go on foot. We need to cut them off and force them back toward the house.” Rift put his foot down on the gas and the car sped forward.

  “I plan to take them down before they get anywhere near your mate,” Ivan answered.

  “I was thinking the same thing.” Rift pointed to a road on the left. “Do I take that one?”

  “Yes.” Ivan’s eyes were unfocused for a moment. “They’re moving toward a clearing next to the road here.” He pointed at the map on his phone. “My guess is that’s where their vehicle is parked.”

  “They’re not going to make it to their vehicle.” He flexed his hands on the wheel as he drove toward the clearing, his frustration growing when they got stuck behind a slow-moving car. There was no way to overtake without risking a collision with an oncoming vehicle. He’d just have to practice patience.

  Chapter Twenty-Five – Belle

  “Are we just going to wait here?” Belle took a couple of steps toward the trees.

  “Belle, we’re no match for those guys.” Katrina caught hold of her daughter’s arm and pulled her back toward her.

  “Oscar, you said that you don’t think they intend to hurt anyone, right?” Belle swung around to face the detective.

  “I don’t think so. But that doesn’t mean I’m right. For all we know, these guys might be desperate and willing to do whatever it takes to get the treasure they’ve been looking for.” Oscar pressed his lips together, his expression grim. “I don’t think we should take any risks.”

  “But that’s exactly what Rift and Ivan are doing.” Belle screwed up her mouth as she tried to figure out the best move. “When they caught up with us before, they could have really hurt me.”

  “You still have the bruises on your wrist from where he grabbed you,” her mom reminded her.

  “It could have been a lot worse.” Why did she feel the need to defend them?

  “Because Elise smacked him over the head with a thick branch,” Katrina replied.

  “I don’t think that’s what stopped him,” Belle replied. “I’m going.” She pulled free of Katrina. “If it’s those guys against Rift and Ivan, they might fight. But if we’re there...”

  “You’re hoping they will all respond to the presence of a woman,” Oscar said.

  “Two women. If Belle’s going, I’m going, too.” Katrina followed her daughter and Oscar naturally followed them both.

  “I want to state for the record that I believe this is a bad idea,” Oscar called out.

  “Duly noted.” Belle kept going although she tempered her speed so that her mom and Oscar could keep up. As she glanced over her shoulder at Oscar who diligently stuck to Katrina’s side, helping her and encouraging her as they crossed a rough patch of ground, a weight lifted off her chest.

  Since she was a little girl who dreamed of princesses, she’d always wished that a prince would come and sweep her mom off her feet. Perhaps Oscar was that prince. He certainly seemed attracted to Katrina and in Belle’s heart, no one was too old to find love.

  Belle kept running, her own love was out there somewhere, and he might need her help. Sure, he was a shifter and more than able to look after himself, in most circumstances, but these weren’t most circumstances. She didn’t want anyone hurt. Not Rift or Ivan, or the guys who were searching for the treasure. Not until they had the full facts.

  What did a schoolteacher have to do with the death of her father? And why had they been searching for the treasure for so many years? It was worth a small fortune, but not enough to waste your whole life searching for it.

  Belle reached the tree line and stopped at the trail mouth. It split three ways and
she had no idea which way to go. Staring into the trees, she wished she had shifter senses. But she couldn’t hear anything, and she couldn’t see any signs of movement either.

  “This way.” Oscar came to a halt beside Belle, Katrina’s hand held firmly in his as they reached the tree line.

  “Are you sure?” Belle was already moving forward, taking the trail to the left before Oscar answered.

  “Positive. These twigs have been broken recently and there’s a fresh boot print right there.” Oscar pointed to the ground as they brushed through the undergrowth, heading deeper into the trees.

  “Will you teach me how to track?” Belle asked. “I might never have shifter senses, but I can learn other ways to use the senses I have.”

  “I’d be honored.” Oscar’s cheeks flushed pink with pleasure before he refocused on the trail ahead. “Watch your step.”

  Belle sidestepped around a loose log and jogged on along the trail. She had to switch her attention between looking at the ground immediately in front of her and the trees up ahead.

  “Belle,” Oscar hissed.

  She slowed down and waited for her mom and Oscar to catch up. “What’s wrong?”

  “I thought I heard something.” Oscar was breathing heavily and sweat formed on his brow. Still clutching his hand, Katrina leaned against a tree and calmed her breathing.

  “What did you hear?” Belle turned to stare deeper into the trees.

  “Something...or someone is coming our way.” Oscar jerked his head up. “There.”

  “I can’t see anything.” She followed the direction in which he pointed.

  “We should move.” He reached for her and pulled her back along the trail.

  “I thought we were going to help?” Belle didn’t pull away from Oscar. The guy had much more experience at this kind of thing.

  “We are. But we’re going in blind.” He parted the bushes on the side of the trail and held them apart so that Katrina and Belle could squeeze into the gap.

  “We’re hiding?” Katrina asked.

  “Isn’t that what an ambush is?” Oscar hurried along the trail about ten feet and grabbed hold of a thick branch. “You saw how Elise used it?”