Captivating the Bear Read online

  “Stop being such a tiger. Just for once,” Diablo growled back.

  Ged could hear Lidi moving around behind them.

  “I’m decent.” Her voice was gruff, and when he turned, her cheeks were bright pink. The apron she was wearing was too big and she’d wrapped it tight around her, tying it so it covered her whole body, back and front. Hanging her head, she scuffed the floor with one bare foot. “Sorry.”

  Following on from her strength and courage, her embarrassment revealed a fragility that surprised him. It made him want to go to her, to reassure her, to hold her. No. He had to put those thoughts out of his head. Even if they didn’t have blood and gore to clean up, bear-shifter bodies to dispose of, and a hell of a cover story to come up with, there was no room in his life for a mate. Particularly one as sweet and vulnerable as Lidi.

  “Let’s get moving.” Determinedly, he turned away from her. “We’ve got work to do.”

  * * *

  Ged had told Vasily’s men that he was the King of Callistoya. Did that mean he was prepared to fight for his rights? Lidi didn’t dare ask the question. Having come all this way and already faced a crushing disappointment, she wasn’t prepared to go there all over again. And there were more immediate problems demanding her attention. Although she had wrapped the oversize apron as tightly around her as she could, it kept coming undone and showed an alarming tendency to flap open at the back. Clutching the two sides together, she followed Ged up the stairs.

  This new modesty confused her. Until now, she had never had a problem with nakedness. Back home in Callistoya, she thought nothing of slipping out of her clothes to shift. Life would have been very difficult for werebears if everyone had tried to cover themselves before and after shifting.

  Back in that storage room, she had developed a sudden awareness of her body. It had prevented her from shifting from bear to human. All she knew for sure was that it was more to do with Ged than his friends. It was about how he saw her. It was foolish, but she felt shy around him. And she didn’t want his eyes on her body then. Not surrounded by carnage.

  Curiously, it didn’t work both ways. Since his own apron didn’t come close to covering his rear, as they climbed the stairs she was treated to the delicious sight of long, muscular legs and round, firm buttocks. She was used to naked masculinity, but this was the first time she had seen a male body that appealed to her so strongly. It was rapidly becoming her favorite view.

  “Khan and Diablo will deliver the mercy blows to the bodies, then Rick will clean up.” Ged turned to look at her as he spoke, and, aware that she had been caught staring, Lidi felt the telltale blush stain her cheeks. She tilted her chin. If he didn’t want her to look he should have done a better job of covering up. The smile in his eyes told her he was well aware of the reason for her mortification.

  When they reached Ged’s room, Lidi grabbed some of the new clothes Rick had provided and headed for the shower. Although she needed to wash the signs of battle from her body, she also wanted a break from Ged’s disquieting presence. Being close to him was like staring into the sun. Everything else faded in comparison with his brilliance. But she needed to step away from the glare and view her situation realistically once more.

  The fight with Vasily’s men hadn’t changed anything. Her long and tiring journey had been a waste of time. She still had to find a way to free her father from captivity while avoiding marriage with Vasily. It seemed like an impossible task, but Lidi had never been one to shy away from a challenge. As she stepped under the jets of warm water, her mind was forming and reviewing a series of plans.

  Annoyingly, her thoughts kept encountering the same barrier. Ged. No matter how much she told herself she had to walk away from him, her emotions weren’t ready for that message. Deep down inside her, something fundamental had changed in the instant she saw him on the steps of the movie theater.

  He’s my mate.

  She groaned aloud, clenching a fist against the tiled wall. Why did this have to happen now? And why did it have to be him? Even if he wasn’t the king without a crown, he was the most unsuitable man she could have chosen. Everyone in Callistoya knew about the royal marriage pact. A Tavisha must marry the daughter of one of the five founding families. It was an ancient, unshakable agreement. And Lidi did not come from one of those families, so...whoa! Why was she even thinking about Ged and marriage in the same breath?

  Straightening her spine, she let the scented gel do its work. There had been other occasions throughout Callistoyan history when this had happened. When an inconvenient attraction had occurred. It could be overcome. It was difficult, but not impossible. Nobles married for convenience, not love. Ged himself had been engaged to another woman. Clearly, since Lidi was his mate, he hadn’t really been in love with Alyona.

  Lidi had always been strong, able to meet any confrontation head-on. Being the bear shifter who didn’t conform had always been hard. She’d grown used to the difficult task of wrestling with her unruly emotions. All it needed was focus...and in this case, some distance.

  The thought instantly triggered a feeling of regret so powerful it was almost a physical pain. It was as if giant hands were pulling at her, tearing her in two. Common sense and duty were telling her to get away. These new, unfamiliar passions were prompting her to stay.

  Placing her hands flat against the cubicle wall, she bowed her head as the water rinsed the last of the shampoo from her hair. She didn’t have time to work out this inner conflict. While she was here in this luxury hotel, her father was at Vasily’s mercy.

  She snorted. Mercy? Vasily didn’t know the meaning of the word. After stepping from the shower, she dried herself and dressed quickly in jeans, sweatshirt and boots. Thoughts of her father’s plight gave her actions a new determination.

  When she emerged from the bathroom, there was no sign of Ged in either the sitting room or bedroom. Although she had intended to tell him she was leaving, she couldn’t help feeling a sense of relief. This way was probably better. This way she didn’t have to put her own emotional strength to the test.

  Feeling a lot like a thief sneaking out into the night, she opened the door. Immediately, a security guard, who wore the same black uniform as Rick, with the Beast logo on the breast pocket, sprang to attention.

  “Ged asked me to take you to Khan’s room.” He gestured along the corridor. “The band are all there.”

  Lidi weighed her options. Refuse to go and cause a scene? Go with him and waste more time? She didn’t like either option. “I know my way.”

  “Uh...okay.” He scratched his head. “But Ged said—”

  “I really don’t need an escort.” She used her best aristocratic voice, the one that had gotten her out of so many tricky situations in the past. It was an almost-perfect impression of her mother...and no one had argued with Olga Rihanoff.

  The guy actually blushed. “Then I guess...”

  Lidi moved in the direction he had indicated without waiting for him to finish. The only problem now was that he was watching her and she had no idea where she was going. Luckily there was a turn in the hallway, and she followed it. Once she was out of the security guard’s sight, she took a moment to lean against the wall, breathing deeply. A few feet away she could see the door marked Réservé au personnel that led to the staff staircase.

  It was time to go.

  Chapter 5

  “You’re leaving us?” It was Finglas who finally broke the silence.

  Ged looked around the hotel room at the faces of his friends. He had known this wouldn’t be easy, but the depth of the shock and hurt on their faces stunned him. It also caused an answering tug of pain deep in his own chest. For ten years, this group of people had been his family. Now he was facing the prospect of severing his ties with them. For a long time he had believed that nothing could match the misery of leaving Callistoya. Turned out he was wrong. It also turned out he wasn
’t that great at the whole “not doing emotions” thing.

  Powering through the tightening in his throat, he forced himself to continue. “Guys, this is something I have to do.”

  “Why?” Sarange had tears in her eyes as she placed a hand on his arm. “Explain it to us, Ged, so we know how to help you.”

  Ged glanced at the clock, judging Lidi would be finishing up in the shower and joining them soon. Khan and Diablo had followed him up to Khan’s suite after they finished their grisly duty in the storage room, leaving Rick to dispose of the bodies of the intruders. Although Ged knew Lidi would be keen to get going straightaway, Sarange was right. She was one of his best friends, and he owed her, and the others, an explanation. Could he finally tell them his story? It felt like the time had come at last.

  “I am the rightful king of a land called Callistoya.” There. He’d said those words out loud at long last. And the rush of pride that came with them was all the confirmation he needed. Going back and fighting for his throne was the right thing to do. Getting past the obstacles was going to be a different matter. “It’s a unique place. Imagine a medieval enclave high in the mountains in the center of a Siberian wasteland. A land that time forgot. Except it doesn’t exist on any human map. It won’t show up on a satellite image. It’s only visible and accessible to shifters.”

  Torque frowned. “I’m struggling with the concept of a monarchy. We’re shifters. That means we’re immortal.”

  “Like you, I’m immortal and so were my ancestors,” Ged said. “But we’re not invincible. We can be killed by silver, fire or beheading. There are even some illnesses to which we don’t have immunity, and that can be fatal. The Callistoya of my childhood was an enchanting place. In recent times, it has become a troubled land, plagued by constant battles. My father reigned for many centuries before he was murdered. I believe my stepbrother, Vasily, was his killer. I was in the palace on the night of my father’s death, but I remember nothing of what happened. I woke up two days later, here in the mortal realm. I had been badly beaten and I believe a spell had also been cast on me.”

  Diablo shook his head. “I can’t believe we never knew about this side of your life.”

  “I kept it well hidden. For good reasons.” The memories crowded in on him, and Ged looked at the clock again. What was keeping Lidi? “Other people were killed as well as my father, including my fiancée. She was found strangled and stabbed. In my bed.”

  “But you didn’t do it,” Hollie spoke without hesitation.

  Ged smiled gratefully at her. “No, I didn’t do it. But ever since then, Vasily has used her death as part of a campaign against me.” He closed his eyes briefly, picturing Alyona’s face the last time he had seen her. She had been laughing, making plans for their wedding, teasing him about keeping her dress secret until their big day...no. Even after all this time, it was too raw, too painful. He couldn’t talk about that part of it. “I should have gone back immediately, raised an army, fought Vasily, sought justice for my father and for Alyona...but the grief and pain were too great. When I did make the attempt a few weeks later, I couldn’t physically cross the border. There was some sort of magical barrier in place. Now after meeting Lidi and hearing what has been happening there, I know I have a duty to go back and put things right. I have to find a way across that barrier.” He felt the tension in every part of his body. “I have to defeat Vasily.”

  “So this isn’t forever?” The hopeful expression on Khan’s face caused the constriction in Ged’s chest to tighten further. These people were all his friends, but the bond between him and Khan...well, that had always been special.

  “I can’t say how long I will be gone. It could be for some time.” He had to do this, no matter how much it hurt. “And I can’t promise it won’t be permanent.”

  “I can see how important this is to you, and I don’t want to sound selfish, but what about Beast?” Torque asked.

  And there it was. The all-important question. Ged had a duty to his country, but he also had a responsibility to the entity he had created. Because of him, Beast was one of the most popular rock bands on the planet. He had brought this group of incredibly talented people together. It was his vision and hard work that had taken them to the top and kept them there. Now he was telling them he was walking away. Could he do that? And if he did, what would it mean for Beast and for them as individuals?

  He had an answer, but he hadn’t discussed it with anyone. Not even the person it affected most. And he didn’t have time for lengthy conversations...

  “There is someone who has been at my right hand over the last year, someone who can take my place.”

  Ged looked directly at Hollie as he spoke. Her introduction into their friendship group had been unconventional. An undercover FBI agent who had been investigating a series of arson attacks, she had fallen in love with Torque, a dragon shifter. Hollie’s commitment to the man she loved had been absolute, and she had taken his bite to become a dragon shifter herself. Now they had their twin dragon babies to complete their family. While theirs was hardly a classic love story, it was definitely one that proved the theory of opposites attracting.

  During her time with the band, Hollie had become Ged’s unofficial assistant, to the point where he often wondered what he used to do without her. She was a fast learner, picking up every part of the job and anticipating his needs, often before he even knew them himself. He knew she enjoyed the work, but was she ready for this? And could she fit it into her new dragon-mom lifestyle?

  The question was reflected back at him as Hollie returned his gaze. She was silent for long moments before she responded. “Do you think I can do it?”

  “I know you can.”

  Her laugh was shaky. “I don’t suppose I’ll be able to call or email you if there’s a problem?”

  Ged shook his head. “Technology hasn’t reached Callistoya.” The clock was drawing his attention again. Lidi was taking a hell of a long time. He laughed. “Think letters written in longhand and delivered by a messenger on horseback.”

  Hollie looked around the assembled group. “What do you say? There are two more concerts before Christmas. Will you give me a tryout as your Ged substitute until then?”

  Torque slid his arm around her waist. “We’ll support you all the way. And I can take on more of the baby chores over the next few weeks.”

  There were nods and murmurs of agreement. Khan came forward to give Hollie a high five and Dev wrapped her in a hug. Ged exhaled long and slow. That was part one over with. The next part was even harder. “Good. Because I have a plan that involves your help. I need you to be at the royal palace in Callistoya on Christmas Eve.”

  Sarange raised her brows. “Is this a royal invitation?”

  “Believe me, it is not going to be that grand. Or that easy.” He nodded in the direction of the children. Karina, Khan and Sarange’s toddler daughter, was playing with her toys on the rug while the babies slept in cribs nearby. “And those of you with kids should probably excuse yourselves from this one. Outsiders are not welcome in my homeland. The battle will be a bloody one.”

  Sarange’s expression conveyed her werewolf stubbornness. “Your people have never encountered us.” She swept a hand around the room. “Two wolves, a tiger, a snow leopard, a panther and two dragons. You wanted an army? You’ve got one right here in this room. We don’t need to excuse ourselves. Our children are in no danger of being left without their parents...because Beast doesn’t fight to lose.”

  Khan placed a hand on Ged’s shoulder. “She’s right. You’ve always been there for us.”

  Torque nodded. “It’s our turn to repay you.”

  “Thank you.” Ged managed to get the words out despite the choking sensation in his throat. He had a long journey ahead of him. He didn’t want to start it by breaking down in tears. “Now I really do need to find out what’s keeping Lidi.”

  Af
ter a group hug that tested his emotions—the ones he’d sworn he didn’t have—to their limit, he left Khan’s suite and made his way along the corridor toward his own room. A feeling of disquiet assailed him when he saw there was no security guard outside the door. His instructions had been simple. The guy was to escort Lidi to Khan’s room. Surely nothing could have gone wrong with such a simple plan?

  He almost laughed out loud. Rule one of shifter living: if something can go wrong, it will.

  When he entered his own room, it was empty. The feeling of unease became a squirming worm of certainty gnawing at his gut. Something had gone wrong with his plan.

  Luckily when he called Rick, the other man answered his call immediately. “Everything is under control. There is no trace of the intruders. The police are downstairs. They’re bemused, but—”

  Ged cut across him. “Find the guy who was guarding my room half an hour ago.”

  “Dave?” Rick sounded surprised. “He’s right here.”

  “Ask him why he left his post without permission.” The impulse to smash something was becoming overwhelming. He could hear the murmur of voices as Rick relayed his message to the other guy.

  “Boss?” Rick’s bewilderment was even more evident. “Dave says he stayed outside your room until Lidi came out. He offered to take her to Khan’s room, but she said she knew where it was. She refused to let him escort her.”

  Ged muttered a curse as he swiped the screen to end the call. What the hell were you thinking of, Lidi?

  But he already knew the answer. She had gone because he had told her he couldn’t help her. Now she was out there all alone, with no money, no transport and no one to turn to next time Vasily’s men caught up with her.

  It was like déjà vu. In another time and place, he had failed the woman he was responsible for. Alyona had died and now Lidi was facing the same fate. Because I didn’t protect her.

  Feelings of hopelessness and unworthiness crowded in on him, crushing his chest until he couldn’t breathe. He was immobilized by fear, his usual decisiveness deserting him. Gradually, he forced his limbs into action.