Page 13 of Bite the Power
"Someone more fragile, I suppose. Someone who would need constant protection." Elora's tone held a hint of something deeper. "But watching you move out here, reading the ice, responding to the environment... you see things most humans would miss."
"My grandmother always said I had good instincts." Tessa paused for a moment, trying to articulate her racing thoughts. "Speaking of protection, Kaidan seems unusually concerned about my safety. Does he treat all his guests with this level of... attention?"
Elora's laugh rang across the frozen landscape. "Trust me, my brother has never assigned personal protection detail for any of our previous visitors. You're definitely getting special treatment."
"But why?" Tessa's curiosity burned brighter than the cold wind cutting across her face. "I'm just here to help with the research."
"Maybe you should ask him yourself." Elora's blue eyes sparkled with mischief. "Though good luck getting a straight answer. Kaidan's not exactly forthcoming about his feelings."
The conversation was interrupted by another tremor, this one strong enough to make them both grab onto a nearby ice formation for stability. As the shaking subsided, Tessa noticed movement in her peripheral vision—a dark shadow against the white expanse, too large and deliberate to be wildlife.
"Are we being followed?" Tessa shielded her eyes against the glare, trying to focus on the distant figure.
Elora followed her gaze and groaned. "That would be my overprotective brother."
Sure enough, the shadow resolved into Kaidan's imposing form. Even at a distance, his commanding presence was unmistakable. He moved across the ice with predatory grace, clearly tracking their progress.
"Why is he following us when he sent you to be my guide?" Tessa couldn't keep the breathless quality from her voice.
"Because apparently trusting anyone else with your safety—even his own sister—is beyond him right now." Elora shook her head, equal parts annoyed and amused. "I haven't seen him this protective since... well, ever."
Heat crept up Tessa's neck despite the frigid temperature. The idea that Kaidan was personally ensuring her safety sent an unwelcome thrill through her system.
Focus,she reminded herself firmly.
"Earlier you mentioned something about political tensions," Tessa said, forcing herself to look away from Kaidan's distant figure. "How bad is it really?"
Elora's expression sobered. "There are four clans in the region. Thirty years ago, our family took over ruling Frosthaven after a territorial dispute. Magnus Rake—he leads one of the other clans—has never accepted our authority. He sees Kaidan's leadership as illegitimate."
"And the research station has been targeted because of this political rivalry?"
"Magnus believes humans contaminate our territory and weaken our traditions." Elora's voice held a dangerous edge. "He's convinced that Kaidan's tolerance for humans makes him unfit to rule. The attacks on your equipment and the lurking around the research station... that's just the beginning."
"What do you mean by that?" Tessa asked, raising her eyebrows.
"Magnus is unpredictable. He's charismatic enough to gather followers but also ruthless enough to use violence." Elora paused beside a massive ice formation, her warrior instincts clearly alert. "I hope he just continues with petty sabotage, but something tells me he won't be satisfied much longer."
They spent the next few hours working methodically across the terrain, taking readings, and mapping potential fault lines. Tessa found herself slipping into the familiar rhythm of fieldwork, her confidence growing with each measurement and observation. The Arctic demanded respect, but it also rewarded careful attention with breathtaking beauty and fascinating scientific data.
"Eli, are you getting these readings?" Tessa spoke into her radio, watching a family of Arctic foxes scurry across a distant ice shelf. Their behavior seemed agitated, as if they sensed something humans couldn't detect.
"Clear as crystal," came Eli's crackling response. "The seismic activity is definitely increasing. We're seeing patterns that suggest significant instability in at least three major zones."
"The wildlife is reacting too," Tessa observed, noting how the foxes consistently avoided certain areas. "They're much better than our instruments at detecting subtle environmental changes."
Elora nodded approvingly. "You read the land better than most. That's a valuable skill in shifter territory."
As the afternoon wore on, Tessa was genuinely enjoying Elora's company. The shifter woman possessed a dry wit and practical wisdom that made even the most challenging terrain feel manageable.
"So, what's it like living in the city?" Elora asked as they navigated around a particularly treacherous crevasse. "All that noise and artificial light."
"Overwhelming sometimes," Tessa admitted. "But there's energy and opportunity there. Though I must say, after being out here... the silence is addictive."
"Kaidan would agree with you on that. He disappears into the wilderness for days when politics become too much." Elora shot her a meaningful look. "He values solitude above almost everything else. Which makes his current behavior even more interesting."
Tessa's cheeks burned with heat. Every conversation seemed to circle back to Kaidan and his inexplicable interest in her. Part of her thrilled at the attention from such a powerful man, while her rational mind insisted there had to be a logical explanation.
"Maybe he's just being a good host this time," Tessa said weakly.
