Page 27 of Bite the Power
"Here we are." Elora pushed open heavy wooden doors to reveal a beautiful suite with a sitting area, bedroom, and what looked like a luxurious bathroom beyond. "I heard tonight was chaotic, but I'm glad my brother got there to save you in the nick of time. I can't imagine what would have happened if..."
"I'd probably be a pile of ash right now," Tessa finished, sinking onto the plush sofa with relief. The reality of how close she'd come to death was finally hitting her, and her hands trembled slightly.
Elora settled beside her, her expression growing serious. "Kaidan really does care about you, you know. More than he's ever cared about anyone."
The words sent a flutter of warmth through Tessa's chest, but confusion quickly followed. "Why does he care so much more about me than Eli? I mean, Eli's been here for five years, and I've only been here for three days."
Elora's gaze grew thoughtful, and she seemed to weigh her words carefully. "There's something you should know, but it's not my place to say. That conversation needs to happen between you and Kaidan."
Frustration bubbled up in Tessa like a pot about to boil over. "Everyone keeps dancing around this big secret and I'm apparently the only person in Frosthaven who doesn't know what it is."
"I understand your frustration, I really do." Elora reached over and squeezed Tessa's hand. "But some things need to come from the right person at the right time. Just... be patient with him. He's dealing with a lot right now."
Tessa wanted to press further, but the genuine concern in Elora's voice held her back. Instead, she nodded reluctantly.
"I'll have the staff bring you some soup and tea shortly," Elora continued, standing up. "And I'll grab some fresh clothes for you too. We're about the same size."
"That's very thoughtful, thank you." Tessa paused, then added, "I'd really like to go to the research station tomorrow to get some of my things. And I need to check on something important."
Elora's expression immediately grew concerned. "That's probably not a good idea until Bjorn and the clan can fix the damage and secure the area. It's really not safe to go there for a few days at least."
The trapped feeling that had been building in Tessa's chest intensified. She was stuck here, in forced proximity with a man who made her pulse race and her rational thoughts scatter like leaves in the wind. Every moment around Kaidan felt like standing too close to a bonfire—exhilarating and dangerous in equal measure.
As if responding to her inner turmoil, the wind outside the windows howled with renewed fury. A slight tremor shook the stone walls, and Tessa instinctively gripped the sofa cushions.
"The environmental anomalies are getting worse," she murmured, her scientific mind automatically analyzing the subtle vibrations. "I need to get back to the research station soon. I managed to save Eli's research files—they're in my field gear backpack. Those files prove that Magnus has been sabotaging Eli's work for the past five years."
Elora's eyes widened. "You have proof?"
"I think so. But I'm worried the backpack might have been destroyed in the fire." Tessa's frustration mounted. "Kaidan won't let me out of his sight long enough to check, and those files could be crucial evidence."
"My brother's protectiveness can be... intense," Elora said carefully. "But he has his reasons. I'll tell you what, I'll head over there first thing tomorrow morning and grab the backpack if it's still intact."
"Thank you for doing that. It would mean a lot," Tessa replied softly.
But as Elora finally left the guest suite, Tessa couldn't help but think about the mysterious reasons surrounding Kaidan's odd behavior. She wanted to scream with frustration, but she took a deep breath instead. She didn't know whether to be irritated by his overwhelming protectiveness or secretly thrilled that he seemed completely undone by her presence.
TWELVE
KAIDAN
Kaidan had been pacing his private chambers like a caged animal for over an hour. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Tessa standing so close to him that her sweet scent wrapped around him like a drug. The memory of how she'd looked up at him, her green eyes wide with awareness, made his hands clench into fists at his sides.
Damn it all to hell.
His bear prowled eagerly beneath his skin, growling with frustration at being denied what belonged to them for so long. After nearly losing her to that fire—after carrying her unconscious body in his arms and feeling the terror of what could have been—he couldn't pretend anymore that he had time to waste on propriety or careful timing.
The mate bond pulsed between his ribs like a second heartbeat, urging him toward the woman sleeping just one corridor away. His primal instincts yelled at him to claim her and to mark her, make her his in every way as so every shifter in Frosthaven knew exactly who she belonged to. But first, she needed to understand what she meant to him—what they meant to each other.
Screw waiting for the right moment.
Decision made, Kaidan strode from his chambers before his rational mind could talk him out of it. The palace corridors felt endless as he covered the short distance to her guest suite, his heart hammering inside his chest like it was trying to break free. He paused outside her door, drawing in a steadying breath that did absolutely nothing to calm the storm raging inside him.
He knocked, three firm raps that echoed in the quiet hallway.
"Just a minute," came her muffled voice from inside.
When the door opened, Kaidan's brain short-circuited completely. Tessa stood before him in a sheer white nightgown that Elora must have loaned her, the delicate fabric skimming her curves in ways that made his mouth go dry. The moonlight filtering through the windows turned the material nearly transparent, revealing the dark peaks of her nipples and the gentle flare of her hips.
