Page 36 of Bite the Power
Five days ago, I was stuck in a rut. Now I'm helping prevent a coup in an Arctic shifter kingdom while falling for the kinghimself. Grandmother definitely didn't prepare me for this particular life twist.
As they wheeled the dolly toward the stone staircase, Kaidan's expression grew thoughtful. "I have to thank you for this, Tessa. Without your analytical approach, I would never have connected these dots. Magnus probably would've succeeded in making the clans turn against me."
Pride swelled in Tessa's chest at his words. She'd spent so long fighting for recognition in male-dominated academic circles, being dismissed and overlooked. Having someone like Kaidan—brilliant, powerful, and devastatingly attractive—acknowledge her contributions felt invigorating.
"That's what I'm here for," she said, then paused as another piece of the puzzle clicked into place. "Actually, I just had another thought. What if Magnus isn't just sabotaging equipment and spreading propaganda?"
They'd reached Kaidan's office, and he began unpacking boxes with methodical efficiency. "What do you mean?"
"The environmental anomalies—the seismic activity, the erratic wildlife behavior, the sudden storms." Tessa pulled out her field notes from her charred backpack, excitement building as the theory took shape. "What if they're not entirely natural? Explosions and other manmade devices could easily cause the kind of tremors and disruptions we've been measuring."
Kaidan went completely still, his hands frozen over a half-opened file box. When he looked up, his eyes blazed with rage.
"That bastard," he snarled, his voice lowering to a dangerous rumble that made Tessa's pulse spike. "He's been destabilizing the land itself to make it look like humans cause environmental damage."
"Exactly!" Tessa's analytical excitement overrode the purely feminine response to his alpha fury. "Controlled explosions in strategic locations could create seismic readings that suggestnatural instability. It would make Eli's research equipment look harmful, giving Magnus ammunition to argue that Eli is literally destroying your territory."
Kaidan began pacing behind his massive desk, every movement radiating predatory energy. "Motion-activated cameras," he declared firmly. "We're setting them up all over the territory. Booby traps too. When we catch this bastard and his minions in the act, the council will finally see I'm not being paranoid."
The dangerous satisfaction in his voice sent heat pooling low in Tessa's body. There was something undeniably arousing about watching him transition from thoughtful king to protective alpha male ready for war.
"How quickly can we get the surveillance equipment?" she asked, already mentally mapping optimal camera placement based on her field observations.
"Tomorrow morning," Kaidan promised, his piercing gaze locking onto hers. "And this time, you're staying close to me. No more letting you out of my sight when Magnus is escalating to extremes."
SIXTEEN
KAIDAN
After several hours of poring through dusty archive boxes in his office, Kaidan's shoulders ached from hunching over documents, but the satisfaction of building a solid case against Magnus made the discomfort worthwhile. Papers covered every surface of his massive oak desk—territorial maps, weather charts, equipment failure incidents—all painting a damning picture of systematic sabotage spanning five years.
He glanced at Tessa, who sat curled in the leather chair across from him, her dark hair falling like a curtain as she studied a particularly damaging maintenance log. The way her sharp green eyes analyzed each piece of evidence with scientific precision made his chest swell with pride. His mate was beautiful and intelligent.
"We should call it a night," he said, reluctant to end their productive collaboration but noticing the way she rubbed her temples. "Would you like to have dinner in my private chambers? We could eat by the fireplace and just relax after all this investigative work."
The invitation slipped out before he could second-guess himself. He fully expected her to politely decline and retreatto her guest suite, maintaining the careful distance she'd been trying to establish since their explosive night together.
"I'd love to spend more time with you," she said instead, surprising him completely.
Heat rushed through his veins at her acceptance. Having Tessa in his private chambers again—not unconscious from smoke inhalation this time but willingly choosing his company—felt like a victory more significant than any territorial dispute he'd ever won.
"Perfect." He stood, unable to keep the satisfaction from his voice as he pressed the intercom to summon his staff. "Bring dinner for two to my chambers. The full service."
The trek through the palace corridors felt charged with anticipation. Every step brought them closer to the intimacy of his private domain, where the formality of kingship could fall away and he could simply be Kaidan—the man who'd found his other half in the most unlikely circumstances.
His chambers welcomed them with flickering firelight and the rich scent of burning pine. The massive stone fireplace dominated one wall, its carved mantelpiece depicting generations of polar bear shifters in their animal forms. Kaidan guided Tessa to the leather sofa positioned to take advantage of the fire's warmth, noting how she settled into the cushions with obvious relief.
Within minutes, his staff arrived with silver-domed trays that filled the air with savory aromas. The servers—members of his clan who'd worked in the palace for decades—couldn't quite hide their curious glances at the intimate dinner arrangement. When one lingered a moment too long, clearly prepared to make some comment about propriety, Kaidan fixed him with a stare that could freeze Arctic wind. The man immediately busied himself with arranging the meal and departed without a word.
"Impressive," Tessa murmured once they were alone. "Do all your subjects respond to the death glare, or just the smart ones?"
"Most learn quickly that questioning their king's choices leads to uncomfortable conversations." He settled beside her on the sofa, close enough to catch her floral scent but careful not to crowd her. "Though I suspect you'd argue with me regardless of any glares I might attempt."
"Probably." She lifted the dome from her plate, revealing perfectly grilled salmon with roasted vegetables. "Someone has to keep that ego of yours in check."
The casual teasing sent warmth through their bond, and Kaidan found himself relaxing in a way he rarely allowed. Here, with Tessa beside him and no clan obligations demanding his attention, he could almost forget the weight of leadership that pressed constantly on his shoulders.
"Tell me about your parents," Tessa said as they began eating. "Elora mentioned your father was king before you, but I don't know much about your family history beyond the territorial disputes."
