Page 41 of Bite the Power
Tessa's face went crimson, and she pulled the robe tighter around herself, which only served to emphasize the curves of her hips. Kaidan had to bite back a growl at the way his body immediately responded, even in this mortifying situation.
"Yes, you really should," he said tersely, stepping slightly in front of Tessa in an instinctive move to shield her from his sister's knowing gaze. "Now give us our privacy, and we'll meet you shortly in the grand foyer."
Elora held up the bundle of clothes in her hands—practical thermal layers and field gear that would keep Tessa warm during their surveillance mission today. "I was looking for Tessa and saw she wasn't in her guest room, so I figured she might be here with you." The slight emphasis on the word 'figured' made it clear she'd known exactly where to find Tessa.
"Smart deduction," Kaidan said dryly, his tone brooking no further discussion. "We'll be down in ten minutes to go set up the surveillance cameras around the research station. Plus, Tessa thinks we should put some around the fault lines where Magnus might be creating manmade earthquakes."
His sister's expression sobered at the mention of their mission. "Bjorn's already got the equipment loaded—motion-activated cameras, some of those new booby traps from the armory. We're ready when you are."
"Good. Now get out."
Elora grinned and tossed the clothes onto his massive bed before backing toward the door. "Ten minutes, brother. Don't keep us waiting too long." She shot a wink at Tessa before disappearing into the corridor, finally having the decency to close the door behind her.
Kaidan turned to Tessa, who was still standing there looking adorably flustered, her dark hair falling in damp waves around her shoulders. The sight of her in his bathrobe, in his bedroom,looking thoroughly ravished from their shower, sent a surge of primitive satisfaction through him.
"I'm sorry about my sister," he said, moving closer and cupping her face with one hand. "Elora and I have always been close, and I never thought to lock my doors before." His thumb traced her still-flushed cheek. "But maybe I should start doing that if you're planning on sleeping here with me from now on."
The words hung between them, loaded with hope and barely restrained desire.
Please say yes,his bear rumbled.She belongs here with us.
"I mean, I hope you would want to," he continued, his voice dropping to that low tone that made her shiver. "Because I can't bear the thought of you sleeping anywhere else."
Tessa's green eyes searched his face, and he could feel her emotions through their bond—uncertainty warring with desire, fear battling with something deeper that made his chest tight with hope.
"Kaidan..." she started, then seemed to lose her words.
"Just think about it," he said, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead before reluctantly stepping back. "But we should really get dressed before Elora decides to come back and drag us downstairs herself."
They dressed quickly, the comfortable silence between them charged with unspoken possibilities. Kaidan pulled on his black thermal shirt and tactical pants, watching from the corner of his eye as Tessa slipped into the clothes his sister had brought—fitted thermal pants that hugged her curves and a soft wool sweater that brought out the green in her eyes.
Perfect,he thought, his bear practically purring with satisfaction.
When they finally made their way downstairs to the grand foyer, the rest of their team was waiting with military precision. Bjorn stood near the massive stone fireplace, his sandyhair catching the light from the crystal chandelier overhead, two heavy field packs at his feet bristling with surveillance equipment. Eli hovered nearby, his scientific mind clearly already focused on the mission ahead, while Elora and three of Kaidan's most trusted clan members flanked the entrance, their faces grim with determination. The sight of his team assembled and ready sent a surge of alpha pride through Kaidan's chest.
Time to go catch a bastard.
The Arctic wind cut through their parkas like invisible blades as Kaidan led his team across the crystalline landscape toward the research station. Snow swirled around them in lazy spirals, each flake stinging exposed skin with the promise of the harsh weather to come. He adjusted the heavy pack on his shoulders, feeling the weight of motion-activated cameras and booby traps that would hopefully catch Magnus in the act.
"Stay close," he called over the wind to Tessa, who was navigating the treacherous path beside him with surprising grace. Her dark hair whipped around her face beneath her hood, but her green eyes remained focused and alert as she scanned the ice ahead.
Damn, she's magnificent,his bear rumbled with pride.
Most humans would be struggling just to keep their footing on the icy terrain, but Tessa moved with the confidence of someone who understood the land.
"Ice fault about twenty meters ahead," Tessa announced, pointing toward a barely visible crack in the surface. "We should veer left—the stress patterns suggest it's unstable."
Bjorn, who had been skeptical about following a human's guidance, paused and studied the area she'd indicated. His eyes narrowed as he processed what she was seeing. "She's right," he admitted grudgingly. "Good eye, Dr. Monroe."
Kaidan felt a surge of satisfaction at his Beta's growing respect. If Bjorn was coming around, the others would follow.The three clan members behind them—Torben, Leif, and Astrid—had been listening to Tessa's navigational advice with increasing attention over the past hour.
"This way," Tessa said, adjusting their course with fluid precision. "The ground is more stable along this ridge."
They followed her lead, their boots crunching through the snow as they traced a safer path toward their destination. Kaidan found himself watching the way she moved—confident but careful, reading the landscape like others might read a book. The mate bond hummed with warmth at her increasing competence of his territory.
"How do you do that?" Elora asked, genuine curiosity replacing her usual teasing tone. "See the weak spots, I mean."
Tessa glanced back with a smile. "Years of studying rock and ice formations, and fault lines. You learn to understand the subtle signs—the way the snow and dirt settle differently over cracks, how the ice reflects light when it's under stress." She paused to point out a discolored patch ahead. "See how that area looks slightly different? That's meltwater refreezing in a stress fracture."
