Page 20 of Bite the Power
The thought of Tessa being vulnerable to Magnus's games made his bear snarl silently. He was certain his rival had heard about Tessa's arrival by now, and Kaidan didn't want to imagine what lengths Magnus might go to make his anti-human stance clear.
"How did this research partnership even come about?" Tessa asked, clearly trying to understand the dynamics at play.
Eli wiped his hands on a napkin. "I got a grant for Arctic research five years ago, and Gerri connected me with Kaidan. She seemed to know exactly who to call." He glanced at Kaidan with respect. "It's been mutually beneficial ever since."
"The scientific data has been invaluable for protecting us," Kaidan agreed, though his voice carried an undercurrent of frustration. "I just wish my people could see how valuable human expertise is instead of clinging to old ways."
Tessa laughed, the sound warming something deep in his chest. "Stubborn and stuck in their ways? That sounds like every scientist I've ever dealt with."
"Shifters think they know better than scientists sometimes," Elora added with a grin. "It's that primal side of us."
Their laughter filled the small space, but Kaidan's amusement was tempered by darker thoughts. If his peoplecouldn't accept human scientists, how would they ever accept a human queen? The mate bond pulsed stronger with each passing minute, his bear growing more agitated at the separation between what it wanted and what duty demanded.
As if sensing his inner turmoil, his bear stirred aggressively, a silent growl reverberating through him. The urge to claim Tessa, to mark her as his and damn the consequences, grew stronger every moment he spent in her presence.
Soon,he promised his restless bear.But first, I need to figure out how to protect her from Magnus and convince my people that humans aren't the enemy.
The storm continued to rage outside, but inside the cramped research station, surrounded by the scent of his mate and the sound of her laughter, Kaidan found himself hoping it would last just a little bit longer.
An hour later, the blizzard finally subsided, leaving behind a crystalline landscape that sparkled under the emerging sunlight. Kaidan stood at the research station windows, watching the wind settle into gentle whispers across the snow. The storm had passed, which meant he could no longer justify staying close to Tessa.
His bear growled in protest at the thought of leaving her here, especially after Eli's revelation about the escalating sabotage. Every primal instinct warned him to remain and to position himself as a permanent barrier between his mate and whatever threats lurked in the shadows.
But duty called as always. He'd already spent two days focused more on Tessa than his kingdom, and his absence would be noticed soon.
"The storm's cleared," he announced, turning from the windows with reluctance heavy in his voice. "Elora and I should really head back to the palace."
Tessa looked up from the seismic data she'd been reviewing, disappointment flickering across her features before she masked it with professionalism. "Of course. Thank you for staying during the storm."
"I'll be back tomorrow to help you set up those traps and cameras," he promised, fighting the urge to cross the room and pull her into his arms. "We're going to catch whoever's causing this trouble."
The fierce protectiveness in his tone made Elora raise an eyebrow, but she wisely kept her observations to herself.
Five minutes later, Kaidan gunned his snowmobile across the frozen terrain, Elora riding parallel to him. The crisp air should have cleared his head, but instead, his thoughts remained tangled around Tessa's sweet scent and the memory of her body pressed against his yesterday.
Halfway home, a familiar figure appeared on the horizon, heading in the opposite direction toward the research station. Magnus rode his snowmobile with the arrogant posture that had grated on Kaidan's nerves since childhood.
Rage flared hot and immediate in Kaidan's chest. Without hesitation, he yanked his handlebars hard left, performing a tight turn that sent snow spraying in an arc behind him.
"Kaidan!" Elora shouted over the engine noise, but he was already accelerating toward his rival.
Magnus spotted him coming and slowed his machine, a smug smile spreading across his face as Kaidan cut him off with aggressive precision.
"Going somewhere, Magnus?" Kaidan killed his engine and swung off the snowmobile, his boots crunching in the snow as he approached.
"Just enjoying the territory that belongs to all of us," Magnus replied smoothly, though his blue eyes glinted with malice. "Last I checked, these weren't your private grounds."
"Cut the bullshit." Kaidan's voice dropped to a dangerous rumble. "I know you've been lurking around the research station. The sabotage, the damaged equipment—this has your stench all over it."
Magnus laughed, the sound harsh against the pristine silence of the Arctic. "Paranoid much, Your Majesty? Maybe your human friends are just making up stories to turn you against your own kind. Classic manipulation tactic."
"Eli wouldn't lie to me."
"Wouldn't he?" Magnus tilted his head with mock concern. "How well do you really know these humans, Kaidan? They're experts at creating rifts between allies. It's rather disgusting how easily they've gotten their claws into you."
Kaidan's hands clenched into fists, his bear roaring for blood. "Stay away from the research station, Magnus. I won't warn you again."
"Or what?" Magnus's smile widened, clearly enjoying the reaction he'd provoked. "You'll choose humans over your own people? How far you've fallen."
