Page 35 of Bite the Power
Kaidan's blue eyes darkened with approval. "Absolutely. But let's bring whatever we collect back to my office where we can have more privacy."
The promise in his voice made her pulse quicken. Privacy with Kaidan after last night's explosive encounter would be dangerous territory—all that alpha intensity focused on her in an intimate setting. She'd have to fight to keep her mind on research instead of remembering how his hands had felt mapping every inch of her body.
Clear your mind, Tessa. Prove yourself first, then you can think about jumping his gorgeous bones again.
Kaidan led her through the palace's winding corridors to a stone staircase that descended into the lower levels. Each step took them deeper into the heart of the ancient structure, until they reached oak doors that opened to reveal the most magnificent archive she'd ever seen.
"Holy..." she breathed, stepping into the cavernous space.
Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves stretched in every direction, their shelves groaning under the weight of leather-bound volumes, rolled maps, and carefully organized storage boxes. Filing cabinets lined the walls between ornate reading desks,and the air carried the rich scent of aged parchment and preserved leather—the smell of centuries of documented history.
"This is amazing," she whispered, running her fingers along the spine of a particularly ancient-looking tome. "How far back do these records go?"
"Over two centuries," Kaidan said, pride evident in his voice. "Every royal family has been meticulous about documentation. Territorial disputes, clan genealogies, trade agreements, weather patterns, environmental changes—it's all here."
"You're all natural scientists," Tessa marveled, already moving toward the section marked with recent dates. "This should give us everything we need to not only prove Magnus has been sabotaging Eli, but understand why."
She pulled out several boxes labeled with the past five years, her analytical mind already racing. "I suspect this goes deeper than just anti-human sentiment. Magnus's hatred feels personal—like it's really about you, and humans are just convenient targets."
Kaidan moved closer, his large frame radiating heat in the cool archive. "The rivalry between our families goes back generations. Maybe understanding that history will shed light on his current motivations."
"Exactly what I was thinking." Tessa pulled out a thick folder and opened it on a nearby reading desk. "If we can establish a pattern of Magnus and his family challenging your family's authority, it supports the theory that this is political manipulation disguised as species prejudice."
She began scanning documents, very attuned to Kaidan's intoxicating presence beside her. Every time he leaned over to point out something relevant, his scent enveloped her and his arm brushed against hers, sending heat through their mate bond. The memory of those strong arms holding her while claiming her made concentration nearly impossible.
Seriously, Tessa. This matters more than your hormones right now.
"Here," she said, pulling out a territorial map from thirty years ago. "Look at these boundary lines compared to current ones. Magnus's clan lost significant hunting grounds to yours."
Kaidan studied the documents over her shoulder, his breath warm against her ear. "That was my father's doing. Magnus's father challenged him for leadership rights and lost spectacularly."
"Publicly humiliated?" Tessa asked, already knowing the answer from the grim satisfaction in Kaidan's voice.
"Completely. Magnus must've never gotten over that defeat."
Tessa nodded, pieces clicking into place. "So when you allowed humans to build a research station on his ancestral territory, it wasn't just about species integration—it was salt in an old wound. You made decisions about land his family once owned."
"Which explains why he's escalated from subtle sabotage to attempted murder," Kaidan growled, his protective instincts flaring. "He's not just trying to discredit the research station anymore. He's trying to eliminate threats to his eventual coup."
Tessa's mind raced as the implications crystallized with terrifying clarity. "We're going to stop Magnus," she declared, her voice gaining strength with each word. "Not just to protect the research station, or Eli and me. We're going to preserve your kingship because clearly Magnus is trying to prove you're unfit to rule. That's his endgame—complete overthrow."
The fierce determination in her voice seemed to ignite something primal in Kaidan's blue eyes. His jaw clenched with barely restrained fury as he absorbed her assessment.
"You're absolutely right," he growled, his alpha presence filling the archive like a physical force. "He's not just targeting humans—he's targeting my ability to lead effectively. Everystrange reading and every piece of failing equipment makes me look like I can't protect what's mine."
The possessive edge in those words sent heat spiraling through Tessa's core, even as her analytical mind stayed focused on the task at hand. She began gathering documents and boxes with methodical precision, her movements sharp and purposeful.
"We need collective evidence of the sabotage spanning five years," she said, lifting a particularly heavy box of territorial records. "But also documentation showing the land the research station is located on originally belonged to Magnus's family. We'll demonstrate how this brutal feud has twisted him into someone willing to commit murder for a crown."
Kaidan immediately moved to take the box from her hands, his protectiveness clearly affecting him. "Let me carry that."
"I can handle it," Tessa protested, though the weight was making her injured ankle throb.
"I know you can." His voice dropped to that commanding tone that made her knees weak. "But you're still recovering, and I'm not letting my mate strain herself when I'm perfectly capable of doing the heavy lifting."
The casual way he said 'my mate' sent electricity racing through their bond. Tessa found herself stepping closer instead of arguing, drawn by the magnetic pull that seemed to intensify whenever he displayed that dominant alpha energy.
They worked in efficient tandem, loading boxes and files onto a dolly Kaidan retrieved from a nearby supply closet. The physical labor gave Tessa time to process the enormity of what they'd discovered, though she remained hyperaware of Kaidan beside her.
