Kuma (2 page)

“My apologies. I hadn’t realized our Alpha’s mate would be coming to see me.” Nix noticed how he spoke to Fre while keeping eye contact with her. An easy smile graced his face and Nix was taken aback by his beauty. He ran his tongue along his lips before continuing. “And you are?”

Nix learned in the last couple of months that more than wolves or bears were shifters. The mesmerizing smile with the relaxed nature was definitely not a wolf trait. Although charming, they weren’t this amicable. The stranger wasn’t bear either. If it had been her Boris, he would have taken a swipe at her first just for aiming a gun at him. Nix narrowed her eyes. Where the hell did that thought come from? Boris didn’t belong to her. Pushing the idea of that beast to the back of her mind, she focused on the man in front of her. “What are you?”

“Can’t you tell?” He dropped his hands, moving with a fluid motion.

“I wouldn’t ask if it was obvious. And who are you?” Nix felt Fre move up beside her.

“Why, I’m the principal. Jamison Conda, at your service.” He bowed low and straightened. “Would you mind lowering the gun now?”

“Not on your life, or mine, for that matter. You still haven’t answered my question.”

“I have to say, I find you extremely invigorating. Most humans would have taken off running by now.”

“I guess you could say I’m not normal.”

A wolf bounded between her and the principal. The black beast with the white stripe of fur lowered its head and bared its teeth emitting a low growl from his throat. Fre muttered a few curses and then Nix heard the familiar grunts of a bear and dropped her head forward, shaking it. She ignored the growing crowd.

“You were saying?” Nix lifted her chin and resumed staring at the principal. He wasn’t bad-looking with a bald head and sharp amber eyes. He flicked his tongue out, and she was distracted by its length. His clothes fit the long, lean, lines of his body. Honestly, he made the suit look good. She smirked. How would Boris look in a suit? She only ever saw him in jeans, T-shirts, and work boots.

“I was going to explain, I’m a snake shifter of the Constrictor Clutch, and I was wondering if you’re free for dinner tonight?”

Chapter Two

Boris rose up on his hind legs, bellowed and the growing night sounds of nocturnal creatures like crickets went quiet. Did the damn snake just ask his Nix out on a date? He met the cold stare of the principal and grunted when the bastard grinned. Apparently he wasn’t the only one finding the snake to be an arrogant ass, as he listened to Fre ask the same question that had run through his mind. He glanced at Nix and shifted, not trusting the way her lips lifted in response to the animal’s charm. She was acting as if she might actually accept the invitation. Boris strolled up to Nix as his brother took on his human form.

The principal took a few steps back and gestured toward the building set in the front of the multiple structures with his hand. “Gentlemen, if we could take this impromptu meeting to my office. I’m sure you understand, but I don’t want any lingering students to happen upon us.”

They moved in the direction indicated, and Boris made it a point to slip a hand on Nix’s waist. He smiled when she angled her head up at him and arched a thin brow. They passed the few lingering office staff who barely glanced at them as they stalked into the principal’s office. Boris wondered if gun-toting women were an everyday occurrence within the school’s halls. The glass shook when the snake closed the door a little more forcefully than was necessary. He dropped the blinds with a flick of his wrist.

“Ladies, if you would like to take a seat I’ll be happy to address any issues you seem to be having with my school.” The principal took a seat behind his desk, leaned back in his seat, and steepled his fingers.

Boris got the snub and looked over at Rhys, who met his look with a cool one of his own. It was one thing to dismiss him, but nobody disrespected his Alpha. Boris let the low growl rise in his throat.

The snake looked up, a frown on his lips that he quickly schooled into a pleasant mask of interest.

Rhys took the lead. “My mate was concerned about our son. It seems he is being bullied, and she
decided
to take matters into her own hands.”

“That certainly isn’t acceptable. I’ll be happy to look into these allegations.” Principal Conda turned his head to look at Nix. “Perhaps I could report my findings to you over our dinner.”

Boris felt a ripple of anger slither up his spine. He moved closer to Nix’s chair and dropped his palms on her shoulders. She stiffened, her scent wafted up to him, a fruity smell tinged with the metallic aroma of blood and her annoyance was rolling off her in waves. He took a deep breath and held the smell within his lungs, then exhaled. He dropped his head and stared at her back searching for the cause of the iron scent. She was small, her muscles compact. Her honey-colored skin and the unusual riot of multicolored locks caught most people off guard. He kept meaning to ask her why she dyed her hair so many colors. To him, she resembled a cat in her movements and her features—the dark, almond-shaped eyes, high cheekbones, and a sharp nose. He wouldn’t be surprised to find a feline somewhere in her ancestry. Other than a few dates, she’s kept to herself or close to Fre. Frustration was becoming his middle name and cold showers were starting to happen on a daily basis.

“What time, Principal Conda?” Syrupy sweetness dripped from Nix’s lips.

Boris felt his jaw drop open, and he hastily closed it as he tightened his grip on her shoulders. She gracefully eased forward and out of his grasp. What the hell was she up to now? Nix would make a fantastic government operative. She was quick and could assimilate information on the fly. Then he noticed the dots of blood that peppered her T-shirt in the shoulder area.

“Wonderful. I can pick you up around seven.” The snake licked his lips.

“How about I meet you at the little diner on Main Street.” Nix eased back in her chair, resting on Boris’s fingers.

“It’s a date then. Gentlemen, if you don’t mind shifting.” The principal turned his gaze on Rhys and Boris.

Boris sidestepped the chair to approach the principal’s desk while forming a fist at his side. Rhys placed a hand on his forearm. He looked at his brother and understood what Rhys was telling him. Boris relaxed. He’d make the arrogant ass pay for the disrespect in another place at some other time. Meanwhile, he had more pressing business by the name of Nix. He watched his brother lean in and nuzzle Fre’s neck before whispering in her ear. That familiar twang of jealousy rose like bile at the back of his throat, and he pushed the emotion back to the dark recesses of his mind. Rhys shifted into the large black wolf and Boris followed suit, taking on his bear form. The principal slithered around his desk and pulled the door open for them. They casually walked out of the room. Boris took in the layout of the room the entrances, exits, and cameras. Just in case.

The Council of Shifters was responsible for the school system, so Rhys had no say in the hiring of teachers and support staff. It was the boards backhanded way of keeping tabs on the various species. He was sure of it. A niggle of unease took root in his mind, especially after the last incident with spies in the Alpha’s household employment. If they could slip in there, they could creep in anywhere. Even though he’d been brought back to protect Keen, he couldn’t let this oversight in security go unnoticed. They moved beyond the perimeter of the school, past the fields and cameras and shifted forms when they reached the deep foliage.

“I told Fre to meet us here,” Rhys spoke before Boris could form the question. “So you and Nix are a no go?”

“You are my Alpha, little brother. Don’t take this personally, but my love life is none of your business.”

“I’ll take that as a ‘Nix shot you down, again.’ Would you like a little advice?”

“No.”

“I’m just saying if it were me, I might try to leverage a bit of control. Some women, I’m finding, eat that shit up.”

“Which women are you referring to?” Fre stepped out from between two bushes with Nix close behind her.

Rhys sputtered and Boris burst out laughing. He glanced over at Nix, and she nodded before strolling by to take the lead. He moved in next to her.

“Mind if I ask a question?” Boris dropped his voice.

Nix shrugged and his gaze was again drawn to the tiny blood spots on her shirt. He raised his hand to touch the stains. “What happened? How did you get hurt?”

“I got in a fight with a fence and it won. Why do you care?” She kept walking.

“Why does everything have to be an argument with you? I’ve already told you once your well-being matters to me,” Boris said, exasperated.

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“Talk to me, Nix. Why are we constantly chatting in circles?”

“What would you like to discuss?”

“Why are you going out with the snake?”

“He has information that I want.” She glanced up at him and shrugged. “And he’s not bad looking.”

“Alrighty then.” He yelled over his shoulder to Rhys. “Ya know you’re right. Sometimes you just have to take matters into your own hands.” He stopped and swooped Nix up, locking his arms around her to cradle her against his chest. Her scent enveloped him. “So tell me again what you have against bears?”

Rhys’s and Fre’s laughter rent the air. Nix’s lips formed a firm line, and she refused to talk for the remainder of their walk.

They burst through the copse of trees and stopped. A camouflaged, painted Hummer was parked on the gravel driveway. The front door burst open, and Myka rushed down the porch stairs. Boris slid Nix down his body and studied Myka as he made a beeline toward them.

Concern etched Myka’s face, and he started speaking before he stopped in before them. “We have a Council visitor.”

“And?” Boris and Rhys spoke at the same time.

“An investigator. Keen is keeping her busy at the moment.” Myka turned toward Boris. “She was here when we got back.”

Boris snorted. “She? Who’d they send?”

A shrill scream rent the air. “Kuma!” A buxom blonde with the stature of an Amazon stood in the doorway bouncing up and down while waving.

“Oh God, no, tell me that’s not her and I’m dreaming.” Boris shut his eyes tight and groaned.

Rhys chuckled. “I’ll be damned. Snoil mentioned her name. He didn’t exactly say he was sending
her
though”

Myka exhaled. “Oh yeah, it’s her and she is on a mission of epic proportions. I know this because
she
just told me that.”

“What the hell are you going on about?” Boris opened his eyes and turned to stare at Myka.

“Seems she wants ole Kuma back. I guess I underestimated Keen’s cute factor. I thought he would entertain her longer,” Myka muttered.

Nix pressed in between them. “Exactly who the hell is she and what the hell is
a
Kuma?”

Boris sighed. “Doesn’t matter. You have a date tonight.”

Myka turned toward Nix. “That is Seri, Boris’s old partner from his Council enforcer days and, I believe, I mean I could be wrong but…she’s also his ex-lover. Kuma is his code name with the Council.”

“Shut up, Myka.” Boris growled,he swung around to face Rhys. “You could have warned me.”

“I did dumb ass, in our meeting earlier,” Rhys stated. “Next time pay fucking attention.” Twining his fingers with Fre, he walked past Boris.

Boris watched his bare-assed brother strutted up to Seri and welcomed her to his home. He opened his mouth to say something to Nix and she raised a palm to his face and shook her head as she slipped a hand through Myka’s arm. They moved off toward the house. Boris scrubbed the back of his neck with his palm then dropped his head back to stare up into the darkening sky.
Whatever I did I’m sorry.
He headed toward the house.

***

Nix threw her purse down in the seat and slid across the imitation-leather bench that made up half the booth. She glanced at her watch and realized she was early, but she couldn’t stay in the house any longer with that investigator bitch fawning all over Boris. The heifer would call him Kuma, then giggle, let her hands linger on his arm or leg, then giggle. Really, what kind of Council detective was she if she couldn’t keep it together long enough to do some damn detecting? She probably wasn’t a natural blonde anyway either. Nix huffed.

“Why you breathing hard, Aunty Nix?” Keen appeared at her elbow.

She did a double take. “How did you get here?”

Keen shrugged and climbed into the booth next to her. “Can I have chicken nuggets?”

“Wouldn’t you like to try a something else this time?”

Keen shook his head and his hair fluttered in place.

“Sure, why not. What is with you Blaidd boys and your one-track minds?” Nix checked her watch again and shook her head. “It’s too late to take you home, so I guess you’re stuck with me.”

He giggled. “You always talk funny. Can I play the video game?” He swung a thin arm behind him at the arcade machines against the wall.

Nix reached into her purse and scrounged around the bottom and pulled out change. When she found quarters she placed them in Keen’s moist palm and sent him to the nearest device. He bounded away intent on playing. Nix kept her gaze on the child, yet her mind continued to drift off. Boris wasn’t cute, but he was sexy as hell. The man stood seven foot seven and even though he wasn’t bulky he was definitely built, all thick, corded muscles covered in a light dusting of hair across his chest and limbs. Hell, she’d climbed him like a monkey on numerous occasions under the guise of using him as a training example.

She hated to admit it, but she always felt safe when he was around and that was a rare feeling for her. He’d let his buzz cut grow out some since she’d first met him and his hair was a myriad of browns from light to dark. His tawny eyes reminded her of melted caramel and the man always smelled good—like earth and rain.

Shaking her head to erase his image from her mind, her thoughts drifted to darker days. She’d been on her own since she was fourteen and had run away from the last group home she’d been placed in. From that point on there was no one she could trust. She’d been in the foster-care system for as long as she could remember and was deemed unadoptable. Once that had happened, she was shuffled from one home to another, and some were better than others. After a while it just didn’t seem worth it to have to sleep with one eye open. At least on the street she could write her own ticket and live or die by her wits. There must have been some guardian angel on her shoulder, ’cause in those early years…Nix snorted.