Kuma (4 page)

“Ya know, I think you’re right. A little fella that should be getting ready for school.” Nix raised her voice slightly and eased from beneath Boris’s body.

She walked along the perimeter of the deep pantry, running her hand along the wall beside the door to find the light switch. Pale yellow light flooded the area. Boris turned, folded his arms over his chest, and crossed his feet at the ankles.

“You could help me find the kid.”

“We’d only get in each other’s way in here. But if said child was smart, he would show himself and not make Uncle Boris come looking for him.” Boris cleared his throat.

Cans fell and a
clatter
filled the room. One, small pajama-covered leg was thrust out, then another. Keen rested on his knees as he backed out of the hole he’d been hiding in. A huge smile blossomed on his face, exposing a missing front tooth.

He clasped his hands together and dug a bare toe into the wood floor. “I guess you found me.”

Nix shook her head and squatted to meet him at eye level. “I did, and now we really have to hurry to get ready for school.” She rose and grabbed his hand.

Boris grabbed her forearm, and she raised her head to look at him. The concern in his eyes rocked her to her core. Realization dawned, that perhaps he did care about her. She focused on a point beyond his shoulder. “I need to help Keen get ready to go.”

“We need to talk.”

“Later.”

“Will I be able to find you
later
?” He released her arm.

She pushed the door open to a kitchen full of people. Myka had an inquisitive look on his face, while Seri stared at her with pure hatred, if she wasn’t mistaken. Nix wondered why the woman would look at her like that until she felt Boris’s hard body at her back. She moved out of the way and he brushed past her, stepping into the kitchen.

Nix hurried forward, tugging Keen behind her. “Thanks for helping me find Keen.”

Someone snorted.

She heard the chuckle in his raspy voice when he responded, “Yeah, sure…anytime.”

Keen looked back at her perplexed and added loudly, “You weren’t looking for me. You were kissing Uncle Boris. Like Daddy kisses Fre.”

Laughter erupted through the room as Nix hustled Keen out of the area.

Chapter Four

Seri checked her appearance in the mirror, smoothing the knit dress free of wrinkles. How could some insignificant human think she could handle all the pent-up power that flowed through Kuma’s body? Seri sighed and combed her fingers through her golden hair to fluff it. She just needed to remind her big ole bear of his roots. Snatching her briefcase from the dresser she strolled out the door, she needed to do a couple of interviews. At least she wanted to make this investigation look good. An idea occurred to her, and she stopped short. This report could make or break Volkshire. A slow smile bloomed on her face. Family was extremely important to Kuma. How many nights had they laid in bed while she listened to him go on and on about his pack and how grateful he was when Colin and Mira took him in. She wiggled her nose. That was part of his appeal. He was a prince in one of the most powerful shifter conclaves around and his sexual prowess was almost legendary. She could attest to that personally.

Then he blew it all to hell and declined the Alpha position when Colin wanted to retire, choosing to work under his little brother. She exhaled. Really, he was a bear for heaven’s sake. So much potential and he’d let it swirl down the drain. Had he taken the position, she would be a queen, an Alpha’s mate. Instead, some human sat where she should be and the human wasn’t even held in high regard by her own people—she was a damn stripper! Seri narrowed her eyes. But she could fix all of this and work out a plan that would please everyone. All she had to do was get Kuma back first.

She crossed the narrow hall to the stairs and headed to the main floor. Her steps resounded off the tile on the foyer as she entered the room from the stairwell. Out of nowhere a ball flew through the air straight for her head. Then a child came running across the marble, yelling he had it. The kid bounded up just as she released her claws. He missed the football and she swiped at it, cutting four linear lines into the leather. The deflated, oblong ball dropped to the floor with a thick
plop
. She stared at the boy. He belonged to the Alpha, if she remembered correctly, and his name was Keen. She snorted. Who would name their kid Keen and why was he even playing in the manor? Yet another reason why a human couldn’t be an Alpha’s mate, the silly woman couldn’t even control a child.

“Young man, hasn’t your father told you not to play in the house?” She walked up to him, circling him.

He looked up at her with wide eyes and shook his head.

“I’m talking to you. You need to answer me.” She dropped her voice an octave.

“No, he usually plays football with me.” Keen swallowed.

“This is totally unacceptable. You will pick up that toy and then you will go outside and find a suitable partner to play with,” Seri continued.

“But…” Tears welled up in Keen’s eyes and his chest heaved.

“Children should be seen and not heard after they have been given a directive.” Seri walked over to the ball and toed it with her foot. She glanced over her shoulder and watched Keen’s shoulders slump.

“It’s a good thing you’re not a mother. I see a whole lot of therapy sessions in your kid’s future. Perhaps you should skip motherhood. Just saying.” His nanny entered the room from the passageway. “You suck all the fun out of being a kid.” Seri watched her as she walked over to Keen and squeezed his shoulder.

“It’s Nix right?” Seri didn’t wait for an answer. “You need to keep a better eye on your charge. If you worked for me, I’d fire you.” She cocked her head to study the strange woman with the colorful hair. “Not only is your work ethic atrocious, but your appearance is horrible.”

“Hmm.” Nix looked down at Keen and winked then walked over and retrieved the flayed football. She stuck her fingers in the holes and widened them, dropping the football at her feet. “There you go. Consider that my I-give-less-than-a-damn comment box. Leave your unsolicited opinions there. I’ll come back later to collect the trash.” Seri watched her turn around and walk away. Anger colored her vision, and her claws lengthened. She marched up behind the impudent bitch and grabbed her shoulder to swing her around. Seri raised her hand to backhand her.

***

Nix heard Keen’s growl just as she felt nails pierce her skin through her clothes. Her first thought was Keen’s safety. “Stay!” she yelled just as the obnoxious woman’s knuckles brushed her lips. Nix turned her head to face her foe, narrowing her eyes. She dropped into a crouch and reached under the pant leg of her jeans. The five-inch blade she’d hidden in a boot slipped easily from its sheath. She swept her leg as she rose and caught the investigator unaware. The female shifter twisted her body to keep from losing her footing, shuffling back, then turned to face Nix.

“You’re going to regret making an enemy of me.” Seri sneered.

Nix watched as Seri’s other hand transformed and razor-sharp claws extended from her fingertips. “I’ve made a few bad choices in my lifetime but kicking your ass won’t be one of them.” Nix raised her arms and flipped the knife backward so the blade faced her arm. Out the corner of her eye she saw Keen run down the office corridor. With her focus no longer split, Nix studied her opponent. They circled each other, the soles of their shoes quick
clicks
and dull
thuds
on the hard stone surface. The wolf kicked off her shoes and opened her mouth. Nix watched as Seri’s canines extended and wondered why she hadn’t bothered to strap on her gun.

Seri dropped to all fours and ran at Nix, changing in midstride. She jumped off with her hind legs and Nix folded, dropped down on her ass, and lifted her knife. The blade deflected off the nails of the beast. Nix flipped around in time to see the woman slide to a stop. She charged the wolf at the same time that Seri was able to gain traction. Her claws were a steady staccato on the floor as she ran at her. Drool flew from her opponent’s muzzle as Nix estimated the timing. They came together at the front of the staircase. Nix leaped on the bottom step and bounded up, opening her arms wide. Seri’s mouth snapped at air as Nix gripped the fur on Seri’s throat and swung her body up on the beast. Her knife sliced through the front leg of the wolf as Nix rolled along its back, flipping to land on her feet on the other side of the animal. Unable to stop her momentum, Seri’s injured leg buckled and she slammed into the opposite wall.

Nix rose to her feet panting. She planted them and prepared for the next attack. Blood dripped from covered her hand, dotting the floor. She slid the handle of the knife into her other palm. Shadows crossed the walls but Nix focused on only one thing, Seri. Nix rolled her head on her neck and felt the muscles in her shoulders tense when Seri got to her feet. An ominous growl was Nix’s only warning before the bitch ran at her again. Nix dropped to her knees, falling back to allow her shoulders to touch the cold floor behind her as Seri jumped over her. Nix went for the same leg, pushing the blade into the limb just below the wolf’s chest. Seri crumpled above her, dropping in a heap a few inches from her head. Nix got to her knees and eased up onto her feet. She spun around to see Seri still on the floor with several sentinels surrounding her. She flexed her hand and realized she’d left her knife in the bitch.

Nix raised her head and met the curious gazes of the wolves around her. Then she heard the whispers. “Did you see that?She moves like a cat.How the hell did she bend herself up like that?”

Myka pushed through the group and looked down at her. “Not a damn gain. What is it with you and Fre? Seriously, somebody needs to put a muzzle on you two.” He turned away and accessed Seri’s injuries. “Get the damn doctor here!”

Keen rushed through the front door tugging Boris behind him. Boris stared at Seri then at her. “Oh shit.” He scrubbed a palm down his face. “What the hell happened?”

Everyone turned toward Nix.

Myka exhaled. “This is your fault, Boris.”

“What the fuck did I do?”

“You were supposed to watch Nix. You know how she can be.” Myka pulled the knife from Seri and the wolf howled.

A huge smile split Boris’s lips. “Nix did that.” He tipped his chin toward Seri.

“Don’t damn encourage her!” Myka bellowed.

“
Her
is right here and you folks need to get over it. You’re damn wolves for fuck’s sake. The bitch has a few cuts on her arm. She might need some stitches. It’s not like I severed any major arteries. I didn’t slit her throat either. You wouldn’t believe how tempting that idea was. She’s alive, but if she ever comes at me again or insults me and mine I promise you,you won’t find her body.” Nix blew out a breath before she pushed through the crowd.

Boris took a step toward her. “Where the hell are you going?”

Nix glanced over her shoulder. “To wash the blood off my hands. Do you have a problem with that? My adrenaline’s still pumping, babe, I can go a round or two with you too.” She waited a moment.

“Meet me in the conference room, Nix.”

She waved a hand in a circular motion as she left.

Boris called after her. “I mean it, Nixy. Don’t make me come and find you!”

***

Boris paced the conference room. Nix never showed up, but Rhys came home and after a quick rundown of the situation, ordered them to stay in the area. Myka rocked in one of the leather chairs at the table and scowled at Boris. He opened his mouth to say something when the door slammed open hitting the wall behind it, and Rhys stalked in. He looked at them before taking a seat. Boris stared at the doorway to see if anyone else was coming. After a few minutes Myka rose and closed the door.

“I leave on a day trip with my mate. I’m gone one-and-a-half fucking days and what do I return to?” Rhys turned his gaze on Boris.

Boris shrugged. “Myka should have made the call to Council.”

“I haven’t even started on that cluster fuck,” Rhys replied. “Look, we agreed. Fre is excitable, but Nix is damn nitroglycerin. Boris, you were the one who was supposed to keep an eye on her. The good news is Seri will live. Her injuries were actually minimal and localized. The bad news is Seri has probably signed our death warrants.”

“I’ll talk to Seri and smooth things over.” Boris dropped into a chair across from his brothers.

“You’re gonna have to. I realize war is inevitable, but I want to hold it off as long as possible.” Rhys sighed.

“What do you want to do, Rhys?” Myka leaned forward and placed his elbows on the table.

“Let’s wait to see what the Council demands after Seri hands in her report. In the meantime, bring our guards home. I’m canceling all contracts but the most essential. I want all sentinels in Volkshire within the next few weeks. Boris, step up the training, and I’m switching Nix’s duties. I want her to help you. Myka, have you spoken to Dad?”

“Yeah. He’s on his way back from Alaska but it may take a few days. He suggested we get Seri out as soon as possible once she’s well enough to travel.” Myka looked at Boris.

“She’ll be gone even if I have to tie her to a seat and leave her ass on the interstate.” Boris nodded and turned toward Rhys. “Punishing Nix isn’t going to do any good.”

“Who’s punishing her?” Rhys looked confused.

“Making her help with training. She loves watching Keen,” Boris started.

“That’s not a punishment. That woman is gifted. I don’t know of any humans that can take on a shifter and win. We need her. That is, if you haven’t run her away.”

“What the hell are you talking about now, Rhys?”

Rhys smiled. “She’s your mate. Everybody in town knows it. She’s earned the respect of some of the most hardened animals. Hell, the guards have a bet going on about how long it’s going to take you to mate her. I said three months, by the way, so you’re running out of time. Fre can watch Keen from now on. We may need Nix’s particular set of talents, because if it does come down to war happening sooner rather than later…well, then I plan to make good on your threat. Make the calls Myka. Prepare our men, Boris. It seems we will have to remind the Council that we are no one’s dogs.” Rhys rose. “I’ll be in my office if we need to discuss anything else.”