Tempest, page 23
“I’m getting there,” he said. “Nexovir was created by a company called Caladrius Pharmaceuticals. Caladrius was relatively unknown before they announced their new diabetes drug. The company is now estimated to be worth twenty billion dollars.”
Dimitri whistled. “Wow.”
I sat up straighter. “Wait. Isn’t Julian Cross the CEO of Caladrius?”
“Who is Julian Cross?” Ronan asked.
“He’s this millionaire who hangs out with all the celebrities,” I said. “He’s everywhere on social media and the celebrity gossip sites.”
Mom helped herself to more vegetables. “If the drug is a cure for diabetes, why would Mariana be looking for troll bile?”
A gleam entered my father’s eyes. “That is where this gets interesting. There is an unsubstantiated rumor Caladrius is working on a new drug to treat neurodegenerative diseases… specifically Alzheimer’s.”
Mom’s fork clattered against her plate. When she and Remy sold his bile on the black market, someone had traced it back to her, and they’d tried to capture three of Remy’s little cousins. The man behind it was in the early stages of Alzheimer’s, and he’d heard troll bile would stop the disease.
“Why is that significant?” Ronan asked.
Mom explained, and he stared at us like he was waiting for someone to yell “gotcha.” I’d told him once she had sold troll bile, but he must have thought I was pulling his leg.
“A drug that could stop Alzheimer’s would be worth billions,” Dimitri said.
Dad crossed his arms. “And there are people who would do anything for that.”
I shivered. “You said whoever was taking demons and shifters has the money and resources to hide their trail. Caladrius could do that.”
“Yes.” His gaze met mine. “We don’t know if Caladrius is responsible for the disappearances, but their connection to Mariana Tate and the troll bile is no coincidence. I asked David and Kelvan to focus on them and see what they can turn up.”
“And if they find something?” I asked.
“Then we’ll send someone into their lab. If Caladrius is clever enough to cover their tracks, they can hide evidence from government inspections.”
The thought of Summer in a cold sterile lab made my dinner want to come back up. I was about to excuse myself when Ronan put his hand on my leg under the table. His warm touch was enough to settle my roiling stomach.
Mom must have seen my distress too because she abruptly turned the conversation to a different topic. “Ronan, Tristan told me you spent part of your childhood at Hadan Castle where he grew up.”
Ronan’s hand didn’t move from my leg. “Yes. I did my training there.”
“Dad trained there, too,” Dimitri said as he went back for another scoop of mashed potatoes. “And Grandfather.”
Mom smiled at Dad. “Hadan Castle makes great warriors.”
“Westhorne does, too.” Ronan gave my leg a light squeeze and removed his hand. I didn’t know if the tingle traveling up my spine was from pride or something else. Maybe both.
“You have a home in Montana, is that right?” Mom asked Ronan.
“Yes. I have a cabin in the Boulder Mountains,” he said.
My fork paused halfway to my mouth. I knew he lived in Montana, but it hadn’t occurred to me to ask him where his cabin was. The Boulder Mountains were less than a six-hour drive from Westhorne, and we’d gone there on two of our annual camping trips.
Dimitri chuckled. “There you go, Dani.” He looked at Ronan. “Dani used to bug Dad to build a cabin in the mountains. She wanted us to live there half the year.”
Ronan’s curious gaze settled on me. He knew I loved the outdoors, but there was a lot we still hadn’t discussed – such as where we would live. Did he think I expected him to live at Westhorne because my family was here? He preferred the quiet of the mountains, and I’d never ask him to give up his home for me.
Dad and Ronan talked about fishing in Montana while Dimitri and I cleared away the meal and Mom served dessert. I kept darting glances at Ronan and Dad, happy to see them conversing so easily. Ronan looked comfortable with my family, and Dad seemed to have finally come to terms with everything.
After dinner, Ronan and I left my house to go for a walk. Instead of going into the woods like usual, I headed for the road to the manor.
“We spend most of our time together outdoors,” I said. “I think it’s time we do something different.”
He fell in beside me. “Like what?”
I grinned at his wary tone. “Nothing drastic. Let’s start with watching a movie. Or we could play a game. Do you like chess?”
“I have never played, but you can teach me,” he replied, sounding more relaxed. “We could have done that at your house.”
I shot him a sideways look. “With my family hovering nearby? No.”
“It will be more crowded at the manor.”
“That’s why we are going to your place,” I said. “There are chess boards in the cabins.”
I waited for him to argue against it. He hadn’t invited me to his cabin yet, and I couldn’t help but wonder why. It could be because he wasn’t used to having someone else in his space. I hoped it was that and nothing more.
When he didn’t respond, I smiled to myself. He was a private person, but he was slowly opening himself to me. I used to think I could only be with someone who was outgoing like me, but it turned out I preferred the strong silent type.
A cold breeze nipped at my face, and the fresh clean air was heavy with moisture. I inhaled deeply and let it out. “It’s going to snow. Before we know it, it’ll be time to dig out the skis.”
“You like the snow,” he said amused.
I grinned. “How can you tell?”
We neared the edge of the grounds as the first fat snowflakes floated around us. We stopped walking and stood under the canopy of branches, watching the snow thicken and stick to the trees and grass. A tranquil hush fell over the grounds, and the only sound was the muted roar of the river. The first snow of the year was always magical.
I left the trees and turned my face up to the falling snow. “Is there anything better than this?”
Ronan didn’t answer, and I turned to find him watching me. My heart gave a little flutter at his tender expression.
“You are not dressed for this weather,” he scolded lightly. “We should head back. The snow is getting heavier, and your parents will wonder where you are.”
Laughing, I walked backward. “If I go home now, they’ll wonder what is wrong with me. Besides, this snow is not going to last long. I want to enjoy it while I can.”
He caught up to me, and we strolled around the grounds. The manor was lit up, but we seemed to be the only ones outside. I couldn’t understand how anyone could stay inside on a night like this.
To my disappointment, the snow began to slow sooner than I expected. The fluffy white flakes became a flurry of wet snow as we circled the manor, and it quickly turned to icy raindrops.
We sprinted for his cabin as the rain began to pelt us, and we fell inside laughing. I pushed dripping hair out of my eyes and smiled ruefully at him. “I guess I’m not as good at predicting the weather as I thought I was.”
The corners of his eyes creased, and he reached up to remove some hair plastered to my face. My breath faltered when his warm fingers brushed my cold cheek. I took a step toward him, putting us so close I could feel his body heat.
His voice was husky when he said, “I will get you a towel.”
“Mm-hmm,” I murmured, mesmerized by the water clinging to his dark eyelashes.
Ronan’s lips parted slightly, and my stomach quivered as the air in the room became charged with electricity. His head dipped until our mouths were only inches apart. I was a powder keg waiting for a spark to set me off.
I stared into his eyes and saw raw desire in them. I needed to kiss him more than I needed air, but I wanted him to make the first move this time.
A drop of water ran down my face to my upper lip, and I licked it away. Ronan’s pupils dilated as gold bled into his irises. His hands framed my face as his mouth came down on mine.
If our first kiss had been a gentle exploration, this one was a dam bursting open. Weeks of pent-up emotion and need poured out, threatening to sweep us away. His mouth was hungry and possessive, and my lips parted eagerly for his demanding tongue. Dizzy from the force of the kiss, I clung to his shoulders as he stoked the fire in my blood until I thought I would combust.
Without breaking the kiss, I pulled off my coat. It wasn’t enough. I shoved his coat off his broad shoulders, and he released me long enough to let it fall to the floor with mine.
I slid my hands beneath the bottom of his shirt and felt him tremble as I ran them over the contours of his hard abdomen. He pulled me against him and deepened the kiss until my legs threatened to give out.
I don’t remember how we got to the couch. One minute we were standing by the door, and the next, I was straddling him on the couch and yanking his shirt off over his head. I pushed him back against the cushion to claim his mouth again.
“I love you,” I whispered against his lips.
Ronan made a sound deep in his chest, and cool air touched my skin when my shirt followed his. I arched my back as his mouth blazed a trail down my throat to the top of my bra. His fingers went to the clasp at the front, and I leaned back to allow him access.
Lost in the haze of desire, it took several seconds to realize his hands had stilled. He bent his head and rested it against my chest as his arms hung loosely around my waist. I ran my fingers through his wet hair, and a shudder went through him. Confusion and doubt crept in as the seconds ticked by. Was he trying to slow us down because we were going too fast, or was it something else?
“Ronan?” I asked hesitantly.
He released a ragged breath and tipped his head back to look up at me. The worry and self-recrimination in his eyes sent a shaft of pain through my chest.
“I can’t… We have to stop,” he said.
My throat constricted, and I slid off him. I sat with my back against the armrest and folded my arms across my breasts. “Did I do something wrong?”
“No.” His answer was so forceful I almost jumped. He turned so he was facing me, and his burning gaze held mine. “You are everything I could ask for.”
I swallowed. “Then why?”
He dragged his fingers through his hair. “You know why. It’s the same reason I’ve kept my distance all this time.”
“Your wolf.” It came out as a hoarse whisper.
“Yes.” He picked up my shirt, which had landed on the back of the couch, and expelled a harsh breath when he saw two of the top buttons were missing. Handing it to me, he stood and disappeared into the bedroom. By the time he returned with a towel and a sweater, I had donned my torn shirt.
Wordlessly, I took the towel and dried my hair, using my fingers to comb it. I pulled the thick sweater on over my shirt, catching myself before I buried my nose in the soft wool to inhale his scent.
I looked up to see he was fully dressed again. My eyes followed him as he went to the door and cracked it. When he turned back to me, his shuttered expression made an icy thread curl in my stomach.
“The rain has slowed. We should get you home,” he said.
Standing on shaky legs, I walked over to pick up my coat. “I can walk home by myself.” It made no sense for him to walk to the lake and back again in the rain.
He retrieved his own coat. “I want to walk with you.”
I didn’t argue, and we left his cabin. The rain had become a light drizzle, and the thin layer of snow was gone, causing an inexplicable swell of sadness in me.
Ronan’s warm hand found my cold one inside the too long sweater sleeve, and he laced our fingers together. The gesture was sweet and comforting, but it couldn’t dispel the feeling something had changed between us tonight.
Neither of us spoke until my house came into view. Ronan stopped us at the end of the road and faced me. “My wolf needs to hunt, so I’m going into the mountains tomorrow.”
“When will you be back?” I asked, trying to keep my voice even. Werewolves needed to hunt at least once a month, but he hadn’t mentioned his trip until now. It seemed very sudden, and I worried that what had happened at his cabin was the reason for it.
“Sunday, Monday at the latest.” He drew me close and wrapped me in his warm embrace. “We haven’t been apart more than a day since we bonded. Two or three days away might help my wolf.”
“Absence makes the wolf grow fonder,” I joked humorlessly.
He kissed the top of my head, and his arms tightened around me for a few seconds before he released me. “I’ll see you soon.”
My throat closed up. “Be safe out there.”
The rain picked up again as he walked away, but I stayed rooted to the spot until Ronan was out of sight. A chill settled over me, and a troubling question began to play on repeat in my head. What would happen upon his return if this absence didn’t make his wolf grow fonder?
Chapter 15
“UNCLE CHRIS!” I ran to the blond warrior getting out of an SUV in front of the house across from ours. He straightened in time to catch me when I threw myself at him.
“Oof. If you get any faster, you’ll bowl me over next time.” Laughing, he squeezed me tightly and set me on my feet.
Aunt Beth came around the SUV with her arms spread. “Do I get one, too?”
I hugged her as Grace opened the back door and slid out. At fifteen, Grace was only an inch shy of my height. She was a carbon copy of her mother, except for the two dimples she had inherited from her father. Her dimples were the bane of her existence. Everyone thought they were adorable, and Grace would rather be called a hag than adorable.
“Hey, Grace.” I smiled at her and got a sulky scowl in return. She muttered a hello, grabbed her backpack off the seat, and stomped toward their house.
I shot Aunt Beth a questioning look, and she chuckled. “Grace is a little upset because she had to leave her boyfriend when we came back to the US.”
“Boyfriend,” Uncle Chris grumbled as he opened the cargo door. “She’s too young for that. She needs to focus on her training.”
Aunt Beth watched Grace enter the house. “She will now that she’s home. She won’t say it, but she missed you and Dimitri.”
“Does this mean you guys are home for good?” I asked hopefully.
“Not quite.” Aunt Beth picked up a small suitcase. “We’re here through the holidays, and then we’re going to run the New York command center for a year. Grace is staying at Westhorne to train.”
My eyes widened. “You’re letting her stay in the house alone?”
Uncle Chris laughed. “We said she can have a room in the trainee wing until we come back.”
“Ah.” Grace had been begging her parents to let her stay at the manor since she started training three years ago. My friends had a lot of fun in the training wing, but I’d take our house at the lake over the manor any day.
I grabbed one of their suitcases and walked with them to their house. It was similar in style to ours and a lot neater because they had been away a lot the last few years. Our home had a more lived-in feel.
“How are you?” Aunt Beth asked after we deposited the bags in the living. Her expression told me she wasn’t asking about training. After word got out about my bond with Ronan, it hadn’t taken long for everyone we knew to hear about it.
“I’m great.” I ignored the doubt gnawing at me since I last saw Ronan three days ago. I missed him more than I thought was possible, and I’d feel better when he got back today.
Her kind gray eyes searched mine. “Are you sure? I remember how confusing it was for me when Chris and I bonded.”
“I love him,” I said simply.
She gave my hand a squeeze. “And that is all that matters.”
“Knock, knock,” called my mother as she entered the house. Aunt Beth let out a little squeal, and they hugged each other like they were still teenagers.
As soon as the reunion was over, they launched in to a conversation about Thanksgiving, which was a few days away. I left them discussing side dishes and returned to our house where I’d forgotten my phone when the SUV pulled up. My heart leapt when I saw a missed call and a text from Ronan. He was home, and he wanted to see me tonight.
The hours seemed to stretch on forever. Uncle Chris, Aunt Beth, and Grace came over for dinner, but I was too distracted to pay attention to the conversation. When a knock came at the door at eight o’clock, I practically ran to answer it, earning a teasing jibe from Dimitri.
Ronan smiled when he saw me, but he looked tired. I grabbed my coat and gloves, and we set out toward the manor. When he clasped my hand in his, I felt lighter than I had in days.
“Was the hunting good?” I asked.
“Yes. There are plenty of elk, deer, and moose in the mountains this time of year.”
He fell quiet again in his usual manner, and we didn’t say much else until we reached the main grounds. Instead of taking the long way around as we had a few nights ago, we went directly to his cabin. The closer we got, the more I thought about how heated things had been between us the last time I was here. I was hoping for a repeat soon, but for tonight, I was happy just to be with him again.
It was chilly inside his cabin, and his duffle bag still sat beside the door where he’d dropped it when he arrived. He turned up the thermostat with an apology. “I should have set this before I went to your place.”
“It’s okay.” I smiled at him and went to sit on the couch.
Ronan came into the living room and went to stand by one of the windows facing the manor. He stared out for a long moment and turned to face me with a tortured expression that stole my breath. A vice started to tighten around my chest as he began to speak.
“My wolf hasn’t imprinted on you,” he said thickly. “I hoped this trip would help, but it hasn’t.”
I clenched my hands together. “It needs more time.”
“We’ve been together almost every day since we bonded, and you spent half those times with my wolf. We were running together for two weeks before we bonded.”
