AMAZON KINDLE VERSION A Siberian Werewolf In London EDITED 3 9 2012 (14 page)

The next morning, Melisande woke up with a start. She sat up rubbing her eyes. The clock on the nightstand read six. It was early, and after last night, she was tempted to stay in bed a while. Grigori slept beside her, dark circles under his eyes. His pallor still seemed weak. He probably needed a good breakfast with lots of protein. Deciding she would make sure he got what he needed, she slipped from the bed and put on a robe.

Entering the kitchen, she was surprised to see Valerii sitting at the table, drinking a cup of coffee.

“Good morning. Are you okay?” she asked.

“Sure, just a long night. How is Grigori? Has he recovered? Brencis said it was a close one last night.”

“He’s still sleeping. I thought I would make him a hearty breakfast.”

“Good idea. He’ll like that.”

“Brencis hates me. He called me a faithless bitch.”

“I’m sure he didn’t mean it. He is very protective of Grigori. He loves and idolizes him. I guess we all do.”

“What do you mean?”

“Grigori is a natural born leader. He trains all the young men of the pack. He even trained the Alpha. His family goes back many generations and is said to have royal blood. But more than that, he is honorable and self-sacrificing. He is truly noble. We all wish to be like him. You have mated with a fine man. You should feel honored.”

“I got a little angry last night. I hit him.”

“Yes, Brencis said it was a good strike. Not to worry. It takes a lot to hurt a lycanthrope.”

“What’s it feel like, being a wolf?”

“We are still the people we normally are. But we connect to the earth. It feels wild and free. We can smell things from miles around. We can run faster, jump higher. We connect to all nature on an elemental level.”

“Can I turn into a wolf?”

“No, it is not an illness or a curse. It is genetic, like having blue eyes or brown.”

“Oh, then my children might have it.”

“Yes. We hope so at least. Our numbers are dwindling. For a while we thought our race was doomed to extinction. But then our Alpha found a psychic woman and mated with her, like Grigori did with you. Something about your psychic abilities makes it possible to mate with our kind.”

“Would you like some eggs and bacon? I’m cooking them up for Grigori. A few more won’t be any trouble.”

“Thank you. I would appreciate that.”

“Where is Brencis? Should I cook some up for him as well?”

“He should be down in a few minutes. I’m sure he is hungry. But it may take more than food for him to forgive you. The bullet last night was meant for him. Grigori saved his life and in so doing almost lost his own. They are very close, like brothers.”

“I understand. I’ll apologize to him.”

“You must prove yourself. Turning away from your mate, when he almost died, is unheard of in our pack. Brencis does not understand. I’m not sure I do either. But I know being human, it must have been a shock to you. Do you love Grigori?”

“Of course I do. That’s why it hurt so much. It felt like a betrayal.”

“Well, because Brencis loves Grigori, what you did seems like a betrayal to him. It will all work out. Just be patient with Brencis. Once he knows you really love Grigori, he will accept you.”

“Thanks for listening. You’re a good guy, Valerii. I’m going to take this upstairs. Help yourself to what’s left in the pan.”

“Thank you. I will.”

Melisande carried the tray with the food and coffee up the stairs. Brencis was coming down the hall.

“There’s eggs and bacon for breakfast. Help yourself.”

Brencis gave her a cold look and continued past without speaking. Melisande gathered her courage.

“Brencis? I’m sorry about last night. It was the shock of everything. I felt the bullet when it hit. It was like I was the one being shot. Then the pain and the blood. I freaked out. Please forgive me.”

Brencis stopped at the top of the stairs. His body stiff in anger, he refused to turn around when he answered her.

“Grigori is too good for you. You do not understand what a wonderful mate you have been given. You were going to throw him away like garbage. I would break the mating bond and save him from you if it was possible.” Then he continued down the stairs.

“Well, Valerii, tried to warn me. Brencis really does hate me. I guess I really screwed up last night.” Melisande muttered to herself as she made her way to the bedroom door.

She pushed it open and walked in, setting the tray on the table next to the window. Melisande sat on the side of the bed and gently pushed the hair from Grigori’s forehead. He was so beautiful. She shared his mind and thoughts. He was an honorable man. She caressed his face and noticed the faint discoloration on his jaw. She did hit him pretty hard.

He stirred, and she leaned forward to kiss his lips. She nibbled and licked until he kissed her back. His arms came around her to pull her close.

“None of that, or the eggs will be cold. Wake-up so you can eat the breakfast I fixed for you.”

Grigori opened his eyes and looked at her. She saw the question in their emerald depths.

“I take everything you are into my keeping, and give all that I am into yours,” Melisande said, repeating the formal words of mating.

Grigori’s eyes flashed with delight and triumph. He pulled her head down for another kiss.

Melika, you are mine, always.

And you are mine, Grika.

Grigori surged up and caught her around the waist, then he flipped her and came down on top of her. Melisande laughed in delight.

“You
are
feeling better, but the eggs really will get cold.”

“All I want to do is sup from your delectable lips.”

“Maybe afterwards. Right now I want you to eat food. You are still too pale.”

Just then Grigori’s stomach gave a large growl. He looked down at it.

“I guess I am a little hungry,” he chuckled.

“Then let me up. There is hot coffee as well.”

Melisande made sure Grigori ate every bite of breakfast. Then she followed him into the shower. She washed his chest, ensuring that all the blood was truly gone. Then she washed his back. He soaped her up as well, running his slippery hands over her breasts and stomach. They took turns washing each other’s hair. When they were finally finished, they each dried the other, making sure the skin of their partner was buffed a rosy pink.

Melisande asked questions about being a lycanthrope and the pack. Grigori told her about Rosie and her lycanthrope children.

“Rosie adopted lycanthrope children?” Melisande asked.

“She said she
found
them. I’m not sure how,” Grigori answered.

They played and tickled each other, then kissed and caressed each other. They would have stayed wrapped up in each other for the rest of the day.

But at lunchtime, there was a knock at the door.

“I know you two are having fun, but I really need to talk to Grigori about my outing last night. Plus, Rosie is here to begin dinner,” Valerii called from the door.

“Come in, Valerii, we are dressed,” Grigori called to him.

“I should go down and tell Rosie we are going out tonight,” Melisande suggested.

“Hurry back, Melika. There are no secrets between us. I want you to hear what Valerii tells me.”

Melisande leaned over and gave Grigori a quick kiss, then headed down to the kitchen. Valerii gave her a wink as she passed by. He walked up to Grigori.

“I found Funenko,” Valerii said.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Grigori glanced at the clock. It was almost six. Barras’ car would be arriving to pick them up any minute. Inspector Lewis had arrived after lunch, and Valerii took him to the building he followed Funenko’s men to. They were watching it, hoping for a break. Lewis also provided guards for the townhouse because they would be gone tonight.

Grigori had spoken to Rosie about her children, but except for getting her to admit they had wolf spirits, he still didn’t understand how she had
found
them. Rosie said she had heard them needing her, and Grigori thought she might have some kind of psychic ability that allowed her to connect to the little ones. Grigori stressed how important it was that the children learn pack law. Rosie agreed to let Grigori teach the little ones and help them to control their shifting.

Grigori fidgeted with his tie. Meeting Melisande’s family made him extremely nervous. He had almost lost her last night. Would her cousin try to convince her to leave him? He felt his wolf begin to rise and a snarl escaped his lips.

“Are you having problems with your tie? Here let me look at it,” Melisande said as she came up behind him. “There. You look wonderful, so handsome. I am going to be the luckiest woman at the party.”

Grigori grabbed her waist when she tried to move away.

“Just remember, you’re mine, Melika.”

“You’re so primitive sometimes, Grigori,” she said, patting him on the shoulder, then kissing him on the cheek.

“I’m a wolf, and wolves mate for life.”

“Don’t worry. I know who I belong to. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“Have I told you how beautiful you are?”

“Not tonight. Do you like my dress?”

“I wish it would cover more of you.”

Melisande looked down at the strapless beaded bodice of her sapphire silk dress. She knew she looked good in it. But it was delightful to know Grigori was worried.

Grigori, the limo is here, c
ame Brencis’ mind call.

“Your cousin sent a limo,” Grigori said.

“He did? How fun.” Melisande picked up her purse and wrap. “Are you ready?”

“I suppose so. Are you sure we must go?”

“We do if you don’t want my parents showing up on our doorstep.”

“Let us go then.”

Melisande walked down the stairs with Grigori behind her. Both Valerii and Brencis were waiting at the door. Like Grigori they were dressed in their finest. Melisande felt as if she were looking at an issue of
GQ
 magazine. Her new family looked hot, and as the only woman, she was proud to know they were hers. Valerii opened the door with a flourish and a wink. Tonight is going to be wonderful, Melisande concluded.

Grigori sat in the back of the limo, Melisande tucked into his side. His fingers moved up and down her arm in a feather-light caress. Her skin was so soft under his hand. He loved touching her.

The limo driver pointed out famous landmarks, and Melisande looked around in childlike delight. Brencis sat sullen in the corner, while Valerii asked questions of the driver. Neither one of the young wolves had traveled out of Russia before and had rarely left pack lands.

Grigori himself had been traveling in only the past few years. When Russia opened up to the world, the pack was required to adapt. He discovered he possessed a flare for business and liked to deal with the pack’s out-of-country partners. The Alpha Dmitri, finding himself a new mate and father, gratefully handed the business dealings of the pack to a select few, Grigori included.

Brencis inherited business acuity as well and normally handled business transactions on the computer. Together Grigori and Brencis made a good team. Few others in the pack liked the new business climate. Kolya
Tosyanov, the Alpha’s Beta, was second to none in finding profitable business ventures for the pack funds. So much change, so quickly. But as the world changed, the pack adjusted and tried to find which members were gifted in different areas. As the pack flourished, so did its members.

Now that mates were being found in human populations, more change was on the way. But Grigori thought it would be good to have young families and more children in the pack. At one time, when the world was a younger place, the lycanthropes of Russia lived with their human counterparts without fear, serving as trusted advisors to the royal families. Lycanthrope military powers were coveted by all.

Now they hid away in one small village, learning to deal with a new way of being. The world was more open, but was it more accepting? Keeping their secret of shapeshifting seemed prudent for their own protection.

As the London Eye came into view, Melisande squealed in delight, pulling Grigori from his thoughts. Valerii chuckled at her antics, but Brencis scowled.

Feeling homesick, Brenka?
Grigori sent
.

No.

You need to forgive her. She is my mate, and I love her. Plus, remember humans do not think as we do. They don’t rely on their instincts or trust their hearts like we do. They rely on logic and hide their true essence behind screens of obscurity.

She turned away from you. How could she do that when your hearts are tied together?

Humans do not trust their hearts like they should. She felt wronged and reacted in anger and fear.