Authors: Layla Nash
I
woke
with a massive headache beating behind my eyes, the result of crying instead of the mojo, for once. Lesson learned. Never admit to sleeping with a guy to pay him back for something nice. Maybe normal people didn't think that way. Maybe that was something else to thank Gran for. I took a longer shower than normal, just to avoid going into the living room and potentially facing the humiliation of talking to Benedict. Clearly he wanted nothing else to do with me -- whether that was because of the sex or me being a monster didn't really matter.
I braided my hair back tightly and used a few loose bobby pins to secure more of it. I couldn't face the bears with random tendrils sneaking out. It seemed to be getting wilder with each passing day. I'd never had this much trouble with the hair before. My hands paused as I added another hairband to the braid. Just since I met Benedict.
Maybe he wasn't good for my control. Maybe he kept the ice back but made everything else worse. I scrubbed my face with cold water, furious with myself. Stupid mistake. Stupid ridiculous fairytale mistake. Monsters didn't get happy endings. Monsters died, the hero saved the real princess, and everyone lived happily ever after.
Tears burned my sinuses again, a terrible fiery pain compared to the icy one, and I washed my face again. Put on the mask that saved my ass in foster care, and marched out of that room like I didn't care about anything.
Ruby waited for me downstairs, along with her brother and Benedict. Their heated discussion silenced as I walked into the main area, and all three looked at me. I knew they'd been talking about me, arguing about me. Probably about who got to turn me over to Val. So I slung my bag over my shoulder and nodded to the three of them. Time to be an adult. Hike up my big girl panties and deal with the consequences of my actions. "Thanks for letting me stay, Ruby. I'm gonna go find Val before she finds me."
"What the fuck are you talking about?" Rafe moved around the bar, eyes narrowed. "Why are you leaving?"
"Look, you guys don't need me around." I smiled at much as I dared. "The hyenas are going to start some shit over this, and I don't want it to blow back on you. It's fine. So instead of you guys having to come up with a reason to kick me out, I'll just go. Really, I --"
"What the hell did you do?" This time it was Ruby, but she glared at Benedict.
He shook his head, watching me. "Why are you really leaving, Eloise?"
"Like I said." My words cracked and I had to swallow a knot of regret. "I'm bad luck, this won't work out. I'd rather leave now than get booted later."
Ruby punched his shoulder. "You fucking ass, what did you --"
"It's not his fault." I had to pitch my voice over the growl emanating from Benedict, but I held up my hands to cut them both off. "It's my fault. I did something stupid. He's right to be mad. It's fine, Ruby. If you knew the truth, you wouldn't want me around either."
"Bullshit." Rafe strode after me and caught my arm, jerking me back. "I don't care what you think you did, you're not going on your own to face Val Szdoka or the bears. It's not right."
Before I could open my mouth to argue, Rafe disappeared. Staggered back the entire length of the bar, and instead Benedict stood next to me, scowling at where the wolf braced against the wall. "Don't put your hands on her."
Then he faced me and an old part of my brain told me to get very still so the predator wouldn't notice me. It was too late, though. His eyes were liquid gold as he caught my shoulders. "Damn it, Eloise. I'm not mad. I was confused, maybe a little hurt, but I'm not mad. Just don't do it again."
I stared at his chest, not entirely sure I believed him. I wanted to believe him so badly my chest ached, but my luck was never that good. My voice came out too small. "You said it wouldn't work."
The grumbly noise in his chest rolled through me and he drew me suddenly close to him, pressing his nose to my hair. "I don't know if it will work. I hope it will. We're learning, aren't we? I mean, you left my clothes this time. Stayed all the way to the morning. That's progress, right?"
I wanted to smile but my cheeks wouldn't work.
"You aren't a monster," he said, so soft I hoped Rafe wouldn't hear. Then Benedict kissed my forehead, spun me around, and marched me to sit at the bar in front of a plate of eggs and pancakes. "Now eat. We meet Kaiser in thirty minutes."
Ruby eyed the lion, then tapped the bar near my plate as I shoveled eggs into my mouth. "Okay, chickie. Be careful with the bears. Even with superman over there to help you out. Kaiser is a good dude, but some of his guys are a little ... unstable. Keep your sunglasses and your game face on. Got it?"
"Game face," I repeated around a mouthful of pancakes, nodding. "Right. What kind of bear is he?"
Rafe rubbed his shoulder as he stalked around the bar, shooting Benedict an irritated look. "He's a grolar bear. And he's still less of a dick than your boyfriend."
"Don't put your hands on a woman," Benedict said, sounding unruffled.
And I blushed, because he didn't correct the 'boyfriend' part. I cleared my throat. "What the hell is a grolar bear?"
"His ma was a polar bear," Ruby said. She poured coffee into a brandy tumbler and slid it in front of me. "And his da was a grizzly bear. So he's a grolar. Not a teddy bear, not a care bear -- he's a real fucking bear."
I made a face as I sipped the coffee, almost burning my palms through the glass. "Will he help me?"
Ruby and Rafe traded looks, then she eyed me critically. "Probably. He's got a soft spot for troublemakers. Which is why he's got a handful of misfit bears around him."
"Great," I said under my breath. I finished inhaling the breakfast and paused for a moment, debating whether a burp would turn into something more substantial. Luckily everything stayed where it was supposed to, and I followed Benedict out the front to a waiting SUV.
He handed me some sunglasses, "Try these," and opened the car door for me.
I examined the glasses as he started driving, putting them on to appreciate the coverage and checking in the mirror to make sure they hid my eyes completely. Before I could thank him, Benedict fussed with the radio. "We've only known each other a few days, Eloise, but I would like to know you better."
"Oh." I cleared my throat and willed away a hysterical giggle that welled up in my chest.
Before I could compose myself, he slid a sideways glance at me. "Normally that's where you say you'd like to know me better, too."
"I, uh, would like to know you better. Too."
"Well, now I can't tell if you mean it." He sighed. "Shouldn't have given you those sunglasses."
I couldn't contain a smile, relaxing in the seat. "Nope. Rookie mistake."
He smiled at the windshield, and the rest of the ride, neither of us said anything.
He parked the car in a rundown part of town not too far from where Miles Evershaw headquartered his business. Benedict didn't get out right away but instead picked up my hand. He studied my fingers, examining my nails and palm and knuckles. His voice registered as a slight puff of air against my skin. "I don't know how it is with your people, Eloise, but mine usually know right away when they find someone they like. I don't want to scare you off by getting too serious. Just give me a sign when you're ready, okay?"
I watched him watching my hand. My fingers curled over his. "Okay."
"Okay," he repeated, then pressed his lips to the soft skin on the inside of my wrist. A chill ran through me at the warm brush of his mouth, the tenderness in his touch. Then he winked at me and got out of the car.
I hopped out before he made it around the car. "But I open my own door, got it?"
Benedict sketched an elaborate bow and offered his arm in a courtly gesture. "Shall we enter the bear's den?"
"Let's," I said with a laugh, though I didn't take his arm. Benedict shoved his hands in his pockets and ambled along beside me. As the late fall wind cut through me, I reconsidered snuggling up next to him, but it was a short walk to the crumbling building.
T
he bears
definitely shared a realtor with Miles Evershaw. The ramshackle industrial building hid a large, open interior behind a crumbling facade, which the bears filled with weight machines, a makeshift boxing ring, and some couches that looked as though real bears used them for napping.
Benedict rang the bell next to the glass-front door and a buzzer rang to unlock the door. A young man, maybe in his mid-twenties, approached to greet us, blinking and rubbing his eyes under a shock of black hair. He smiled through a yawn. "Benedict? I'm Owen. The boss is out back," and he jerked his chin toward the rear of the building and a massive metal door.
Benedict shook his hand before following him through the building, but the lawyer didn't say anything. Irritation colored my tone more than I wanted. "I'm Eloise, by the way. Nice to meet you."
Owen lumbered along, still blinking. He inclined his head but didn't try to take my hand. "Nice to meet you, Eloise. Usually we don't address another man's mate until introduced, so..." and he gave Benedict a drowsy but reproachful look.
"I'm not --" I started just as Benedict put me in a gentle headlock and said over me, "My mistake, Owen. I forgot about the ursine code."
"Not a problem," Owen said mildly, pushing open the enormous steel door to reveal a backyard almost as large as the whole first floor of the building. Maybe we'd woken Owen from his winter hibernation, because nothing else explained the lackadaisical attitude.
Almost a third of the backyard hosted an above-ground infinity pool, cycling water through with a distinctive splashing, but a patch of dirt and pile of scarred logs dominated the rest of the space. Most of the logs sported deep gouges and splintering. As I considered the size of the animal capable of raking three inch deep furrows in solid wood, Owen tapped on the side of the pool with about as much energy as molasses in February.
A dark head popped up out of the water and I yelped, stumbling back and almost falling on my ass. A bear. A real goddamn bear. Owen blinked as he looked around for the threat just as Benedict grabbed me up off the ground and shoved me behind him. The giant bear, easily ten feet tall, rose to its back legs and sprayed water as it shook out its golden blonde fur. Owen ducked and even Benedict turned his face to avoid the deluge.
I peeked around Benedict just in time to see the bear curl in on itself, then disappear into the water and stand up as a man. My heart tried to break through my ribs. Holy shit. The massive bear turned into an equally massive man, larger than Atticus and certainly taller and broader than Benedict, who was built for speed more than brawn.
The bear winced and climbed out of the pool as he toweled off. "Thought I'd get in an early swim. What can I do for you, Benedict?"
The man was bare-ass naked but didn't seem to care as he shook Benedict's hand. My cheeks burned as I tried to concentrate on the man's face when confronted with the washboard abs and impressive package. Benedict kept me close to his side. "Kaiser, thanks for meeting. This is my friend Eloise."
The bear, Kaiser, smiled and I automatically smiled back. Maybe Rafe was wrong and this Kaiser guy was a teddy bear. He lumbered over and pressed my fingers delicately, dark eyes kind. "Ms. Eloise, nice to meet you."
My cheeks heated more and I stumbled over a few words meant to thank him for seeing us, particularly with his nude Adonis form and an impressive amount of chest hair right in front of me. God help me if I sneezed, we might end up on third base by accident. Benedict grumbled in his throat and slid his arm around my waist.
Kaiser chuckled and nodded at the metal door. "We can talk in my office." He led the way -- well, his perfect butt led the way and I bit my lip. Luckily Owen handed him another towel that Kaiser wrapped around his waist, then the sleepy bear shut the door behind us and disappeared into another part of the building.
Benedict tugged on the end of my braid as he muttered, "Enjoying the view?"
"You don't saunter around naked as a jaybird," I said, then gave Kaiser a bright smile as he held open the door to an office behind the boxing ring. "Thank you."
The bear waited until we sat in front of his desk before taking his place behind the desk, still wearing only a towel. "So what brings you to my den?"
Uneasiness bubbled in my stomach once more, despite the apparently friendliness of this particular bear. What if he didn't tell me what happened Thursday night? He was my last chance to figure this out before Val came for my head. I took a deep breath and braced my hands on my knees, not quite daring to meet his gaze as I spoke. "Thursday night, I dropped a bag of money near Aaron's Chili Bowl for Val Szdoka. Someone took her daughter and demanded a ransom. I didn't see who picked up the money because a bunch of cops came through, but when I went back, the money was gone and Val didn't have her daughter. I'm trying to find my friend and figure out who's got her. The SilverLine pack said they chased bears away from that part of their territory on Thursday night, so we were hoping -- I was hoping you might be able to tell me more about who took the money and what happened afterward."
Kaiser snorted a laugh. "Miles Evershaw said he chased off bears? Right." He shook his head and frowned at a chalkboard on the wall next to his desk. Apparently he could decipher the hieroglyphics written on it, because he frowned more. "That would have been Axel and Malcolm. Mal is out on another job, but Axel's around."
He picked up the phone on his desk but hesitated, eying me critically. "You got steady nerves, girl?"
"I work for the hyenas," I said. "I'll be fine."
"Okay. Just -- stay calm." He looked at Benedict with less concern, "You too, lion," then said into the phone, "Get in my office."
Then he hung up and rubbed his jaw, his head tilted as he studied me. "I know you from somewhere. I don't recognize you but you smell familiar."
Benedict grumbled, and tension gathered in his shoulders as he took up all of the chair he occupied as well as half of my breathing room. I felt small and rather delicate sitting in the tiny room with a bear and a lion.
"The fights, probably," I said with a sigh. Of course all of the people mixed up in Val Szdoka's dirty business were also involved at least part-time in the illegal street-fighting.
A smile tugged at the bear's lips. "That can't be it."
"It is." I took off the sunglasses so he could see my eyes; most of them only remembered my eyes. "Bridger pays me to be security sometimes."
"Security." Then he leaned across the desk to peer at my eyes. Cold gathered in my eyes at the challenge, and Kaiser sat back. A huffing noise rolled out of his chest and through the air, bouncing off me. Then he nodded once and gestured at the boxing ring behind me. "If you ever want to practice stopping charging bear..." He raised his eyebrows.
I almost laughed. "Thanks for the offer, but I'm trying to minimize --"
The rest of my words disappeared in a squeak as I glanced back at the ring and faced instead an angry, half-naked Viking.
He filled the doorway next to Benedict, radiating aggression by posture and breathing alone. His blue eyes swept the room, measuring each of us. I scooted my chair back, glad Benedict was both a speedbump between us and looking ready to brawl if the Viking got a step closer. The giant blonde growled deep in his chest as he squinted at me with icy blue eyes.
Kaiser sniffed and rubbed his nose. "Axel, they got some questions about the job you did on Thursday."
Axel inhaled deeply, nostrils flared, then folded his arms over his chest. "Okay."
Benedict didn't relinquish his chair or give any hint he was tense, bouncing his foot as if it were any normal business meeting. But the muscles corded across the back of his neck and shoulders, and he kept himself broadly between me and the threat. "We'd like to know who hired you, and what they hired you to do."
"Can't. Bad for business." A hint of white teeth showed as he inhaled again, mouth open to taste the air. His gaze landed on me like a ton of bricks. "Who are you?"
So apparently the bear code for asking about someone else's mate didn't apply to polar bears. Benedict started growling loudly enough that the hairs on my arms stood up. I refused to be discomfited. Ice condensed around my eyes and the scary mojo drifted up at the hint of a threat. "I'm Eloise."
"Just Eloise?"
"Just Eloise." I folded my arms over my chest. "I left a bag of money behind Aaron's Chili Bowl to pay a ransom for my friend, Val Szdoka's daughter Lacey. Someone picked it up but Lacey is still missing, probably hurt. I want to find Lacey but the trail ends with you."
"Brave for such a small thing," he said, so deep in his chest I felt it in my bones. His head tilted and a violet sheen covered his eyes. "Walk into a bear's den and make demands? Ballsy."
Benedict lurched up but I grabbed his shoulder and yanked him back to the chair. My shoulders objected but I didn't want him getting caught in the mojo shrapnel. And part of me wondered why Kaiser didn't get the polar bear to shut up and obey. My chin dropped as the mojo swirled up and coalesced behind my eyes. The braid hanging down my back lifted, individual tendrils working free to stand up around me in a heady cloud. My voice dropped an octave but I fought to remain aloof and unconcerned. "Kaiser, do you fancy a bear-shaped statue for your waiting room? Perhaps he can guard your front door."
Axel's eyes narrowed. "You're not --"
"If you want to take your chances, Axel, go ahead." Kaiser fiddled with a rusty drawer in his desk. "But she does security for Bridger. If she doesn't kill you, the lion will," and he nodded at where Benedict sprouted hair from elbows to fingers.
I didn't take my eyes off the Viking. The debate played out across his face, then his eyes faded once more to pale blue. He didn't look happy about it, upper lip lifting in a snarl. "The hyenas paid us."
"No, they paid the ransom to get Lacey back. The jackals might have --"
"It was hyenas." The muscles in his forearm jumped. "We escorted four hyenas to the location. They met someone there, dragged him away, then one of them picked up a bag. That was it. Hyenas. Didn't see anyone else."
The world slowed down. A clock ticking on the wall echoed in my ears. Pressure built behind my eyes as the cold didn't dissipate, but grew stronger. "Which hyenas?"
Axel shook his head. "Didn't ask."
"Female?"
"All of them."
I nodded, staring past him. A set-up. Val set me up. Lacey, too. A rushing sound filled my ears. And Val wanted to hold me responsible for the money and for Lacey's disappearance. As I stared at Axel's chest, Benedict cleared his throat. "Would you recognize the hyenas if you saw them again?"
The polar bear's lip wrinkled again but he answered grudgingly. "Probably. Scent would be better."
As I remained frozen, Benedict nudged me. "Do you have a picture of Val's people? On your phone?"
Still worried mostly about not letting the scary mojo explode my eyes, I unlocked my phone and handed it the lawyer. Benedict flipped across the screen, then handed it to Axel. "Anyone here jog your memory?"
The weight of their collective attention was too much. I lurched to my feet, "Excuse me a moment," and shoved past Benedict's restraining hands and Axel's bulk to escape the office. Stars spotted my vision and I struggled with the door to the backyard.
Thank Medusa no one followed me, though I lacked the strength to shut the door behind me. I clutched my head and dropped to sit on my heels in the chilly morning air. My face numbed from my eyebrows down until my skin cracked and my teeth ached. Set up. Goddamn Val. Trapping me with some bullshit about Lacey eloping and needing my help. I should have known. I should have seen it.
It was a stupid mistake to trust Lacey, knowing she was Val's daughter. Val set me up from the beginning, put all the chess pieces in place so she could eventually tighten the noose. Maybe Lacey really left on her own and Val used it as a convenient excuse to hold me accountable for the money. My braid fell apart completely and long locks of hair floated around me, twined thick as snakes. I pressed the heels of my hands against my eyes. Had to keep it together. Had to save the rage for Val herself.
Val would learn not to threaten a gorgon. I hated the monster side of me, but the gorgon excelled at getting even. Protecting us. I chewed my lip and shoved to my feet, pacing the perimeter of the yard. A plan. I needed a plan before I faced Val. I needed more information. If the four hyenas hired the bears to protect them, they expected trouble.
Trouble from me, maybe. I groaned and gripped my sides as the cold traveled down my throat and spread into my lungs.
Or -- trouble from the jackals. I stopped short. Cal. Cal ended up in the hospital, or so he claimed. Maybe that was part of the ruse as well. And if the hyenas beat him -- if he was the one they met and dragged away -- then he would know something. His pack might know something. Val long complained of the jackals and their threat to her territory and interests.
She killed two birds with one stone, it seemed.
I howled, hands clenched at my sides, and the cold burst out of my eyes and slammed into the logs balanced on the far side of the yard. Pain blinded me and I went to my knees. The monster took control and everything else faded.