Total pages in book: 149
Estimated words: 138217 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 691(@200wpm)___ 553(@250wpm)___ 461(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138217 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 691(@200wpm)___ 553(@250wpm)___ 461(@300wpm)
Yakov frowned as he picked up her phone.
She knew the words on the screen by heart: Yes, of course, Theo. That you’ve found someone you trust enough to want to share this? It brings me a peace I didn’t dare to hope for; the bears look after their own. I’m glad you’ll have them at your back in the time to come.
When Yakov looked up, she said, “He’s terrified of what’ll happen to me after he’s gone, worried the family will hunt me even though he’s taken me out of the line of succession at my own request.” Her chest squeezed, squeezed. “My brother is getting ready to die, Yasha.”
Yakov’s hand clenched on hers, the word he spoke under his breath harsh and blue. “No cure? Nothing at all?”
“Nothing anyone has discovered to date. Scarabs in the time before Silence imploded and died as children. Their brains are inherently unstable, their psychic powers a category five hurricane.” Chaotic and furious and piercingly beautiful in its terrible power.
“He’s not dead yet,” Yakov said, his jaw grim. “Don’t waste the now by living in the unknown future, Theo. Doing so will wreck both the present and the future. That’s a piece of advice my great-grandfather gave my grandmother Quyen, and she in turn passed on to me.”
The profound truth of Déwei Nguyen’s words resonated through her bones. “I want you two to meet.”
“Anytime,” Yakov said at once, because this was his mate’s twin. Of course he wanted to meet the man. “We can go to him if he can’t come to us. It sounds like he’s shoveling a ton of poisonous shit right now.”
“I’ll ask.” Theo wiped away more moisture, took a shaky breath. “I feel so much better having told you. I don’t want secrets between us.” She swallowed. “No one talked in my family. Everything was hidden.”
Yakov winced, then slapped himself in the face with his free hand.
Theo glared at him. “What are you keeping from me?”
Chapter 60
Hien, attached is an article about an engineering “miracle” in the Andes. I thought you’d find it of interest.
I’m reading through the text you sent in your last communiqué and have been making copious notes. The ethical implications of such use of natural resources are, of course, of paramount importance to me as a member of a changeling clan, but I can see the other side of the argument. I’ll write more on the subject once I’ve finished the book.
D.
—Letter from Déwei Nguyen to Hien Nguyen (14 November 1980)
“NOTHING MUCH,” YAKOV muttered in response to Theo’s demand for information, but if glum had a face, it was his at that instant. “Maybe a prophetic dream that’s been haunting me.” His shoulders slumped. “I didn’t want to tell you because it’s nasty stuff.”
“Of course. Being that I’m such a shrinking violet.”
Those dimples flashed at her sarcastic comment. It made absolute sense that her bear would find her irritation a source of delight. Lifting their clasped hands, he kissed her knuckles before releasing her so they could both finish their meals.
Then he told her his dream of blood and death.
Theo asked question after question, digging down into every facet of his nightmare. “The Moscow Ripper?” she said at last.
“Seems the most likely.” Yakov put down his coffee, his fingers bone white as he gripped the china of it. “What I can’t figure out is why the dream hasn’t changed despite all the security measures I’ve taken. I’ve initiated every possible countermeasure.”
“No, Yasha,” Theo murmured. “You didn’t tell me. Now you’ve done everything.”
Eyes flashing to amber, he froze for a second before releasing a stream of extremely creative expletives. “I disarmed you without meaning to. Yasha, you’re a fucking kretin and a mudak to boot! I should let Hakon throw me in a hole in the ice in the frozen north.”
Theo felt her lips curve. “You’re not so bad. You’re just a bear.”
Lowered eyebrows, a heavy brow. “And you’re learning how to tease me.”
Yes, she was, wasn’t she? Pleased by that, Theo said, “Let’s rectify the lack now that I know the risk that’s stalking me. Knowledge might not be enough. I need a weapon.”
“What are you trained in?”
“Everything. Pax made me learn.”
“I like him more with every word you say. Come on, there’s a weapons safe under the floor in the bedroom.”
And that was how Theo ended up with a sleek little stunner to tuck into her boot, a couple of tiny grenades that looked like pills but would cause minor injuries at close range, and a necklace of black beads that could be torn off and thrown on the ground to create an explosion of sparks.
“Meant to distract,” Yakov told her. “No real damage, but it’ll blind your opponent, gain you time.”
“Who is your armorer?” she asked, astonished at the creativity of the ideas.
“Taji—one of the other seconds,” he said. “I’ll introduce you. Oh, take this, too.” He handed her a narrow red case decorated in intricate gold.