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)
“No response to the intercom,” he told her. “Not even sure it’s working.”
Forehead creasing, she looked over at the dilapidated device. “The facility has been drawing funds continuously. That should have been fixed long before it got to that state.”
“Do you have an override for the gate? It has what looks like a complex computronic lock.” He began to close the distance to the looming metal bars.
“Wait.”
When he paused, glanced back at her, he found her staring up at the spikes at the top. “I . . . I think there was an electrical current once. Blue.” Her voice was distant, as if inside a memory.
A second later, she snapped her attention back to him. “It’s dangerous. Stay away from it.”
Yakov’s bear halted, startled at the clipped order.
Aside from his mother and father and grandparents, who had the privilege by dint of having diapered his baby butt once upon a time, there were very few people on the entire planet who’d dare give a bear of his dominance an order. For the most part, that number was limited to his alpha and Valentin’s second- and third-in-command.
No one else would dare.
Except Theo just had.
He considered being insulted by it, but nope, that didn’t feel right. His Psy dream woman with secrets in her eyes was trying to protect him. His bear wanted to cuddle her for it—though he didn’t think he’d get that chance anytime soon, he was gentle with her when he replied, well aware her nerves had to be scraped raw.
“Easy enough to check if the security field is still running.” He angled his head. “I can’t hear the hum of an older system.”
“I didn’t know that was possible.”
“Lot of changelings have the hearing range for it.” Walking to the side of the drive, he picked one of the long blades of grass and touched it to the nearest part of the gate with care.
Despite the cold terror in her scent, Theo actually jerked forward until she stood within arm’s reach of him.
Ready to drag him back if he got himself in trouble.
Astonished at the fierceness of her courage all over again . . . and seduced by the protectiveness that apparently ran so deep in her nature that she was willing to face her worst nightmare to shield his bear ass, Yakov had to fight not to turn around and wrap her up in his arms, nuzzle at her until she wasn’t so afraid anymore.
He hated that this strong, brave woman was so scared that it had stolen all the light right out of her.
What the fuck had they done to her?
His bear growled inside him.
Chapter 13
While bear changelings have many talents, grace is not one of them.
—“Jocie’s Opinions: Inaugural Column” in the June 2083 issue of Wild Woman magazine: “Skin Privileges, Style & Primal Sophistication”
IT TOOK ALL Yakov had to keep his attention on his task, his nape burning with the intensity of Theo’s focus on him as he moved the blade of grass slowly forward. No telltale vibration, none of the hairs on his arms standing up. To be extra careful, he took off the metal ring he wore on his right ring finger and flicked it gently at the gate.
It pinged harmlessly off the metal to fall to the ground.
“Must’ve been turned off.” He bent to pick up the ring that had been a gift on his and Pavel’s eighteenth birthday from his maternal grandparents. He figured they’d be pleased he’d used it to assist in his safety.
Satisfied he wouldn’t get fried, he went to examine the lock more closely. “Interesting.”
A stir in the air, Theo coming to stand by his side. Much closer than he would’ve expected. But chert voz’mi, if she’d just give him permission, he’d cuddle her right against his chest and wrap her up in his arms.
Fear remained a strong thread in her scent. Whatever else this place turned out to be, it was obvious that to her, it was a horror. And no matter the suspicions he had about her family, his bear was not okay with allowing another being to suffer when gentle skin privileges would help ease their pain.
“What?” The question was air over the back of his neck as he bent toward the lock.
His bear stirred under the shivering caress.
Wrenching the animal within under control, he said, “This.” He pointed to a patch of clean metal. “Someone’s gone to great effort to make this lock look as overgrown and as old as the intercom, but it’s undergone recent maintenance.”
“I do have a code,” Theo said, and he could all but hear her pulling the tempered steel of her soul back together, “but it won’t work. This lock is a different kind than the one in the files.”
Yakov considered bending the bars of the gate, but a single shake of one cylindrical piece of metal told him they were built strong—strong enough to repel even a bear’s considerable strength. He next looked at the top of the gate.