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)
“Fair enough.” Theo knew Pax would expect nothing else; her brother had gone to great lengths to create an image of ice-cold power and heartless ambition.
“That’s all of it,” Theo murmured, her entire body liquid against Yakov. As if with the poison had gone every drop of tension in her. “Can we do hard-core cuddling now?”
Chapter 55
Subject V-1 should be decommissioned at this point. Given the amount of neural damage, there’s no chance of any further useful breakthroughs. I do, of course, understand there are other considerations when it comes to this specific subject, so the call is yours.
—Dr. Upashna Leslie to Councilor Marshall Hyde (11 April 2079)
THE WATCHER SPOTTED the bear on surveillance the instant they turned the corner. No hesitation, no sharp movements, the Watcher kept on walking, just another resident of Moscow heading home after a late shift.
Head down, pace steady, somewhere to be.
The Watcher could feel eyes on their back, but no one followed and the Watcher was soon out of the zone of danger. Clearly, the Watcher had underestimated the bear with Theodora Marshall. He’d not only sensed the danger, he’d put extra security in place. And he hadn’t told that security to conceal themselves: their open presence was a warning.
“Time for a change of plan,” the Watcher muttered to their other self.
For tonight, however, the Watcher decided to go home, to the place where it had all begun. Where the Watcher had broken in two. The same place where the Watcher felt oddly safe. Perhaps because they’d cleared the place of all threats.
Corpse by rotting corpse.
Chapter 56
“What’s this?”
“My can-do-everything handyman kit. I’m here to rearrange your spoons, forks, and knives, and build a treadmill for your fish so it can walk itself. Then I’m going to oil your cuticles, and oh yeah, climb into your nonexistent attic to get rid of the infestation of vampire bats. So, what do you think?”
“That you’re a very persistent bear.”
“Oh, and I brought you flowers. A bouquet of edelweiss. According to the Internet, they can represent a lot of things, chief among them the deepest love, and devotion.”
“You’re getting ahead of yourself.”
“No, gorgeous, I’m talking about your devotion to those who are your own, your ability to love full throttle, no matter what the obstacle. I see that every time you’re with Silver—she wouldn’t be Valya’s Starlight if you hadn’t laid the foundation with your devotion and affection. Fierce heart, stubborn courage, and the most sophisticated death stare I’ve ever seen; my bear never had a chance against you.”
—“The Courtship of Arwen Mercant: A Story of Death Stares, Irresistible Charm, and a Romantic Night in Jail” as told by Pavel Stepyrev
ARWEN ENJOYED WALKING alongside his bear as the lights of Moscow turned the river into a midnight rainbow, the air crisp but not too cold—not with Pavel’s body heat next to his and Pavel’s arm around his waist.
Arwen was taller by a few inches; it would’ve made more logical sense for him to hook his arm over Pavel’s shoulders. But this was what felt natural. Because Arwen’s lover was a bear with a protective streak a mile wide and Arwen was an empath who liked being in his bear’s warm embrace.
He smiled as he fixed a cuff link on his shirt.
“What’s so funny?” Pavel’s fingers played over Arwen’s hip as he took another lick of his ice cream cone. He’d offered Arwen as many licks as he wanted, at the reasonable price of a kiss for a lick.
“Oh, my cuff links reminded me of that day you turned up to take care of my vampire bat infestation.” The links were in the shape of edelweiss blooms, a gift from Pavel. Because his brash bear lover knew how to take care of his person.
Pavel’s dimples flashed. “I laughed for a good ten minutes after I got that message.”
“I had washing my shoelaces and color-coordinating the weeds in the garden in reserve.” Because at some point, coming up with progressively more preposterous excuses to decline Pavel’s invitations to go out had turned into a flirtation that made his stomach flutter and his toes curl.
He’d become glued to his phone, waiting for his bear’s next message.
“Those are good.” Pavel chuckled. “Too bad you never got to use them.”
Arwen hadn’t had that chance because after the words Pavel had given him—fierce heart, stubborn courage; ability to love full throttle—he’d been a mess with no defenses left.
He was an E. He knew his Pasha bear had meant every single word and that he saw Arwen in a way that was far beyond skin and bone and lust. Not just that, but he valued who Arwen was as a person and as an E, Pavel’s admiration and respect for him a caress of plush fur over his empathic senses.
Arwen’s world had shifted on its axis, as an emotion potent and passionate took the place of their playful flirtation. Used to the sly machinations of the PsyNet, he’d been afraid it was a mirage, a pretty game. He hadn’t understood his bear then. Blunt, honest, wild, Pavel Stepyrev had never treated Arwen’s heart with anything but tender care.