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)
“Now you’re just bragging.” Vadim’s shoulders drooped, his expression morose. “I want a dangerous girlfriend.”
“You’re only twenty-four, gorgeous.” Calina patted him on one meaty shoulder. “Plenty of time to get yourself lassoed by a badass.”
Vadim perked up. “Talking of which . . .” He beamed like the sun at the woman now walking up to the club.
Yakov had scented her before he saw her: Anastasia “Stasya” Nikolaev, Valya’s sister and second-in-command of StoneWater. Tall, with eyes of greenish gray, and dramatic cheekbones under strikingly short hair she’d colored a vivid purple two weeks back, she was about as badass as they got.
Now, she patted Vadim on the cheek and had him blushing. “Nina tells me that you’re doing an amazing job.” She nodded at Calina, too, including her in the compliment. “Making the clan proud.”
Both younger members of the clan shuffled their feet a little, but they also squared their shoulders. Then Anastasia turned to Yakov, her expression altering in the most subtle way—because where the other two were subordinates, Yakov stood in the senior ranks right beside Stasya.
It wasn’t about dominance. There was so much more to it. The acknowledgment that Stasya didn’t need to protect him, as both of them would do with Vadim and Calina, the acceptance that she could lean on him as he could on her, and beneath it all, the deep bond of friendship forged by years working side by side with Valya.
“I thought you were babysitting a Psy today.”
“I asked her if she wanted to go dancing.”
Stasya rolled her eyes. “Funny, Yasha.” Then she walked into the club.
Vadim waited until after their clanmate was out of earshot to grin. “I don’t think Stasya believed you,” he whispered.
“She will soon enough.” His bear stretched, more than ready to party with Theodora Marshall, the woman of his dreams.
His smile faded on the thought, his mind flashing wet scarlet. Because Theo had died in his dreams last night, the reason why he’d shifted into bear form in the twilight hours. He’d needed to escape his human skin, his frenetic mind. But that didn’t alter the truth of what he’d seen.
Theo’s fatal future remained unchanged.
Chapter 37
Arwen, when are you planning to introduce me to the bear who is such a bad influence that he led you right into a jail cell?
—Message from Ena Mercant to Arwen Mercant (date unknown)
THEO HAD NEVER worn such clothing in her entire life. She felt exposed—and yet powerful at the same time. In stylistic terms, the dress was simple: a sleeveless and strapless black sheath that shimmered with specks of blue and came less than halfway down her thighs. That was it. That was the entire dress.
When Nina had first offered it to her, she’d taken one look and politely said, “I believe I’ll need a larger size.”
Nina had laughed in a way that invited Theo to share in the joke, rather than making her the butt of it. “I promise it’ll fit.” The club owner had pointed her to a little private cubicle to the side. “You can change in there.”
Still dubious about the stretching capabilities of the fabric, Theo had nonetheless obeyed in an effort not to offend her host. It didn’t take her long to change . . . and find that the dress not only fit, but that it did so like a glove.
She stared at herself in the mirror for a full minute, unable to relate to the Theo who looked back at her. But it was definitely her. Her fingers touched the small scar below her left inner elbow that she’d had as long as she could remember.
Yes, it was her.
But she’d spent her life learning to become invisible. This woman wasn’t invisible. Her eyes were electric lightning, a flush riding her cheeks, and the tamped fury within her a voracious beast that shimmered in the air.
“Theo?” Nina’s distinctive voice. “How is the fit?”
Theo swallowed, ran her hands down the dress, and stepped out of the cubicle.
Nina whistled. “Put down the hair, darling, and you’re done.”
Theo hesitated. The braid she wore was already her most casual look—she stuck to tight knots at the base of her head in the general course of life. But on this strange and stolen night, she did as Nina had directed and allowed her hair to fall around her face and shoulders . . . and felt concealed bindings inside her snap and drop away at the same time.
A part of her knew she should be scared, but all she felt was free.
“Such a wild energy you have under your skin, Theochka.” Nina’s words were an approving purr. “That much-too-good-looking bear of yours will have to fight them off with a stick.”
Heart racing at the thought of Yakov seeing her this way, Theo had to concentrate to reply. “Are my shoes acceptable with this dress?”