Chapter Sixteen
Irina sighed as she skimmed through the news on her phone. She wasn’t sure how long Malcolm would be gone to discuss Yuri with his alpha.
Her cheeks burned at the memory of Malcolm’s body joining with hers. Such a considerate lover. Whenever she’d slept with Yuri, it was a short and rough affair, with only his pleasure considered. The idea of him not getting what he needed first was as foreign to Yuri as mercy.
Not only was Malcolm a considerate lover, but he was interested in what she had to say. Yuri had only ever been interested in her body. It was too late to escape by the time she realized that she was nothing but a living doll to him, something to be played with and then put back in the closet when he was bored.
A soft sigh escaped her lips. None of that changed the fact that Malcolm was also a shifter and by his own admission part of a violent world. If she wanted to be with him, then she’d be exposed to bloodshed.
Irina didn’t know if she cared. The world itself was a violent place, and she’d seen awful things before even running into Yuri. If Malcolm was a werewolf with a pack, that meant he could protect her. At least that’s what she wanted to believe.
She gasped and put a hand over her mouth. It’d not been that long, but she couldn’t deny it. Her heart kicked up. She’d already fallen for him.
His earnestness, his strength, his love of beauty despite being a rough man. It’d all threaded together to form a lasso that had snared her heart. She could imagine having something longer with him, a deep relationship.
Irina laughed. What was she thinking? She was in a traveling company. She couldn’t stay in the area to be in a relationship with a werewolf.
The ballerina put her phone on the table in front of the couch and furrowed her brow. She could audition for a local company. One of the main reasons she’d joined a traveling company was that she thought it’d help her escape Yuri’s attention, but if he were handled, that wouldn’t be a concern.
She slumped on the couch. Malcolm might be a werewolf, but Yuri was a werebear, and a savage killer on top of it. Her new lover’s insistence that he’d be able to handle her ex-lover rang hollow. After spending time with Malcolm, Irina knew that however strong and powerful he might be, he lacked Yuri’s brutality and killer instinct.
A light knock came on the door. Irina’s heart thundered. Yuri had found her. It had to be him. Malcolm wouldn’t knock.
She grabbed her purse on the table and started fumbling through it. Last night, she’d been smart enough to pack her gun. It might not kill Yuri, but if she got lucky, it’d slow him enough that she could get away.
The lock clicked opened, and the knob turned. The ballerina’s hands shook so badly that the gun fell back into the purse.
The door opened, and Malcolm stepped through.
Irina stared at him for a moment, her heart still galloping before rushing over to throw her arms around his neck and sniffle into his chest.
Malcolm blinked and stroked her hair. “You okay?”
“I’m sorry. I just got scared when you knocked. I thought it was Yuri.”
He winced. “Shit. I knocked because I didn’t want to surprise you.”
Irina let out a sigh and rested her head against his chest. “It doesn’t matter now.”
They stayed like that for a good minute before Malcolm led her to the couch and sat her there.
“I’ve talked it out with Caleb, and he contacted the local representative of the King.”
Irina furrowed her brow. “King? You mean a dragon?”
Malcolm nodded. “Yeah.”
Her eyes widened. “Are they going to arrest Yuri?”
Malcolm shook his head. “I’m sorry. It doesn’t work that way. If Yuri doesn’t make a scene as a bear, the dragons don’t give a shit. If he killed a bunch of humans, they’d probably come after him, but dragging you back to Russia just isn’t something they’re going to stop. You’re not Blooded, so they don’t think it’s their business.”
Irina sighed and looked down. “I’m not surprised. I just hoped the dragons in America thought differently than the dragons in Russia.”
He gave her shoulder a comforting squeeze. “The good news is the dragons also don’t care if I take Yuri down, as long as it’s not somewhere public. As far as they’re concerned, he came into their territory without even announcing himself, and he’s stirring up trouble, so he’s fair game.”
Irina shook her head. “You shouldn’t fight him. He’s a monster, and I don’t mean because he can become a bear. His soul is black and tainted by evil. You have no idea.”
“If I don’t do this, you’ll never be free. He’ll drag you back to Russia, and that’s assuming he doesn’t kill you or hurt you.”
“But if you do this, you may die.”
Malcolm snorted. “If I didn’t like that pretty face and voice of yours so much, I might be insulted by that. I can handle Yuri. He’s been hiding out among steel, glass, and concrete in the desert, not a forest. He’s not gonna be at the top of his game. Caleb will be there too in case he tries any bullshit.”
Irina stared down at her lap. “I want to be free, but I can’t ask anyone to risk their lives for my freedom. It’s not right.”
The werewolf reached over and lifted her chin gently. “You don’t have to ask. I’m offering. You understand? I couldn’t live with myself if I let that bastard take you. I’d regret it to the day I die.”
Irina sniffled and wiped away a few tears. She gave him a slight nod.
Malcolm picked up her phone from the table and looked in the call history. “I’m assuming this call from the Moscow number was him?”
She nodded.
He dialed the number and waited. He turned it on speakerphone.
“Oh, my little carnation, are you ready to beg my forgiveness?” Yuri answered in Russian. “I didn’t think you’d give up so soon.”
Irina bit her lip.
“Have no idea what you’re saying, but this isn’t Irina,” Malcolm responded. “Just her phone, asshole.”
“Oh, the wolf,” Yuri said, switching to English. “What is it, wolf? Your antics bore me.”
Malcolm snorted. “She’s really built you up as this unstoppable force of nature, you know. Like you’re the toughest bear in all of Russia.”
Irina shook her head, frowning.
The werebear chuckled. “Then she is not as foolish as I thought. You should listen to her, wolf.”
Malcolm winked at Irina. “I’m still gonna take your ass down. And I don’t mean my pack. I mean me. I want to take you on tomorrow. My alpha will watch, as will a representative of the King of Maricopa County, but it’ll be one-on-one. Wolf versus bear, unless your rep is all hype, and you’re afraid.”
Yuri growled. “My reputation? You’re nothing. Your entire pack is nothing. Mongrels with a shit bar. I’ve checked on you. You think I’m impressed that you beat some other wolves?”
The werewolf snorted. “From what I hear, you mostly kill humans. So, I’m one up on you. Anyway, the dragons are kind of pissed about all the trouble you’re stirring up, but if you take me down, that ends that, and no one will stop you. You can do what the hell you want.”
The werebear gave a dark chuckle. “I’ll tear you to pieces, you arrogant wolf, and then I will take the girl. When I get back to Russia, I will make sure to show her pictures of your dead body every day so she will understand that she can never escape me.”
Irina stuck a hand over her mouth to stifle her gasp.
Malcolm let out a long, low growl. “Better call your lawyer back in Russia and get your affairs in order, asshole.” He rattled off an address. “Be there tomorrow at noon or waddle back to Russia, you bear motherfucker.”
“Oh, is that what they still do in America? Fight at high noon? How amusing.”
“This is the state of one of the most famous gunfights in the Old West, after all. See you there, bear, assuming you’re not too chickenshit to show up.”
Yuri chuckled. “I will on one condition.”
“What?”
“If Irina is not there, I will not fight. That way I know I don’t have to go searching through these pathetic excuses for cities for her.”
Malcolm growled. “She doesn’t—”
“I’ll be there, Yuri,” Irina interrupted. “I’ll come if you will come.”
“Ah, so you are there, my little carnation. Good. Then enjoy seeing your lover torn to shreds tomorrow.” He ended the call.
Malcolm frowned. “You didn’t have to do that. I could have just pushed him a little more.”
Irina shook her head. “You can’t be the only one risking things. I can’t stand the idea. I have… feelings for you.”
Malcolm blinked several times. “I guess I just need to win tomorrow.” He leaned in to give her a deep kiss.