Chapter Six

Laia

 

“Price to pay?” I asked in a horrified, breathy voice. “Claim…me?”

“Uh, yes?” Rett looked about as thrilled as I did.

“This is some arcane bullshit.”

Claims were a big thing among the Northern shifter packs. From what I knew, it had started in the Northbane and spread to the others. Basically, one shifter “claimed” another, as a kind of pact to protect their life and keep an eye on them. A tangible bond that appeared at first sight and linked the two in mysterious ways.

“A claim—that’s the price?” I pressed Rett, and I thought I detected squirming. “Why can’t I just be your house guest? Or, hell, even stay here, maybe check in with you? What, I need a bear babysitter?”

“I see you’re feeling better,” Rett muttered.

“No, it’s not, well…” Okay, fair point. But I had to know. “You felt a claiming bond with me?”

Rett swallowed and nodded. Bullshit, he did! Oh no, this had to be a scheme cooked up by Xander Bane. The Head Command of Winfyre wanted someone strong, capable, and close to him keeping an eye on me. My teeth set, and I tried to remind myself to calm down, that the Northbane were right to be cautious. In any case, it was probably a good idea to go along with Xander. The no-nonsense shifter, tall, dark, and mysterious—he looked like he knew how to deal with Llarys.

I opened my mouth and shut it. I didn’t know what to say, and, by the looks of it, neither did Rett. Silence pushed between us, his head down and my eyes burning. I was too tired, too weak, to deal with this. My thoughts were becoming sluggish, not catching on anything.

I shivered under the blankets. All I wanted to do was sleep and feel warm again. Couldn’t someone else take over for a little while?

“You didn’t sense anything?” Rett finally asked.

It had to have been my overtired brain, but I thought he sounded disappointed.

“No, should I have? From what I understood, it’s one way.”

“Not always,” he said and sat back, the chair creaking underneath him.

I wondered what it would be like living with someone who could pick me up in one hand and toss me if I irritated him. Oh, God, I’d have to be on my best behavior with this shifter.

“A double claim?” I finally asked, trying to wake up more, and Rett nodded. “Oh, hell no. I wouldn’t even know how to handle that. Being a shifter is weird enough half the time without adding more occult layers.”

A dry laugh escaped Rett. “No shit.”

“Uh, is there anything else I should know?” I asked.

“No. Well, I guess I could tell you I haven’t had a claimant in a while, but I've had them," he said. “You’d be the first in six months.” Wow, he sounded thrilled.

Make a girl feel special, why don’t you? I thought wryly even as I forced myself to nod.

“You have any others I’ll be competing with?”

Rett’s face became guarded, and his face smoothed itself of expression. “No. Not that I’d tell you, in any case.”

Ah, there was the gruff bear shifter I’d seen last night when I’d been accused of being a smuggler. He’d be a joy to live with. I mean, I guess I was a smuggler, but more of a Robin Hood meets Lara Croft. A tinge of hysteria tickled the back of my throat, and I had to close my eyes to keep from imploding.

This would be fine. Sure.

Living with a bear Alpha, being a Command’s claimant, and waiting for my cousin.

Well, I was in bad shape. No, let’s face it: I was on death’s doorstep and utterly useless to Winfyre in this condition. Whatever else Rett was, he would help me get better, I was sure. Besides, the plan had always been to get here and lie low. I’d planned on doing that with Tristan, but one of his best friends wasn’t a bad proxy.

If Winfyre couldn’t help me, though, I’d have to figure out a way to escape a bear shifter. Hm. That sounded only vaguely more suicidal than my usual shenanigans.

“I owe your family, and especially your cousin Tristan, a lot,” Rett suddenly said. “So, you, too, Laia, by extension of that.” He tripped over his words, and my chest went hot. “Feel free to ask me for anything and everything. I mean it.”

I forced my eyes open. I wasn’t sure where he was going with this, but it sounded like it was veering into a guilt trip to get me to see those Llarys to whom he owed so much.

“I absolutely cannot see my family right now, Rett.” Panic fluttered through me at the thought. “They need to remain ignorant…” I winced as a spike of pain went through my temples. “Please, that’s all I ask right now.”

“I wish you’d rethink that, but sure,” he said and sighed. “I can respect that.”

The panic ebbed into warmth, and I smiled at him. “Thank you.”

“You know, you’re lucky you made it here,” Rett scolded, scowling and folding his arms.

My smiled curved up. “Careful, Deacon, I might think you have a soft spot for me.”

“I…” Rett hunched up. Ah, he was loveable under that growl. Now I could see myself having some serious fun with him. “I—what is that look for? What are you up to?”

“You’ll see.”

“Don’t give my patient a hard time, Bear.” Rogda’s voice floated into the room, and the Russian woman bustled in. I’d liked her on sight, a fierce, eye-patch-wearing healer who made a mean cup of tea. She handed me another now, and I struggled to take it. I hated the way my hands shook, my muscles heavy and listless. “You are very weak, Laia. If you shift—”

“No,” I said and upset the teacup, spilling it on the bed. “Oh no, I’m sorry, I…”

“It’s all right,” Rogda said gently. “I’ll go get another blanket.”

“Not shifting can take a toll on you,” Rett added, taking the cup as Rogda bustled to the closet. “When’s the last time—”

“Don’t worry about it.” Irritation burst behind my eyes, and I snapped, “And I’m well aware of the ins and outs of shifting.” My breath caught as fissures of pain rippled up my back and into my shoulder blades. “Shifting can also take a toll on you.”

Rogda came back over, swapping the quilt for another. “I can give you something to help you with the weakness, but I have to warn you, it will knock you out for a good day.”

“That’s fine,” I murmured, too tired and aching to fend off any more questions. I curled up and closed my eyes. “I need to catch up on about a year of sleep.”

Rett stood up, nodded at me, and said goodbye, then murmured something to Rogda. She followed him out, and I sank back into sleep, my dreams coming in odd fragments. I kept dreaming I was trying to leave and follow Rett, get to his house, but I kept hearing voices and footsteps outside.

Voices belonging to people I hoped never to see again.

 

Someone shook me awake, and I opened my eyes onto Rogda’s gentle smile. “Come on, dear.”

“What?” I asked.

“You need to relieve yourself and wash off,” Rogda said. "Then we can administer the treatment. When you wake up, you'll feel a lot better." She chuckled. "I think of it as a mini-hibernation. Just for a day, to realign yourself."

As I sat up, dizzy and not quite comprehending what she meant, my hand seized Rogda’s wrist in a moment of sudden clarity. “You know, don’t you?”

“That your shifter form is injured?” Rogda asked quietly. She sat on the bed, looking at me. “Yes, any healer who looked closely enough could determine that. Perhaps Riftborn, too, depending on their abilities.” My stomach lurched. “But what I don’t understand is why you wouldn’t shift and let me heal you—”

“I can’t,” I said with quiet despair. “I can’t shift.”

The connection I’d had to my shifted form was severed, lost in a moment of agony and panic. It’d been my own stupid fault. I’d bitten off more than I could chew, and now I was broken.

Rogda lapsed into silence for several moments. “Well, we will have to see what we can do. It’s possible Reagan Grace might be able to help you.”

“I don’t think so,” I said, and pressure built up behind my eyes. “And I can’t think about getting my hopes up right now. I have to get well and destroy that weapon.”

“I understand,” Rogda said and patted my hand. I realized I was still gripping her wrist, as though it were a lifeline, and slowly let her go. “Let’s get you on your feet.”

Once I was back in bed, an assistant came into my room, carrying a steaming mug. I did a double-take, realizing it was the girl from last night. Cassidy Grace, Reagan’s younger sister. My memories of Reagan and Xander were distorted from this morning, while Rett’s request to claim me was as distant as a dream. She handed the mug to Rogda and gave me a reassuring smile.

“I’m sure you’ll be back on your feet in no time,” Cassidy said warmly.

“Ma, do you need any help?” asked a deep voice, and I looked up to see a blond man ducking into the room. He was broad and gentle-looking with calm blue eyes.

“No, Niles, thank you,” Rogda said as her fingers hovered over the mug, twisting the steam into shapes. “But if you could send word to Rett…”

Niles nodded, lingering for a moment, and I watched him glance at Cassidy. He gave her a quick smile, which she returned, now twisting a piece of her dark hair. Part of me was almost curious, and I wanted to ask Cassidy if Niles was her boyfriend, but she’d wandered over to the window.

Something about her posture suggested unrequited pining, but I'd seen the way Niles had looked at her. Perhaps she wasn't good at picking up on cues. But she was also gorgeous and leggy in the same way her sister Reagan was.

“It’s all set,” Rogda said, and I looked over to see her holding out the mug. As I took it, rich spices hit my nose. “Ready? Or have you changed your mind?”

“Oh, I’m ready,” I said and held out my hands. The porcelain warmed my palms as I drained it, the mug having been only half full. “That was pretty good.”

“Well, I added it to tea,” Rogda said. “Hides the flavor.”

I sat back, not feeling particularly drowsier. “How long does it take?”

“Not long,” Rogda said.

I nodded and closed my eyes, wondering when it would kick in.

 

Scents of pine, crushed bergamot, and something warm, almost like cinnamon—but far wilder and unknowable—surrounded me. It was so delicious, I wanted to bury my face in it.

I realized I was rubbing my nose on the edge of a pillow, and pulled back, blinking.

An unfamiliar room materialized. I was in a big sleigh bed, made out of dark, rich wood like everything else in the room, gleaming and finished with little old-fashioned flourishes. There was a big vase of flowers on the dresser, roses and sprigs of pine, something I'd never seen before. More flowers were on a table in front of the window.

It looked like something out of a storybook. Or a Russian lodge. Or maybe a ski lodge. My befuddled brain couldn’t make up its mind. 

I sat up slowly, staring out at the view of forest, mountains, and blue water. It was quiet. So quiet, I wondered if I’d died, and this was some strange ski lodge heaven. Soft, warm, and thick blankets were tucked around me, and there was a heap of pillows surrounding my head.

What the hell is this? Where am I?

I got up, slowly and stiffly, my feet hitting the floor, and instantly I crumpled.

There was a sound of pounding, heavy footsteps, and the door flew open. “Laia.”

“Am I dying?” I wheezed, trying to get up and failing.

“No, you woke up before the drug worked itself out of your system,” a big man replied, crouching down and sliding one arm behind my back, the other below my knees.

Rett.

A shock went through me, waking up my body in one breath. He stood, and I clutched at him, feeling as though I’d been airlifted by plane or something.

“I didn’t expect you to wake up so soon,” he said and gently put me back into the bed.

I yanked up the covers. My face was flaming as I recalled the events of the past forty-eight hours. Clearing my throat, I murmured, “I’m sorry for all of this.”

“Don’t be,” he said in a falsely jolly tone. “You’re my best friend’s cousin. It’s no trouble.”

“Why am I so out of it?” I asked.

“Rogda said she needed to up the dose,” he said and gave me a small grin. “I’ve had that stuff before, and it’s like you’ve been hit with a tranquilizer.”

I nodded and looked around. “Where are we?”

“Oh,” Rett said and rubbed his knuckles along his jaw. “Uh, my house.”

“Oh,” I said. “Um, it’s really nice.” I hoped I sounded sincere. “Smells good.”

I wasn’t sure why I said that, but I wanted to laugh at how pleased and embarrassed Rett looked, trying to force a gruff expression over his smile. “Yeah, my mom and sisters cleaned up in here, stuck flowers and pine everywhere. Supposed to help with healing.”

“Oh, your family,” I said. “Are they here?”

“No, they left before I brought you home,” Rett said.

In your arms? Again?

I’d been carried by this guy more times than days I’d known him.

“Let me go get you food,” Rett said. “Rogda wanted you to eat as soon as you got up."

As I watched him run out the door, a warm tingle spread through my belly, and I bit back a smile. There was something endearing about seeing the big bear of a man at odds in his own home. Maybe I did wield a bit of power over him as a claimant.

Most people thought it was an unfair power structure, a shifter claiming someone else, Riftborn and stasis alike. But what those people failed to realize was the power a claimant had.

I smiled to myself, remembering my ideas while I’d been laid up at Rogda’s. If I had to be stuck here, I might as well have some fun.

Seemed like Rogda’s remedy had done its job.