Chapter Nine

Kassian

He resolutely ignored the stares.

In front of him, things came together nicely. The meat was heating up well in the pan, which he’d combined with some onions to help them turn a nice golden color as well. At the back of the two-burner stove, the vegetables were sizzling away. Every now and then he added a dash of water to the hot pan, making it pop and crackle.

There really was nothing stare-worthy about the fact that he was preparing food for himself…and Rosie. Why his brothers thought that was so shocking was beyond him, but they clearly did, much to his annoyance. It was dinner, so what? Maybe it was the smell, he decided. They were just overwhelmed with how good it smelled. That was definitely it. Their shifter noses had them drooling. It was just a simple stir-fry though, so that didn’t make sense.

It wasn’t as if he expected them to understand him. None of them did. Not even Gavin. Things were just too different now. They were all so…so…domesticated, now. It was as if introducing women into their world who were there for more than just a night had mellowed his brothers out. The old Koche brothers would have instantly gone after the Institute and torn it apart looking for Maximus. They wouldn’t have stopped at anything to rescue their brother. Now though… now they kept insisting it was too dangerous, that they needed to plan and do it “right.” That was the women talking.

They’re right, you know.

He snarled. It didn’t matter if they were right or not! It wasn’t the Koche way of doing things. People needed to be beaten, buildings obliterated, and havoc wreaked. Then their opponents would know and fear them, and they’d stand a much better chance of getting Maximus back. Instead, they had to settle back and wait. What happened because of that? Now he was expected to go murder someone!

Of course the others didn’t understand. They weren’t the ones who had been told they needed to become an assassin if they wanted to see their brother again. None of them would understand at all. He decided the meat was done enough. He tossed it into the pan with the vegetables, mixing the various peppers, celery, carrots, and more around a few times, then dumping equal portions into a bowl. A bit of teriyaki sauce splashed across it as seasoning, and with a final glance at his work, he dropped a fork in each and pushed through into Rosie’s room, leaving the others behind.

“Did you make me dinner?” she asked, looking up.

“Are you really looking at those again?” he grumbled.

“Yes,” she said bluntly. “You won’t, so one of us has to figure out a way to stop this from happening. I’m not interested in you doing this either, Kassian. It doesn’t cost me much to look through them.”

She pushed the envelope Director Burnatawiz had given him to the side, hiding its contents from him so he wouldn’t have to deal with them while he ate.

“Thanks, I guess,” he said haltingly. “I appreciate your concern.”

Rosie shrugged and gave him a sad smile. “It’s the least I can do. I said I wanted to help, this is helping.”

Handing her the bowl, the pair of them moved from the bed where she’d been stationed over to the little table near the door. Kassian wondered why there was such a difference in the rooms. The one they’d taken was almost twice the size of hers.

“This is delicious!” she exclaimed after hungrily wolfing a few bites down. “Thank you so much.”

It was his turn to smile. “You’re welcome. It’s pretty plain to be honest. I can do better. But this is what was available.”

Rosie shrugged. “Whatever you say, Chef K. I think this is some of the best food I’ve eaten in ages.”

His smile fell from his face.

“What?” she asked around another mouthful.

“Where did you come from that this is so good?”

Her face went still, and for a long moment he thought she was going to refuse to answer him. A few times she’d made mention that she hadn’t grown up in the nicest of places, but until then Kassian hadn’t actually heard her talk about her life. He wanted to know more about this mysterious woman. He couldn’t get his mind off her.

“Nowhere special,” she answered. “I grew up living with my dad in a not-so-great neighborhood. He did his best to raise me, but he had a hard time holding down jobs. We stayed with ‘friends’ a lot when I was younger. When I got older and could start to work, I did, but it was never enough to catch up. We ate a lot of canned food.” Her mouth twisted in distaste.

“I’m sorry.”

“Not your fault,” she said dismissively, taking another bite.

“Slow down,” he urged. “There’s plenty more. You’re going to give yourself the—”

Hiccups. Rosie put the fork down and raised a hand to her mouth, shaking her head as she looked at him.

“Don’t get mad at me,” he protested. “I was trying to warn you.”

The glare he earned for that statement didn’t have much heat to it. She hiccupped several more times, before seeming to get them under control. Still, she waited a while longer before taking the next break.

“Anyway,” she said. “This is fantastic cuisine.”

Kassian smiled. “I’m glad. Just wait until I have a barbecue and can do up some real food,” he boasted. Mentally he crossed off asking her what her favorite food was. All of a sudden that seemed rude to ask.

“Before you ask, since I can see the wheels turning,” she said, pre-empting him, “my mom was a shameless druggie who wanted nothing to do with me. I have no idea where she is, or if she’s even alive.”

“Oh. Um. Okay,” he said, stumbling over his words after the blunt answer.

“It’s just easier for me to throw it out there like that.”

He shrugged. “If you say so. I’m sorry.”

“Stop saying that. You had nothing to do with my life up until you stopped me from making a stupid mistake by signing up with the Institute.”

“Why did you do that, if I can be so bold as to ask?”

Rosie sat back in the chair, her eyes assuming a faraway look. “Why did I do that indeed.”

He could see her organizing her thoughts, so he stayed silent, his eyes riveted upon her.

“I’m thirty-one, Kassian. I know you shifters live older, but to us humans, while I’m not old by any stretch of the imagination, I am starting to get up there when it comes to something I hold dear.”

He frantically racked his brain, trying to figure out what that might be. What did humans do, that she hadn’t done yet, but wanted to? That got harder to do as she got older?

“Kids,” she supplied when he didn’t answer. “I wanted a child. I want a child. But not just to have one. I want a baby that I can provide a better life for. Which is why I haven’t had one up until now. I can’t even support myself, let alone another person. I’m not going to be selfish and bring a mouth into this world that I can’t provide for. I’ve been through that. It’s fucking hell, Kassian.”

He could only nod at the power behind her words. His upbringing hadn’t been anything like that, and he felt incredibly privileged all of a sudden. The world hadn’t been served up to him and his brothers, but it would certainly seem that way to Rosie after the life she’d had. He desperately wished even more that he could just tell her she was his mate, to welcome her into his arms, but more importantly, his family. She would be well provided for. Never again would she want for anything.

“The Institute promised me the ability to have a child, and to have that child provided for. Regular meals, shelter, schooling. They would also do the same for me. It was a dream come true, Kassian.”

“They weren’t telling the truth.”

“I know,” she said, a sudden spike of hatred coloring her words. It wasn’t directed at him, he knew, but at the liars who had conned her and so many other women into becoming part of their scheme. “Which is why I’m here. They need to be stopped, so that they can no longer prey on women like me, and any other woman out there they talk to.”

Kassian opened his mouth to reply, but before he could, Rosie shook her head. “We don’t need to go into more detail on that. We both know we’re in agreement on it, and any further discussion of it is just going to make one or both of us ticked off. So let’s just not bother discussing it anymore, shall we?”

All he could do was shrug. “Sure.”

“I have a question for you now.”

Kassian’s eyebrows rose a fraction of an inch. That was interesting. He’d expected to have to ask her the questions to show he was interested in her. But if she was already going to ask him a question, then maybe there was a bit more interest on her side than he’d thought. He allowed a smile to show briefly. “Okay, what do you want to know?”

“I’ve heard the term used several times now, but I don’t quite understand it.” Her face scrunched up. “I mean, I understand the word. I’ve just not really heard it used this way before. Not for people, at least.”

He was puzzled. Where was she going with this? What term usually was used for something other than people? That made no sense.

“You’re going to have to give me a little more detail than that,” he teased.

Her eyes rolled skyward. “I’m getting there. Just trying to build up the anticipation!”

They shared a laugh at that. Kassian found himself smiling ear to ear as he looked at her. She was perfect. Just perfect. Now if only he could convince her that fighting their connection wasn’t a good idea. But, he was smart enough to know that humans didn’t work that way. He’d have to give her time, let her come to the conclusion herself. Once she did, they could be mated and all would be well in the world. But until then, he would have to be patient.

“I’ve heard your brothers say it from time to time, generally about their women.”

Kassian felt his heart skip a beat. Was she referring to what he thought she was? Don’t jinx it. Just stay calm, don’t react. Forcing himself to stay relaxed, he urged Rosie to continue.

“So, they are all paired up, correct? Like Mila and Pierce are together, as are Madison and Kean?”

He nodded, fighting even harder to remain still, trying not to give away how tense he was all of a sudden. “Yes,” he said slowly.

“So, why do they use the term, um, ‘mates’?” she asked, confused. “Am I using that right?”

“Yes,” he said softly, doing his best not to tremble. “You are.”

“That’s an odd term.”

He shrugged. Okay, so she wasn’t asking him about the two of them. Just about mates in general. That was all right though. This way he could explain to her what it was, and in time hopefully she would come to realize the connection the pair of them shared.

“It’s a shifter term,” he explained.

“A shifter term?”

He nodded. “The first thing you need to remember, Rosie, is that although we look human, we’re not. The differences aren’t huge once you get past the obvious ones, like being much stronger, faster, healing quicker, etcetera.”

“And the whole part where you change into massive beasts,” she added.

“And that,” he agreed with a smile. “But there are some other differences. Ones that we don’t discuss all that much with humans. Unless necessary. One of them is the way we find someone.”

“Find someone?”

“A partner. A lover. A mate,” he said, growing more serious.

“So how is a mate different from, say, a husband?” Rosie asked, eyebrows furrowing slightly as she awaited his answer.

“It’s the same, but it’s also more,” he said. “A mate is the one person.”

“That sounds final,” Rosie remarked, sounding uncertain about the idea.

“It is,” he agreed. “But it’s not forced. When a shifter finds their mate, it’s undeniable. They are meant for each other, and they’ll stay with each other. There is a bond between the animal part of us and our mate.”

“Like an actual, tangible thing? I don’t understand how that’s any different than a human saying they found their soul mate. Sometimes those still don’t work out.”

Kassian nodded. “It’s a thing. On a deeper level. Between two shifters, they can sense it from their animals. They just know. After they acknowledge it—which can take time depending on the stubbornness of their human side—it is inevitable.”

Rosie nodded, starting to understand. “And what about between your brothers and their, ah, mates? They’re human, are they not?”

“They are. In that case, it’s a little more difficult. The human isn’t going to understand what’s happening. It occurs so fast by your standards, that sometimes it causes fear and misunderstanding.”

“What do you mean fast?” She was leaning forward now, and he wondered if she was starting to understand what was going on between the two of them.

“Days. Maybe a week or two. Not long at all. But before you know it, you’re head over heels for your mate, and it’s pointless to resist it any longer.”

“Oh,” Rosie said in a very small-sounding voice.

Kassian wondered if she’d just realized that that was the path their relationship was taking. He could feel his bear calling to him, telling him to move closer to her. Just put his hands on her shoulders, she would like that. Then he could rub them up and down her arms, help her relax some. Maybe lean in, kiss her neck as his hands slid up her ribs and round to cup her—Stop it. She’s not ready. Not yet. Take it slow, and don’t scare her off.

“Yeah.” He didn’t say any more.

“I’m not sure I fully understand,” she said at last, sitting back contemplatively.

“You will eventually,” he replied automatically.

Immediately Kassian began kicking himself over his choice of words.

“What?” Rosie gave him a hard look.

“It takes some time,” he said, scrambling to come up with an answer that wouldn’t reveal what he was already positive about. “It’s just a new concept.”

“Oh.”

She only looked partially calmed by his response. Kassian knew he would have to tread very carefully. At least until things between them grew a little clearer. He desperately wanted to do that now. To blurt out that she was his mate, and to take her up into his arms. But knowing what he did about Rosie and her life to this point, he knew that would be the wrong thing to do. She was used to being hurt, used, lied to. Until she was ready to accept him, any mentions by him of things like that were all too likely to send her fleeing.

“And how exactly am I going to understand it later?” she asked, standing up from the table.

He watched her move halfway between the table and the back of the room before stopping, her back turned to him.

“You’ll think it over, it’ll come to make sense. You’re a smart woman,” he said, his voice dropping several levels as the tension in the air thickened. Did she know? Could she have guessed at what he meant?

“Are you sure that’s all?” she pushed, spinning slowly around on the spot until she was facing him again.

Kassian rose slowly from his seat until he towered over her, even with the ten feet in between them. He fought down the urge to take two long strides across the distance, pick her up, and sit her on the dresser before lowering his mouth to hers. He was desperate to feel her kiss, to know her touch. It made his blood boil and run like molten steel.

“Yes,” he told her, trying resolutely not to go down that road, even as the pull inside of him strengthened his desire to speak out.

“I think you’re lying,” she said quietly, her eyes lifting to meet his.

Kassian’s eyelids flared open at the depth of her claim. She didn’t believe he was lying. She knew it. Knew it fully.

“Rosie,” he began, but faltered as something coalesced in her eyes. A warning, he realized, a warning not to lie to her anymore.

“Are you sure you want to hear this?” he asked, taking a small step closer to her.

There was a pause as she looked at his feet, then back up at him.

“Yes,” she replied, taking her own little step toward him. Her voice was thick and taut, and he could see her shaking slightly, nerves overwhelming her.

“I believe that I have found my mate,” he said heavily, leaving that sentence hanging in the air.

Step.

“You have?” Rosie echoed, shuffling slightly forward. “Who is she?”

He stared at her, making it evident in all but word. “The most beautiful woman I have ever seen.”

Rosie’s tanned cheeks blushed, but to her credit, she wasn’t going down without making sure. “So what, all of this?” she said, gesturing at the room, then the remnants of dinner, and finally the hole in the wall behind them. “All of that was just to make a move on me?”

“And to keep you safe.” He didn’t deny it.

“So you think it’s just going to happen like that?” she asked, crossing her arms, some of her subdued fiery personality reasserting itself. “Just tell me that I’m your mate, and think I’ll run into your arms? Is that it?”

Kassian shook his head. “No,” he said calmly, his voice still low. “I don’t think you’re going to run into my arms. But don’t pretend like you haven’t been flirting back, that you didn’t know what this”—he pointed at dinner—“was all about.”

Rosie fell silent, looking anywhere but at him. He saw her chest rising and falling slightly faster than normal. She was well aware then, of what was going on.

“Exactly,” he said into the silence.

Step.

They were a mere two feet apart by this point. Rosie was looking up at him, trepidation evident in her every move, every darting glance from her dilated pupils.

“That’s not fair,” she whispered.

“What’s not?” He closed the distance by half.

“You’re using your body against me,” she argued weakly, a hand tentatively raising in the distance between them, as if trying to push him away.

“I’m not doing anything,” he whispered. “Yet.”

“Kassian, I—”

Her words died as he leaned down and brushed his lips against hers. It was a slight contact. A soft, glancing thing. But she didn’t pull away. The hand that had been between them was now pressed firmly into his chest, and it wasn’t pushing, but instead it had become a slow caress.

He leaned forward to kiss her again, intending to do a more vigorous job this time.