Bear Protector - Bella Love-Wins Page 0,6

Coco, and Xander would be inside. A single table was sure to be placed at the center of the space, behind the closed inner doors. For reasons Kiera still did not comprehend, the Chancellor had advised that privacy and confidentiality were critical today, so no one else was invited. After they had arrived, Kiera took a breath to steady her nerves. Worst case scenario, she had a few spells she could use if anything happened, and Coco was even more resourceful, but hoped she could avoid any conflict.

Swallowing the lump in her throat, Kiera stepped inside, followed by Coco. Xander was already waiting. He was early. Probably to size her up. Or maybe his discipline as a leader led him to be prompt. She drew closer, pausing briefly at the end of the long table. It was set with two chairs on one end, and one where Xander was sitting. He got to his feet and nodded at them. As he did, the light coming in from the high windows connecting the wall to the dome helped her get a good look at him.

He was tall—huge, really. He had long, jet-black hair which nearly reached his muscular shoulders. His striking sky-blue eyes pierced into her despite their cool hue. All the men possessing the 236-k gene had that same characteristic build, as well as the hair and eye colors. She took another few seconds to assess his body language, but honestly, was caught up in his appearance more than anything. He wore a simple white linen shirt, thick gray wool sweater, and black pants. Nothing fancy, yet his clothes clung to every contour of his body. The chiseled jaw, muscular frame, powerful profile, and his strength and confidence made such a strong impression on her that she could barely look away.

“Good day, Commander Oslo,” Kiera finally managed when Coco cleared her throat behind her. She stepped forward with her right arm extended to greet him.

“If you say so,” Xander replied coldly.

“I beg your pardon?”

“You said good day. I beg to differ, but such is the plight of our kind. Please, sit. I have a full schedule today.” He refused her handshake, and instead, motioned at the other end of the table. Then, as quickly as he had shunned Kiera, his icy gaze turned to Coco.

“Wait,” he said, narrowing his eyes as he gave her a sideways glance. “Why the hell are you here?”

Coco stepped forward. “That’s no way to address a familiar, young man. And might I add, the meeting has not yet begun, and you’ve already been unacceptably rude to the Chosen, the one witch that you need to put your trust in before this year’s first winter storm.”

“Trust a witch? That will never happen. So, you’re her familiar?”

“I am.”

“Your being part-shapeshifter will earn you no favors with me.” He shook his head. “As far as I’m concerned, your kind is part-shifter, part-witch, part-immortal, and all traitor.”

Coco glared at him, ready to pounce. “Watch that acid tongue, young man, before I remove it from your mouth with a single utterance,” she threatened.

“This is the reason I will not sit at the table of a familiar.” He took in two short breaths as though sniffing the air. “Look around. Your sorcery fills the air in this entire room.”

Coco crossed the space between them and Xander, and stood inches away from him, grimacing. “And how would you know that?”

He held his ground. “I can feel it. I can smell it, and it reeks of wickedness. How old are you, immortal shifter witch?”

“Did your parents never teach you that asking a lady her age is impolite and distasteful?”

“You are no lady, witch. Tell me your age,” Xander demanded. “I would bet you were around before the first destroyer attacked the city of Chicago.”

Trying to regain control, Kiera stepped up to them and placed a hand on each of their shoulders to pull them apart. The moment she did, an energy flowed from him and hit her body like a jolt of electricity, causing her to jump backward so far that she almost lost her balance.

Seeming only slightly surprised by Kiera’s reaction, Commander Oslo smiled stiffly. “Let the Chancellor know I will not participate in any meeting where your familiar is in attendance. I have no issue with you, but she fills this room with an ancient evil.”

Pivoting around on one heel, he moved off toward the rear entrance.

“Wait!” Kiera called to him. “Please, Commander Oslo. We should take this opportunity to speak