Bear Protector - Bella Love-Wins Page 0,67

but Reena’s findings were promising.

After some time, the monsters stopped coming ashore, and the shifters in the water gave the all clear signal. Their first destroyer attack of this winter was over. The roughly two dozen destroyers that had managed to reach the shore were dead. None had made it to the outer walls, let alone climbed into the village. For the first time in nine years, there were no human or shifter casualties.

“How many will we leave to patrol the west?” Liam asked.

“There is still the task of securing the rest of the region and re-doing the spells on the outer walls.” Xander considered the best way forward for a moment. “Split them into five teams, including the members of the Nauru who are willing to accompany each group. Reena may want to return to the fortress to produce more of the powder. One platoon will go back to the central village with me. She can come along if she likes. Station one group here, and the other three can fan out across the region, starting at the priority areas.”

“Sounds like a plan. Today almost felt too easy,” Liam muttered, still staring out at the water.

Xander shifted back to his human form and looked for the spare clothes he received when he arrived earlier. “Don’t go getting overly confident,” he told Liam as he got dressed. “There are thousands upon thousands of those monsters out there, and they learn quickly. Always be ready. I will return to the fortress and help the Council get back on its feet. Once I know for sure that Minassus is no longer a threat, we can meet and develop a rotation of soldiers so everyone can get back to a base that is closer to their families. All in good time.”

“Sounds good to me, boss.” Liam nodded thoughtfully, and rubbed his scruffy beard. “I wouldn’t mind putting in a request to be closer to the fortress, or wherever the feisty little botanist witch ends up.”

“That’s completely up to you. Just keep your pillow talk to your damn self,” Xander joked, heading back toward base camp outside the walls of the village.

23

Kiera

Three Weeks Later.

Kiera finally had Xander back again, inside the fortress and alone in her bedroom. She had hardly closed her door and he was on her. Her eyes fluttered closed as Xander’s low bass growl permeated into her bones. Was it her imagination or did his voice grow even deeper? His rough, hot fingers traveled down her neck, stopping for brief seconds around her throat as his heavy palm rested on her collarbone.

“You want me to live here? With you?” he asked, still contemplating her earlier invitation.

“Well yes. In time, perhaps.”

“I’m not too sure about that. Do you remember what’s down in the dungeon?”

“What and who,” she reminded him.

“Right. Minassus.” Xander grinned. “How is he doing down there with front row tickets to his three destroyer bunkmates?”

“He is not a happy ex-Chancellor, that is for sure.”

“Someone needs to remind him that he’s safer down there than with some of my soldiers.”

“Like Liam?”

“Exactly.”

Kiera tried to steer the conversation back to the idea of living in the fortress. “Really Xander, we would do well here. Plus your mother loves it,” she added, giving him a wink. “And someone has to live in the fortress.”

“True, but I believe the Council can decide. We can open this place up for all, the way it was before. Plus…” he smiled. “My mother and me under one roof? Uh-uh.”

“But she’s so kind to me.”

“Mom is awesome, and I am happy that you enjoy spending time with her, Kiera, but…no. Just no. Besides, I’m not sure I could live here.”

“Why not?”

He wrapped his arms around her waist. “I want you all to myself, pretty little witch. Trust me, you would want it that way too.” The last four words were not quite out of his mouth when he picked her up, carrying her to her bed. “Admit it.”

“Perhaps,” she breathed out in a whisper.

Xander smiled. He bent forward, sprawling them both out on her bed with all his weight pressed between her legs. He teased that spot near her collarbone again, anchoring his fingers in the roots of her hair as he pulled her head to the side. With better access to her tender flesh, he blew a heated breath against her skin, and her core tightened. She whimpered, relishing the wave of goosebumps along her back. Taking hold of his muscular biceps, she did her best to hang