Chapter 9 Dorian
After our conversation with Roman, my head spun all night with thoughts of Katarina and what her presence here might mean.
As much as I enjoyed thinking about her crazy hair and the way her scent sang to me like a siren song, I understood Roman’s concern when it came to Murielle’s conniving way she liked to take shots at us.
She never challenged us outright, but times were changing.
The Crescent Coven had been gaining strength this last decade, fostering relationships with both the supernaturals and the humans who helped run the city.
Murielle didn’t even try to hide the fact that she wanted Roman removed from power, yet she hadn’t managed to make any viable moves on him. Yet.
Was our Katarina her first play on the chess board?
Yes. Our Katarina. Despite Roman’s warning, I was feeling possessive.
My wolf had chosen her already, and there was nothing I could do to change his mind.
And why should I? Katarina was lonely and I could help alleviate that pain of hers.
She was still struggling with the death she believed she caused, and I could help show her that she didn’t have an enchanted vagina that murdered men.
I mean, she most definitely had a magical flower, and it was taking all my self-control not to sample it. But a killer? Nah. Not my Katarina.
Sleep avoided me last night, so the moment the sun came up, I started my preparations.
I decided that I would test out a theory this morning.
Kind of like the way Roman did last night.
Slipping the burner phone in my pocket and lifting the tray full of breakfast goodies, I quietly made my way out of the kitchen, up the stairs, and down the hall toward Katarina’s room.
Roman had been locking her doors and demanded we each do the same.
We hoped to learn some more information today, but I was making a decision that Katarina wouldn’t try to run.
It was just a hunch, but nonetheless, this would be the last time she’d be locked up like a prisoner.
Setting the tray on the floor, I used the old skeleton key and smiled when I finally got the lock to click. I was immediately met with growls on the other side of the double doors, and something about that made me happy.
“Grim, buddy,” I called out to the beast protecting Katarina’s space. “I brought food. For you both.”
I didn’t open the doors until I heard him back away. It was a respect thing – one canine to another. If I’d been lucky enough to sleep by Katarina’s side, I would be protective of her too.
“Grim, who is it?”
Katarina’s sleepy voice twisted something deep inside my heart the moment I heard it. Damn if I wasn’t totally obsessed. I’d been told that happened with us—a mate would literally change something inside the wolf once that bond was discovered. Is this what was happening? Had I really found my mate?
“Oh. Dorian,” she said with a smile as I walked inside and saw her sitting up in bed.
She quickly pulled the covers up to her chest and tried to smooth out her wild hair.
I couldn’t stop the smile growing on my face.
She was so beautiful. The way the sun bounced off her porcelain skin.
The way her eyes, those bright, green eyes, sparkled when she took note of the food in my hands.
And the way her cheeks blushed when I started walking closer. “What are you doing here so early?”
I motioned for her to sit back in the bed with a jerk of my chin.
“Settle in Kitty Cat. I have a whole spread for you.” Once she was in position, I gently placed the tray on her lap and put on my best French accent.
“We have smoked salmon, two hard-boiled eggs, bacon, sausage, sourdough toast with homemade jam, and a special morning drink in our best crystal glass.”
Katarina giggled. “Wow. Did you make all of this yourself?”
“Of course, Madame.”
“I’m impressed.” She grabbed a sausage link and tossed it to Grim. When I made a noise, she smiled up at me. “Making sure it’s not poisoned.”
“So, you fed it to Grim?”
She shrugged. “He wouldn’t eat it if it was bad.” Taking a swig of the mimosa with the freshly squeezed orange juice, I laughed when she shuddered. “Oh, that has a kick.”
“It’s how I like to make them.”
“They’re good.”
I walked around the bed, carefully avoiding Grim’s giant body lying on the floor and basking in the sun shining through the windows.
He grunted at me as I walked by, and I knew I’d been warned.
One wrong move and I would have to deal with him.
Jumping up on the foot of the bed, Katarina shrieked and grabbed the tray as I plopped down.
“Hey animal,” she laughed. “Watch the goods.”
“Oh, I’m watching them all right.”
Her cheeks flamed and I gave her a wink. “You are shameless,” she said as she took a bite of the salmon. “You want any?”
“Nah, I’m good.” I scooted my body to lie down next to her and watch her eat. If it bothered her, she didn’t give me any indication as she continued to sip her mimosa and butter the toast.
“So, Dorian,” she said between bites. “What’s your story?”
“I’m a werewolf.”
She knocked my arm out from underneath me where I’d propped up my head. “Are you really? Seriously, how do you and Roman know each other?”
“Oh, Kitty Cat, that is a long story.”
“You have until I’m finished eating to tell it. So, give me the elevator pitch.” When I looked at her with raised brows, she added, “The synopsis. In two lines or less.”
I grabbed a piece of bacon off her plate and dropped it into my mouth as she giggled.
“Two lines or less? Let’s see. My grandfather was a royal ass and Roman used me as a bargaining chip.
” With her cheeks puffed out with food, Katarina made a hand motion for me to continue.
“There was a turf war,” I added. “And it wasn’t going well for Roman or my family’s pack.
When Roman found out that I was a tracker and an alpha who would someday be his enemy, he made a deal with my grandfather.
Give me up and Roman would call a truce. ”
“And your family traded you for a peace deal?”
“They did.”
Katarina thought a moment before asking her next question. “How long ago was this?”
“Almost seventy years.”
“And it happened here? In New Orleans?”
“Yes.”
“So how old are you?”
I huffed a laugh. “Shifters have very long lives—”
“That’s not what I asked,” she said as she cut me off with a smirk.
“I am quickly approaching one hundred.”
“Jesus,” she said, immediately throwing her hand over her mouth. “I mean, that’s not what I meant. I’m just…I’m just surprised. You don’t look a day over twenty-five.”
This time, I was the one to let out a giant laugh. And it felt good. “Thank you, Kitty Cat.”
“Why do you call me that?”
Shrugging, I reached for another piece of bacon only to have her slap my hand away. “Because I like you,” I said.
She chuckled, but her cheeks flushed with color again. “You like me?”
“I do.”
With a shake of her head, she bit her lip in thought. “You shouldn’t like me.”
“Why not?”
“Because…I don’t know. Because I’m supposedly your prisoner and I don’t want to get Stockholm Syndrome.”
I reached into my pocket and set the skeleton key on the tray. “You are not our prisoner anymore.”
“Does Roman know you’re doing this?”
I pushed off the pillows so I could sit up and face her. Slowly lifting the tray off her lap, I set it to the side and settled down in front of her. “Roman doesn’t always get to make the rules.”
“So…he doesn’t know?” she asked with a wicked grin.
“Let’s not talk about Roman.”
Pausing again, she agreed to change the subject. “What did you mean when you said you were a tracker? What is that?”
“Exactly what it sounds like. I have a good nose and I’m very good at finding things.”
“Things or people?” she asked quietly.
“Both.”
“Hmm.” Katarina looked past my shoulder and out the window toward the grounds. The sun was just high enough now to illuminate the vast courtyard and several rays fell on her face, making her sparkle like a gem. A gem I wanted to covet.
“Kitty Cat,” I started. “I’d like to try something with you.”
Her face flushed and she swallowed loudly. “What?”
“Can I kiss you?” She wiggled in the sheets, and I did my best not to let out the growl brewing in my chest. Just the thought of touching her moist lips had my animal at full attention and my jeans tightening around my cock.
“Why?” she finally whispered.
“I want to try something.”
“Roman kissed me last night,” she suddenly blurted out.
“I know.”
“Oh. And you don’t care?”
“I care. But I still want to test a theory.”
“A theory?”
“A hunch. May I kiss you?”
She licked her lips and nodded her head and that was all the invitation I needed.
Crawling forward so my knees were on either side of her thighs, I reached out and pressed my hands against her face.
She lifted her chin and started to close her eyes as I got close.
My lips brushed up against hers, ever so gently at first. Tasting and sampling the woman who had consumed my thoughts all night.
I ran my tongue against her lips, asking for an invitation inside.
She complied and opened her mouth just wide enough to give me access.
Our tongues danced around each other several times before I felt it.
The pull of energy between us. No, my energy flowing into her.
And while it should have scared me, it felt wonderful—like I was feeding her and that satisfied my wolf more than anything else right now.
She moaned into my mouth as she deepened the kiss.
Her fingers wrapped in my hair and pulled my head even closer.
She tasted like cinnamon and champagne, and I was completely lost in her touch until she suddenly pulled away.
Pushing against my chest, she held me at arm’s length until she was able to wiggle out from under me and the sheets so she could jump off the bed.