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He looked at her, and she didn’t see recognition in his gaze, but she trusted he knew who she was.
“I want to know how you two feel about me. I want to know if I wasn’t a Keith, and if my family had nothing to do with us, what would you do?”
Birk leaned toward her, and his breath warmed her ear. He whispered, “I would move heaven and earth to be with you forever.”
Tears sprang to her eyes and fell down her cheeks. She peered at Kotori, and at first, she thought he wouldn’t answer or that he didn’t understand her words.
“I love you.”
The three words stole her own rationality, and she knew what she had to do.
Chapter Twelve
Shiya took a tumble into the snow for the millionth time. She couldn’t believe she’d just taken off running like she did, with both sides on her tail. Birk and Kotori could shift and catch her, but she noticed they stayed behind the humans just enough to be out of sight. She had no doubt they were back there—or hell, ahead of her—somewhere. Several of her father’s men dogged her heels. When one caught her arm, she went down on purpose and took him with her. A punch to the throat or a knee to the groin got her free.
She had to keep moving. If she didn’t, Kotori would attack. She couldn’t let the death of another man be on her conscience, but she wasn’t willing to give up her lovers either.
She wasn’t fool enough to think she could run back to civilization, but if she could get enough distance between her and her father’s people, Birk would come and get her. Then she would ask him to take her somewhere she could execute the second part of her plan.
When her lungs burned and a stitch had started in her side, she began to think this whole situation was a bust. Her eyes blurred, and she blinked them several times to clear her vision. A shadow to her right and just ahead brought her to a stop, and she fought to hold her breath so she could hear something other than herself. The effort proved to be too much. She blew out a noisy breath and took a stance, her fists raised and legs planted firm, one leg forward so she could throw a kick.
In every direction, there was nothing, just trees and more trees. Out here, the snow was deeper, and even the boots didn’t keep her feet warm. She needed socks. No, she needed a warm fire, some cocoa, and a blanket.
A hand came down on her shoulder. She grabbed the wrist, flipped the hand off, and spun around to throw a punch. Kotori caught her fist in a huge palm, engulfing it with little effort. Curved dark nails touched her skin where he held her, but didn’t cut her. When he let go, she threw herself into his arms.
“Birk,” she mumbled against his chest.
“I’m here.”
She looked around and found her other lover. Just as she thought, they’d circled around and gotten ahead of her.
“You caused quite a stir back there,” Birk told her, amusement in his eyes.
“I had to do something.”
“Kotori and I could have taken care of it.”
She moved out of Kotori’s arms and put her hands on her hips. “Yeah, like leaving me. That was an unacceptable solution. Now, if you don’t mind, I’m freezing my ass off out here. Can you take me back to Juneau?”
Birk frowned. He scanned the distance past her and sniffed. “They’re close. Honey, I don’t think they’ll let you go so easily. Your dad may have already called ahead to have someone waiting at your suite. Maybe your sister and that other person.”
Shiya almost laughed at the disgust in his tone when referring to Joe. “Don’t worry. I’m not going back there, but I need civilization just for a short while. I need access to a computer, and then I’ll go anywhere we need to, to be safe—together.”
“You’re determined.”
“I’ve never been so sure. I think we Keiths have been blind for a long time, and there’s nothing I can do to make up for all the damage we’ve caused, all the pain and suffering. I threatened my brother with wiping out everything, but I don’t think he believed me. I’m hoping he didn’t, or that he’s been so distracted he didn’t call it in. Their network is about to disappear permanently.”
The trek to Birk’s car felt like it took forever with her being worn out. She resisted being carried, and Birk and Kotori shifted into their bear forms to stay warmer. They flanked her on both sides, small ears perked up on their heads to listen out for the enemy. By the time she climbed into the SUV, she didn’t feel like arguing against Birk’s suggestion that she curl up on the backseat. She slept all the way to town—or what she’d assumed would be Juneau but wasn’t.
She sat up and rubbed her eyes, yawning. The surroundings were still mountainous, full of trees and snow, but several buildings dotted the landscape, with plenty of space between them so one occupant wouldn’t feel like their neighbor crowded them. The cabins were all of the quality Birk’s and Kotori’s cabin had been when she spent several days with them alone. Behind the cabins, some ways off, was a body of water, and polar bears dotted the shoreline.
“Where are we?”
Her answer came when she spotted Kotori’s grandmother heading their way. So this was where his people lived when away from Juneau. She could never forget the old woman’s disapproving face, but this time, she didn’t appear so annoyed when she drew up to Shiya as she stepped from the vehicle.
“You’ve decided,” the old woman said.
Shiya raised her brows. “I’m sorry?”
