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Mason was shown what seemed to be a vast communication system. He had to wonder what he was getting himself into. The only thing he knew was that Colby’s explanation seemed to coincide with what he, Hayden, and Deke had been able to put together and offered Mason the best chance at keeping his twin safe.
He was introduced to several members of Colby’s staff, including his second-in-command, an elderly lynx-shifter who seemed to enjoy the respect not only of those within the clowder, but of Colby himself.
“The alpha says we are to teach you what you need to know,” said the wizened old man. “I understand the man you’ll be replacing from time to time is your twin brother.” Mason nodded. “First things first, then. You’ll need to learn how to block the link without his detecting you have done so.”
Time to go to work. He’d felled, replanted, and sorted out old-growth forests all over the world. It seemed it was time to go after the dead wood in shifter society. He’d made it clear to Colby he wasn’t an assassin. He would have no trouble killing someone in order to save himself or Carson, but if Colby was looking for a cold-blooded killer, he’d come to the wrong man. If that was the case, Mason would move to get his brother out of danger and then be done with the Shadow League, NLGP and all the rest of them.
That evening as he stood under the pelting water of the shower in the guestroom he’d been assigned, his fated mate made her presence known, and his cock reacted accordingly. He felt the same aura of danger surrounding her as he felt surrounding Carson. So maybe he’d save his fated mate and his twin brother. This was not the first time she had appeared to him. She often came when he was stressed or tired and on more than one occasion, his dreams of her were incredibly erotic and visceral.
He shook his head, trying to dispel his need for her. He wanted to either beat his head against the wall, turn the water to cold, or both. What he wasn’t going to do was stand here and stroke himself until his cock spat out a load of cum onto the shower floor. There had been a time if he needed a woman and one wasn’t available, he thought nothing of jerking off. The problem now was that it wasn’t just any woman he needed. He needed her—the woman in his waking dreams—and nothing he could do for himself lessened that need. The fact that he didn’t know her name or anything about her other than a vague memory from another lifetime of how she looked and that she was in danger only increased his need for her.
Lately he’d seen her in a snowy or icy environment; the more he thought about it, the more he thought she might be in Reykjavik—not now, but sometime in the future. The visions of her were often out of sequence and set somewhere in the past, present or future.
The first time she moaned his brother’s name, concluded that if she didn’t work for NLGP, she at least lived and worked in the area. He couldn’t—even in their dreams—tell her his real name or that Carson was his twin, but he couldn’t bear to hear her call him by his brother’s name.
Frustrated and worried, Mason finished his shower, stepped out into the warm bathroom, and dried off. As he headed into the bedroom, he didn’t bother with any of the sweats or pajamas Colby’s staff had supplied before rolling into bed. He laid on his back and stared at the coffered ceiling for the longest time, appreciating the craftsmanship that had gone into making it.
Something was wrong at NLGP—something that threatened his brother, and his fated mate as well. Something Mason meant to put right before it was all over.
CHAPTER 2
EMERY
International Scientific Summit
Reykjavik, Iceland
Two Years Ago
It was a small gathering as these things go, and she recognized some of the scientists, but many were completely unknown to her. For the topics that were on the schedule to be discussed, Dr. Emery Smoak would have expected a great many more well-known scientists to be in attendance. In fact, as she looked at the guest list she’d been given, the specialties listed seemed to be widely varied.
She meandered through those who had gathered for the opening festivities, acknowledging and speaking with those whose names she recognized and stopping to talk to those who wanted to engage with her. This was not the kind of thing she would normally attend, and in fact she had been surprised to get an invitation. The host was the Northern Lights Genome Project, which had an enormous facility just outside the city. For those who were interested, there would be a field trip and tour.
Emery recognized Kam Perkins as she made her way through the crowd, walking with purpose as if she had a specific person in mind she wished to speak to.
That person turned out to be Emery.
“Emery, I’m so glad to be able to finally meet you,” she said, taking hold of Emery’s upper arms and giving her the standard air kiss on both of her cheeks.
A bit taken aback and trying not to show it, Emery returned the greeting. “Dr. Perkins…”
“Kam, please. You don’t seem to have a drink. Let’s see what we can do about that.”
She linked her arm through Emery’s and guided them toward the open bar. It seemed as if everyone gave way to Kam. She was a power to be reckoned with. Her work in genetics was controversial and fascinating.
“What’ll you have?” asked the bartender.
“I’d like champagne,” answered Kam before both she and the bartender looked at Emery.
“I’ll have a glass of pinot noir if you have it.”
The bartender glanced at Kam. “Give her the 2015 Calera.” Kam turned to Emery. “If you like Pinot Noir, you’ll love this one. It’s my favorite.”
Emery knew enough about wine to know that Kam had just asked the bartender to serve her a very expensive glass of wine. She’d always wanted to try it but couldn’t justify the cost. Lifting the glass to her lips, Emery took a small sip. It was deliciously mature with enticing aromas, lovely flavor, and a long, complex finish. It was everything Emery had imagined it would be.
“This is amazing,” she sighed.
“Isn’t it? Have you gotten settled in your room?”
