Chapter 60

Hien, attached is an article about an engineering “miracle” in the Andes. I thought you’d find it of interest.

I’m reading through the text you sent in your last communiqué and have been making copious notes. The ethical implications of such use of natural resources are, of course, of paramount importance to me as a member of a changeling clan, but I can see the other side of the argument. I’ll write more on the subject once I’ve finished the book.

D.

—Letter from Déwei Nguyen to Hien Nguyen (14 November 1980)

“NOTHING MUCH,” YAKOV muttered in response to Theo’s demand for information, but if glum had a face, it was his at that instant. “Maybe a prophetic dream that’s been haunting me.” His shoulders slumped. “I didn’t want to tell you because it’s nasty stuff.”

“Of course. Being that I’m such a shrinking violet.”

Those dimples flashed at her sarcastic comment. It made absolute sense that her bear would find her irritation a source of delight. Lifting their clasped hands, he kissed her knuckles before releasing her so they could both finish their meals.

Then he told her his dream of blood and death.

Theo asked question after question, digging down into every facet of his nightmare. “The Moscow Ripper?” she said at last.

“Seems the most likely.” Yakov put down his coffee, his fingers bone white as he gripped the china of it. “What I can’t figure out is why the dream hasn’t changed despite all the security measures I’ve taken. I’ve initiated every possible countermeasure.”

“No, Yasha,” Theo murmured. “You didn’t tell me. Now you’ve done everything.”

Eyes flashing to amber, he froze for a second before releasing a stream of extremely creative expletives. “I disarmed you without meaning to. Yasha, you’re a fucking kretin and a mudak to boot! I should let Hakon throw me in a hole in the ice in the frozen north.”

Theo felt her lips curve. “You’re not so bad. You’re just a bear.”

Lowered eyebrows, a heavy brow. “And you’re learning how to tease me.”

Yes, she was, wasn’t she? Pleased by that, Theo said, “Let’s rectify the lack now that I know the risk that’s stalking me. Knowledge might not be enough. I need a weapon.”

“What are you trained in?”

“Everything. Pax made me learn.”

“I like him more with every word you say. Come on, there’s a weapons safe under the floor in the bedroom.”

And that was how Theo ended up with a sleek little stunner to tuck into her boot, a couple of tiny grenades that looked like pills but would cause minor injuries at close range, and a necklace of black beads that could be torn off and thrown on the ground to create an explosion of sparks.

“Meant to distract,” Yakov told her. “No real damage, but it’ll blind your opponent, gain you time.”

“Who is your armorer?” she asked, astonished at the creativity of the ideas.

“Taji—one of the other seconds,” he said. “I’ll introduce you. Oh, take this, too.” He handed her a narrow red case decorated in intricate gold.

“It looks like a vintage lighter.” The kind of object people collected. “But since I know that can’t be it . . .” She flicked the little tab on the side.

To find herself looking at a knife deadly and gleaming.

“Don’t touch the blade,” Yakov warned. “Thing’s honed enough to cut through bone. Taji was in a bloodthirsty mood when he made that.”

“Got it.” Using the same flick of the switch to retract the blade, she took her hoard and rose. “I’ll get dressed and secrete these on my body.”

“Yeah, we should head out.” Yakov looked out at the dawn-gray sky. “Weather’s forecast to pack it in this afternoon, so we should get as much daylight time at the site as we can.” He rose. “I’ll call Cissi, too, see how Janine’s doing.”

His bear lobbied to stay in the bedroom, watch Theo get naked.

The human side of him had difficulty disagreeing, but he knew that would put paid to their plans for a quick departure. So he grabbed what he needed and went to change in the lounge instead.

After doing so, he called Cissi.

“Nene’s good,” the carer told him. “Her usual cheerful self. We’re just discussing where we want to go today. I found a big indoor plant fair they both seem keen on.”

He’d just hung up from that conversation when Theo walked out of the bedroom. She was wearing blue jeans and a gray sweater that hugged her form, over which she’d thrown his jacket—though it was clearly now her jacket. His bear made happy humming sounds inside him.

Her hair was in a French braid, the strands pulled neatly away from her face.

A hot buzzing in his brain, a rain of snow.

“Yasha?” Theo strode over. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

Yakov touched trembling fingers to her sweater. “This is it.” It came out harsh. “The clothes you’re wearing in my dream, the way you’ve done your hair, this small snag in the wool of your sweater. Exactly this.”

No fear in Theo, only cool-eyed logic. “The necklace, too?”

Bear prowling restlessly inside his skin, he touched the glossy black beads. “No,” he said slowly, “the necklace wasn’t in it.”

“Then we’ve already changed the future.” A triumphant smile. “Now, let’s go live our today, and deal with the rest when it happens.” Grabbing the back of his neck, she tugged him down for a kiss. “Forewarned, armed, and definitely not easy prey.”

DESPITE the logic of Theo’s words, Yakov was still on edge when they reached the facility. But if Theo was safe anywhere, it was out here in this isolated location the vast majority of people couldn’t even access.

Once inside the lonely emptiness of the space, the wind a gentle howl through the trees and a faint drizzle of mist in the air, he parked by the main building. Leaves rustled across the parking area, the entire scene made even more desolate by the heavy skies that hung overhead. “Ready, pchelka moya?”

“Why do you call me that?” Theo’s curious voice was fierce and without fear as she stared at the building that had altered the course of her existence.

“Because you buzz with a furious energy, my Theo. My bear’s fur stands up around you.” He tapped her nose when she wrinkled it. “Bear likes your energy. So do I. I love who you are, my potent little ball of fire.”

A tug of her lips. “Bears.”

Chuckling, he opened his door as she opened hers.

Shielded against the evil of this place by the bond of love that was a crackling storm between them, all wild changeling energy and Theo’s contained fury, the two of them grabbed shovels, a sample collection kit, and a portable scanner that Stasya had dropped off this morning on her way to another meeting in the city.

“Boring city maintenance business,” she’d muttered, “but I have to go since I’m the only bear who doesn’t lose their mind and start suggesting multicolored tarmac or complimentary party busses in every neighborhood to liven things up.”

“I dunno,” Yakov had said, “I liked Zasha’s idea of streetlights shaped like teddy bears. Make the city more welcoming. Adorable.”

“And that”—a pointed finger—“is why none of you are in charge of repping StoneWater at the meetings. Anyway, I have to boost. Hope the scanner helps.”

Yakov trusted the equipment, but he also knew it wasn’t foolproof. Hence the shovels—for exploratory digging in order to get samples that could be run for evidence of decomposition as it related to the breakdown of human, Psy, or changeling remains. Yakov had a sick feeling that it might not come to that—any bodies were unlikely to be buried deep.

Took too much time to dig a deep hole, and given the number of patients Theo’s brother had guessed had been housed at the facility . . .

His blood was ice fueled by pure anger at the ugliness of it all.

Slinging the scanner over one shoulder by the attached strap, while Theo took the sample kit, he closed the vehicle’s trunk, then grabbed both shovels. And though the air was pervasive with the scent of old evil, he refused to surrender to it, refused to burrow into the past rather than live in today.

For himself. And for his Theo.

“You know, it’s funny,” he said. “I would’ve expected Stasya to mention Pasha’s mating. It’ll be the biggest news in the den today.”

“It was early when she dropped by.” A few fewer lines on Theo’s face at the remembrance of joy. “She might’ve missed it.”

“Maaaan, she’ll be majorly pissed off if she’s the last to know.” He took a quick glance at his phone after realizing he hadn’t checked it since his conversation with his grandmother. “Okay, this is just weird. No messages when the clan should be blowing up my phone. Half of them are in a betting pool about when the mating would happen.”

“Perhaps your alpha only informed your family?”

“No, mating’s a private matter. Valya wouldn’t share it with anyone except Silver; he’d wait for the couple to do the sharing. And you know, that’s another thing—my parents haven’t called, either.” He froze. “Oh. My. God.”

“What?”

“Babulya Quyen is Denu’s child.” His grandmother had never shared what she’d inherited from her Psy parent, but she clearly had a few tricks up her sleeve. “That’s why she called me! She knew I’d already know so she wouldn’t be spilling a secret.” Chuckling, he shook his head. “And she calls us mischief bears.”

Theo’s smile held impish delight. “She’s my favorite,” she whispered. “Other than you.”

Yakov leaned over to kiss her cheek. “Acceptable. My babushka is pretty cute.” Having reached the area Elbek and Moon had pinpointed, a desolate patch of grass with noticeable yellow patches and evidence of subsidence, he put down the shovels. “Ready?”

A reawakened grimness to her expression, Theo nodded. As the drizzle collected in glittering strands on the fine silk of her hair, she placed the sample kit next to the shovels, then stood silent watch over his bleak task.

“Nothing,” he said after completing the scan of the first depression.

No give in her expression, no end to the knots in his gut.

He felt no surprise when the scanner lit up on the second scan. A faint scent on the breeze tickled his brain as he showed Theo the glowing green outline. “Confirmation of buried organic material. No way to tell what at this resolution.” He’d been wrong about the depth of the burial. “Could be rubbish, could be a body.”

Theo stared at the outline. “We should call Enforcement. They can bring in the heavy-duty scanners,” she said as Yakov began to turn in the direction of the scent that was irritating his senses. “This has now gone far beyond my family. These patients deserve—Yasha!”

Theo thrust her body toward his even as she screamed.