Page 26 of Big Top Bear Raid
Well, other than the scars on his back, easily seen through his fur, just like Zion’s own bear, and to varying degrees with every other bear in their sleuth.
“If you want to stay here and talk to Acadia, I’ll go check out the zebras.”Wraith squeezed Zion’s shoulder, offering comfort.“See if any of them are shifters, too.”
Nodding, Zion agreed, unable to tear himself away from Acadia, just yet.
Wraith leaned close and pecked a kiss to his jaw.“Keep your wits about you, my mate.”Then he turned and began moving toward another animal trailer.
“That’s Wraith,” Zion stated, turning back to face Acadia.“He’s my mate.”With a warm smile as he glanced at where Wraith was disappearing around the side of a trailer, he added, “We just met a few days ago.I’m so damn blessed.”Zion refocused on Acadia, pleased to see his eyes clear and his focus on him, telling him that his cousin listened attentively.“I missed you, cuz,” he whispered.“So much has changed.”Grimacing, Zion added, “There’s so much to share.The people we lost.The people we’ve met.Our mates.”Seeing the way Acadia’s bear tilted its head just a little, expressing his interest, Zion huffed softly.“We’ll explain everything over a beer, a brat, and a campfire.”
Acadia let out a quiet rumble, and Zion imagined that he was telling him that he was looking forward to that.
With a smile and a nod, Zion told him, “I’ll just share the highlights right now, because I imagine we don’t have much time.We—”
“You’re only half right.”A deep voice Zion vaguely recognized reached him.“Because you don’t haveanytime.”Lawrance Walker strode around the corner of the trailer with Ringmaster Goldsteen following, as well as a heavy-set blond Zion didn’t recognize and the brown-haired man he’d seen earlier.“So, you got away from the witches.”Lawrance smirked as he eyed Zion with a sort of feral delight.“I’m impressed, and I can’t wait for you to tell me where others of your bespelled sleuth are.I’d love to expand my bear show.”
Pulling out a pouch, Lawrance began to speak in a language Zion didn’t recognize, but the tingles working along his skin told him the warlock was casting a spell.He clenched his jaw as he watched the guy use his thumb and index finger, dipping them into the pouch.He pulled out a pinch of something pale green and blew it from his fingers toward him.
Then Lawrance stated, “Kneel, bear shifter.”
For an instant, Zion felt a compulsion to obey the warlock’s command.It quickly dissipated, washing over his mind and slipping away.Zion likened it a bit to water running off his hair when he exited the shower.
Knowing that Lawrance expected to be obeyed, Zion quickly sorted through his options.It was best to have Lawrance and his cronies’ attention focused on him.Zion sure didn’t want his mate to be discovered.
Besides, while his bear growled in his mind, hating the idea of submitting to this man, kneeling wasn’t that big of a deal.He clenched his jaw, pretending he was fighting against Lawrance’s order.Slowly, he began to kneel.
When Acadia growled softly, clearly displeased, Lawrance snapped at him, “Shut up, bear.”
Acadia obeyed almost immediately.
Zion took advantage of the group’s slight distraction to wink conspiratorially at his cousin.Seeing Acadia tilt his head just a smidge, he did it again.After that, Zion refocused on Lawrance just in time to see him return his attention to him.
A smug smile curved Lawrance’s harsh features.“Excellent,” he rumbled.“Now, bear, tell me your name.”
After clenching his jaw once, twice, Zion told him, “Zion.”
“Well, Zion.”Lawrance grinned broadly.“No one will ever say your name again.”Then he laughed as if that was the funniest thing ever.
Zion barely resisted rolling his eyes.
Douche.
“How are we going to explain another bear?”the heavy-set blond asked.“It’s hard enough to keep permits for one.”
“Leave that to me, Steele,” Lawrance stated, waving his hand as if shooing away a pesky fly.He smiled at Kyle.“That’ll be a great training exercise for you, Kyle.”
As the dark-haired young male nodded, appearing eager, Zion realized that meant Kyle must be Lawrance’s apprentice.
So therearetwo.
Turning to face Goldsteen, Lawrance stated, “I’m going to need a secure space.Somewhere away from the others, so they don’t catch wind of the paranormal.”He arched a brow at the man.“Find a place to rent.A storage locker or out-of-the-way cabin.”Rubbing his hands together, Lawrance smiled sinisterly at Zion.“I sure hope you resist.It makes it so much more fun.”
“I’ll find something,” Goldsteen assured.With an excited grin, he stated, “A group bear show is going to bring in so much fucking money.No one’s doing them anymore.”He scoffed before muttering, “Damn animal rights activists.”
Then the ringmaster pulled out his phone and began doing something on it—searching for listings, perhaps.
Lawrance strolled toward Zion, sliding the pouch into some inner pocket of his jacket.“How many in your sleuth are left of those bespelled by the witches?”
Zion didn’t like the lazy way the warlock asked, as if he was just passing time as opposed to trying to force him to betray his sleuth-mates.Narrowing his eyes, he breathed deeply.While Zion knew Lawrance expected him to answer, and he felt the tingle telling him that the warlock’s compulsion spell was still in effect, he felt no desire or need to answer him.
