Diamond Dust

was a horde of wolves watching with great interest as the two of them pounded each other on the back. Justin had a close eye on the crowd, so Tyler concentrated on enjoying being reunited for the first time in ages.

When the affectionate greeting was over, he paused to examine Frank closer. The years of hard living in the remote north had left a mark, but his brother seemed happy enough. Far better than when he’d left his broken heart behind and retreated from the family. “You’ve put on a few pounds.”

“All in the last week, I swear.” Frank jerked his thumb over his shoulder. “These wolves? They cook up a damn good table.”

Tyler gestured toward their vehicle. “Climb in and we’ll hit the restaurant. You can tell me all about your hosts while I do my part to fatten you up.”

Frank settled opposite him, his honest face showing his curiosity. “You’re all spiffy dressed. I told you it was a casual place.”

“Can’t be helped, I’m afraid,” Tyler explained. “There are too many other delegates in town. I have to be on my best behavior at all times.”

Frank made a rude noise. “Politics.”

Tyler smiled. “Trust me, there are times I agree with you one hundred percent, only this one is important. It’s not just people acting bigger than their britches, which is what I think you called politics when you were young. It’s conclave, Frank. If I don’t take it seriously, our people could get hurt.”

His brother stopped playing with the automatic windows, returning his focus onto Tyler. “I hear you. Which is why I decided I should come after all.”

Tyler had wondered about Frank’s presence in town. “When I didn’t see you in Dawson City, I figured you were too far into the bush to make it. Or tangled up with the strange illness that swept the north. I’m glad you’re okay.”

“Me too.” Frank widened his smile, relaxing back in the seat. “I’m here to enjoy the good parts while you get to do the hard labour. Sounds like a wonderful distribution of work.”

Tyler laughed. “We each have talents. Use them as necessary.”

Frank nodded. “Speaking of talents, I’ve been thinking. This whole brouhaha— formal, you say?”

“Very.”

“You need a bit of help.” Frank leaned forward. “You need to know how to read these people, and who to impress, right?”

Diplomacy was what Tyler was good at, but he wasn’t about to boast to his brother. Maybe Frank wanted to assist in the mediations. If he behaved it could work to their advantage. Frank wasn’t the kind of bear anyone wanted to piss off unintentionally. Nearly seven feet of quick-tempered brute? Tyler and Justin were big, but Frank was in a class all his own.

“You want to join me?”

Frank brayed out a laugh. “Ha. Are you fucking kidding me? I’d have the peace talks down to wrestling and blood before the hour was out, and you know it. No, gentle massaging of egos and shit—not for me, big bro. Not anymore.”

If Frank wasn’t offering to help, Tyler was confused, but before he could get clarification, the ride was over. Justin pulled open the door and they crawled out, the Klondike Rib and Salmon Barbeque to their right. A long row of customers stood waiting to get in, the line wrapping around the corner and disappearing from sight.

“Come on, we have reservations.” Frank cleared a path by simply pacing forward.

Tyler eyed the restaurant as he excused himself to the patrons they were butting in front of. Frank had said the place was casual, but this was lower on the relaxed scale than he’d imagined. Two disproportional buildings were smooshed against each other. The larger one vaguely looked like a tent, as if the original Whitehorse-gold- rush settlers had slapped up four walls and raised canvas over the top to make themselves a shop.

They paused inside the doors as the front desk staff cheered at the sight of Frank. Even the servers weaving between the tables with full hands grinned and called out greetings.

“Your brother doesn’t give himself enough credit for knowing how to get along with people. He obviously has a way with them.” Justin stood at his back, speaking over Tyler’s shoulder as they waited for the spontaneous celebration to die down.

“He’s only been here for one week. I can’t imagine.”

Frank motioned them forward. Tyler nodded politely to the girl holding their menus, then followed his brother toward the end of the room.

The tables ran in long rows, communal style. Red and green gingham tablecloths covered their surfaces, plastic ones, from what he could tell at a glance. The couple already seated at the far end of the table were digging into their food, plastic baskets with fake newsprint as their plates.

Frank settled into his seat with a sigh of happiness. “I love this place.”

“They seem to love you.” Tyler accepted the menu from the server. “How often have you been here in the past week?”

His brother grinned. “Some of the pack brought me in for lunch the first day I was in town, and I’ve been back every day since. I’m working my way through the menu.”

No wonder the restaurant staff liked him. “Glad to hear you’re having a good time. What do you recommend?”

“All of it.” Frank nodded. “The ribs are fab, though.”

Justin had directed Tyler into a seat that was as protected as possible, yet still presented a good view of the room. The lineup outside was explained as he realized every seat was taken but for the empty space to his left.

Popular place. Not only with locals, but tourists. While it wasn’t always possible to spot a shifter from a distance, Tyler knew many of the bears who were in town for the next stage of conclave. He’d met them over the previous weeks in Dawson City, and at first glance, out of the hundred bodies occupying the main seating area, he’d guess fifty percent were bears.

There really was no getting away from it. They’d taken over the town.

Not all eyes staring his way were friendly, either. Supporters of his rivals glared. Those undecided which way to vote kept their expressions blank. The bear elected to the top would have enormous power for years, and even those without an agenda were rightly cautious about supporting some unknown.

A waiter shuffled down the narrow space between tables, filling water glasses and taking orders. Tyler was distracted by a rather venomous glare from a bear seated by the door.

“Justin. By the entrance at one o’clock. Remind me of the clan.”

His friend glanced over. “Radium. Bunch of hotheads. I don’t have proof, yet, but I have my suspicions they were involved in the kidnapping.”

That would make sense. Definitely a group to keep an eye on.

Tyler twisted to give his order to the waiter. “Now That’s a Rack.”

He was horrified to discover that instead of the young man who’d just stepped behind him, he ended up speaking to a familiar-looking blonde.

Caroline Bradley raised a brow. “You have a thing for my breasts, don’t you?”

He surged to his feet, his chair tipping into the person behind him. “I’m sorry, I thought you were the waiter.”

Her smirk widened. “Okay, then. I’ll make sure Anthony knows, but he’s already got a boyfriend.”

Tyler scrambled to dig himself out without looking more of a fool. “No, it’s not like that. There’s an item on the menu called Now That’s a Rack. It looks delicious.”

Her upper body, including her delicious rack, shook as she laughed. “I know, I’m just teasing. You have wonderful timing.” She leaned in front of him and gave Frank her hand. “Good to see you again.”

Tyler forced himself to remain in one spot and not accidentally lean into her. His attempt was made more difficult as Frank, ever the diplomat, tugged until Caroline was forced to move forward. Her torso rubbed his, every inch pressed to him for a second until she was yanked into Frank’s arms for a hug.

Across the table, Justin was looking far too pleased.

“Shut up.” Tyler mouthed the words, but that only made Justin grin harder.