Duke snorted, shaking his head as he stepped over his teammate on his way to Rurik’s desk. “If you want something done right, don’t send a cat.”
“I wouldn’t do that if I were—”
Boomer’s words died as Duke was launched backward as well. The wolf-shifter landed on Boomer, making the man grunt again. “Off! You’re heavy.”
Duke moved off Boomer and lay flat on his back. “Son-of-a… Ouch. Kid packs a punch. I think we’re gonna need to tranq her.”
Rurik’s bear side nearly overtook him at the mention of tranquilizing the little one. His shoulders heaved as he took deep breaths, trying to keep his beast at bay. A tingling sensation began in his back, indicating a pending, uncontrolled shift was about to occur. “No!”
Duke and Rurik both looked over at him, with dual confused expressions.
“Uh, you all right?” asked Boomer, still on his side, still rubbing his chest.
“No one is sedating her in any manner,” Rurik said through clenched teeth, only barely managing to maintain control of his beast. “Try, and I will kill you.”
Boomer lifted a dark brow. “Taking the suggestion that we tranq her a little personal, don’t you think?”
“He’s Russian,” said Duke, rubbing his chest as well. “They take everything personally.”
It was then Rurik noticed the tablecloth lifting ever so slightly. Chocolate-brown eyes peeked out from under it, wide with what he first assumed was fear, but then realized was curiosity. The sight of those eyes instantly calmed his bear side, causing it to retreat slightly. It was curious.
While the bear wanted a better look, and Rurik wanted to be sure the child was well, approaching her hadn’t worked out for the other two men. Rurik decided to go a different route. He sat down on the floor, where he was, allowing distance to remain between them. He locked gazes with her.
She blinked several times, never taking her gaze from him.
He schooled his face, trying to avoid smiling. He’d come this far and not scared her, no sense doing it now. “I will not hurt you.”
One small hand inched out slowly as the child attempted to grab the discarded bear.
Duke pushed to his feet with a loud groan that left the child pulling her arm back fast. The large male grunted as he stared at the desk. “Have I mentioned that I hate kids?”
Boomer was the next to stand. “She’s scared, man. Can you blame her? For all she knows, we’re like the people who hurt her.”
Duke sighed but inclined his head, rubbing his chest more. “She’s got a hell of a magikal right hook.”
Gram came hurrying into the bullpen. “Two of the wee ones in my group are crying for their missing friend and another is having a temper tantrum that the focus isnae on her. The worried ones are claiming the lass is this way. One of them has threatened to do me bodily harm should I nae find her. Funny enough, I believe she’ll give it her best effort. I’m pretty sure the area around her was getting hotter the longer I stood there. Also thought I sensed a bit of Fae on her. The other one won’t stop crying. Has anyone seen a li’l one?” He stopped quickly. “Hold on, is that Fae magik I smell?”
“Yes,” said Duke and Boomer.
Rurik remained seated and lifted a hand to stop Gram from getting too close. He brought a finger to his lips, indicating the need for silence. He then glanced at his desk.
“Don’t go near it,” said Duke to Gram. “It’s not friendly.”
“Och, ’tis just a child,” returned the Scotsman. “What harm can she possibly do?”
Gram went right for Rurik’s desk from the other side. Within seconds, he was lying on the floor where Boomer and Duke had been only minutes prior, rubbing his chest as well.
“She’s consistent,” said Boomer. “I’ll give her that.”
Duke stared down at Gram. “What was that you were saying about her not possibly being able to do much harm?”
Rurik stayed where he was and noticed the little girl peeking out from under the tablecloth once more at him before trying again to reach the stuffed bear.
“You want that?” he asked.
Her hand froze, but she didn’t pull it under the desk again.
“I can get it for you,” he said, doing his best to speak in a lighter tone to avoid making her cry, as he’d done to the other children.
Gram stood. “Rurik, maybe yer nae the best person for the job. Yer nae exactly warm and fuzzy.”
Boomer tipped his head. “Well, he is what she’s reaching for—if you catch my drift. Shocked she wants anything to do with a bear, stuffed or not, if what Blaise heard was true—that a bear-shifter is who harmed her.”
Duke lifted a hand, stopping Gram from protesting more. “So far, he’s the only one she’s not knocked on his backside with magik. I say we wait until after she hands Boris there his backside before we intervene.”
Gram rolled his eyes.
The little girl’s hand remained out, and she turned it, lifting a finger and pointing directly at Rurik. She then hooked her finger, making a come-hither motion.
Duke snorted. “Do it. Get closer. I want to see her tear down the Iron Curtain.”
Rurik stood with slow, deliberate movements, hoping to avoid scaring the child more. The closer he got to her, the more the smell of cinnamon filled the space. The temperature actually seemed to increase, and he hoped that was a good sign. He walked to his desk, expecting to be hit with Fae power. When none came, he crouched and paid close attention to her hand. So far, it was still out.
She went from beckoning him closer to pointing to the bear.
He chuckled slightly. “You want it, yes?”
She gave him a thumbs-up, and the ice that seemed to enclose his heart at all times began to thaw.
He nudged the bear, easing it closer to her.
She snatched hold of it and pulled it under the desk.
Rurik’s hand remained
