Bear Meets Girl Read Online Free PDF Page B

male said, stepping into the room
within striking distance. Raina tried to conjure a ball of flame to throw at
him, but the chains around her hands hummed, enforcing some kind of magical
pressure on her that prevented the energy from getting out. “I’m the Chieftain of
the Black Moon Clan, and it’s my hospitality you’re enjoying tonight.” He
smiled, glancing down at her hands. “I wouldn’t push your luck on conjuring any
kind of spell,” he told her. “If you try to hard the chains will simply
backlash the energy into your own body, which has devastating effects, or so
I’m told.” He shrugged, leaning against the wall.
                Raina
narrowed her eyes as she studied him. Dressed in a white button-up shirt and
linen slacks, he presented a rather unassuming presence with his sandy brown
hair and lean frame, and she found it hard to believe he was a Chieftain of
anything, much less a bear clan. But as she looked into his pale blue eyes, she
felt a chill run down her spine, and instinct told her that here was a man full
of cold and ruthlessness who would not hesitate to mow down anyone in his way
to get what he wanted, even if it meant his friends.
                And
Raina was definitely not his friend.
                “The
Black Moon Clan?” she said carefully, racking her fuzzy brain to try and dredge
up the niggling memory the name evoked. Whatever funk they’d given her earlier
to knock her out had really done a number on her – she had a
lightning-fast memory that was practically photogenic and usually had no
trouble recalling anything. “Aren’t you that radical clan who hates mages of
any and all kinds?”
                It
was Garrison’s turn to narrow his eyes. “I don’t like the flippancy in your
tone,” he said, his eyes darkening.
                Raina
straightened her spine. “Yeah, well I don’t like being drugged and held against
my will, especially against radical groups who hate my kind, so you’ll have to
forgive me if I sound just a tad bit disrespectful.”
                Garrison
laughed. “I like your spunk,” he said, and he did sound genuinely appreciative.
“It’s too bad that you’re a mage, or we might have been friends in another
lifetime.”
                “I
doubt it.” Raina lifted her chin. “I happen to have a no-tolerance policy when
it comes to bigoted assholes like you.”
                Garrison’s
face reddened, and he punched Raina square in the jaw. The powerful blow sent her
reeling back, her head cracking against the concrete wall as she collapsed
against the bed. “You don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about,” he
growled, looming over her, and it suddenly struck Raina how tall he was. Fear
shortened her breath, more than the pain, as he glowered down at her, his eyes
glowing orange as his hands clenched and unclenched at his sides.  “For
you to call me a bigot, when your kind so mercilessly hunts and kills mine,
tells me that you are ridiculously ignorant of your own race.” He let out a
long breath, then, his eyes returning back to normal as he looked away. “I
guess that’s why I have to forgive you, then,” he said, stepping back. “It
makes me no better than any of you if I can’t find the wisdom to show mercy
when it’s warranted.”
                Oh,
why thank you, Raina wanted to say, but she knew sarcasm would only unleash
Garrison’s fury again, so she kept her comments to herself as she struggled up
into a sitting position, rubbing her sore jaw. “So did you come to welcome me
to your humble abode?” she asked, gesturing around the cell. “Or was there
something you wanted to tell me?”
                Garrison
cocked his head. “I came down to check on you, make sure the drugs hadn’t
completely screwed you up.” His lips pursed. “My men may have inadvertently
given you more than was