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replied.

    57
    Amber Kell

    Chapter Four

    e found him wandering outside.” Two of
    “W Rohan’s vampire guards led in an
    unannounced visitor. Rohan found himself under
    examination by a handsome human man in his
    early forties who resembled Harris’ friend Carey
    too much for it to be a coincidence.
    He froze at the chill in the human’s expression.
    Rohan had met ancient vampires who couldn’t
    project the amount of coldness the human before
    him did with his icy blue eyes.
    Vampires surrounding him didn’t appear to
    intimidate the human. Rohan didn’t sense even a
    smidgen of unease. A pool of calm emitted from
    the man similar to Harris’ zen-like peace, as if he
    had no concerns about being able to handle the
    situation. From what he’d heard, Rohan knew this
    could only be one person.
    “You must be Aden Gale, Carey’s father,”
    Rohan said. He knew he had to proceed with
    caution, even though the human was the
    58
    To Bite a Bear

    trespasser. Harris considered Aden a father figure,
    and he respected the human’s opinion. Rohan’s
    usual approach of tossing out anyone who
    annoyed him wouldn’t work in this case.
    “And you’re Rohan,” Aden replied. “Could we
    talk privately for a moment?”
    Rohan nodded. “Please, leave us,” he told the
    guards.
    “Your highness,” protested Madeleine. “How
    do you know we can trust him?”
    Rohan raised an eyebrow at her. “You think I
    can’t handle one human?”
    “No, sire, sorry. Let me know if you need
    anything,” Madeleine said.
    “I will. Go see if Harris needs a snack.” His
    artist often became famished while working on his
    mural.
    “Yes, sire,” Madeleine bowed and vanished out
    the door with the other guards.
    “You should let Harris prepare stuff himself.
    He enjoys cooking. It helps his creative process,”
    Aden offered his advice.
    “Thank you for the tip,” Rohan said, reluctantly
    appreciative. He certainly needed all the help he
    could get in making a positive environment for his
    bear shifter. He’d never had to create a home for
    someone before, and he doubted he was up to the
    challenge. “What can I do for you?”
    59
    Amber Kell

    “You can make sure I don’t have to kill you and
    upset Harris,” Aden said as if he were answering a
    question about the weather.
    Rohan tensed. Apparently, the stories he’d
    heard about Aden weren’t exaggerated. “You
    walked in here to threaten me?” He let his voice
    turn deep and reveal his annoyance.
    “I did ask you to dismiss your people first so
    you wouldn’t feel compelled to embarrass
    yourself by trying to kill me,” Aden offered as if
    he had genuinely done Rohan a favor.
    Laughter bubbled up in Rohan’s chest. “What
    would you know about killing a vampire?”
    “Quite a bit actually,” Aden replied with
    frightening calm. “I’ve had to take a few out in my
    time. I admit I’m getting a little slower with age
    and it might take me more than the ten minutes it
    used to, but I still know how to shoot an iron
    arrow true.”
    Rohan froze. It was a well-guarded secret that
    iron killed vampires faster than any other metals.
    The knowledge in the hands of a hard-core fighter
    didn’t ease Rohan’s anxiety at all. “How did you
    learn that?”
    Aden’s feral grin didn’t reassure Rohan. “Let’s
    just say I’ve had to deal with a few in my time.
    Harris really likes you. Don’t break his heart, or
    you won’t be alive to regret it.”
    60
    To Bite a Bear

    Before he could respond to the threat, Aden
    turned around and headed for the door. As he
    approached it, the door swung open and Harris
    wandered through.
    “Rohan, do you mind if I paint around the
    mantel, too?” Harris asked, his attention on the
    paper he was sketching on.
    “Harris, you can do whatever you’d like,”
    Rohan said, a smile curving his mouth. Whenever
    he saw his blood bonded, the bear shifter lifted his
    spirits.
    Harris glanced up and caught sight of the
    maniac.