Winter's Dawn (33 page)

Susie rolled her eyes. “Tell him I’ll be ready in fifteen minutes.”

Max went back to the door again, finding Adam with his head bowed, still praying. “Fifteen minutes. And Susie isn’t thrilled about her backyard being forbidden to her.”

“I will clear the space when we leave.” Adam turned back to Max again. “Don’t forget the offering from your hunt. That’s a sacred offering. It’s your first. That should help.”

“Sure, Adam.” Max closed his door and turned back Susie. “Can we convert to Christianity? It’s a much easier religion.”

“All religions have their place,” Susie said patiently as she reached out and held his hand in hers. “They serve the people they are supposed to, but you should probably apologize to the sun for even suggesting forsaking him. He guides you well. You’re a wise king who is well loved.”

Max smirked. “Thanks, Susie Bee.”

Chapter Nineteen

“Why is your cousin sleeping outside?” John looked out the kitchen window as he rubbed his forehead. He had been obviously miserable all day, but hadn’t complained about it. “In the snow?”

“It’s complicated.” Max also looked out the window to see the small tent Adam had purchased now set up in Susie’s backyard. “But I’ll probably have to join him. He’s a summer person. He really hates the cold. I feel bad.”

“He’s a real odd dog, Max. Odder than you.”

Max snorted. “Thanks, John.”

“You didn’t eat dinner,” John said in concern. “Are you still sick from last night?”

“You had to pay Adam and I fifteen hundred bucks,” Max reminded him, feeling guilty for a different reason than Adam sleeping in the snow. “You should want me to be sick as hell.”

“Max, you won that bet fair and square,” John reached out to punch his arm. “And you worked all day. That says something. I skipped all my classes. You’re a tougher dog than me.”

“You have no idea, John,” Max said and then laughed. “Why do you always call me a dog? I find that strange. I always have.”

John shrugged. “I dunno, fits you. When I think of my friend Max, I think, now there’s an odd dog. I thought you were the only one until I met your cousin out there.”

“Huh,” Max said in surprise. “You’re unique, John, you really are.”

“Are we all going to bed?” Susie asked as she came into the kitchen. “I am so drained. The end of the term is wearing me out.”

“I’m going to sleep outside with Adam,” Max told her, feeling remorseful once again when Susie’s face fell. “I’ve got to, Sue. You know he hates the cold.”

Susie nodded. “Then go.”

“If you change your mind”— John studied him, his blue eyes still deeply concerned — “you can share the guest bedroom with me. You don’t have to sleep on the couch like you did last night.”

“Yeah, thanks.” Max narrowed his eyes when he realized he was going to leave them alone together. It made no difference that they were alone together all the time when he was at the palace. So nearby, Max could actually kill John if he lost track of himself. “You know, John, I’ve got real keen hearing. Don’t think of messing with her while I’m around.”

“We’ll be good,” Susie said with a grin. “You have nothing to be worried about.”

“Hell, we’re always good, aren’t we, Sue?” John reached out and put his arm around Susie’s affectionately. “You wouldn’t believe how good if I told you.”

Max smirked. He met Susie’s gaze and tried to hold back the laughter when he thought about what she said the night before.

“I might, John. I really might,” he said and then laughed anyway. ”You two try to have good, clean fun without me.”

Susie laughed also as Max grabbed two bottles of whiskey out of the cabinet.

John winced. “I can’t believe you are even considering drinking. And you need a coat. You can’t go outside in just a t-shirt and jeans. You’re barefoot, for Christ’s sake.”

“I’ve played in the snow in less than this.” Max winked at Susie. “A lot less.”

Max left them in the kitchen, enjoying the feeling of the snow melting against his bare feet. He walked to Adam’s small tent and lifted the flap to find Adam curled up in wolf form looking miserable. Max held out the whiskey as a peace offering. “For your suffering.”

Adam changed forms, now wearing a thick, fur lined leather coat. His amber eyes glowed in the inky darkness, making him look more primal and wolf-like than usual in his human form.

“Good, you brought two.” Adam took one of the bottles. “One for me and one for the altar. The Gods will appreciate it.”

“Like hell.” Max snorted. “I’m drinking it. If I have to sleep out here with you instead of in bed with my queen I deserve a bottle of whiskey.”

Adam’s eyes softened. “You’re sleeping out here?”

“Yeah, move over.” Max crawled into the tent, which was way too small for his huge size. He settled cross-legged across from Adam on the heavy blankets. Even sitting, Max’s head nearly brushed the top of the tent. “Did you buy a small enough tent, Adam?’

“I would have just slept in the snow,” he admitted. “But, I hate it. The runnings are different. You have things to keep your mind busy and the wolf is always at the forefront. I don’t know how those wild werewolves survive living outside and being in wolf form most of the time.”

“They find dens, sleep in caves and such, depending on what sort of wolf they are,” Max said knowingly because he had been researching the problem of wild werewolves for years now. “You’d do fine if you had to. You’re stronger than most.”

Adam nodded as he opened the bottle and then took a long drink. “Other wolves don’t realize it, but I am strong. They think because I am smaller in build, I have no strength.”

Max studied Adam, whose features were still vivid in the darkness due to Max’s keen eyesight. With his dark auburn hair and freckles over the bridge of his nose, Adam’s skin was paler than usual because he was so cold. In the summer he usually got extremely tan. Adam was handsome, no one could deny it, but he was smaller than other males. He was literally dwarfed by Max. At five-ten, Adam stood beneath Max’s chin. His build was that of wiry strength, rather than sheer bulk like Max.

“I realize it.” Max smiled at him. “And you’re fast. Gods, but you’re fast. You are the fastest beta wolf I’ve ever seen. No wonder you’re such a brilliant rogue hunter. No one can catch you.”

“We should race sometime.” Adam took another drink that left his voice raspy as he said, “We’ll go game hunting and race in wolf form so your long legs won’t give you an unfair advantage. It’ll be fun.”

“I wouldn’t race you.” Max opened his own bottle. “You’re too vain for that.”

“I can lose gracefully,” Adam assured him and then smiled warmly. “For you, I could lose gracefully.”

“Then we’ll race.” Max took a drink. “Maybe while we’re staying with Susie. I found some woods not too far of a drive from here. There’s good game. You’d like it.”

“It must have good game. You did well. The Gods were kind to you and your offering was generous. And you got a moose, just like you said you would.”

“I did.” Max took another drink. “I usually accomplish what I set out to do.”

“A noble talent for a leader. You are a good king, Maxwell, better than any of us expected. You work hard and your people love you. I am proud to call you my cousin. I will be happy to know your sons and daughters one day.”

Max snorted. “You again with the puppies.”

“Danielle and I have decided to remain in the States.” Adam took another long drink. “We were going to go back home once you and Susan were both grown. We wanted to be near because we could have none of our own. We had to borrow Douglas’ puppies. Work was only an excuse. I can do my job at the Summer Palace just as easily, but here was where you and Susan were.”

“Wow.” Max frowned when he realized Adam had forgone living at the Summer Palace, an estate every bit as large and beautiful as the Winter Palace, just to be near them. He had always assumed Adam lived at the Winter Palace because Max’s father had asked him to and had lingered because he was set up there. Max’s frown deepened when a sad thought occurred to him. “Did you stay because we were king and queen or just because we were family?”

“King and queen made no difference,” Adam said and Max smelled no lie, making his heart swell in love for his cousin as Adam went on, “You were puppies and we wanted to be near to watch you grow up. I don’t love this country, but you and Susan were worth it. One day I will be able to give my Danielle puppies of her own. The Gods will bless us, Maxwell, you’ll see. I am good to them for her sake. She needs young ones to nurture.”

“I’d like to see that,” Max said, finding that his chest hurt over the thought of Danielle and Adam wanting puppies and not having any. He had never realized how close to home the inability for his people to produce offspring was. That was why Adam pestered him so often and Max instantly forgave him for it as he smiled. “You would be a good father.”

“Yes, I would,” Adam agreed. “But, until then we plan to just be here with you and Susan. I would like to meet your sons, to watch our other kings grow up into noble males as you have.”

Max stared at Adam thoughtfully, wondering what sort of puppies he and Susie could make together. “Maybe they would be beta wolves,” he mused hopefully. “Alphas have beta offspring. Your parents were born from a summer pair.”

“Your puppies will not be beta wolves.” Adam placed a hand on his chest as he stared ahead, his eyes glassy and unseeing for a moment as he spoke solemnly. “They will be alpha pairs, powerful pairs with good hearts. I feel it. I don’t know why, but it is something I know. You can fight it all you want, but you will have the spring and autumn pairs with Susan.”

“It is not the pairs I am fighting against, Adam,” he whispered softly. “Puppies are fine. I just don’t want to lose my mate to make them.”

“But, you can’t lose your mate.” Adam frowned at him. “You will always be together, either here or to walk with the Gods on a higher plane. What is there to fear from trying if the rewards are great? The Gods will do what is best. You need to have faith.”

“I have issues with faith,” Max admitted with a sigh. “If only I had your ability to believe, to know things will always be as they should, I would be a happy wolf.”

Adam nodded. “It does offer peace. You need to find your faith, Maxwell. Our people need puppies. We are miserable without them.”

“I will search for it while Susie finishes college.” Max turned to back to look at Adam, knowing his eyes were likely haunted. “And then we will likely become fully mated. Puppies may or may not follow.”

“She will go into heat before then,” Adam whispered, his amber eyes concerned. “Fighting against it will hurt you. I say that not out of selfish need for my own offspring, but out of concern for you and Susan.”

“Fighting nature in the past has proven painful and hard to endure,” Max admitted with a wince. “Very painful, worse than near death by silver.”

“You never told us this. How ill were you when fighting the call?”

Max looked up at Adam, haunted by the memories it. “Very ill. I would have killed myself to end it if I wasn’t tied to Susie. If you have sons, never let them attempt it. When the wolf wages a battle against the man, he will win and he lacks compassion.”

“That’s why the human.” Adam’s voice was sharp in sudden realization. “You don’t want your queen to fight her nature when she goes into heat.”

“Never,” Max hissed, his eyes growing wide in horror at the thought. “I would never put her through that. She could be with with dozens of humans and I would prefer that to her fighting a battle against the wolf in her.”

“Yes, but Maxwell, would she prefer that?”

“I don’t know.” Max shook his head and took another long drink of whiskey. “I really don’t know, Adam.”

Chapter Twenty