To Tempt A Tiger(63)

“Almost there, sweetie. Can you wait a few more minutes?” Vlad pulled into the parking lot, looking around, anticipating ambush. What he saw surprised him.

Alexis, backed by a dozen other tigers, was already waiting to greet them. She broke from the group as he climbed out of the rental car.

“Thought you might feel safer with an escort,” she said quietly. “Did you have a fun trip, Zoe?”

“Yay! We drove lots. Need a potty.”

Alexis chuckled. “Well, we’d better get you to one quick.” To Vlad and Rose, she said, “These are Trackers I trust. They’ll guard our backs. You’re safe now.”

Rose released a breath and her shoulders sagged for just a moment before she straightened again. Vlad couldn’t quite believe what he was seeing. He was the son of a known murderer, under suspicion himself for playing a part in Nila’s kidnapping. Yet Alexis had rallied support to keep his daughter safe.

“Thank you,” he said to her as he pulled their luggage out of the rental.

She waved it off.

Inside, the huge entry was brightly lit and outwardly welcoming. All the corridors in this part of the compound were lined with pale marble floors and white walls, the walls holding paintings and sculptures of nature scenes and tigers. The high ceilings gave the building an open, airy feeling that kept the average tiger shifter from feeling confined and squeezed. The designers of the building had intended for it to be imposing too, and from the awed look on Rose’s face, they’d succeeded.

Their group had barely cleared the main door when Alexis’ husband, Victor, joined them.

Alexis and Victor signed to each other for several moments, then Alexis said aloud, “Everything is in place. We’ll get you all to your rooms in the guest wing. After you’ve rested some, the elders have arranged a meeting. Zoe will have to attend that.” After a bit more signing with her husband, she said, “They’ve agreed to an open meeting so any tiger in the compound can attend.”

“Is that good or bad for us?” Rose asked.

“Good,” Vlad said, both surprised and relieved by the news. “With the entire community watching, they have to keep things…on the up and up.”

“Safer for Zoe?”

“Yes.”

Nila had had a closed meeting with them when she’d finally been brought to the compound. According to gossip, she’d handled herself well, and the elders had behaved, if not well, then at least typically for them. Still, Vlad hadn’t been looking forward to having his daughter alone in a room with them—especially knowing one had been helping his father.

Rose stayed close to his side, holding Zoe’s hand tightly, as they were escorted through the massive corridors toward the wing of the compound reserved for guests.

“Is he deaf?” she murmured to Vlad, nodding toward Victor. “Not sure why, but that surprises me.”

Victor glanced over his shoulder and shook his head, grinning.

“He hears just fine,” Vlad told her. “He’s mute. That’s the reason for the sign language.”

“I’m still surprised.”

“Long story. Childhood injury. A lot of tigers consider him defective.”

Alexis glanced back this time, her eyes narrowed.

“I’m not one of them,” he said, raising his hands, palms out to appease her.

She nodded and looked ahead.

“You probably shouldn’t aggravate our security detail,” Rose murmured.

They’d just arrived at their rooms when one of the elders’ assistants stopped them. He stood with his spine stiff, regarding them with a neutral expression. Vlad breathed in the man’s scent, trying to pinpoint his identity. He was…Luke Chang, assistant to Wu Qiang, one of the “wait and see how the hybrid thing progresses” elders. Vlad was more than a little surprised to see one of Qiang’s people before any of Elizaveta’s.

“Welcome,” Luke said to Rose directly, ignoring Vlad. “I hope you’ll find our hospitality suitable. When you are comfortable and settled, Elder Wu Qiang would like very much to meet your beautiful daughter.”

Rose narrowed her eyes and glanced at Vlad. “I understood we’d be meeting all the elders later today.”

“Of course. He simply wished a quieter introduction in a setting that won’t intimidate the child. The meeting promises to be…something of an event. As you no doubt realize, your daughter is very important to our people. Qiang would like the opportunity to make her acquaintance prior to all the chaos.”

Rose glanced at Vlad again. Vlad stared at the assistant as he took in his scent. Nothing. He got nothing from him. Damned man worked for an elder. Of course he’d be able to keep his intentions and feelings out of his scent.