The Awakening by Kat Quickly Page B

Yes, trying too hard to make Carmen jealous, when he really should have been dancing with her. He’d only left her alone for five minutes all evening in between his professional responsibilities. Victor hadn’t even been close. Now he was holding Carmen like he was engaged to her, like he was taking her home tonight. God, Andrew hated Victor, how the man managed to wrong foot him again and again.
    Carmen felt calm. She felt a sort of peace and happiness take hold of her. She’d felt like this before. She reached back, searching for the time. For the moment. She knew this man, this embrace. She had been here before. She looked at Victor, the blueness of his eyes, the strength of that jaw line, the shaggy fringe across his eyes. He was a handsome man but she didn’t know the face from before. Her face told of her puzzlement, her search to find Victor in her memory.
    “Close your eyes, Carmen,” he crooned. “Fall into me. I will keep you safe.”
    She knew his voice, knew the timbre of it, recognised the cadence in his words. She was nearly there. She was nearly home, a place she had left so many years ago. She could feel the warmth, the special place growing in her heart. She was in the cave. She was in his arms. She was in the great bear’s arms. She looked up into Victor’s eyes. He was holding her up, taking her to safety. She knew him. He was her ice bear.
    Carmen’s eyes flew open. He knew her dream.
    “You are the bear,” she gasped.
    “I am the Great Bear. Shape shifter. I am your protector, little Ursula. I know all there is to know about you.”
    Carmen fought for breath. “This is fantastical, Victor. You must know how mad this sounds.”
    He nodded. “Yes. You still need time. You mustn’t think. Just be.” They remained wordless, locked in a silent embrace, seeing into the heart and soul of each other. Victor knew her as he knew no other. She was his reason for being and she was back in his arms once more. He would not fail this time. This time there would be no forgiveness, no second chances. His heart was full of a deep and silent love that Carmen was not yet ready for. The time was coming but it was not yet. Victor knew he had to be patient. Simply too much rested on his getting things right this time. He needed to guide her gently, help her find the way herself. He would take her home, once she was ready to go. The connection had been made. She was receptive and warm to him. She knew him and she would come to love him too, in her own time, of her own free will. This human man would not stand in their way for long. Victor and Carmen danced until the band stopped playing and the lights were dimmed. Only Andrew remained, watching dejectedly at the edge of the dance floor.
    Victor gestured to Andrew. “Take her home. She’s had a big night. She needs rest. She needs you, Andrew. Look after her.”
    Victor kissed Carmen’s cheek. “We will talk soon. When you are ready.” He smiled and walked away. Satisfied. She had made her first breakthrough. Still, there were many to go before his task was done. Carmen smiled at the man, but saw the heart of the bear. “Good night, Victor.”
    Victor walked out into the night. Tall, bursting with strength and life. He looked to the stars, where he believed Ursula had gone. He opened his mouth wide and roared. Like the great bear. Victor felt the change in him, felt those old familiar stirrings within his very being and allowed it to take him. Carmen’s presence had given him life again. He could recharge, remain who he was. Shuffle off this sad old man who had no place in a man’s skin, let alone a white bear’s. Victor stretched, padded out on all fours, made the city his again as he strode the night streets to his home, invisible to all but the most spiritual of beings. He was safe in the night, exulted in his old shape – his true shape. Heart and mind of a man, body and strength of the bear. The most impressive bear on the planet – the polar bear,