But god damn did he have to piss.

He moved cautiously, gradually working his way out from under her and headed for the bathroom, breathing a sigh of relief as he finally let nature take its course. The headache was gone, and when he took a look at himself in the mirror he was almost back to normal. A few white strands remained, a few gray specks in his eyes. Nothing to see here. Please move along.

“Jules?”

He headed back into the bedroom at the sleepy sound of her voice. It had taken on a husky quality that sent blood racing straight to his cock. “I’m here.”

She was sitting up, pushing her mass of multicolored hair out of her face. “Where’d you go?”

“Bathroom.” He hit the foot of the bed and, instead of getting in on his side, began crawling up it until he was hovering over her. “Hi.”

She glared up at him. “You’re in big trouble.”

He whimpered. Fuck. He had her in his bed and he wasn’t going to be allowed to play? That was like chaining a recovering chocoholic in front of a Godiva store that was giving out free samples. “Why?”

Cyn bopped him upside the head. “You could have died, asshole.”

He sat back on his heels, his erection completely forgotten. This was something that couldn’t wait, something every Kermode had to do before mating with someone from the outside. “This is who I am, what I am. Bear made me this way for a reason.”

“Does that mean you have to risk your life?”

“Yes.” He sighed and stroked his hand across her knee. “He was two minutes from death. An aneurysm. What would you have me do, let a man die right in front of me when I can save him?”

She blew out a breath and refused to meet his eyes.

“I’m a nurse because of what I am. The urge to heal is strong within all Bears, but more so for the Kermode.”

“Alex said that was the reason the Kermode hold themselves apart.”

“He’s partially right. There’s more to it than that. The First Nations say that Kermode were made white by Raven to remind us all of the Ice Age, but it’s not true. Kermode were made white because…” He grimaced. “The truth is, not all Kermode are white. Only one in ten is, and they’re the ones with the special gift. But those of us who are born Spirit Bears are slowly dying out.” And the majority of human mates turned never became Spirit Bears. He doubted Cyn would be any different.

“Genetic problems?”

“Partly. We have our own problems as well, problems that up until now we’ve tried to deal with on our own.”

“Tell me.”

He hid a grin. He couldn’t wait until Tai and Cyn spoke for the first time. He had the feeling they’d seriously butt heads. “I can’t.” He held up his hand, stalling her objection. “I’m not allowed to. Bears might not have Alphas and Packs, but we have our own way of doing things. Tai Boucher is the closest thing we have to an Alpha, and until he tells me it’s all right to tell you, or until you accept the mating and become one of us, I can’t.” He shot her a cheeky grin. “It’s a Spirit Bear thing. You wouldn’t understand.”

“Your leader’s name is Tai?”

Hell. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d heard that much guilt in someone’s voice. “Yes. Why?”

She rolled her eyes. “Then trust me when I say he’ll never give you permission.”

His stomach rolled. “Crap. Did Tai call while I was sleeping?”

She nodded. Her expression now matched her voice.

“What did you do?”

“Nothing!”

“Cyn.”

“I may have taken exception to his tone of voice. I might even have retaliated a little. Just a tiny bit.”

He rubbed his forehead. Wow, look at that. A headache really could come roaring back to life. “What did he want?”

“He said to tell you that every Kermode has had the same dream, something about a key and a Bear, I forget exactly what he said.” She waved it off even as a shiver worked its way down his spine. This was bad. “He also—” She bit her lip and frowned ferociously.

“Also what?”

She looked him dead in the face and lied her pretty ass off. He’d made it a habit to study all things Cyn, and her left eyebrow always twitched just the tiniest bit before she fibbed. “Said to tell you hi.”

He traded stare for stare with her, but she didn’t back down, didn’t give him what he wanted: the truth. “Is that all he said?”

“Would you like some cookies?”

What the fuck? “I doubt he said that.”

“No, I’m hungry.” She pushed him away and clambered out of bed. “I want cookies.”

“I want answers.” He followed her to the kitchen where she helped herself to a large glass of milk. “What did Tai say, Cyn?”

“Oreos? You don’t have any chocolate chip?” She put the bag on the counter and ripped into it. “You need to do a grocery run.”

“I need to paddle your ass if you don’t tell me what he said. And Oreos are manna of the gods, you evil heathen. Especially if they’re double-stuff.”

She glared at him and shoved an entire Oreo in her mouth.

“Oh, that’s attractive.”

She grinned at him, black goo staining her teeth.

“Not even you are cute enough to pull that look off.” He handed her the milk and watched her devour six cookies at once. “Why aren’t you the size of a whale?”

“Metabolism.” She put the cookies back and finished her milk. “Well, it’s been fun, but I’m outta here.” She waved and started toward the front door. “See you later.”

She wasn’t. She couldn’t be. Julian chased her to the front door, but he was too late. She’d already climbed into his car, locking the doors behind her. She gave him an evil little wave and left him stranded on his front porch in the early dawn light.

Julian turned around and stalked back into his living room. He picked up his cell and dialed Tai. Fuck the time difference. He needed answers, and he needed them now. He left a message for Tai to call him back pronto, then headed off to shower.

An hour later he called Alex, because the other thing he really needed was a ride to work. Damn that sneaky Oreo-stealing, car-thieving female.