Blood Moon (22 page)

“That was pretty incredible. Did you have any idea what you were doing?”

Cern’s voice held a mixture of admiration and censure. She ignored him, focusing on the throbbing in her temples. She slumped into a blue brocade desk chair and glared at him.

Lawrence appeared in the doorway, flanked by the two guards assigned to watch her new set of rooms. He dragged her small black suitcase in and placed it on the chest at the end of the bed.

“Thanks, Lawrence.”

His eyes slid to Cern and back, questioning her silently.

She shrugged. “Don’t worry. He’s the lesser evil, and for the moment, that’s good enough.”

Lawrence nodded once, resigned, and closed the door softly behind him. Aria turned to Cern, propping her head in one hand. She felt drained. “What did you really come here for, Cern?”

He shook his head. This time it seemed strained. “I asked you a question first.”

“Yes.” She rose, kicking off her heels. “But I don’t intend on answering you.”

Cern stepped in front of her as she headed for the suitcase. “We have to come to some sort of understanding, Aria.”

She stepped away from him, studying him, carefully. Now that she’d seen him interact with Haemon and Jonas first-hand, her internal radar said to be cautious. Something about the whole situation seemed contrived, but she wasn’t sure who it benefited, or who was calling the shots.

“You’ve done me a lot of favors in the past, Cern, and I appreciate it more than I can express. But I don’t understand why you’ve suddenly become so friendly with Haemon and Jonas.”

“It’s complicated.”

“That’s a cop-out. Explain it to me. I’m a smart girl, I can handle it.”

Cern watched her, and his face somehow grew older. Deep shadows formed in the lines around his mouth. It wasn’t like him to be solemn. Aria found it unnerving to get a glimpse of the real Cern. “You have something important in your possession.”

Confusion drew her brows together. “I don’t understand. What has that got to do with anything?”

“Everything and nothing.” He sighed. “Sit down, Aria.”

She moved to the bed. He pulled a chair over to the side of the bed and straddled it. “You understand who I am, or was, don’t you?”

“Yeesss,” she agreed, hesitantly. No one forgets a man who matched all the descriptions for Cernunos, the Celtic Lord of the Hunt. 

His fingers picked at the brocade threads of the chair cover. “I can’t get into detail while we’re here. It isn’t safe enough for my peace of mind.”

“Putting me off is really annoying. You know that, right?” All the cloak and dagger secrets would drive her mad. Nowhere would ever be safe enough.

“I know. But I need you to trust me one more time. I can promise you that, at least for now, your interests and mine are the same.”

Aria rubbed her fingertips in circles over her temples. Could she really trust him? Did she really have any other choices? She knew the answer, and it made her teeth clench. After a year of only having herself to rely on, it wasn’t easy to hand over her trust.

“All right. For now, we will remain as we are.” She caught and held his gaze. “But when we get through the next few days,
if
we get through them, I think we’re going to have to reevaluate our situation.”

“Agreed.”

She rose, pulling pins from her hair as she went. She slammed them into a neat pile on the nightstand. A whimper moved through her throat as her heavy locks tumbled around her shoulders. Her scalp burned and tingled, and the pounding in her head grew worse for a moment, and then eased.

“I have some Tylenol in my room. You want some?”

She nodded. “That would be nice, thanks.”

He left, and she unzipped the suitcase, wriggling in her borrowed dress. The tight fabric added to her feelings of being trapped, and her skin twitched with the need to change into looser, more comfortable clothing. As she flipped up the lid, her gaze fell on a familiar white silk shirt. A note was folded on top, held in place by the elastic straps. She picked up the paper, flicking it open with her thumb.

Just in case you’re feeling a little lonely.

Her fingers curled into the cool material, bringing it to her face. Like a cat scenting catnip, she rubbed her cheeks over the smooth silk, breathing in Lukas’ scent. Tears burned the corners of her eyes. She missed him already.

Rummaging through the rest of her clothes, she pulled out the shorts she’d brought to sleep in and a tank top, just in case the shirt proved a little too translucent.

The bathroom was well-stocked with white towels that matched the white marble floors and walls. She turned the water on as hot as she could stand it, shimmied out of her clothing, and started to remove the necklace. As her fingers caught at the clasp, she paused. Her gaze strayed to the doorknob, and the flimsy lock separating her from the rest of the world. Despite her relative security, the thought of removing the item made her uneasy. Her hands fell away and she hung a white towel on the hook next to the glass shower door.

The hot water did amazing things for her headache, and she soaped up, using the expensive bottles of shampoo and body wash lined up on the shower ledge. The bathroom smelled of roses and lilacs, and she relaxed a little further. Just as she rinsed the shampoo out of her hair, she turned to reach for conditioner only to catch a shadowy movement on the other side of the steamy, textured glass shower door.

She froze, watching the spot of darkness. When she’d finally decided it had only been her imagination, it moved again, the motion unmistakable.

Someone was pawing through her clothing.

Chapter Twenty-two

She leapt from the shower, her body twisting until it sprouted fangs and claws. Her nose and mouth lengthened, sprouting teeth and a little fur. Her arms and legs grew longer, her hands curving into claw-tipped weapons. Her entire body sported a thin covering of fur. Before the transformation could complete, she halted it. Her body vibrated with the need to continue to one form or the other. Holding this was difficult, and only a few Shifters could do so for any length of time. Her entire being rebelled at the grotesque shape she’d taken, but she bent her form to match her will.

Her vision, flickering between the colors of human vision and the black and white crispness of the wolf, targeted Cern crouched in the floor of the bathroom, her black dress clutched in one hand.

“What are you doing?” Her voice was a parody of a human tone.

Cern flinched, dropping the dress as he slowly straightened. “Holy shit, Aria. I’ve heard rumors, but I’ve never actually seen a Shifter do it. That’s amazing.”

His gaze moved over her, stopping at her chest. As she watched, his entire demeanor changed, his body seemed to bulk up, and fear ran under the edge of her mind. His voice changed, becoming deeper into a boom off the bathroom walls. “You must give me the necklace.”

The need to obey his command trembled through her. One clawed hand wavered, moving towards her neck where the necklace rested, suddenly cold against her lightly furred skin. His stare held her captive, locking her into submission. He took a step closer, his gaze flicking away from hers for an instant as he lunged towards her chest, one hand outstretched.

An instant was all she needed. She felt his fingers brush her breastbone and gain the edge of the necklace. Rage poured through her. Her teeth snapped over his arm, his blood flowing into her mouth. She had enough presence of mind to stop short of breaking his arm, but not much more. His blood moved over her tongue—spicy and hot, tasting of wildness and old magic. He drew back, crying out. His form was not so big this time, and his voice had lost some of its rich baritone. Pain laced his plea for freedom. His eyes tried to control her, but Aria rebuffed his attempt. She could feel him trying to bend her will to his, but it was like an annoying mosquito—easy to brush off and ignore.

“Release me!” The pain in his voice broke through her angry haze and her jaws reluctantly opened.

She backed away, tracking his movements. His outstretched hand, once again, demanding the necklace.

Her incredulous laugh came out as a snarl. “You’ve got to be joking.”

He wrapped his arm in one of the white towels and watched her carefully. His hands shook, and the floor puddled with his blood. Ella’s dress would never be the same. Without warning, he flung his head back, laughing. “I’ll be damned. Even if you hadn’t tasted my blood, you would have resisted me.” The smile was genuine, and he shook his head. “I’m truly impressed, and I haven’t felt that in centuries.”

“What do you want with the necklace? You gave it to me when my mother died with her letter.” Her vocal chords ground out the words, pain curling along her throat. This form was not meant for conversation.

He couldn’t quite meet her gaze. “I can’t explain it now. You wouldn’t understand.”

Wrong answer. She growled, the sound bouncing around the marble walls until it sounded like the entire bathroom was filled with a pack of wolves.

His tone became cajoling, pleading. “Please, Aria, it’s a matter of life and death.”

“Yes. It is. Get out, Cern. I’ll pretend like you are my guardian, but I will not for one instant trust you, again.”

“You can’t be rid of me that easily, my dear. Unfortunately, you and I are still bound by a common desire.” He edged towards the door.

“What would that be?”

“Haemon’s death.”

Aria cocked her head, the link his blood had forged between them throbbed with sincerity. The realization of their connection made her heart pound. This was no mere magician she’d hooked herself to. For a second, her grip on her shape wavered, and her form blurred. Quickly, she clamped down on it, retaining her strange body.

“Amazing. I’ve never seen such control,” Cern whispered, admiration clear.

“You cannot lie to me, can you?”

“Sadly, no.” He stepped into the doorway, defeat shown in the fine lines of his face.

Her clawed fingers fumbled with the doorknob. “Good. Now go away. I’ll be out in a few minutes.”

He nodded, and she shut the door, moving a heavy wooden vanity cabinet across the marble to stand in front of the thin oak paneling. Her form lent her the strength, and her own paranoia the need. The obstacle might not stop Cern, but she’d hear him coming this time. Her form wavered, then changed, and she sagged, naked and shivering against the marble walls.

“Damn.” Her reflection was hazy in the still fogged mirror, but clear enough to see blood running from her mouth, over her chest and the necklace. “I’ll have to take another shower.”

When she finally emerged again from the steamy marble bathroom, she was no longer relaxed. Her fresh clothing had, miraculously, managed to avoid getting soiled in her confrontation with Cern. Slipping into them, she pulled the white silk shirt close to her body, burying her nose in the collar. Lukas’ scent clung to the fibers, soothing her nerves. Using what was left of the towels, she soaked up what she could of the bloody water on the floor and shoved all the soiled laundry in the corner.

Jonas could deal with it later.

Outside her door, she could hear lowered voices. Obviously, her confrontation with Cern hadn’t escaped notice. She shifted briefly, pushing the cabinet out of the way, and then placed one hand on the brass doorknob. Buttoning up the shirt so that it covered her necklace, she took a deep breath and opened the door.

The scene wasn’t quite what she expected. Jonas, slightly more rumpled than before, sat in the desk chair watching Cern like a hawk. Distrust echoed in the air around him like a second skin. Haemon paced across the doorway to the bedroom, dressed in designer workout attire. Todd, his second, stood near the doorway, watching everyone else. Cern sat on the bed, the white towel discarded, new white scars in the shape of her teeth contrasted against his dark arm. Lukas leaned against the bottom post of the bed, shirtless in jeans—a breath of fresh air. Thaddeus sat on the edge of the chest next to him.

The moment she stepped into the room, pandemonium broke loose. Everyone started asking questions at the same time until she clapped hands over her ears and yelled, “Quiet, all of you. This is ridiculous.”

Lukas’ hands ran over her body, checking her for injury. She pressed a kiss to the base of his throat.
I’m fine, Lukas.

You could just be saying that. I’d really like to strip you down and check you over thoroughly.
He fingered the edge of the silk shirt.
I see you liked my gift.

“Enough. Quit pawing Aria and let her answer for this.”

Lukas stilled, turning to Haemon with his teeth bared.

“Answer for what?” She smiled, pleased that her words came out only mildly interested.

Lukas tried to tuck her under his arm, but a glance from Jonas had him taking a step away, though his hand remained linked with hers. There was only so much respect that she could give her host. He would not separate her further from her Mate.

“You attacked Cern,” Jonas accused.

The man in question raised his hands. “Their words, not mine.”

Haemon’s brow furrowed. “What else would you call it? There was enough magic bouncing around this room to choke a horse.”

“And you automatically assume I attacked him?” Indignant, she took a step towards Haemon. His second immediately took a step in front of his Alpha.

“Well, that’s something at least.” She stood across an entire room, but Todd felt that she was threat enough to move to protect Haemon? Things were beginning to look up.

Haemon gave a disgusted grunt and pushed his second aside. “How do you explain, then, that we found Cern with a bloody towel wrapped around his healing arm?”

“I defended myself.”

It was Lukas’ turn to bristle. “What?”

Aria patted his arm with her free hand. “Don’t worry. There was a…misunderstanding, but Cern and I have worked it out now. I apologize for any inconvenience we might have caused.”

Haemon made a choked noise and turned to Jonas, who ran a hand through his wild white hair. “Aria, I will not be so easily appeased or dismissed. I want to know what happened here.”