Crimson Moon (11 page)

“Where’d they go?” Gunnar asked, as clearly as his elongated muzzle would allow.

“To a holding cell,” Neo explained.

“You’re hurt,” Ramiro said, turning Gunnar around to examine his back. “I need to get him out of here,” he told Neo.

Neo glanced around the clearing, littered with bodies. “Sure, there’s nothing left to do here but clean up the mess.”

Once the immediate threat was handled, Gunnar’s body began to change. Shame filled him at the reminder of what he must look like. He tried to walk away, but Ramiro stopped him.

“Are you okay?” Ramiro asked.

Gunnar shook his head. “Don’t look at me.” Although he couldn’t tell for sure, Gunnar had a feeling he bore a striking resemblance to the dead hybrids.

“Close your eyes and hang on.” Ramiro wrapped his arms around Gunnar.

When Gunnar opened his eyes, they were in his palace bedroom. “Stretch out on your stomach while I find Spiro.”

Although his body felt like it was back to normal, his shame remained. He shook his head. “I’ll be fine. There’s still enough
were
in me to heal.”

Ramiro reached for Gunnar’s hand and pulled him towards the bed. “Don’t do this. What happened out there was a fucking miracle. Don’t let your pride turn it into something to be ashamed of.”

Gunnar sat next to Ramiro. “I looked like them, didn’t I?”

“Sort of,” Ramiro answered. “But if it hadn’t been for your wolf coming to my rescue, I’d be dead. So as far as I’m concerned, you never looked more beautiful to me.”

Even though Gunnar knew Ramiro was lying through his teeth, the statement warmed him. He realised he hadn’t had the chance to return Ramiro’s earlier proclamation. “By the way, I love you, too, you handsome little liar.”

Chapter Seven

Ramiro rubbed the sleep from his eyes before entering the conference room. Neo had summoned him out of a deep sleep for an emergency meeting. When he’d asked about waking Gunnar, Neo had told him to let Gunnar sleep.

Stepping into the room, Ramiro faced Neo alone. “It’s just us?”

“Yes,” Neo yawned. It was obvious he hadn’t been to bed yet. “The trial is set for this afternoon at three. Zeus wants to get Ian out of the way as soon as possible. He’s called upon Gaia, but so far nothing from her.”

“So you found him?” Ramiro was surprised at how quickly Neo had apprehended Ian. It didn’t gel with what he knew of his the King.

Neo tucked his hair behind his ears.
“Zeus, actually.
That’s the reason I called you here. I got permission for you to sit in the gallery at the trial. I need you to listen for any inconsistencies in Ian’s story. I can’t get past the idea there’s something deeper going on here.”

Ramiro nodded. “I have the same feeling. If it was really Ian who constructed the ward around Juniper’s pack land, his magic has to be stronger than he’s ever let on. If that’s the case, why would he let himself be so easily captured?”

“Exactly,” Neo agreed. “The magic has to be coming from
Faelan
, but why is it surfacing now after all these centuries?”

“What does Spiro think?”

Neo shook his head. “We haven’t talked much. He’s obsessed with the idea that his destined mate is trapped inside
Sema
. At the moment, he can’t seem concentrate on anything else for more than a few minutes at a time. Clasping his hands, Neo leant forward on his forearms. “What exactly did you see or feel when you bit
Sema
?”

Ramiro thought back to the incident. He’d tried to push the ordeal from his mind and had no desire to repeat it.
“Images, mostly.
A crying woman with strange green eyes.
She was holding a handsome man with long black hair at one moment, and
Sema
the next.” Suddenly a forgotten detail came back to him. Ramiro met
Neo’s
gaze. “It was the same woman that I saw when I bit the donor. Only she wasn’t sad at all, she was furious. The eyes were the same colour but held hatred instead of love.”

“Gaia,” Neo whispered. “I remember my mother telling me all the shades of green on Earth were the same colour as the flecks in
Gaia’s
eyes.”

“So you think it
was
Gaia who imprisoned
Nialo
inside
Sema
?” Why would a God with so much love for the man in her arms do such a thing? It didn’t make sense to Ramiro. Neo appeared deep in thought. “Is that all?” Ramiro asked, ready to get back to bed.

“How’s Gunnar?”

“Ashamed, I think. He doesn’t like what he shifted into out there.” He’d heard Gunnar crying in the shower earlier, but he hadn’t intruded. Gunnar was one of the proudest Alphas Ramiro had ever met, and he knew he wouldn’t be welcomed at such a rare emotional moment.

“Do you think he’ll be okay?” Neo asked.

“Of course,” Ramiro defended Gunnar. “As a matter of fact, I believe he’s an even bigger asset to you now.”

“I wasn’t asking as a boss. He means more to me than that,” Neo returned, anger and a touch of hurt in his voice.

Ramiro recognised his mistake too late. “Forgive me.” He cleared his throat. “It’s been a long time since you’ve talked to him. He notices, you know? I think it’s the reason he doesn’t believe you trust him anymore.”

“I’ve been busy.”

“I realise that. Perhaps after the trial you could find the time to sit down with him and work things out. I bet he would enjoy taking you fishing.”

Neo made a face. “I hate to fish.
Never understood the point of it.”

“Me neither. I was hoping to get out of future outings.”

“Not going to happen. It’s the price you’ll have to pay for being with him.”

Ramiro grinned. “Then I’ll gladly put on my overalls and work boots to accompany him.”

Neo yawned. “I think I’ll try to get a few hours of sleep before the trial. Do you think Gunnar will be upset that he’ll not be allowed in Olympus?”

“I don’t think so. We talked about it earlier, and he understands why I need to look Ian in the eyes. Besides, three o’clock is too early in the day for him to be out.”

“It wasn’t easy to get you a seat in the gallery, so do us both a favour and be as discreet as possible.” Neo stood and stretched his arms over his head. “I’ll talk to Gunnar, I promise.”

“Thank you.” Ramiro followed Neo out of the room. “Will Michael be accompanying you?”

“No. He’s planning to stay here with
Sema
.”

“Would you ask Gunnar to watch over them? He knows how much Michael means to you, so I think it would mean a lot to him.”

Neo chuckled. “Have you taken up the job of Gunnar’s champion?”

“It’s not a job. It’s a pleasure.”

* * * *

Gunnar wrapped his hand around the base of Ramiro’s cock as the gorgeous vampire rode up and down on his dick. There was something about the way Ramiro’s muscles bunched and flexed that drove Gunnar wild. As much as he liked Michael, he couldn’t imagine fucking someone so small. No. He’d come to enjoy the pleasure of holding a body as powerful as his own.

“Faster,” Ramiro panted.

Gunnar began to jerk Ramiro’s cock from root to tip, stopping only long enough to rub his thumb across the head before sliding back down the thick length. When Gunner caught Ramiro glance at the clock on the bedside table, his grip increased.

“Shit! Are you trying to pinch it off?” Ramiro growled.

“Just trying to get your attention back on me instead of the time.”
He loosened his hold and thrust up into Ramiro’s ass.

“As much as my ass loves your cock, I don’t think Zeus would accept us fucking as an excuse to be late.”

With a roar, Gunnar grabbed Ramiro and flipped him over onto the mattress. “Then I’d better get serious about this,” Gunnar said, impaling Ramiro again on his cock.

Ramiro held his legs apart as Gunnar put everything he had into fucking the man. He drove down as deep and hard as he could,
hoping
to telegraph his passion without having to say it. Although Ramiro was able to put his feelings into words, Gunnar preferred to convey his love by way of his actions. He hadn’t grown up in a house where love was discussed, so the sentiments that came easily to others were uncomfortable to him.

“Look at me,” Ramiro whispered.

Gunnar turned his attention from the point where their bodies joined to do as Ramiro asked. His thrusts slowed as he fell into the black abyss of Ramiro’s gaze. Although he’d heard Ramiro’s words of love, it was at that moment that he truly believed them. It was still hard to accept, but for whatever reason, Ramiro truly seemed to love him.

Gunnar’s cock erupted, filling the one person he was meant to be with. As he rode out his climax, he realised not all the changes in his life were a curse. He hadn’t asked to be turned into a vampire, but without his transformation he would’ve never given Ramiro the chance to get close to him. The change hadn’t made him into an evil species. It had allowed him the common ground he needed for a life with Ramiro.

“Gunnar!” Ramiro shouted to the ceiling as he came, splashing seed between them.

With the sudden onslaught of understanding, Gunnar’s chest began to ache. Trying to catch a breath, he fell to the mattress beside Ramiro.

“What’s wrong?” Ramiro sat up and cupped Gunnar’s face.

Gunnar couldn’t speak. An overwhelming sadness descended upon him as he felt his wolf slowly retreat into the darkest depths of his soul. He could’ve been angry at the abandonment by his wolf, but Gunnar understood it was necessary.
Goodbye old friend.
He swallowed around the lump in his throat as oxygen once again began to move in and out of his lungs.

“He’s gone,” Gunnar whispered, making eye contact with Ramiro.

Ramiro’s dark eyebrows drew together in apparent confusion.

“My wolf,” Gunnar clarified.

Concern creased Ramiro’s handsome face. “I’m sorry,” he whispered, kissing Gunnar’s forehead.

“It was necessary. We both knew it needed to happen for me to move on with my life.” Although Gunnar would miss his wolf, he already felt more at peace with who he had become. His internal battle over, Gunnar pulled Ramiro into a deep, all-consuming kiss. He still had obstacles to overcome, but for the first time he was ready to tackle his fears head-on, as long as Ramiro was by his side.

* * * *

Shrouded in his heavy cape, Ramiro sat in the back of the gallery surrounded by
demi
-Gods he’d only ever read about. When the Gods entered the room, Ramiro was forced to pull the hood lower over his face or take the risk of being burned by the sheer energy of their emanating powers.

“We are here today to decide the fate of Ian Kildare. Charged with creating a soulless species for his own gain,” Zeus announced to the gathered Gods. “I have chosen Athena to question Ian Kildare.
Objections?”

Ramiro had no doubt the Goddess of Wisdom would be fair, but he’d secretly hoped he would be given a chance to speak to Ian. Remembering
Neo’s
warning, he remained silent.

When no objections were raised, Ramiro heard Athena’s voice for the first time. “Bring in the accused.”

Ramiro tried to block the sunlight coming from
Hemera
, Goddess of daylight, as he struggled to peek at Ian as he entered the room. Ian appeared indifferent to his surroundings, like being in the presence of deities was an everyday occurrence. It made Ramiro wonder how close to the surface
Faelan
was hiding.

“Ian Kildare, you are charged with creating the soulless creatures currently contained within County Galway, Ireland. How do you plead?” Athena began.

“Not guilty,” Ian stated in a matter-of-fact tone.

“Were you not apprehended within the warded protection of the Galway pack lands?”

“Yes. I pretended to befriend the Pack Alpha, Juniper Cavanaugh, to gain entrance, nothing more,” Ian stated.

“Why did you seek entrance to the pack land?”

“Because I knew
Morwyn
would show up eventually.”

Whispered words filled the room at the mention of
Morwyn
. Ramiro couldn’t blame the apparent unease of those around him.

“How is that possible?” Athena asked. “
Morwyn
has been exiled to
Tartarus
.”

“Yes, but Juniper Cavanaugh practices the dark arts. He discovered a God can be released from
Tartarus
if he has a following of a thousand soulless warriors ready to follow him.”

“If that were the case,
Tartarus
would be empty,” Zeus added with a chuckle. “Blind followers are not hard to find in the world today.”

“Yes, but
Morwyn
also holds the sickle once owned by
Cronus
. It was located by Cavanaugh several centuries ago.”

“How do you know this?” Athena asked.

“As I’ve told you, I pretended to befriend Cavanaugh. Amazing what loose lips
Morwyn’s
followers have, isn’t it?” Ian crossed his arms in front of his chest and sat back in his chair with a smug smile on his face.

“Please tell the court why you failed to inform Zeus of this development earlier?” Athena continued.

“Because I knew Zeus would put an end to Juniper Cavanaugh’s plans and I couldn’t have that,” Ian explained.

“Why is that?” Zeus butted in once again.

For the first time since entering the room, Ian shifted uncomfortably in his chair. “I planned to kill
Morwyn
when he surfaced once again.”

“Why?” Zeus asked before Athena had the chance.

“I’m not allowed to discuss my reasons,” Ian answered.

“You’re not allowed?
By whom?”
Zeus’ voice grew angry.

“It’s forbidden.”

“Gaia,” Spiro said, getting to his feet.

Gasps filled the cavernous marble room at the announcement.

“Be seated,” Athena ordered Spiro.

Spiro turned to address Zeus. “Tell them what you know.”

“Remove him from the proceedings,” Zeus ordered.

Neo held up his hand to hold off the
demi
-Gods who approached Spiro. He spoke into Spiro’s ear and within seconds, Spiro was gone. “Spiro has returned to The Realm,” Neo announced.