Moonlight Kin 4: Tristan (20 page)

“I don’t need to be able to read your mind.
The look on your face told me that you were thinking about doing
something stupid,” he said. “Don’t! Or I’ll have to tie you up for
the rest of the day.”

“We’re not leaving right now,” she said.
There was still time for her to escape. Izzy made sure her hope
didn’t show.

“No.” Stone shook his head. “We’ll leave
tonight as planned.” He took a step toward her.

She skittered back.

“Izzy, I may not have read your mind a minute
ago, but that doesn’t mean that I can’t,” Stone said. “Try to keep
that in mind as you make your escape plans. Now come along. Looks
like I’ll have to tie you up after all.”

“No,” she said. “I won’t go with you. There
has to be someone in this neighborhood that will help me.”

“The people in this neighborhood learned a
long time ago to mind their own business and only count on
themselves when there’s trouble,” he said. “You can scream if you
want, but know this: if someone does come to your rescue, I’ll kill
them. Their death will be on your head. Do we understand each
other?”

All too well
, she thought. Izzy
couldn’t endanger anyone else. Stone had already proven that he
could kill without remorse. One more death wouldn’t matter.

He waited for her to answer.

“Yes,” she said reluctantly.

“Good,” Stone said. “Now come inside like a
good little breeder and let me tie you up.”

“What if I promise not to try to escape?” she
asked.

Stone smiled at her. “We both know that would
be a lie.”

* * * * *

Tristan shifted into his wolf. He hadn’t
gotten much sleep, certainly not enough to recover from his
injuries, but the shift would change all that.

Within seconds, he was back in his human form
and heading to the shower. He stepped under the spray, and memories
from the last time he’d been in the shower returned.

Tristan had been hiding from Isabel, unable
to face her and the emotions she’d dredged up after they’d made
love. At least now he accepted the fact that they had made love. As
much as he wished otherwise, it wasn’t just sex.

If only he hadn’t run away, then none of this
would’ve happened. Guilt assailed him. It joined the weight he
carried from the past. Tristan couldn’t do anything about those
mistakes, but he could affect the future. At least he hoped he
could.

Tristan closed his eyes and pictured Isabel
lying on the bed, her multi-colored hair spread out around her
head. Her lips had been swollen from his kisses, and she’d had the
sleepy-eyed expression of a woman well loved. The satisfied
expression vanished, the second he ran into the bathroom.

He ducked his head under the water, hoping it
would wash away some of the regrets, but water was only so strong.
It didn’t have the power to cleanse one’s soul.

Tristan hurried through his shower. He was
done hiding from life. It was time to accept both the pain and the
pleasure that came with this existence. He just hoped he had
another chance to feel some of that pleasure with Isabel before it
all ended.

The moment Tristan stepped out of the
bathroom, he encountered Pierre’s assistant. “The Alpha has issued
an invitation for you to join him for breakfast in the sunroom,” he
said.

“I’ll be right down,” Tristan said.

Five minutes later, Tristan sat across from
Pierre La Fontaine as the Alpha’s hired help served them breakfast
in the enclosed veranda.

Ceiling fans churned the air lazily over a
small four-seater table. It was set for two, letting Tristan know
that the Alpha wanted this to be a private conversation.

Pierre waited for the staff to load up the
plates in front of them and pour the coffees. “Feeling better?” he
asked, after the staff exited the room and shut the door behind
them.

Tristan shrugged. “I’m fit enough to take
care of what needs to be done.”

“For your sake, I hope so. What do you plan
to do?” Pierre asked, taking a bite of blood sausage. Like most
Weres, the Alpha preferred a high protein diet.

Tristan took a sip of his coffee. A hint of
chicory hit his palate, and he nearly groaned in ecstasy. This town
could do coffee. He’d give them that.

“I’m going after them,” he said. He owed the
Darkling for hitting him upside the head and nearly crushing his
skull.

“That’s a given,” Pierre said, then took
another bite. “What I want to know is where are you going to start
your hunt?”

Tristan thought about it. He had to narrow
the search area down. If he didn’t, he’d never find them in time.
If the Darkling managed to drag Isabel into his world, then there’d
be no getting her back. The spot in the center of his chest
throbbed. He rubbed it absently.

Pierre watched him but said nothing.

“When I first met Isabel, she hung out with a
friend in Jackson Square,” Tristan said. “The woman is also a
Sighted-One.”

Pierre’s eyebrows shot to his dark hairline.
“Why didn’t you tell me? I could’ve had her picked up or at least
watched.”

“I’ve had my hands full,” Tristan said.

The Alpha grinned. “Yes, you have.”

Tristan growled.

“Knock it off,” Pierre said. “Does the
Darkling know about Isabel’s friend?”

“I don’t know,” he said. “It depends on how
long he’s been stalking her. He didn’t strike me as being very
patient.”

Pierre sat forward. “We can’t let him get his
hands on another Sighted-One.”

“I agree,” Tristan said. “But I don’t think
it’s smart to grab Everly. If she’s able, I do think Isabel will
try to contact her. I need her to be there to get that call.”

“That’s a huge risk you’re taking,” Pierre
said.

“I know,” Tristan said.

“What if she leaves town?”

He shook his head. “Everly’s not going
anywhere. Isabel tried to warn her to get out of town, but she
refused to leave.”

Tristan pictured Everly. The fiery Goth with
a Moonlight Kin skull in her house was hardheaded like Isabel, but
she was also loyal. If it were possible, Everly would be the first
person Isabel contacted. What if Isabel was injured and wasn’t able
to contact her? He couldn’t think about that or he’d go insane.

“I don’t like the idea of another Sighted-One
running around town unprotected,” Pierre said.

Tristan picked up his fork and played with
his food. “I don’t either,” he said. “But Everly is stubborn.”

“You said the same thing about your human,”
Pierre said.

“She’s not
my
human,” Tristan
replied.

“The sheets in the cabin say otherwise,” he
said.

Tristan ignored the Alpha’s bait. “Even if
Isabel hasn’t been in contact with her, Everly still might be able
to help. From what I’ve seen, her gift is quite powerful. Possibly
more powerful than Isabel’s,” he said. “Putting your wolves on her
won’t do any good. She’d know they were there. Everly has power
objects in her home. Things that protect her and mask her
presence.”

“What kind of power objects?” Pierre put his
fork down.

“It’s not important,” Tristan said. He needed
Pierre’s cooperation. If the Alpha found out about the skull, he’d
pull his assistance and scoop up Everly immediately.

“Let me decide what is and is not important
in my territory,” Pierre said.

“I’ll be more than happy to have this
discussion once we get Isabel back,” he said, letting his
frustration show.

“I will not forget.”

“You never do,” Tristan muttered.

Pierre picked up his coffee cup and took a
drink. “What makes you think Everly would help you?”

“She wouldn’t, if it was just me asking,”
Tristan said. “But she’d definitely help Isabel. Of that I am
certain.”

Pierre sighed. “What can I do to help?”

“Have your wolves continue their search for
Isabel’s scent, but if they haven’t found it by this evening, then
call them in,” Tristan said. “The Darkling will make his move
tonight. That’s when he’s most powerful.”

“Do you think you can take him?” Pierre
asked, setting his cup down.

Tristan had the utmost confidence in his
abilities, but he’d never encountered a being as powerful as this
Darkling. He wasn’t sure if he could beat him in a fight, even with
his sword, Selene. “I may not be able to take him, but I will stop
him. One way or the other.”

Pierre’s lips twitched. “Do me a favor,” he
said.

“What’s that?” Tristan asked.

“Try not to get yourself killed,” he
said.

Tristan laughed. “I’ll do my best.”

“When are you going to approach the other
Sighted-One?” he asked.

Tristan glanced at a clock on the wall. “Not
for a few more hours. From what I gathered, she likes to stay out
all night with the wannabe vampires.”

Pierre’s brow furrowed. “The what?”

Tristan picked up a piece of bacon and popped
it in his mouth. “You know, the people who put in fake fangs and
pretend to drink blood.”

“This is a friend of Isabel’s?” Pierre asked,
his disgust evident from his expression.

“Yes,” Tristan said. “Everly’s definitely
odd, but her concern for her friend is real.”

Pierre dabbed the side of his mouth with his
napkin. “I hope you know what you’re doing,” he said.

Tristan did too.

* * * * *

Izzy pulled against the extension cord Stone
had bound her with, trying to break it. She only succeeded in
cutting off her circulation. He’d tied her up in the little girl’s
room, so she had a constant reminder of what sat out in the
shed.

The sun moved across the sky fast. It was
only a matter of time before he came for her to take her to his
realm. She had to get out of here. Izzy yanked, and pain shot
through her wrists.

She wondered where Tristan was. Wondered if
he was even alive. Stone had thanked her for helping him. Izzy’s
head dropped back and hit the wall with a
thunk
. How could
she have been so stupid?

If Tristan was alive, the chances of him
forgiving her were slim to none. She might not have helped attack
him, but she had been in contact with Stone the whole time.

Please be alive...if for no other reason
than to avenge me.

Izzy yanked at the cord again. It stretched,
but held. Stone would have to untie her when he moved her. Wouldn’t
he? What if he didn’t? Izzy needed to have her hands free in order
to fight.

He’s a werewolf
, a little voice
reminded her.

No, he was something far worse than the
creatures she’d encountered over the years. Izzy racked her brain
trying to remember what Tristan had told her about Darklings.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t much because she hadn’t wanted to
listen.

She had to think. There had to be a way out
of this situation. She wasn’t a damsel in distress. Okay, maybe she
was, but there was no way Izzy would let him drag her anywhere.
She’d rather die. At least if they found her body, her sister Mindy
would know what happened to her.

The door opened. Stone stepped into the room
holding... Izzy squinted. Was that a sandwich?

She thought about the little girl in the
shed, and her stomach twisted. “I’m not hungry,” she said.

“You have to eat something,” he said. “The
crossing is rough on the body. It’s especially difficult for
humans. Don’t want you dying before you get there.”

“Perhaps you didn’t hear me. I said I wasn’t
hungry,” she said. “I’ll never be hungry enough to eat a child. Now
get that away from me.”

Stone scowled at her. “It’s peanut butter and
jelly.” He walked into the room and placed the sandwich on the
small dresser, then sat beside her on the bed.

Izzy scooted as far away from him as her
bindings allowed.

“You have a choice here. You can either eat
this sandwich on your own, or I’m going to hold your smart mouth
open and force-feed it to you. Either way, you’re going to
eat.”

“I can’t eat with my hands tied.” Izzy held
her hands up for emphasis. “I can’t even feel my fingers
anymore.”

Stone glanced at her hands, which were
turning blue. “You shouldn’t have been pulling on the cord,” he
said.

Izzy just stared at him.

“Fine,” he said. “I’ll untie you, but if you
try to get away I’ll make sure you can’t move at all next time.”
Stone ran his finger down the side of her thigh.

She jerked her leg away. His touch made her
skin crawl. “I need to use the bathroom,” Izzy said.

Stone untied her and waited for her to climb
off the bed. He walked her into the hall to the bathroom and pushed
the door open.

“Go ahead,” he said.

“I can’t go while you’re looking,” she
said.

“Then you mustn’t have to go very bad,” Stone
said.

Izzy grimaced. She did have to go bad. She’d
been holding it for over an hour. No way was she leaving this
bathroom without relieving herself.

“Can you at least turn your back?” she
asked.

Stone rolled his eyes. “Humans,” he said.
“You all have so many needless quirks.”

“Humor me,” she said.

“Fine.” Stone turned his back. “But this is
another thing you’ll need to get over when we reach my realm.”

Izzy kept an eye on him while she quickly
relieved herself. She did not want him looking at her. Just the
thought of him seeing her naked made her physically ill. There was
no way she could let him take her to his world. Death was far
preferable to whatever Stone had planned.

She had always assumed that
all
monsters operated like Stone. Then she’d met Tristan and her
opinion changed. Izzy laughed to herself. Her opinion had more than
changed. It had done a one-eighty. She’d gone from fleeing from the
monsters to sleeping with them, except...Tristan wasn’t a monster.
Stone was.