Wicked Rage of the Moon: Book Three of the Airendell Chronicles (9 page)

She growls low in her throat and shifts her legs underneath her and takes control of her movements.  “Crap!” she mutters when the sharp heel on one of her shoes pokes her in the butt.  “Sorry darling, but the shoes have to go.” She says laughing as she reaches behind her and removes the offending shoes.

He laughs and says, “Well thank you for keeping them on for a while.  Your long, powerful legs are always lovely, but those heels added a whole new dimension of sexy.  Watching you run in them and ride on Eurig wearing that dress and those heels was truly a sight to behold.”

Morna laughs and says, “Beloved, you are such a man.  And I love you for it.”  She resumes her movements on top of him and gasps when the baby kicks very hard.  “I think that your son is trying to evict you, beloved.”

“He is getting so strong that I really have to pay attention to my spell on your uterus to keep him from hurting you when he kicks and stretches.  I am amazed at the power I feel from him.”  Luca says as he caresses her belly before moving his attention to her breasts.

“Luca, it is pure joy for me to feel your magic in my body all the time.  I will be bereft with missing you when he is born and your spell is gone.” Morna says before she kisses him again.  She trails her lips down his neck onto his shoulder and nips the rock hard flesh with her razor sharp teeth.

“Baby, I want to taste you right now.  Your blood I mean.  Does that make me a beast?” Luca asks quietly.

“Not at all my love.  I enjoy it too.” Morna assures him before she nips her right shoulder hard enough to leave a small gash that bleeds freely.  Morna moans in ecstasy when he covers the small wound with his mouth to taste her blood.  She is fighting to stave off an orgasm as she writhes on his hard cock and revels in the feel of his mouth sucking gently at her shoulder.

His powerful arms are wrapped around her body and holding her close as he savors her taste before finally returning to capture her lips as she reaches a massive orgasm.  He throws his head back and roars as he joins her in climax.  He caresses her neck and shoulders gently as he listens to her heart beat gradually slow to a more normal pace.  He gently lies her head on his shoulder and caresses her beloved cheek lovingly.  “Morna you are the most sensual, daring and exciting lover a man could ever ask for.  I am blessed to have you as my mate.” He whispers into her ear.

“I am simply reacting to you my love,” she whispers and then kisses his neck lovingly.  “I would give anything to go to sleep right now, but we have company coming.”  Morna sighs and reluctantly raises her head to kiss his lips before rising lithely from her straddled position on his body.  “I better let Ingrid know it is okay before she physically restrains them,” Morna says with a chuckle.

“Ingrid, it is okay.  Give us two minutes to get dressed.”  Morna tells her number one telepathically.

“I am sorry Morna.  I have told them that whatever they need from you can wait until you have rested, but Maria is very insistent,” Ingrid says in exasperation.  “She’s a difficult woman to dissuade when she has made her mind up.”

“No problem Ingrid.  I have heard enough to agree that it is important.” Morna says as she sighs and walks over to the wardrobe.

“Do you know what they want from you?” Luca demands.

“I have a pretty good idea.  Let’s hear them out, Luca,” Morna says tiredly.  She opens the wardrobe and grumbles, “There is too much to choose from in here.”

Luca chuckles and walks over and selects a pair of black jeans with a maternity panel in them, and a scarlet cashmere sweater set with short sleeves.  He selects a gold satin bra and panty set and lies it all on the bed for her.  He sighs as he watches her dress.  “Morna, I won’t allow anything that harms you or my child, you understand that don’t you?”

Morna walks over to him wearing the bra and panty set and kisses him gently before wrapping her arms around him and nuzzling into his hard, perfect body.  “Darling, I know that.  I respect your right to feel that way.  That is why you will make the final decision.”  When he starts to speak she continues quickly, “But, I ask that you hear them out.  We should explore it thoroughly.  Let’s be sure it is truly too great of a risk before we refuse.  Fair enough?”

Luca reluctantly nods and caresses her face.  “You are the whole world to me.  You know that right?  You understand how protective I am of you, right?”

“I do love, and that is why the final decision is yours.  I know you will look out for me even better than I would.”  Morna says as she kisses him again and reluctantly walks over to put the jeans on.  “Besides, as my mate and father of my child, you deserve the right to decide.  But that doesn‘t mean that I won‘t want to know everything about what they are going to ask of me, and know all the risks.  This is important.  Please keep an open mind.”

“I promise that I will Morna.”  Luca says sincerely.

“Of course you will.  You are the fairest, most compassionate man that I know.”  Morna says as she struggles to pull the riding boots on.  Morna looks at herself in the mirror.  “I was afraid I would look like a tomato in this sweater, but the cut looks good on this distorted body.  You and Ingrid both have an excellent eye for what looks good on me.”  Morna eyes her mate.  He had dressed as well while they were talking.  He looks perfect in the black jeans, gray vee neck pullover sweater that hugs his powerful body like a lover and black boots.  As usual, the clothes he selected for himself compliments her appearance perfectly. 

“I have a gift I want to give you before they arrive.”  He walks over and puts a necklace around her neck.  Morna smiles as she looks down at it, resting above her breasts.  The pendant is a small sun fashioned from emeralds, and a crescent moon of aquamarine gemstones, wrapped around the sun.  “Luca it is lovely.”  Morna says with feeling.  She kisses him and says, “Thank you darling.  Our guests are almost here.”

CHAPTER THREE - RODRIGO WELBORN

Luca drops the buffer spell and calls out, “Come in Maria.”

Maria quickly comes to hug Morna and says, “It was a lovely ceremony.  Thank you for including me.  I was honored.”

Luca shakes George’s hand.  “Thank you brother for presiding over our ceremony for us.  You made it all the more special for us.”

“My pleasure, bro.”  George says happily.  He turns and indicates the man standing behind him.  “I want you guys to officially meet my Father.  This is Rodrigo Welborn, Stone Breaker of the Gila Order of the Anasazi.”

Luca chuckles harshly and says, “We have met.”

Rodrigo steps forward like a man in a trance.  He cannot take his eyes from Morna‘s face.  Like a man tortured, he rasps out, “I shouldn’t be here.  I am sorry.”  He turns to walk away, shoulders slumped.  Looking to all the world like a man totally without hope.

Morna moves lightning fast and gently places her hand on his shoulder to stop him from walking away.  The Stone Breaker reacts reflexively, and grasps her hand in an automatic movement, designed to break her arm.  But his eyes see her face and he drops his hands in shame.  “I have no right to be here.  Madam, I kept your mate from saving you from the witch Kyera.  Your children were viciously attacked because of my actions.  I didn’t mean any harm to you, but that doesn’t change the fact that your body was broken and you were nearly destroyed because of me.  I can still feel the pain you endured, it has deeply imprinted on your soul.  It was pure agony, physically and emotionally.  I have no right to ask any thing of you!” Rodrigo whispers, his voice laden with shame.

“Nonsense, Stone Breaker!  You were simply doing what you are genetically programmed to do.  However, when you actually met my mate face to face, and realized he was no threat to humanity, you walked away.  For that, I am grateful and I want to know exactly what it is that you need from me.”  Morna says with great compassion.  She gently leads the man to the loveseat and sits down, indicating that he should sit beside her.  Rodrigo looks to Luca, who grudgingly nods his assent.  Rodrigo sits stiffly beside Morna, looking very out of place beside her in his ragged jeans, old boots and tattered flannel shirt.

Morna quickly evaluates the man sitting beside her.  He is undeniably handsome.  His jet black hair is long and silky, if somewhat shaggy.  His features are so familiar.  He looks much like a darker version of her great grandfather Odin.  Morna understands that George must have been in deep denial to have not recognized Odin as his grandfather when first he met the Norse king of the gods. 

Rodrigo’s brilliant sapphire eyes glow with power, but are clouded by shame and deep and abiding pain.  His body is powerful.  His movements are graceful and catlike.  He reminds Morna of a black panther.  She is indeed grateful this man did not try to kill her mate.  Luca would have had his hands full protecting himself against Rodrigo.

Morna looks at Ingrid, “Ingrid, please have someone bring our guests refreshments.  And I am in need of sustenance and desire a coke.”  Ingrid turns to go get it.  “Ingrid, it’s not your job anymore.  Call Brynhold or someone else.”  Morna tells her number one telepathically.

“Sorry Morna.  It will take a little while for me to get used to my new role.” Ingrid tells her leader telepathically.  Morna smiles and returns her full attention to Rodrigo.

Rodrigo is watching Morna intently.  “You use telepathy?”

“I do.  It is a skill I just recently acquired.  I guess I am still pretty sloppy with it if you could detect it.”  Morna says with a chuckle.

“Not at all.  I can detect all telepathy.  I can even listen in to it when I so choose.  It’s a rare ability that some persons born of magic have.  I discovered it accidentally centuries ago.”  Rodrigo says.  “And an ancient vampire in Rome helped me develop it.  I can control it now.”

Morna smiles and says, “I suspected that some could hear it, even when it wasn’t intended for them.  It’s good to have my suspicions confirmed.  Once our refreshments arrive, we can put up a buffer spell and speak in privacy.  I am surprised that you speak fondly of an ancient vampire.  Small freaky world we live in, isn‘t it?”  Morna looks at Rodrigo and smiles, “I am glad to meet you, but I am very curious as to why you do not dwell with your mother, your son and others of your kind.  You seem to be a bit of a lone wolf.”

Maria and Rodrigo sharply draw a breath at her words.  Morna doesn’t realize just how accurate her assessment truly is.  Rodrigo smiles and says, “I see why my mother and my son are so devoted to you.  Despite the fact that you and your mate are both vampires, you radiate goodness.  I am so grateful that my little brother, Montoya, had told me about his time with you two.  He called you little sister, did you know that?”

“Yes, that is what he called me for years.  I called him my brother.  In that incarnation, we even looked enough alike to be mistaken for siblings.  I was born a petite Mexican girl in that life time,” Morna says with a chuckle.

“Montoya said that you were lovely on the outside, but truly beautiful on the inside.  Montoya would have laid his life down for you.”  Rodrigo says sadly, obviously thinking about the way his brother died at the hands of a vampire army in Mexico during the southern vampire wars.  “He told me that you nearly died protecting him from a grizzly bear that had been infected by a vampire.  He was in awe of your skill as a warrior.  I suspect your skills supersede that incarnation now.”

Morna chuckles, “Perhaps.”  She turns her head toward the tent flap and says, “Our refreshments are here.”  Surt enters and serves everyone present, except for Luca who has taken a position in a chair near his wife, and is watching the Stone Breaker carefully. 

Surt hands the large glass of blood to Morna and sets her frosty coke in a can, and an empty saucer on the coffee table before her.  “Madam, may I get anything else for you?  Would you like some food?”

Morna smiles and indicates the glass in her hands.  “Surt, this is all I need for now.  Thank you.  Please go get some rest.  We will not require anything else tonight.”  Surt smiles fondly at Morna and nods before exiting the tent. 

Morna erects a buffer spell and turns to face Rodrigo.  She smiles at him and then indicates the tall glass in her hand.  “Does this offend you, Stone Breaker?”

“No madam.  I know you need the sustenance.  I also know you would never kill a human for that sustenance,” Rodrigo says quietly.

“Rodrigo, I tore the throat out of my enemy this very morning in the realm of Mars, the Roman god of war.”  Morna says honestly, with more than a little twinge of guilt over her viciousness against the witch.

“But, you did not feed on the vile witch.  I would be able to sense it if you had.  Morna, I can sense every being whose life you ever ended, in all your incarnations.  Killing imprints on the soul.  I have rare abilities.”  Rodrigo says honestly.  “You have never enjoyed killing any sentient being.  You may be exhilarated by battle, but you don’t relish in taking life.  You feel shame that you need the blood to sustain you, and that is a waste of your energy and emotion.  There is no reason for you to feel shame over this.”

Morna carefully evaluates the man sitting before her.  “Rodrigo, I sense that you are a good man, but you have a very, very dark side.  You have murdered in rage, and relished in the taking of life.  It tortures you that you have done it, and I think you are seeking my help to stop.  I just can’t imagine how it is that I might be able to help.”  Morna drains her glass and sets it on the table.  She covers it with the saucer that Surt brought for that purpose.  She smiles that her staff is so closely in tune with her habits in such a short time.

Rodrigo tears his eyes away from Morna’s lovely face and looks at Lucian and chuckles softly.  “Lord Lucian, forgive my interference, but I have to tell her.  You know that she would want to know.” 

Rodrigo leans forward and whispers in Morna’s ear so quietly that only Morna and Luca can hear; “Morna do you realize how hotly your mate’s passion burns for you when he watches you drink blood?  His nature craves to kiss you deeply and taste the blood on your lips, and find the overwhelming ecstasy your body gives him.”  Rodrigo pulls back and chuckles softly because of the bright blush that colors her cheeks.

Morna looks at Lucian questioningly; he nods slightly to acknowledge the truth of Rodrigo’s words.  The fire rages in her body and it momentarily takes all of her concentration to bank the conflagration, and regain her absolute control over herself.  A split second later Morna has total control over herself again and looks at Rodrigo.  “Your unusual skill set makes you very, very good at playing with people’s heads.”

“I wasn’t playing with your head, Lady Morna.  I truly believed you would want to know.  But yes, my talents make me very good at getting into the mind of my enemies.” Rodrigo confesses.  “But I did want to know if you are still human enough and modest enough to blush at that bit of information.”  Rodrigo chortles and says, “I found your reaction enchanting and amazing.  You regained control over yourself faster than any person I have ever provoked.  I suspect you can control rage just as quickly.”

“She does.” Maria assures her son.  “Now Rodrigo, quit showing off and tell my friend why we are here.  We are ruining their honeymoon.  We damned well should get to the point.”

Rodrigo sighs, and says, “Yes mother, you are right.  Morna please forgive me.  I was distracted by you.  You are so much more than I was expecting.  Your mate told me in this very glen over a year ago that you were amazing.  He spoke truly.”

Morna looks at her mate and wonders about that conversation, but she quickly returns her attention to Rodrigo.  “I know you need my help, so tell me exactly what you need from me.”

“When I was young and in training to become the head shaman of our Order, I was attacked by a wolf that had been bitten by a vampire.  The resulting beast is what is known as a blood wolf.  They are vicious, blood thirsty beasts that attack and ravage beasts and humans alike.  I destroyed this animal but not before it bit me.  I was very ill for many months.  My mother worked tirelessly to heal me.  I survived the bite, but it changed me forever.” Rodrigo tells Morna.

“I assume you had ascended before this attack?”  Morna asks.

“Yes, I ascended at seventeen.  This attack occurred when I was twenty-one.” Rodrigo says quietly.

“Impressive.  My sister, my daughter and I all ascended at age 19, but we had been in training from a very young age.  Was it thus with you?” Morna asks.

“No.  Mother had no wish to embrace the magic of our heritage for many years.  I ascended spontaneously, like you did in this incarnation.  After my ascension, mother realized it was not wise to not know how to control our abilities, so she embraced the ways of our people.  She ascended when I was twenty.”  Rodrigo says softly.

Morna looks at Maria and understands why she looks as though she was in her thirties when she ascended.  “Maria, dear lady, just how old were you when you ascended?” Morna asks curiously.

“I was fifty-five.”  Maria chuckles.  “I was a very late bloomer.”

Morna chuckles and says, “Well you were a lovely fifty-five year old.”

“And you were a remarkably beautiful forty-nine year old.”  Luca says quietly.

“You are biased, my love,” Morna says with a self-deprecating scoff.  Morna returns her attention to Maria, “Odin called you a young girl when he talked about your affair.”

“I was sixteen when we began our affair.  We were lovers for nineteen years.” Maria admits with a smile.

Morna smiles as she imagines how passionate the pair of them must have been in those days.  She returns her attention to Rodrigo and is surprised that he is looking at Luca intently.  Morna looks at him as well, and wonders what is going on.

“Morna, our guest believes I should tell you that whenever you say or do something that bothers me.  I don’t think it is worth mentioning, but he insists that you would truly want to know.  That you always want to have all the information, even when it’s not pleasant.  I know that is true about you, so I will follow his advice and tell you that you should not dismiss me when I say complimentary things about you.  As Deidra you were beautiful.  Your inner beauty radiated from you like a beacon.  Even when your face and body were ravaged from the crash.  I know how humble you truly are Morna, but don’t dismiss me as being biased when I say you are lovely.  I may adore you, but I also have eyes to see what is right before me,” Luca says quietly.

Morna’s heart contracts at the thought of negligently hurting her mate like that, and leans over to kiss her mate gently before saying, “Fair enough, darling.  I promise to guard against that habit in the future.”  Luca smiles and nods and the couple returns their attention to Rodrigo.

Rodrigo smiles happily.  “Today is one of the rare days in which I truly enjoy being an empathic.  Thank you!”

Luca squeezes his mate’s hand and says, “Rodrigo, my curious mate sidetracked you from what you came to tell us, please continue.”

Rodrigo smiles sadly and says, “Well, I told you that the bite of the blood wolf had changed me permanently, and it did.  On every full moon I am transformed into a blood thirsty beast who will kill indiscriminately for three nights until the curse lifts as the cycle of the moon progresses.  Over the centuries I had learned how to place myself in a spell that keeps me immobilized until the change passes, but the last few cycles I have escaped my measures.  I have murdered three people in Eire, and ravaged several flocks of sheep.  Morna, I have tried several times over the years to kill myself, to end the curse.  I have tried repeatedly to cure myself, it’s all been futile.  I need your help.”