Beneath the Broken Moon: Part Two: Shifter/Vampire Romance (3 page)

“When will you take Lord Prescott’s hint and act more casually during private meetings? Sometimes you allow your manners to get in the way of business.” I glanced at the century-younger vampire and smirked.

Rolling his eyes, Elliot brushed my hand from his shoulder. “It’s not my fault. I have some humanity left in me, unlike some who will remain unnamed.”

“You do? Then why do you enjoy the politics of the council? Since when does that relate to anything humane?” I shook my head. “No, I don’t understand those who enjoy it. Not in this day and age. When the world was still whole and politics didn’t bring us to this level of depravity, sure, even I didn’t mind the game, but now...it disgusts me.”

I leaned closer to Elliot and spoke so softly I could barely hear myself. “Especially since some place themselves on moral high horses when really, what difference is there among the nocturnes when we’re all in the process of being exterminated like insects? No one looks at the threat humans pose. No one thinks to quit fighting amongst ourselves and work together.”

Elliot’s expression turned grim, and he shook his head. “How can you think that would be the answer? Not harming lesser nocturnes wouldn’t solve the problem. It would only make us appear weaker. We wouldn’t have our position of authority with the races we are at peace with.”

I balled my hands into fists. Elliot’s opinion was the popular one amongst vampires. They believed it was better to be powerful alone than to ally with the other races, but I thought my interaction with Carmela showed the potential for peace.

Not everyone was of the same mindset. We were the hunted, not the hunters, these days. Being centuries old and knowing how our ancestors had thrived frustrated me. We’d always had easy prey living amongst humans, but those days were firmly in the past. I lamented them because I had witnessed that paradise for myself; those days weren’t a fantasy to me as they were for some of my younger kin.

“You don’t understand the brainwashing you’ve been subjected to, Elliot. That’s all.”

Before I could react, he slammed me into the building next to us. Elliot’s face hovered before mine. His upper lip trembled with the effort to keep his fangs hidden as a light shade of pink flooded his cheeks. “
You
don’t understand. I know what’s going on with you—why you want change. I smelled
her
on your spare bed. No, don’t give me that look. I snooped because you made me suspicious. You should be ashamed of yourself.” He drew in a breath. “I, as your friend, gave my word that I wouldn’t tell anyone about your tryst with the lycanthrope. Maybe the reason you’re interested in becoming friends with everyone else is that you don’t want to hide your relationship with her. Maybe you don’t care about what it could do to our people.”

“And what would that be?” I glanced around the street, making sure no one was around to witness our discussion. “Having more unity, less pissing around with others, not holding firm to a Feud that no one knows the purpose of? How many years has it been going on? Not even Lord Prescott has said why the Feud continues. Perhaps even he doesn’t know, and he’s been around longer than you and I combined.” I shoved Elliot away from me, tired of him being in my face.

He stumbled back a few steps. Frustration drew his eyebrows together. “Fine. I have my doubts about it, but
I’m
not willing to throw away my people’s security for a wolf who might have been sent to eradicate us. But as your friend, I’ll let you make your own decision. Make sure it doesn’t drive all sense from you and get you killed.” He looked up into the cloudy night. “Don’t make me act on behalf of the High Council, especially now, with my promotion. You saved my life by turning me, and I don’t want to betray you. But I can’t be disloyal to Lord Prescott. He’d sense it.”

Frowning, I smoothed out the wrinkles from my shirt. “I don’t want to put you in that position. I’m not having relations with the w...” I scanned the darkness around us again, uneasy about having this conversation in public. There was no way of telling who could hear us. “Woman. However, I don’t think singling each other out is the best way to stay alive. We should try to do something about the situation we’re in instead of blaming others, especially since we know nothing about why the Feud is happening.”

“But if our elders saw fit...” Elliot raised his clasped fists toward me as if begging me to understand. But he let his hands slowly fall to his sides and shook his head. “You’re right. Perhaps we should figure out why our people are dying before bringing something like this to Lord Prescott. I wouldn’t know how to explain it. He has such a strict view on things.”

“You don’t have to be the one to tell him. Once we find out why Tom was killed, I can explain the reasoning behind my ideas. Hopefully he’ll listen, but if not, I won’t have to feel bad about getting you involved. Besides, Lord Prescott and I have an agreement letting me freely communicate my concerns to him.” Granted, that was before I started skipping High Council meetings left and right, but I didn’t think he would have me killed for speaking my mind. If that were the case, I would’ve been dead long ago. The only way Prescott might be convinced to kill me would be for disobedience. Actions like not showing up for meetings...or worse, helping an injured werewolf and developing feelings for her.

If Elliot remained true to his word about not telling the council, then I had no reason to fear. But what if Prescott discovered my deceit and ordered Elliot to talk? Elliot would sing like a bird about my relationship with Carmela. Maybe I did have reason for concern after all.

Pounding footsteps sounded on the sidewalk ahead, and I turned toward the noise. I didn’t want to deal with the
Cazador,
tonight of all nights.

Elliot froze in place, and his gaze searched the area.

A grinning vampire jogged toward us, flashing his fangs. Behind the vampire were three
Cazador,
huffing and puffing as they ran.

I rolled my eyes. This wasn’t what our kind needed, someone acting stupid just to show off.

One of the
Cazador
looked familiar. Anger darkened his eyes, and he removed his pistol from its holster. Digging into his pocket, he pulled out a glowing bullet that looked like it had sunlight radiating from it.

I jerked my head to the side, trying to get the vampire’s attention. If only I possessed telepathy instead of telekinesis, right now would’ve been an opportune time to use it. The young vampire ignored me, not heeding my silent warning.

“Die, bloodsucker,” the hunter said.

The gunshot exploded through the night air, and I had a moment to see the vampire’s eyes widen before he exploded into dust. The bullet flew through his ashy remains, straight toward us.

I pulled Elliot toward the building and pressed myself against the wall, not wanting the bullet to touch us. I had no idea what was in it, but whatever it was, it was lethal.

Elliot and I crossed the street to put space between ourselves and the
Cazador
. We could’ve died from the strange bullet. The hunters were still humans, but they grew more dangerous with each passing day.

CHAPTER FOUR

Brendan

The tender feel of Carmela’s hands on my skin brought my beast closer to the surface. I couldn’t wait to undergo the official ceremony and take her as my mate. She made me feel so many emotions that I’d never felt for anyone else.

I drew her in for another hug before letting go. We stared into each other’s eyes, neither of us moving to leave. While I knew she was right and that we should get her home, I didn’t want to the night to be over.

The bang of a single gunshot sent shivers down my spine. It sounded so final, so definite. A growl rumbled in my chest before I caught myself. “Let’s go. That hunter could come back. I don’t want you to be spotted.” She would be my mate. It was my job to keep her safe, regardless of her Militia training.

“Yes, you’re right.” Her voice trembled, and she looked physically shaken.

I rested my hand on her uninjured shoulder. “Are you okay? They hit you hard. If you need to see Dr. Matthews, I can send for him once we reach your home.”

She smiled, but it looked more like a wince. I should’ve thought about getting her seen sooner. Her shoulders were bunched up, and pain tightened the corners of her lips and eyes. She seemed to consider my offer for a moment, but shook her head. “No, thank you.”

“Let me know if you change your mind.” I offered her my arm, and she placed her hand on the crook of my elbow.

“Thank you.” She walked with me, jumping at each bump in the night. It made me increasingly on edge. Then a feeling of being watched crept over me.

Across the street, the dark-haired vampire we’d seen earlier strolled along with another vampire. The other one turned his gaze to us. A smirk tugged at his lips, but he kept his fangs hidden. Carmela’s fingers bit into my arm, and I placed my hand on hers, trying to comfort her.

She looked up at me, loosening her grip as if remembering I was there too. Looking ahead, I saw the
Cazador
who had shot her walking toward us, seeming pleased about something. His gaze rose and Carmela gasped. A second passed before recognition lit up his eyes and he reached for his gun.

I swirled around, pushing Carmela ahead of me, and we darted back toward the restaurant where we’d eaten dinner.

She ran, but it was plain to see the pain weighing down her movements. She tried holding her arm in place so it wouldn’t jerk around too much. The idea of tossing her over my shoulder and taking off crossed my mind, but that would take a moment away from the chase, a moment that might cost us dearly. Besides, I didn’t want to injure her further. But her life was more important than momentary pain. Once we were out of sight, I’d sweep her off her feet and get her to safety.

“Just go without me,” she said, pain clear in her voice. “I’m slowing you down.”

“No. I’m not leaving you to fend for yourself.”

More voices shouted behind us, making all kinds of excited yells. The hunter’s buddies had come along for the party after all.

She turned a corner at full speed. The high heel she wore snapped, sending her crashing to the ground. I yanked her to her feet without stopping. She kicked off the other heel toward a pile of trash. There was the crunch of broken glass underfoot, and she cried out.

I scooped her into my arms and continued running.

Two dark figures blocked the exit of the alleyway. How could the hunters have gotten there so quickly? That didn’t make sense. Heavy clomping footfalls echoed from behind us.

As I ran closer, the scent of death filled my nose. Vampires.

“Hurry. Follow us,” the vampire from earlier said in a harsh whisper.

“Why should we trust you?” I hissed.

A loud bang echoed in the alleyway, and I jerked to the side as a bullet narrowly missed us. “Fine, but don’t give me a reason to tear your heads from your shoulders.”

“This is a waste of time,” the second vampire said. He ran off, his steps swift and light as he headed south, to the area of town where werewolves frequently resided.

“We’ll follow you,” I said, looking down at Carmela. A shard of glass stuck out from her foot, and she bit her lower lip to keep from making any more sounds.

I easily kept pace with the two vampires as we nearly flew through the night, much faster than what the
Cazador
could manage. Filthy humans. They hadn’t been able to assault us; we’d been lucky this time.

The loud bang of gunfire startled me. Carmela looked over my shoulder with wide eyes. The bullet whipped through the air, and I yelled as my knees gave way and Carmela spilled from my arms. I reached for her, desperate to keep her safe.

The vampire from earlier grabbed Carmela, while the other one pulled me into his arms and kept moving. My hackles rose at being touched by him, but there was nothing I could do. For some reason they’d decided to help us.

“Lycanthropes. You’re just not as quick as we are,” the vamp carrying me said.

CHAPTER FIVE

Derek

Pain tightened Carmela’s face. Something about her made me want to cradle her close and not let go. What was I doing? I’d gotten Elliot involved in all of this, and he was a senior High Council member now.

I could detach from my feelings and tell myself that advising Lord Prescott and the High Council about uniting the nocturnal community was a matter of politics and smart thinking. But holding Carmela close and breathing in her scent, I knew this was more personal than I’d convinced myself.

Perhaps Elliot was right. Was I doing this for a chance at being with Carmela? I didn’t know.

Elliot stood beside me with the werewolf flung over his shoulder. He held the male like a sack of potatoes rather than a vicious beast in human form. Then again, there wasn’t any difference between the person Elliot carried and the one I held. After all, if I fought for equality among the races, and for the community to come together, how could I act untoward to her future mate?

I saw how close they were earlier, how he’d positioned his hand on Carmela’s shoulder possessively. But I didn’t have any right to think I could stake a claim. Our people would kill us if we were found out. Besides, she seemed pretty content with him.