Dark Moon (21 page)

“You look very pretty today, little Lycan.”

She flushed prettily.  “Thank you, Kaden.”  Despite the coldness of the air, she was wearing a light green dress that hugged her full breasts and accentuated the curve of her hips.  He had only seen her in a dress once before, the night of his birthday, and he could feel his cock stiffening as he remembered how the night had ended.

She adjusted the shawl she was wearing over the dress and wrapped it a bit tighter around her.

“Are you cold?”  He asked.  He reached for the jacket he had draped next to Ian.

She shook her head and stopped him from grabbing it.  “No, you know I don’t get cold.”

He nodded and when she tried to let go of his hand, he held it firmly, linking their fingers together.

Sophia squeezed his hand gently and stared at the buildings of the town rising in the distance.  She tried not to let her moroseness show.  She was in love with Kaden, she knew that without a doubt, and he would be leaving after the wedding.  They hadn’t spoken of it in days and she was afraid to bring it up.  If she stayed quiet, she could pretend for a little longer that Kaden loved her in return and wouldn’t leave her.

As they drove down the main road of the town, he squeezed her hand.  “Are you alright?”

“Aye.”

He gave her a troubled look and then lifted her hand to his mouth, kissing her knuckles gently.  She looked behind her.  Dani was starting to wake and quickly she leaned forward and kissed him on the mouth.  He kissed her back, one big hand cupping her face as they kissed, and she nipped him lightly on the lower lip before breaking away from him.

He winked at her as he pulled in front of the large stables at the outskirts of the town.  As Dani yawned and sat up, Sophia lifted her head when a fleeting scent caught her attention.

“What is it?”  Kaden asked.

“Lycan.”  She replied.

“There are Lycans who live in town.”  Ian’s gravelly voice said from behind them.  He had woken from his light doze and was looking around curiously.

She smiled at the old man.  “Aye.  You’re right.  I’m just being paranoid.”

“I’m going to talk to the stable master.  Kaden, I want you to meet him.  He knows tons about horses and he might have a solution for Bella’s leg.”  Ian said as he jumped down from the wagon.

Bella, one of Tristan’s favourites, had been limping and favouring her left foreleg for over a week now.  Kaden jumped down and quickly went around the wagon to lift Sophia down.  She smiled her thanks as he lifted Dani down next.

“Thanks.”  Dani said quietly without looking at him.

Sophia felt another trickle of guilt go through her.  Dani was still hurt by the realization that she and Kaden were sleeping together, and it bothered Sophia more than she wanted to admit.  She was not particularly close to her human cousin, but she did love her and had no desire to cause her pain.

“Come, Dani.”  She held her hand out to the young woman.  “We will go and get the supplies that Bree needs.”

Dani stood next to her but didn’t take her hand and Sophia dropped it to her side before giving Kaden a weak smile.  “We will meet you in half an hour at the restaurant alright?”

Kaden nodded and as he and Ian turned toward the stables, Sophia gave Dani a cheerful smile.  “Ready?”

“Yes.”  Dani glanced quickly at Kaden’s retreating back before following Sophia across the street.

* * *

“My lord.  She is here.”  Terrence said quietly as he entered the hotel room.

Draken whirled around and stared at him.  “Are you sure?”

“Yes.  I saw her myself.”

“Is she alone?”

“No, my lord.  There are two others with her.”

Draken paced back and forth in front of the large fireplace.  “Human or Lycan?”

“One is a Lycan, an elder, and the other is human.”

“Good.  When did you see them?”

“Just now.  I watched until they arrived at the stables and then came straight back here.”  Terrence replied.

“We will kill the other two and take her.  By the time the others find out she is missing, we will be at my home and I will have mated with her.  The gods willing, she’ll already be carrying my pup when her family arrives to try and save her.”

“My lord – “ Terrence hesitated and Draken gave him an impatient look.

“What is it?”

“The slave, Kaden, is with her.”

“Is he?  How interesting.”  Draken said softly.

“I believe that the woman and the slave are – are together.”

Draken’s nostrils flared angrily and he stomped across the room towards Terrence.

Terrence cringed back as Draken stopped in front of him. “How do you know this?”

“They kissed, my lord.”

Draken swore violently before pushing Terrence to the floor with a hard shove.  “She is mine!  How dare he take what belongs to me!  I will kill him.”

“Yes, my lord.”  Terrence whispered fearfully as Draken loomed over him.  Draken was starting to swell, his fingernails lengthening and his eyes glowing a deep red as his anger grew.

He yanked Terrence to his feet, his fingernails ripping holes into the Lycan’s shirt as he pulled him close.  “Go to the forest and gather our brothers.  We will kill the human and the Lycan and take Sophia.”

He shoved Terrence towards the door of the room.  “Go, you fool!  Quickly!”

* * *

“Dani?”  Sophia gave her cousin a small smile.  “I’m sorry.”

Dani sighed impatiently as they left the store and walked down the street.  “Stop apologizing, cousin.  Kaden loves you and you love him.  It’s not your fault that I’m in love with him too.”

“If you want to talk  – “

“Stop, Sophia.”  Dani said sharply.  “You’re the last person I want to talk with about my feelings for Kaden.”

“Of course.  I’m sorry.”  Sophia replied.

Dani shook her head.  “If you say you’re sorry once more, I’ll punch you.  I swear I will.”

Sophia snickered a little and Dani gave her a rueful look. “I just – I need time alright, cousin?  I’ll get over it with time.”

A wave of depression washed over Sophia.  Kaden would be leaving in just a few weeks.  Perhaps she and Dani could nurse their broken hearts together.  She rubbed at her forehead, a grimace crossing her face, and Dani frowned.  “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.  Just tired, I guess.  We should hurry.  It’s almost time to meet Kaden and Ian at the restaurant, and then we need to drive the wagon to the store to pick up the supplies.  Kaden wants to be home before dark.”  Sophia replied.

“Let’s take the alley.”  Dani suggested.  “It’ll be faster.”

“Aye, you’re right.”  Sophia ducked down the alley.  She moved quickly and Dani panted lightly as she struggled to keep up.

“Gods, Sophia.  Slow down. Not all of us have legs as long as yours.”  She complained.

Sophia laughed as she started to exit the alley.  “I’m hungry and ready for – “

She trailed off as she gazed down the street, her face paling. 

“Sophia?  What is it?”  Dani asked as she drew closer.

Without looking at her, Sophia made a shushing motion with her hand.  “Be quiet, Dani!”  She hissed.  “Stay in the alley.”

“What?  Why?”  Dani whispered.

“Draken is here.  He has Ian and Kaden.”  She muttered between barely-moving lips.

Dani made a soft cry of dismay.  “Get back, Sophia.”

“It’s too late.”  She murmured just as Dani heard a deep voice call out merrily.

“Hello, my pretty! Have you missed me?”

“Stay there.”  Sophia whispered again.  “Don’t let them see you.”

“Sophia, no…” Dani moaned but Sophia stepped out of the alley and disappeared down the street.

Dani hesitated and then crept to the mouth of the alley.  She pressed up against the rough wood of the building and cautiously poked her head out.  She moaned low in her throat and pressed herself even tighter against the building.

Sophia took a deep breath and moved down the street.  It was dismayingly empty and she swallowed back her terror as she stared at Kaden.  Both he and Ian were on their knees in the street.  Ian had a gash over his left eye and Kaden’s face was bruised and swelling.  Draken was standing between them and he was swinging her sword idly in one hand. 

“Is this your sword, my pretty one?”  Draken drawled as she slowed to a stop twenty feet from them.

She didn’t reply and he grinned at her.  “I’ve never met Lycans who use human weapons before.  What’s the point?”

She continued to remain silent and a look of anger crossed his face before he glanced behind him.  Sophia could see another ten Lycans gathered in a loose cluster behind them and he nodded to one of the bigger ones. 

The Lycan stepped forward and Draken showed him the sword.  “Have you seen Lycans use human weapons, Terrence?”

The dark-haired Lycan shook his head and Draken turned to Sophia, dismissing him completely.  “I found this in the back of your wagon.  I suppose there’s no place to put a sword when you’re wearing a dress.”

He looked her up and down, his grin widening, and his blue eyes starting to turn red.  “You look lovely today.  Step closer, please.”

“Stay where you are, Sophia.”  Kaden growled.

Draken scowled and Sophia cried out in dismay when he drove the end of the sword handle in to Kaden’s back.  Kaden gave a hoarse cry of surprise and pain as he was driven forward.

Ian growled as thick, black hair sprouted on his face.  His eyes turned a dark yellow and his shirt began to tear along the arms as his body swelled.

“Shift old man and I’ll gut you like a fish.”  Draken said quietly.

“Don’t, Ian.”  Kaden said as he straightened his back.  “Stay calm.”

“Sophia.”  Draken spoke softly.  “Come to me.”

Sophia took a step forward and Kaden glared at her.  “No, Sophia.  Run, right now.”

“Listen to your mate, Sophia!”  Ian snapped.  “The Lycan has gone mad.  I can smell it on him.  He’ll kill all of us anyway.  Go!”

Draken sighed irritably.  “Shut up, old man.”  He gripped Sophia’s sword tightly and with an almost lazy flick of his wrist, sliced Ian’s head from his body.

Sophia stared in horrified shock as Ian’s head fell to the dirt.  His eyes were still open and she watched the light fade from them.  She shrieked with rage and sorrow as Kaden stared in disbelief at Ian’s headless body.  Ian’s body stayed upright for nearly thirty seconds and then fell forward with a soft thump.  Blood poured from the headless stump of his neck and pooled under his body as Kaden roared with anger and leaped to his feet.  He dove at Draken and the Lycan snarled loudly and grabbed the big man’s throat.  His fingernails dug into Kaden’s neck and he squeezed tightly before forcing Kaden back to his knees.  Sophia could see blood dripping down Kaden’s neck, and she screamed again as she took a few staggering steps forward.

“Get over here now or watch him die.”  Draken spat.

“Sophia, don’t – “

Kaden choked out before Draken squeezed again.  He watched as Kaden’s face turned purple before tracing the sword, its blade splattered with Ian’s blood, across Kaden’s chest.

“Do you want to watch him die as well, my pretty?”

Sophia shook her head and approached Draken.  She glanced down at Ian’s body as tears poured down her face.  Draken smiled at her with false sympathy.

“There, there, my pretty one.  Don’t cry.  He was an old Lycan.”

“I’m going to kill you.”  She whispered raggedly.

Draken’s hand, which had relaxed around Kaden’s neck, tightened again and Kaden made another choking, gasping noise.  She could feel the shift happening, the colours around her sharpening and her muscles tightening.  Her sense of smell heightened and she took a deep breath, inhaling the tangy scent of Kaden’s fear and the metallic smell of Ian’s blood.  It drove her need to shift higher.  Draken would try and take Kaden from her.  He would kill her mate if she didn’t stop him.

“If you shift, I will kill your lover right here.”  Draken said softly.  He held the tip of her sword over Kaden’s heart.  “Do you understand?”

Her body continued to swell as her teeth lengthened and sharpened.  She growled low in her throat and Draken pressed the sword into Kaden’s chest.  Bright blood blossomed through his shirt.  Sophia threw her head back and howled loudly at the sight and smell of her mate’s blood.

Dimly she was aware of people gathering in the street, and Draken’s pack quickly surrounded the three of them.  They growled and snapped at the town people who were drawing close, and the humans gave shouts of alarm before retreating.

She took a deep breath and willed herself to stop shifting.  Draken eyed her coolly, nodding his approval when she stayed in her human form, and pulled the sword tip from Kaden’s chest.  Keeping his hand around Kaden’s throat, he nodded to the Lycan called Terrence.

“The collar, Terrence.  Put it on her.”

Sophia, her eyes on Kaden, didn’t resist when Terrence locked the silver collar around her throat.  She didn’t react when Draken released Kaden and pulled her roughly into his arms.  Three members of his pack held Kaden firmly on his knees as Draken nuzzled and kissed Sophia’s throat.

“You smell of him.  His scent covers you.”  He said quietly.  “That you would mate with a human should disgust me but it does not.  Such is your power over me, my pretty Lycan.  Soon enough, it will be my scent that covers your skin.”

He reached down and rested his hand on her abdomen as she continued to stare at Kaden.  “My pup that grows in your belly.”

He took her cold hand in his and squeezed it lightly.  “Come, it is many days travel to your new home.”

He began to lead her away as Terrence cleared his throat.  “My lord, what do we do with the slave?”

Draken glanced back at Kaden.  “Bring him with us, of course.  We always have a need for slaves.  Besides, it will please me to have him watch as her belly swells with my pup.”

Terrence nodded and Sophia watched helplessly as they shackled Kaden’s wrists with heavy chains and slipped a leather collar around his neck.

“Come, pretty one.  You must forget about your love for the human.  You belong to me now.”  Draken whispered as he led her towards the trees.

Chapter 20