Moon Thrall (3 page)

“They’re dead.”

Kane’s statement had Court frowning. “When and how?”

“Her first year at UCLA.” Kane leaned forward, his brow furrowed as his gaze scanned the computer screen. “I can’t get to the police report, but the newspaper article states there was a car accident. Mr. Parrish was driving and the car flipped, going into the ocean. Both of Skye’s parents were killed.”

Riley stood next to Kane. “How tragic.”

“It also appears the Parrishs didn’t have as much money as they let on. All of their properties, cars, jewels, and most of their belongings had to be sold to cover their debt after their death.”

Court couldn’t imagine having that kind of money and then losing it. It made him look at Skye Parrish differently.

“That’s about it, at least from what I could dig up,” Kane said.

Court didn’t believe that for a minute. “There’s more. There’s always more.”

“That’s what I’m for,” Riley said. “I’ll suss it out of her quick enough.”

Kane looked up from the computer screen. “No doubt you will, Riley, but don’t trust her. She’s looking for a story. Any story.”

“Heard. Loud and clear.”

Court stood. “Time’s a wastin’. Let’s get moving. The sooner we find Skye Parrish, the sooner we can figure out what she’s looking for.”

Kane closed the laptop and got to his feet. “I think we should let Riley take the lead. You and I will hang back and observe.”

“Sure.”

The three left Kane’s apartment. As soon as they reached the streets, Riley went ahead of them. They were staying in the French Quarter. If Skye wanted to find something, that’s the place she would look.

Riley was about fifty steps in front of them. As he kept his eye on her, Court wondered how long it would take for the remaining Chiasson brothers to realize that Beau had found his sister weeks ago and was keeping it from the rest of them.

If Court were in their shoes, he would be furious. Then again, Beau was looking out for his sister. He knew she was safe. That was the only reason he hadn’t told his brothers.

What Riley didn’t know was that Solomon and Beau talked every week. As long as Beau was getting regular reports on his sister, he would keep his mouth shut about where she was.

All Court could hope for was that Riley never found out what Solomon was doing. If she did, she might leave and then no one would know where she was. Given that she was a Chiasson with a need to fight the supernatural in her blood, she could get herself into all kinds of trouble.

“What’s got you all sour?” Kane asked.

Court jerked his chin to Riley. “Her.”

“We are some kind of blessed not to have had a sister.” Kane blew out a long breath. “I can’t imagine growing up with one. Riley is blood, but I didn’t have to watch her growing up while keeping her away from the monsters – and men.”

Court cut him a look. “Do you think it’ll be any better if Myles and Addison ever have a daughter?”

“Oh shit. You just had to make me think of that.” Kane gave a firm shake of his head. “I’m never having kids. Ever. Or a wife. I don’t need that kind of constant worry and strain.”

Court was nodding in agreement. Life was hard enough as a LaRue. Adding a female into the mix only complicated things further.

Myles had gotten lucky with Addison. Solomon...he hadn’t been so fortunate. He knew firsthand the sorrow of being a LaRue in love.

C
HAPTER
T
HREE

Skye kept her clothes simple and plain. She wanted to blend in and observe, not draw attention. She wore a black long-sleeved shirt with a cowlneck and black jeans. Her hair was pulled back in a low ponytail. She wore no jewelry other than her thick silver necklace, and she didn’t carry a purse. Her cell phone was in her pocket, along with a few twenties.

“Still nervous?” Matthew asked from beside her.

They stood across the street from The Viper’s Nest, a known vampire hangout. She gave Matthew a dark look, but inside, she was a shaking bundle of nerves.

She was petrified, though she would never let Matthew know just how much vampires scared her.

“A brave face,” he murmured. “You’re going to need it in there.”

Skye took a deep breath. Humans went into the Viper’s Nest all the time. Most came out just as they had gone in, but there were others who never came out at all. Some went in knowing exactly what the Viper’s Nest was and were ready to willingly give their blood to a vamp.

She gagged at the thought. Why did movies and TV shows make vampires out to be sexy, romantic figures? They were monsters that fed off blood. And killed.

Without a conscience.

After waiting for a car to pass, Skye crossed the street and strode to the door of the Viper’s Nest. Matthew reached the door before her and held it open.

She walked inside and was deafened by the music. It was hard rock, the kind where the singers screamed rather than sang. Matthew guided her to the left as she looked to the dance floor where a number of people were gyrating sexually.

Matthew suddenly jerked her to the right. Skye whirled around, ready to tell him not to be so rough, when she realized he’d moved her out of the way of a group of males who surrounded a young woman with blond hair. She was completely naked and letting them touch her. Everywhere.

Skye was shaking by the time she and Matthew reached the bar. She thought it would be a safe place, but there was no safe place in this club.

“We can leave now,” Matthew leaned down to say in her ear.

She wanted nothing more than to get to the door as fast as she could, but she’d promised Helen an article on the vampires. What had she been thinking? Oh, Skye knew exactly what had led her to agree to such a thing. It was seeing her name and picture next to the words she had written.

It was a heady thing, having a dream come true. Though it might very well lead to her death.

Skye shook her head. “I have to stay.”

“It’s a mistake,” Matthew mumbled and ordered her a draft beer.

She knew it was a risk. Her editor knew exactly where she was going though, and there was a file that would automatically be sent to Helen if Skye didn’t key in the password by eight A.M.

Journalists who went into the middle of a combat zone knew they might die. Skye was in the middle of a war herself. Only hers had supernatural beings such as vampires, Djinn, and witches. So far, she had steered clear of the Voodoo faction, and as far as she knew, she had yet to see any werewolves.

But both were on her list to get to know.

Skye made sure not to put her beer down. She drank it slowly as she made mental notes of everything about the club and the people in it.

She had no idea how long she’d sat there before she realized that Matthew was gone and her beer was empty. Skye set the glass aside and looked for Matthew, but he was nowhere to be found. She was about to get up and leave when two large men boxed her in. An uneasy feeling overtook her as she looked up into their faces.

They were dangerous looking, rough. She knew without having to be told that they were vampires. And, unfortunately, they had taken an interest in her.

Skye belatedly realized that one of them had been drinking from the neck of a Creole woman earlier. However, there was no sign of that woman now. The vampire’s hair was black and thick as it hung to his chin. His eyes were beady, and the gold hoop earring in his left ear was mesmerizing.

“Going somewhere?” he asked.

Skye pointed to her drink. “I’ve had my limit, and I’m supposed to meet a friend down the street.”

She tried to get up again, but they pushed her down, none too gently. Skye’s heart pounded in her chest, dread turning her blood to ice.

“You want to be with us,” said the second man.

She swiveled her head to him and forgot who or where she was for a moment. He had a look about him that spoke of ancient times, snow-capped mountains, and wealth. His hair was deep mahogany and parted on the side. He smiled crookedly, stroking her cheek.

“You do want to be with us, don’t you?”

~

“Damn,” Court said when he saw Skye nod her head at the vampire.

Kane touched his arm and slipped out of the bar. Court managed to reach Riley before she got close to Skye. He turned his cousin to the door and put her in a position that would allow her to leave in a hurry if needed.

Court remained in the bar. For the past two hours, he had been watching Skye Parrish study everyone. She was so intent on catching every detail that she’d missed the most crucial one – the fact that she was drawing attention to herself.

The man who’d stood beside her most of the night had left without a word. Court couldn’t wait to get his hands on the bastard. Only the slimiest of assholes left a woman defenseless, especially in a place like the Viper’s Nest.

Skye had drawn the attention of two of the most powerful vampires in the bar. Many of the vamps were trying to get near her, but the two with her now had stopped any of the others from getting close.

The wolf within Court yearned to be free, wanted to clamp his jaws down on their throats. The need was so overwhelming that Court found himself about to shift right there.

He shook his head and focused on Skye. The two vamps had her on her feet, flanking her as they walked her to the door. If they got her out of the bar, there was a chance they could spirit her away, and that would be the end of Skye Parrish.

Court waited for them to pass before he set aside his full glass of beer and followed them. He stopped the door before it closed on him and stepped out into the humid night air.

The vampires were so intrigued by their new catch they had no idea Court was following them, or that Kane was on one side of the street while Riley was on the other.

For the next four blocks, Court slowly gained on them until he was only a couple of steps behind. Suddenly, the tall vamp with the gold earring whirled around.

Jacques’ eyes blazed for a moment before he recognized Court. “What do you want, wolf?”

“The woman.”

The two vampires laughed. Court joined in while Skye stood silently staring straight ahead, completely unaware of what was going on around her.

“I’m not kidding,” Court said.

Anton turned to the side and tilted his head. “The Viper’s Nest is neutral territory.”

“That doesn’t mean you can forcefully leave with a human.”

“She wants to come with us,” Jacques argued.

Court lifted a brow as he looked at Skye. “Right. And you didn’t use your mind control to get her to do what you wanted.”

Anton wrapped his arm around Skye and turned her so that she faced Court. “We’re not making her do anything. Ask her.”

Skye’s eyes weren’t dilated or unfocused. She met Court’s gaze. “I want to go with them.”

“What’s your name?” he asked her.

Jacques stepped in front of Skye. “Why can’t you believe that some humans want to be with us?”

“Because some of them might not want to have all of their blood drained or to become a vampire,” Court retorted.

Anton pulled Skye closer to him. “By the rules of the city, if she wants to come with us, you can’t interfere.”

The two vampires began to turn around, taking Skye with them again. Court didn’t know how they had gotten Skye to comply so easily, but he wasn’t going to stand by and let the vamps take her.

“Release her. Now,” Court demanded.

Jacques turned, his lips peeled back to show his fangs as he hissed. Kane ran from across the street and rammed a shoulder into Jacques, sending both of them crashing into a store window. Glass shattered everywhere.

Anton dropped his arm from around Skye and glared at Court. “You’ve made a deadly mistake, wolf. Now you’ll pay for it with your life.”

Court dodged the vampire’s fangs and jammed his fist in Anton’s stomach. He tried to keep the vampire away from Skye, but Anton kept trying to reach her and throw her over his shoulder.

With no other choice, Court fought near the woman who stood staring blankly at them. Court got off two quick punches to Anton’s face as they circled each other. He was ready to land a third when Anton stepped back, right into Skye.

They toppled over with Anton landing heavily upon Skye. As much as Court wanted to kill the vampire, he couldn’t. Not without proof that they’d used some kind of magic on Skye.

While he couldn’t kill the bloodsucker, he could beat him plenty. He jerked Anton off Skye. With every punch he landed, Court felt better. There was nothing like beating up on a vampire.

Suddenly, both Anton and Jacques were gone. Court wiped the blood from his split lip as he looked at Kane, who was bent over, his hands upon his knees.

Riley walked out of the shadows. “Three vampires paused long enough to see what was going on, but it was one of Delphine’s people who was observing from the far corner that worries me.”

“Let them watch,” Kane said and straightened.

Court walked to Skye and knelt beside her. Her eyes were closed. She lay unmoving. He had the urge to take down her carefully styled black hair. Even more annoying, he had the irresistible urge to hear her voice.