Moon Thrall (5 page)

Skye was shaking her head before she finished. “I never set my drink down. I know better.”

“The witches wouldn’t be involved,” Minka said. “So don’t even think of blaming them, Kane.”

Kane shot her a dark look. “I put blame where blame goes.”

With a loud sigh, Minka turned to them. “The witches aligned with the werewolves to take down...” She paused and glanced at Skye. “To do that thing. That was the exception to the rule. The witches never align with anyone.”

“She’s right,” Court said. “The witches wouldn’t help the vampires.”

Minka lifted her chin, a small smile about her lips. “Then there is that.”

Skye felt as if she were in a dream where everyone talked around her, excluding her on purpose.

“That leaves the Djinn and weres,” Kane said.

Riley chuckled. “We can cross out the weres.”

“Magic was used,” Minka said. “That’s the only explanation.”

Skye’s mind was in a whirl. “Wait. I thought vampires could use some kind of mind control on their victims.”

“They can,” Court said. “But it isn’t allowed.”

She couldn’t help but laugh. “Allowed? These are vampires we’re talking about.”

“Who are strictly controlled within the city,” Riley said.

Kane looked away from her with distaste. “Something you forgot to mention in your articles.”

“I didn’t mention it because I didn’t know. I’m still learning.”

Court said, “Which is what almost got you killed tonight.”

“I had Matthew,” she said. “I pay him to accompany me to places like the Viper’s Nest and keep others away.”

Minka tucked a long, dark curl behind her ear. “Why would you take Matthew? Who is he?”

“I took him because he’s...” Even though there had been talk of all the factions, Skye was embarrassed to state what Matthew was.

Kane yawned. “Spit it out.”

“He’s a vampire,” Skye said and made a face at Kane.

She was reduced to acting childish with a grown man who despised her. When was the nightmare going to end?

Court’s phone vibrated. He pulled it out of his pocket and read the text.

Skye shifted her feet. “Look. I’ve answered your questions, and I’m obviously no help. I need to get back to the city and look for Matthew. He’s never left me before, and I’m going to demand my money back.”

“Don’t bother,” Court said as he lowered his phone and looked at her with his gorgeous eyes. “Matthew is dead. The police found him three blocks from the club with all his blood drained.”

Skye blinked, not understanding. “Since when do vampires drink the blood of another vampire?”

“They don’t,” Minka said.

Kane dropped his arms, his nostrils flaring as he blew out a breath. “Matthew was human.”

C
HAPTER
F
IVE

It was clear to Court that Skye was shocked at the news that Matthew wasn’t a vampire. He took a half-step toward her when her eyes went wide.

“That’s not possible,” she mumbled.

That got Minka’s attention. “Why not?”

As if Skye realized she had spoken out loud, she shook her head. “I need to get back to the city.”

“Hold on,” Riley said. “What made you think Matthew was a vampire?”

Court watched Skye closely. He was mesmerized by the curve of her jaw and her amazing mouth. Her smooth skin glowed in the moonlight, making him want to stroke her face again.

Her throat moved as she swallowed, and she glanced at the bayou again. “I’ve done research.”

But Court knew it was more than that. By the way Skye refused to look at anyone, he suspected she’d had a run-in with a vamp before.

“What research?” Kane asked with a sneer. “Movies? Watching them in their club?”

Court shot his brother a dark look. He understood why Kane had become a hard, easily angered person, but Skye didn’t. Court caught Skye’s gaze. “I’ll drive you home.”

“I know you all think I’m crazy, but I have to write these articles,” Skye said. “People need to know what’s out there.”

Minka turned her back to the porch railing and crossed her arms over her chest. “You really think that? How do you think the city would be if everyone knew about vampires and witches? Do you think we would still be a mecca for tourism? Do you think everyone would just continue on as they are?”

“There would be chaos,” Kane added.

Riley nodded. “Riots, too. Not to mention murders. Everyone would fear their neighbor, worry they might be a monster.”

Skye’s spine was straight as she listened to them. She didn’t cower, didn’t agree. Which made Court think that something had happened to her. If he could find out what that was, it would help him understand her and her need to report on the supernatural.

Kane said, “You need to stop the articles.”

When Skye didn’t bother to respond, Court held out his hand to Riley for the keys. She sent a troubled looked to Skye as she handed them over.

Court gave a nod of thanks to Minka and turned to walk around the porch and down the stairs. He would be back to pick up Riley and Kane, unless Kane took to the woods with the Moonstone wolves.

Once Skye was buckled in the seat of the truck, she crossed her arms over her chest and stared out the windshield. Court started the engine and backed up the vehicle before driving through the grass between the trees.

“How are you feeling?” he asked.

“The aspirin has dulled most of the pain.”

He recalled how hard she had hit the pavement. “You’re likely to have quite the bump.”

“I already do.”

Court inhaled deeply and swerved to miss a skunk and her three babies, causing him to drive around a group of live oaks.

“Thank you,” Skye said. “I didn’t say that back there. I know that makes me look ungrateful.”

“You were on the defensive. I understand.”

Her head turned to him. “Do you? Why? Why did you help me? Why were you even at the Viper’s Nest?”

With as smart of a journalist as Skye was, Court knew he had to answer her or take his chances that she’d find out on her own. Perhaps if he made his case well enough, she might back off. It was a long shot, but one he had to take.

“I was there because of you.” He glanced at her, the truck rocking as they drove through a muddy section. There was just enough ambient light for him to see her brow rise.

“For me?” she repeated, shaking her head. She returned her gaze forward. “Let me guess. The articles?” she asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Court grinned despite the situation. Skye’s annoyed tone sounded so similar to Riley’s. “We’re not the only ones who are noticing you. As you know, New Orleans is a dangerous city.”

“Why are you interested in my articles? The truth, if you please.”

“We told you back at the house. You’re bringing attention to yourself that is going to get you killed.”

“I’ve thought of that. There are contingencies in place for the police to track down my killer – no matter what or who it is.”

Court pulled the truck onto the dirt road. “Seriously? That’s your answer? You’re a piece of work. We’re trying to help you.”

“No. You’re stifling the people’s right to know.”

Court slammed on the brakes, and Skye’s head snapped toward him. He jerked his head to her, tired of playing it nice. It was time she had the hard truth. “If you paid a little more attention to things, you might realize the supernatural extends far past a few sections of the city. They’re inside political offices and every law enforcement agency of the city. So no, Skye, no one would look for your killer. You’d be another statistic in a long line of unsolved murders.”

She blinked at him.

Court faced forward, his hands gripping the steering wheel. “You’re up to your ass in a bad situation. Had we not been there tonight, the vamps would’ve taken you. Whether they wanted to feed off you or turn you, I don’t know. Either way, you would no longer be the person you are now.”

“It happened in college,” she said softly.

Court swiveled his head toward Skye to find her looking down at her hands. He was silent, waiting for her to continue.

“I knew my roommate, Jo, was a bit different. I just thought she was goth. I didn’t find out until we had lived in the dorms for almost a year that she was a witch.”

Skye laughed, the sound forced as she rubbed her hands up and down her arms. “Jo didn’t hide it exactly, but she didn’t announce it either. I kept to myself most times, so I didn’t pay attention to her much. We ran in different social circles too, but she was nice, and we got along.”

“Until,” Court urged when she stopped talking.

Skye looked at him. “It was during Christmas break. I had nowhere to go, and she chose to take an extra course during that time. It was late. She was up studying, and I had just gotten back from a date. That’s when it walked into our dorm room.”

“A vampire,” Court guessed.

Skye nodded and glanced down. “I was so terrified I couldn’t move. Since I was closer, he came at me first. Jo knew what he was, even if I didn’t. She used a spell, along with silver to keep him from me. But he was determined to have one of us.”

Court reached over and placed his hand on hers, giving Skye what little comfort he could. It may have happened years ago, but it obviously still affected her.

“Jo was so brave,” Skye said with a smile. “I could only sit there and watch as she battled him. I never thought he would leave, but eventually she won. For the next two weeks, she told me everything she knew about the supernatural. I made notes, bought as much silver jewelry as I could, and soaked up everything she told me.”

Skye paused and shifted in her seat. “One night, I came back to our room with an armload of books on the occult from the library only to find the room empty except for her silver necklace lying broken in the middle of the room. The police found her body three days later completely drained of blood.”

“The vamp got her,” Court said. “As powerful a witch as Jo was, she was overtaken by a vampire. That should tell you something.”

Skye wiped at her eyes and sniffed. “I’ve been focused on the supernatural ever since. I had no idea vampires were real until that day. So many books and movies romanticize them, when in fact, they’re monsters.”

“They’re beings who were once human. They were turned, whether willingly or by force,” he told her. “Not all vampires are monsters. They do need blood to survive, but there are those in New Orleans who don’t kill. Those vamps get their food supply from humans who willingly give their blood to the vampires. In return, the vamps pay them well and give them protection.”

Skye made a sound. “Who would they need protection from? The worst monster is now their friend.”

“There’s the Djinn, witches, werewolves, and more importantly, there is Delphine.”

“I’ve heard that name,” Skye said with a small frown. “She’s a Voodoo priestess, right?”

Court nodded as he pressed the accelerator and began driving again. “Stay far away from her, Skye. Trust me when I say you don’t want to be on her radar. She’s lethal and has no compunction about killing you on a crowded street.”

“Noted.”

“So you came to New Orleans to expose the supernatural.” He shook his head, still unable to believe it. “That takes some balls.”

She smiled and faced forward. “I told you my story. You still haven’t told me why you’re so concerned about what I put in my articles.”

“Off the record?” he asked, glancing at her. She would find out all about his family with a little digging anyway.

“Off the record,” Skye confirmed.

He rested one hand atop the steering wheel and put the other on the gearshift. “We keep the peace in the city.”

“We?”

“Me and my three brothers.”

She smoothed a hand over her slicked backed ponytail. “You’re a supernatural being, aren’t you?”

“Yep.” He spared her another quick look to gauge her reaction. She didn’t seem the least bit surprised. “Figure out what kind yet?”

Riley shrugged. “A matter of deduction, really. You’re not a vampire or a Djinn. You don’t look the type to practice Voodoo, nor are you a witch. That leaves...werewolf.”

He was impressed. “Are you scared?”

“Should I be?”

Court laughed. “With that attitude, you just might make it out of New Orleans alive.”

“Who said anything about leaving?”

He drove onto the highway. “You really want to risk your life to report on the craziness of the city?”

“I’d be dead if it hadn’t been for Jo,” she argued.

“You’d be dead tonight if it hadn’t been for me.” Court flattened his lips. “No matter how much you know about the supernatural, you’re still not prepared to defend yourself.”

C
HAPTER
S
IX

As dawn came and the sky turned a brilliant pink and gold, all Skye could think about was what Court had said to her. As much as she hated to admit it, he was right.