Shades of Moonlight (2 page)

Logically, his family understood the need for soldiers. The
lucani
had been under attack for more than a millennium. They needed protection. His parents had just never expected one of their sons to become a soldier.

He’d never doubted their love for him but they didn’t understand him. Sometimes he thought they were frightened
of
him instead of
for
him.

He knew he looked scary. The shaved head, the tats, the face only a mother could love.

But…Mara never seemed afraid of him. He’d seen the anxiety in her eyes around several of the other male
lucani
who guarded her and her son. But never when she looked at him.

Her reaction made no sense but Race wanted to beat his chest in victory anyway. What he’d actually won remained a mystery since she couldn’t talk and he couldn’t completely understand sign language.

He’d tried. He’d picked up a few basic phrases but he wasn’t good enough yet to hold a conversation. And he wasn’t sure what they’d talk about anyway. So the fact that he was sitting outside her house in his pelt overthinking everything was kind of pitiful.

Okay, not kind of. It was fucking pitiful.

And, yeah, he’d volunteered.

He was just about to make another run around the perimeter of the house when Cat stepped out onto the porch.

His wolf sensed the power the girl now held inside her. The power of the Goddess of the Moon. That power called to his wolf without any effort on her part.

She wanted him to come to her and he obeyed without thought, loping up to the porch. She didn’t seem worried or scared so he didn’t think Mara was in any danger.

When he reached the porch and butted his head against the girl’s leg, she reached for him, a smile on her face, and ran her hand along his fur. If he stood on his back legs in this form he’d be taller than she was. Grown men had been known to wet themselves when they saw him coming for their asses.

“Hello, Race. I need you to shift and come inside. Mara would like you to be with her while the witches attempt to break the spell.”

If he’d been in his skin, his mouth would’ve hung open in shock. Instead he growled and shook his head, which made Cat’s smile widen.

“Don’t try that with me, Race. You and I both know you want to so just get the clothes you have stashed on the side of the house and come inside. And don’t worry. Ty is out there. He’ll stand guard.”

How the hell did she know what he wanted? Had he given his feelings away somehow?

Well, that was a stupid question. She was a goddess now, even if she hadn’t started out as one. She was the
lucani
’s very own goddess so of course she had a special affinity to them.

And how the hell did she know Tivr, God of the Moon, was here? Race didn’t sense—

A sleek gray wolf trotted out of the forest, stopping at the tree line. Beside him, Cat stiffened but she never lost her smile.

“Go on, Race. I need to talk to Ty.”

She sounded as if he’d asked a question. And maybe he had unintentionally or maybe she’d just read his mind. He knew there was tension between the young fledgling goddess and Tivr. Hell, everyone knew there was tension between the two but no one knew what to do about it. That didn’t mean they didn’t notice. And worry.

But Mara wanted him inside so that was where he needed to be.

He raced around the side of the building, skidding to a stop, his shift already in process. In the span of a few seconds, he’d traded his pelt for his skin, embracing the few milliseconds of pain that set his teeth on edge before he pulled his jeans up his legs.

He was still tugging his shirt down to cover his stomach when he reached for the doorknob. Taking a deep breath, he pushed through and into the house.

And froze when all eight women in the room turned to stare at him.

Grace and Lia smiled at him, looking so much alike he did a quick double take. Cat’s mom Margie smiled too. The three older
streghe
gave him a cursory glance then returned to their discussion at the table, completely ignoring him.

Finally, sitting on the small couch by the window, he found Mara.

Her body a stiff line of tension, she stared at him through wide, dark eyes, her face pale. She looked terrified.

He didn’t realize he’d closed the gap between them until he stood in front of her. He clenched his hands at his sides so he didn’t grab her and crush her against him, like a child with a toy. She wasn’t a toy. She was a terrified young woman who looked at him as if he could make some of this a little better.

So he would. He’d figure the rest out later.

He knew she could read lips well but he didn’t want their conversation to be overheard. So he raised his hands to chest level and signed, “You okay?”

Her gaze flashed back to his after watching his hands and she attempted a smile as she nodded. Then her gaze slipped away as if she were shy. Or didn’t know what to say.

Well, that made two of them.

Okay, so maybe he’d just go stand in the corner with Lia and—

Mara grabbed his right hand, her gaze once more glued to his. She had the most beautiful eyes. Dark, soulful. He had the feeling she saw so much more than anyone gave her credit for.

As if she’d read his mind, she tugged on his hand and drew him closer until he took the hint and sat next to her. When his ass hit the cushion, she released him and he had to clench his fist so he didn’t grab for her again.

Then Margie turned to face them. “We’re ready.”

This time when Mara reached for him, she didn’t let go.

Race’s hand felt huge and solid around hers and Mara didn’t know why she’d let him go the first time. Her feelings for him didn’t make any sense but then nothing in her life, except Arin, made sense these days.

She would do anything for her son, even undergo this potentially dangerous ritual. Was determined to take back some of what that bastard Ettore had stolen from her. And with Race by her side, she felt strong enough to do it.

The
streghe
were talking again but Mara had learned to look only at Margie. She usually spoke for the group and, for some reason, Mara could read her lips better than anyone other than Lia and Cat.

“Race, if it’s okay with you, we think Mara should maintain contact with you during the spell work.”

She felt Race’s surprise in the tightening of his hand on hers. She turned to look at him and found his gaze already on hers.

“You okay with that?”

Forcing herself to nod, she let her gaze linger on his lips. He had a beautiful mouth, set in a face she figured most women would consider too harsh, too rough. They’d write him off as a thug. She saw strength. And where other women might see crude, hulking muscle, she saw protection.

She lifted one hand and signed, “Yes, I’m sure.”

Turning back to Margie, she saw the other woman nod. “Okay then. Why don’t you two come over here and sit on the floor.” Margie motioned to the area in front of her. “Race, you sit behind Mara with her between your legs. We believe your inherent magic might absorb some of the shock of the spell when it breaks.”

The
streghe
took positions around her and Race in a circle but Mara shook her head as she lifted her hands. “Will Race be in any danger?”

She’d signed so fast only Lia had been able to follow her and she translated for everyone else.

Margie shrugged, her mouth twisting in a grimace. “We don’t believe so but you can never tell.”

No. Mara shook her head. She turned to tell Race to go. No matter what, she wouldn’t be responsible for his—

He gripped her shoulder and she found herself much closer to him than she’d ever been before.

His dark eyes held a steady resolve. “I’m not leaving.”

She shook her head. “I want you to leave.”

He reached for her hands, stilling their frantic motion. Then he spoke slowly and made sure she could see his lips. “I’m. Not. Leaving.”

Warmth flooded her chest, quickly followed by a chill. What if something happened to him? What if he was injured because of her? She didn’t want that. This had been a huge mistake. She would
not
be the reason anything happened to him. With magic, anything could and usually did happen, and it wasn’t always good.

If something happened to her… That would be par for the course. Up until this point, her life had been one giant free fall. But there was no way she would take Race down with her.

Even if she wanted to wrap her arms around those massive shoulders and cling.

Her head still shaking, she firmed her mouth and emphatically signed “No” over and over.

He just covered her hands with his, turned to Margie and nodded.

Frustration and relief warred in her gut and she wanted to scream. Only she couldn’t.

And when Race turned back to her, he separated her hands, clenched together in front of her, and laced her fingers through his. “Let’s get this done. Now.”

Ears still ringing, nerves twitching with pain, Race pushed himself into a seated position on the floor.

What the hell had hap—

Mara.

He shouted her name. At least he thought he did but no sound emerged. Or his eardrums were just that damaged. He couldn’t tell. His throat felt raw, as if he’d been screaming for days. Shaking his head, he tried to clear the smog clouding his thoughts.

What the hell happened? Where is she?

He had to find her. Blinking to bring the world into focus, he reached out, searching. Where—

His hand brushed against Mara’s arm. How he knew it was her didn’t matter. Only that it was. He forced his eyes to focus so he could see her then lifted her into his arms and crushed her against his chest.

Thank the Blessed Mother Goddess. She was breathing, but unconscious.

He released the breath he’d been holding. “Mara. Can you hear me?”

She didn’t move.

Drawing on every ounce of calm he had, which wasn’t much at the best of times, he took a deep breath and forced himself to check out the situation in the room.

Around him, the other women began to stir, picking themselves up from the floor where it seemed they’d all ended up.

He didn’t smell blood. At least not much. Good enough for now.

He returned his attention to Mara.
Vaffanculo.
He’d done a shitty job of protecting her from…whatever the hell had happened.

Which was a problem for another time and someone else. Right now…

“Mara. Open your eyes. Now.” He used his hard-ass growl, the one that made weaker men cower.

Easily holding her with one arm, he used his free hand to cup her jaw, keeping her face pointed toward his.

“Mara.” Her eyelids flickered but still didn’t open. He leaned closer to her ear, his lips only centimeters away. “I want you to wake up now. You have to wake up. Arin needs you.”

There. That did it. At the mention of her son, she shook and drew in a deep breath.

After at least another minute, her eyes opened. Dazed. Confused. Unfocused.

“Come on, sweetheart.”

Blinking up at him, her eyes finally began to focus.

“Mara, can you hear me?”

Her eyes widened in shock and tears formed in her eyes. Then she nodded, smiling so wide it had to hurt.

Her lips began to move…but no sound emerged.

The joy drained from her face and she began to struggle, trying to get out of his arms. He released her reluctantly, ready to draw her back if she moved too far away. He forced back a growl, not wanting to frighten her.

Luckily she didn’t go far. She sat cross-legged on the floor next to him, breathing deeply, the most intent expression on her face.

“Can you really hear me?”

He couldn’t help but ask the question again and he wanted to pump his fist in the air when she nodded.

“But you can’t speak.”

He didn’t make that one a question but she shook her head anyway and her lips trembled as if she were going to cry.

He reached for her again, grateful that she didn’t pull away when he took her hand. “Then we’re making progress.”

The look she gave him was equal parts frustration and joy and her eyes filled with tears again.

Shit. He couldn’t handle her tears. What the hell did he do now? What did she want him to—

“Mara? How are you? Can you hear me? Can you say anything?”

Margie stood in front of them and Race scrambled to his feet, immediately towering over the women. When Mara reached up, he took her hand and pulled her up too.

“She can hear, but she still can’t speak.”

Mara’s hands began to move and, when she was finished, Margie shook her head. “I don’t know what happened but the fact that you have your hearing back is a great first step. Race, are you okay?”

“Yeah.” Nothing was broken and his ears weren’t ringing as much as they had been. And he could see straight. Mostly. So, yeah, everything was fine. But he didn’t matter. “Is she okay?”