Turn of the Moon (A Royal Shifters novel Book 1) (24 page)

“Why don’t I go in as well?” Micah suggested. “That way I can take someone in with me undetected. We need to find Maret and kill her. She’s the key to bringing down the Yukons.”

Everyone seemed to agree and turned to me. “I can’t argue with you there, but don’t you need to stay alive for Faith? You’re her protector. You risk your life going into this fight.”

Sebastian nodded. “That’s true, brother.”

Micah’s eyes blazed. “My duty is to the royals and to my family. What kind of brother would I be if I didn’t help you? I’m going in there and that’s final.” Sebastian glared at him, but ultimately gave in. They shook hands and the deal was made. Kade and I had never been like that. We had the same blood flowing through our veins, but he was always different. And now I planned on killing him.

“I want to go in with Micah,” Tyla insisted. All eyes turned her way, but I could see she wasn’t going to back down.

Cedric snorted. “Now who’s lost their mind? Don’t you remember what those fuckers did to Kami? That’s what’ll happen, or probably worse, if they catch you.”

She grabbed my arm and squeezed. “Please, let me go. You need Cedric here to lead the pack when you’re in there. I can do this.”

Sebastian cleared his throat. “I know I shouldn’t open my mouth, but you should let her go.” Huffing, I glared at him over my shoulder and he lifted his hands in defeat. “Hey, I’m just saying, it’s better than her sneaking off to try and help. I can see it in her eyes. She’s just like Bailey.”

Her eyes went wide and I knew he was telling the truth. She was going to find a way in no matter what. “Fine, you can go with Micah. Just don’t do anything stupid, like getting yourself killed.”

She smiled. “I won’t. Maimed, maybe. But not killed.”

I glared at her attempt at humor and she got serious. “All right, let’s get ready to go.” Everyone got up and loaded our stuff into the cars, except Cedric who hung back with me.

“Are you sure this is what you want? I can go in and fight,” he offered.

I squeezed his shoulder. “You will get your chance, but I need you on the outside first. The other packs respect you and will follow your lead. When you hear my call, that’s when I want you to attack. It’s time the Yukons pay for what they’ve done.”

Bailey

“B
ailey, wake up,” a voice murmured in my ear. Fingers grazed along my skin and I trembled. It felt like an eternity since I’d heard that voice.

“Ryker?”

His warm breath tickled my neck. “Who else? Open your eyes for me, sweetheart.”

“I don’t want to. It’s such a good dream.” If I awoke I’d be in a nightmare. I didn’t want to leave his arms. “Hold me tighter,” I whispered.

He did as I said and I snuggled into him, making him groan as I rubbed my body against his. “I want you so fucking bad,” he growled, pushing his arousal into me.

“Then take me.”

“Not until you open your eyes. I want you to look at me when I fuck you.” I didn’t want to open them, but when I did, I gasped and jerked around. Ryker looked at me like I’d lost my mind. “Are you okay?”

“How am I here?” I was back in our bedroom at the ranch. Everything was the same, as if I’d never been gone.

“What do you mean? You never left. You’ve been having vivid nightmares, but that’s understandable with everything that happened.”

I rubbed my eyes and focused on him. It was Ryker, staring at me with those emerald green eyes of his. What the hell was wrong with me? “What happened?” I asked. Everything was a blur.

He sighed. “When Darius came for you and you killed him. You took it really hard. Ever since then, you’ve been having nightmares and blacking out. It’s been horrible to watch you go through it. I’ve missed you.”

My eyes started to burn. I couldn’t believe it was all a nightmare and I’d been at home the entire time. Taking his face in my hands, I pulled him to me, kissing him. “Now what were you saying earlier? Something about fucking me, maybe? I think it’s time you showed me.”

His chest rumbled. “Gladly.” Ripping off my shirt and shorts, he spread me wide, raking his lustful gaze over my bare body. His cock twitched and I longed to feel him inside me.

“Please make love to me.”

Groaning, his eyes rolled back into his head. “I love hearing you beg. Say it again.”

I moaned. “Ryker, please . . .” For a split second he tensed, but then continued his hungry path of kisses up my stomach.

“Are you okay?” I asked.

Grasping my wrists, he held them above my head, tight. “Yep. Just ready to give you what you want.” He closed his lips over my breast and his teeth nipped my skin. A growl erupted from his chest and he tightened his grip, sinking his teeth in further. I hissed. The bite was more pain than pleasure. I tried to bite him in return, but my fangs wouldn’t extend. When he pulled back, he moaned and circled the tip of his cock at my opening. “You taste so fucking good. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of it.”

His eyes lifted to mine and I froze; they flashed from green to blue and then back again. Something wasn’t right. Before he could thrust inside, I pushed against his chest. “Not yet, baby. I want to taste you first.” Grinning wide, he licked his lips and laid down on his back. His eyes flashed back to blue, solidifying my suspicions, and my heart sank.

He stared at me, his body waving with impatience. “Well, what are you waiting on?”

Ryker would never talk to me like that and when he’d taken my blood, I didn’t have a vision. There was nothing but silence in my mind. It was as if something inside me clicked and all the magic seemed to fall away, except for the necklace now hanging around my neck. The room I was in disappeared, revealing Kade’s darkened bedroom. And when I looked at who I thought was Ryker, was now Kade himself, grinning from ear to ear.

Grabbing the lamp on the bedside table, I slammed it down on his head. It shattered on impact, but it did nothing to deter him. “You son of a bitch,” I shouted, jumping off the bed.

Laughing, he dusted off his shoulders and got up. “I have to admit, you’re better than I thought. It’s a shame I didn’t fuck you when I had the chance. I guess that’ll just have to wait for tonight. I think I like the screaming and clawing version of Bailey better anyway.”

“You do like that, don’t you? Why don’t you remove this necklace then? I didn’t realize you were such a pussy.”

His gaze darkened and he slapped me hard across the cheek. My head snapped to the side, tears welling in my eyes. Grabbing my arms, he pushed me into the wall, his body shaking with rage. “You stupid, fucking cunt. The only pussy around here is the one I’m going to fuck until it bleeds. You will obey me, even if I have to break you.” He slammed me against the wall again and then stormed out of the room. I was back in the nightmare.

I’d tried to escape, but I couldn’t get out the door without running into an invisible wall. I was trapped. Wrapped in a blanket and huddled in the corner is where Maret found me when she entered the room.

“It’s time,” she announced happily.

I scoffed. “Time to be raped? You’re one sick, twisted bitch.”

“Oh, don’t look at it like that. Think of it as the beginning of a new era. Kade may have a bit of a temper, but if you give him what he wants, I have no doubt he’ll be a suitable mate. Once you hold those sweet, adorable babies in your arms, you won’t even care what he’s like anymore.”

“Do you hear yourself?” I spat, getting to my feet. I marched up to her, my body trembling with the need to shift. “When I get out of here, you’re going to be at the top of my kill list.”

She giggled. “Many have tried and all have failed. Now stop being silly and let’s go. The moon will rise within the hour. It’s time to get you ready. The last thing I want to do is force you, since I know you’ll be dealing with your fair share of that tonight. You’re a lot stronger than I thought though.”

“Why, because I could see through the lies?”

She nodded. “No one has done that before.” Turning on her heel, she started down the stairs.

“Where are we going?” I didn’t want to follow her, but I would rather be anywhere than Kade’s bedroom.

The men standing guard at the front door opened it and she stepped out. “My special place. It’s where I practice my magic. Your mother is there now, drawing your bath.”

“She’s not my mother,” I snapped.

“No, but she did raise you for the past fifteen years. In my book, that counts as a mother. Now follow me.” I walked past the guards and followed Maret, lifting my gaze to the pink sky above. Night was upon us and I could feel the magic of the moon rising. Great Luna, help me. I was running out of time.

Ryker