Blood Moon (12 page)

Aria smirked. He’d had more than a few beers. “What you’re saying,
Alice
, is I should suck it up and give in?”

“And then fight for it. You’ve played a good game, but you were lost before. Wandering around without a purpose. What you’ve been looking for is staring at you from the porch. Go get it!”

She nearly choked on her drink as he slapped her shoulder, almost knocking them both over in the process.

“Thanks, Thaddeus. You
are
a meddling fool.” She studied Lukas as he spoke to a couple of the Pack members on the porch. Wiping splatters of her drink from her shirt, she glanced back at Thaddeus. “Are you going to remember this conversation tomorrow?”

He downed the last of the beer and belched. “Probably not.”

Thaddeus got up, swaying to the beat of the music. She watched him go, rolling her cup between her hands. “In that case, Thaddeus, you’re actually quite astute.”

He laughed, waving one hand over his shoulder.
Cheeky bastard
. He’d probably remember every word, and she’d never hear the end of that conversation.

“Wow. He’s really sloshed.”

Aria looked up.
Great. Now it was Aaron’s turn?
She sighed, her forehead connecting with her knees. “So help me God, if you offer advice, too, I’ll kill you.”

Aaron snickered, leaning against the tree. “As if.”

Taking a deep breath, she rose, holding on to the blaze of her own alcohol-infused courage. “Look, Aaron, I get it. You’re worried about what will happen if I leave. But I’m worried about what will happen if I stay.” She searched his face for some flicker of understanding. “Don’t you see, Aaron? We’re worried about the same thing. The only difference is the timing.”

He didn’t say anything, but his gaze didn’t seem quite as hostile as usual. She stuck out one hand. “We got off on the wrong foot. I’m Aria MacLeod. It’s lovely to meet you.”

A smile curved one side of Aaron’s hard mouth. “I don’t want to like you, you know. I wanted to hate you for what you’ve done to him. Lukas and I have been best friends since we could talk, and we’ve dealt with a lot. But when he thought you died that night….” He shook his head with a heavy sigh. “I hope I never see that look on anyone’s face again.”

His hand closed over hers and pumped it up and down. “It’s nice to meet you.” He didn’t release her, but his grip remained loose. “Now tell me—are you going to stay?”

She searched his shadowed face for the familiar antagonistic sarcasm, but only saw tired shadows echoing the ones that lingered over Lukas and Thaddeus’ faces when they thought no one was looking.

Flashing a grin, she pulled away. “Only if he asks me the right way.”

The smile that answered hers wasn’t large, but it was something. “All right then. Just remember, I’ll be watching you.”

He wandered off, hands shoved into his pockets.

It wasn’t trust, but it was a start.

Chapter Eleven

Things were beginning to wind down as the night grew late. Despite the many bits of advice she’d endured, the evening had been very enjoyable. In a strange way, it was annoying, yet endearing.

The urge to shift and take a run in wolf form swept through her. It had been a long time since she felt safe or comfortable enough to want to do such a joyous sport. The desire to give in was strong, but if she shifted and ran, they’d probably think she was escaping. Also considered as a guest, such an action would be unbelievably rude and potentially dangerous.

Content to sit back and observe the others, she spotted a group of teenager sprawled over the porch, fiddling with the boom box yet again, and Thaddeus climbed up next to them, whispering something to one of the girls, who promptly took control of the stereo.

The stations fuzzed in and out for a few moments then the girl looked back at Thaddeus and shook her head. Both of them wore similar disappointed expressions. When he started to turn away, the girl jumped up with a warning to wait.

She disappeared inside the house, returning a few moments later with a shiny silver disc and inserted the CD into the player. Immediately, the cheery pop tones that had been bouncing around the yard all evening faded into a slow tune straight from a popular nineties musketeer movie. Thaddeus gave the girl thumbs-up and nudged one of the boys next to him with an obvious head jerk. Both teenagers looked at Thaddeus like he was out of his mind.

Which he probably was.

Around the yard, men and women slowly rose together and began to sway under the soft twinkling lights. When Ella exited the house, Thaddeus dragged her into a dance, his movements remarkably controlled for a man she’d thought plastered.

She watched the graceful movements of the dancers, and allowed her mind to wander. What would it be like to feel free and comfortable enough to have Lukas hold her in the moonlight like that?

“Would you like to find out?”

Aria jumped, her fingertips flew to her mouth. “I didn’t say that out loud, did I?”

Lukas smiled. “No. I just know you that well.” He leaned down, one hand outstretched. “Dance with me?”

She didn’t hesitate and slipped her fingers over his, relishing his touch as soft as a caress. Aria followed him to the edge of the dancers, where he slid his arms around her waist, and she clasped hers around his neck. He drew her closer, until her breasts were just barely brushing his chest.

The air between them heated as he spun her slowly around the grass. No words were necessary. It was enough to be held in his arms, gazing into his mismatched eyes as they swayed to the beat of the music. She allowed herself to pretend, just for a moment that they were a normal couple, without worries and problems weighing them down.

She drew closer and laid her head on his chest. His arms held her tight, the strength in them at war with the tender way he touched her. Nothing had ever felt so perfect.

The first song ended, but Lukas didn’t release her. She lifted her head to look up at him. The next song,
So She Dances
by Josh Groban, was one of her favorites. The music flowed out of the radio and surrounded them like liquid honey. The other dancers faded from her awareness, until it seemed they were the only ones under the stars. Lukas pulled her closer, shifting his arms to a more formal hold, leading her into a waltz.

When she was a teenager, her father had insisted she learn the dance. And she’d believed there was no point in her knowing the steps. Until now.

Twirling through the warm autumn night, surrounded by soft light, the grass tickling her bare feet, she realized how those lessons paid off. Lukas dipped her and brushed a light kiss on her lips as he drew her close to his body.

“Marry me, Aria.” The words were tender, his gaze intense. She gasped as she spun away from him and back again. “Not because everyone expects it, or because you need my protection, but because you love me and you want to.”

He twirled them around the yard one last time as the music wound to a crescendo around them. Then he dropped to one knee, and tugged her closer. In his other hand, a smooth circle of silver glinted in the dim lighting, and he held it up, the large sapphire winked at her.

She froze. Neither could she speak, much less remember to breathe. How long had he been holding on to that piece of jewelry? Had he been carrying that around all this time? Vaguely, she became aware of the others, who had stopped to watch them.

“I love you, Aria. I have always loved you, and I want you for as long as God allows and then some. Finish marrying me?”

Her conscience argued with her heart. She wanted nothing more than to say yes. If she did, what would be the price? The horror of her past rushed through her. By staying, she’d be putting everyone in danger. No way could she risk their safety for her sake.

She started to pull away, but Lukas tightened his hold on her hand. “Aria, this is about you and me. Nothing else matters.”

Aria stilled at the love brimming from his eyes. His ability to read her like an open book was disconcerting. No one else knew her as well as he did. How could she stand losing him again? Heaving a shaky sigh, she tried to smile. Running was over. She’d stay, she’d marry him, and she’d do everything in her power to protect them. Even if it meant dying. “Yes. If you don’t have the good sense to run screaming at the sight of me, then who am I to argue?”

Lukas pushed the ring on her finger and jumped up, pulling her tight against his body as his mouth closed over hers. She clung to him, only vaguely aware of the clapping and whistling that echoed in the night air around them.

He released her, and she studied the ring, a large, twinkling blue sapphire in an oval setting. Tears tracked down her cheeks. Cheers erupted around them, but Aria vaguely noticed. A slow warmth replaced her fears. “I can’t believe you still have this.”

“You didn’t think I threw it out, did you?” He made an indignant face, ruined by the joy and humor sparkling in his gaze.

Her brows furrowed, she studied it more closely. The band was elegant and sparkled like new, but she realized the setting was old fashioned. “Is this—?”

“It was my mother’s engagement ring.” He kissed her nose, wrapped an arm around her waist and they started toward the porch. “It’s been around awhile.”

Resting her head on his shoulder, she looked up at him. “It’s lovelier than I remembered,” she told him, voice rasping with emotion.

It was the same ring he’d offered her almost two years before, but she had been unable to wear it proudly under her father’s roof, and she’d left it with Lukas for safekeeping. She’d never thought to see it again.

Thaddeus was right. Her purpose had been right here all along.

Now she had to fight for it.

***

“This is ridiculous. I’m beginning to think eloping is a better idea.”

Aria was hiding outside, elbows deep in a bag of potting soil and compost she had mixed herself. Mums were scattered around her in various colors.

On the steps of the porch, Sebastian smiled at her. “What do you mean?”

She tried to blow the hair off her forehead, but only succeeded in making the problem worse. “Ella may be an amazing party planner, but she’s trying to Pack four months of planning into two days. It’s driving me nuts. I want to marry the man. I don’t really care what we eat, as long as everyone gets fed.”

Sebastian laughed, a young, boyish sound that had her wondering just how old he really was. He hadn’t offered to help her plant the mums in front of the house, but she hadn’t really expected him to. They both knew he’d been sent to watch her while she gardened.

That was another thing. Every time she turned around, one of the Pack Guards materialized. The only time she felt like she had any privacy was when she went to the bathroom. She stared at the sparkling ring that hung under the neck of her shirt, sharing the chain with her mother’s necklace. Haemon had an amazing network, but she didn’t think his network could possibly have gotten this information to him yet. Lukas had proposed less than twelve hours ago. She kept the ring hidden, just in case.

Working out some of her frustration, she pulled the plastic pot off the bottom of one of the mums, placed it in the ground, sprinkled a few handfuls of her dirt mixture in with it, and pressed around the base with gentle fingers.

Gardening had always been her source of comfort—the one thing she could do without getting into any trouble. Her gift fed each plant as she dealt with it, coaxing the best from each leaf and flower.

There were two pots left when she heard the screen door open and caught a whiff of Ella’s perfume. Immediately, her serene mood shattered.

“Aria!”

She continued to dig.

“Aria, you have to get in here.” Ella’s voice reeked with panic. Probably a horrible case of clashing colors.

The footsteps thundered down the steps, and Ella tugged at her arm. With a sigh, Aria rose, brushing off her hands. “So help me, Ella, if this is another color or food thing—”

“Lukas is on the phone inside. The Council called.”

Aria’s stomach dropped, while her heart tripped over itself. She followed Ella up the steps into the house.

Lukas was on the house phone, the receiver cradled between his shoulder and ear. He’d had some sort of paper in his hand, but when she got there, it had been reduced to a pile of confetti.

“I understand, but you can’t place an edict out on that kind of thing. That isn’t within your power.”

Aria winced at his choice of words. It didn’t take a psychic to know whatever they were saying had something to do with her. She was willing to bet someone had tipped off the Council to their upcoming mating.

His hand curled around the bits of paper he had shredded onto the counter.

“You can tell me whatever you like, but I thought your place was to help, not hinder our kind.”

She stepped closer, but even with her enhanced hearing, the words were indistinguishable on the other end.

“Aria and I completed the human half of the mating process over a year ago. Before this week is out, we will be completing the shifter ritual.” He paused, and the beginning of a growl rumbled in his throat. “You cannot forbid this. It isn’t up to you!”

His fist crashed into the counter. Panic rushed at her. She didn’t want to hear anymore. She turned to run for the back door, but he caught the crook of her elbow.

“Fine.” Anger vibrated in the husky tones of his voice. “We’ll wait for your call.”

He slammed the phone in its cradle, a cracking noise resonated from the force.

Swallowing the lump in her throat, she crossed her arms.
Calm down, Aria. Maybe it’s not as bad as you think.
“Now tell me what they said,” she ordered, heaving a deep breath.

“The Council has forbidden us to join as True Mates.”

Disappointment and worry surged through her. Lukas wrapped his arms around her and rested his chin on her head. “I told them we would wait for them to deliberate further.”

Thaddeus, who had been standing with Lukas during the call, made a choked sound of protest.

Lukas brushed his lips against her forehead. “I lied. They didn’t give me any sort of reason that would be considered valid. They just didn’t want me to mate with you. We will continue as planned, although I think perhaps this evening might be a better option for the ceremony. If we wait too long, they’ll send someone to collect you.”