Moon Thrall (10 page)

He slammed his hand into the back door in the kitchen and stepped out into the night air. The humidity was thick, the threat of rain hanging heavy in the air. September was prime time for hurricanes. That’s all they needed on top of the chaos.

“Talk to me, Court,” Solomon said from behind him.

Court clenched his hands into fists. He wanted to be alone. He didn’t want or need any of his brothers worrying about him. Ever since their parents were murdered by Delphine and her people, Solomon and Myles had tried to protect him and Kane.

“I’m an adult, Solomon. I can handle this.”

“The great thing about family, kid, is that you don’t have to. We’re here to help. Let us. Scott might have been your friend, but Myles is the one who called him.”

Court hung his head, keeping his back to his eldest brother. “She could’ve been taken. God, you have no idea how close they came.”

“I saw the bloody mess you made in the Viper’s Nest. With us, words aren’t always needed. You got to her, Court. She’s safe.”

“For now.”

Solomon sighed audibly. “I know you like her. I’ll do everything I can to ensure you don’t have to endure what I did.”

Court squeezed his eyes closed. Perhaps there would come a time when Solomon no longer felt the pain of loss from the murder of his woman. It had been years, but the violent death had shaken the brothers as nothing since their parents’ murder had.

“She was your fiancée, Solomon. That’s a bit different than me desiring Skye.”

There was a pregnant pause. “The sooner we get to the house the better. Griffin and his pack will be here soon. I need you ready.”

“I am,” Court bit out.

“No, you’re angry. You need to push that aside. The only way Skye is going to get through this is if you have your head on straight. We’ll deal with Scott and his betrayal afterward.”

Court lifted his head and faced his brother. “Apparently, the vamps need to be reminded who is keeping the peace around here.”

“Agreed.” Solomon’s eyes flashed yellow. “I’m more than ready to pay the Viper’s Nest a visit and deliver some justice. But not until we know for certain who is working with the vampires.”

“I’ve never felt so...powerless. It’s a new emotion, and frankly, I fucking hate it.”

Solomon’s gaze lowered to the ground. “You prepared Skye with a weapon. That’s more than I did for my woman. We’re werewolves, Court, not superheroes.”

“Almost the same damn thing. The vampires used a coordinated attack, Solomon. It worked, sort of. They’ll use it again.”

Solomon’s blue gaze lifted to meet Court’s. “I’m counting on it.”

Court watched his brother walk back inside the bar. Each of them had dated, but nothing lasted longer than six months. Solomon was the one who didn’t shy away from love. He shouldered the most out of all of them, and it wasn’t fair that he’d had his happiness ripped from his arms.

With a glance at the sky, Court returned to the bar. He paused, nodding to Marcus and the other cook as they worked the tickets.

Marcus knew what the LaRues were. He’d known ever since Solomon had saved him years ago. If anyone could keep the bar safe while they were out, it was Marcus.

Court walked through the kitchen. He glanced out into the bar and spotted Gage, Griffin’s brother, sitting with another Moonstone were, Jaxon.

It was time.

Court made his way to the office. He stopped in the doorway when he saw Skye talking to Riley. Skye turned to him, her dark eyes meeting his.

“Ready?” he asked.

“No.”

He could understand that. But if they were going to have any sort of chance, Skye had to be on board all the way. Court walked to her and squatted beside her chair.

“I never intended for you to see me shift-”

“I know,” she said quickly, looking down at her hands.

Court sighed. She was afraid of him.

“Riley will stay beside you,” Court said, glancing at his cousin.

Skye’s forehead puckered in a frown as her gaze snapped back to his face. “Where will you be?”

“I’ll be near.”

Riley rose from the chair. “I think you should be the one with Skye. I’ve been ordered to stay next to Kane anyway.”

“Whatever works,” Skye said.

Court would feel better if he was beside her, but he didn’t want her any more afraid of him than she already was. “Is there anything you need?”

“My knife.”

Kane walked in, followed by Griffin. “It’s here, Skye.” He handed her the weapon, and she tucked it back in her pocket.

Court stood and motioned to Griffin. “Skye, this is Griffin, head of the Moonstone clan. He’s a friend.”

She gifted Griffin with a half-smile as she climbed to her feet.

Court watched Griffin’s green eyes look Skye over appreciatively. When Griffin turned his gaze to him, Court was using all of his control not to bash the wolf’s face in.

Griffin merely smiled before nodding his head of dark brown hair to Skye. “Nice to meet you, ma’am. Kane told me you’re in a spot of trouble. My people and I will be happy to help.”

“Thank you,” Skye said and moved closer to Court.

It helped to tamp down some of his anger, but the more Griffin looked at her, the worse it became.

Griffin laughed and slapped Court on the shoulder. “No need to worry.”

“Let’s get moving,” Myles said as he strode into the office. He grabbed Addison’s hand and walked back out.

Kane motioned Riley out with Griffin following them.

Court looked down at Skye. She squared her shoulders and walked out of the office. He waited a moment, watching her before he followed. Behind him was Solomon.

“What’s the plan?” Skye asked over her shoulder.

Court put his hand on her back and ushered her through the kitchen and out the back door. “We leave as one. Griffin will stay with us while his wolves set up a wider circle.”

“You have a vehicle that will fit all of us?”

Solomon chuckled as he let the bar door close behind him. “We’re walking.”

Skye’s eyes widened. “Isn’t that going to give them ample opportunity to attack?”

Court nodded as Griffin walked out of the small fenced-in area at the back of the bar. “Probably.”

C
HAPTER
E
LEVEN

Probably? Had he just said probably? Skye wasn’t so sure she was up for this. Matter of fact, she was certain of it.

She was unceremoniously – but gently – pushed through the gate by Court. His large hand was warm through her clothes, steady. He thought she had courage, which was the only thing that kept her legs moving. If he knew the truth – that she was the biggest scaredy cat around – his opinion would change drastically.

But she wasn’t going to tell him. She wanted him to think she was courageous and bold for as long as she could. Eventually, he would learn the truth.

Her legs felt wooden, and her stomach still rolled from the adrenaline dump earlier. The bourbon Riley had kept feeding her was helping. Otherwise, she would still be sitting in the office with the blanket as a shield.

“Oh, God,” she muttered beneath her breath as they walked farther from the bar.

Every shadow, every sound was a potential attack. Skye was completely reevaluating her love of horror movies. If she survived the night, she was never eagerly watching Freddy Kruger again.

She glanced at Court. He was stoic, solid. Tough. He didn’t appear fazed by the night at all.

Except for when he’d shifted and tore through the vampires.

Skye shivered as she recalled those few seconds that had felt like months. Afterward, she’d made a complete fool of herself and threw her arms around him, just thankful that he was alive.

“Are you afraid of me now?” Court asked in a low voice as they walked.

Skye frowned. Afraid of him? Where did he get that idea? “Why would you think that?”

“You won’t look at me.”

She turned her head to him and gaped. Court grabbed her and moved her out of the way of an oncoming group of people. On her other side, Griffin chuckled.

“No, I’m not afraid of you,” she answered and looked forward.

She could feel him watching her. He was a force unto himself, and she didn’t even think he realized it. It was obvious as they walked down the sidewalk with Griffin a little ahead of her. Anytime someone got too near her, Court pulled her toward him.

Most took one look at his stern face and gave them a wide berth.

“I never intended to shift in front of you,” he finally said.

Skye shook her head in confusion. “Why? It’s part of who you are.”

“You’re freaked enough already with the vampires. Why would I want to scare you more?”

“I like to know what I’m dealing with.”

He made a sound at the back of his throat. “Are you telling me that you’re not a little uneasy about the fact that so many weres are around?”

“What makes me nervous is the fact there are vampires after me,” she said tightly.

Griffin glanced over his shoulder at her and gave her a nod of approval. Strangely, that made her feel better.

They grew quiet as they continued through the city until they reached the outskirts and the sidewalks ended. All around her were huge live oaks with their branches stretching outward, some so heavy they rested on the ground.

Skye thought the city was scary, but it was nothing compared to the woods. Just the thought of it made her shake. Her eyes were wide, her heart pounding in her ears. Vampires were fast. Really fast.

But so was Court. She hadn’t expected that of a werewolf. Or the sheer size of him.

He laced his fingers with her cold ones. Skye looked at him, thankful he was beside her.

“How much farther?” she asked.

Court’s face was half hidden in the night, but she could still see his anxiety. “Too damn far.”

The cicadas were loud, their music surrounding them like a symphony. Above them, the occasional bat in its frenzied flight to catch mosquitos appeared. Skye was busy keeping the nasty insects from biting. How she hated when they buzzed near her ear.

She slapped at her arm, killing a mosquito. An owl hooted twice. The cicadas gave a crescendo of noise before the sound died to nothing for a few seconds.

Griffin slowed until he came even with Skye. He looked over her head to Court and said in a low voice, “I expected something by now.”

“We all did,” Court whispered.

Skye was just happy that nothing had happened so far.

They moved off the road through the woods. Every moment became scarier than the last. Skye saw multiple opportunities for a vampire to attack or a place for them to hide. She really didn’t know how much more stress she could handle before her heart just gave out.

Court never loosened his hold on her hand. Being flanked by two werewolves was comforting. It was a thought she’d never imagined herself having.

For so long, she thought the only good people in the supernatural world were the witches. Not because she’d had a bad experience with demons, werewolves, or Djinn, but because she assumed they were all evil.

She was learning she had been wrong about a great many things. The one thing that hadn’t changed was the knowledge that vampires were nasty, vile creatures.

The group seemed to walk forever on a trail that apparently only the werewolves could see. What little light the moon shed was barely enough to keep Skye from stepping on anything. What she wouldn’t give for a flashlight. Or a car.

Practical shoes.

Mosquito spray.

The LaRue house.

Court halted, jerking her against him before spinning her away and shoving her at Griffin. Skye’s heart leapt into her throat as she waited to see a vampire, but nothing jumped out into the night. She looked over to find Court bending before grabbing something from the ground. Her mouth fell open when she realized he had a snake by its tail before snapping it like a whip, breaking its neck instantly.

“That was a cottonmouth,” Griffin whispered. “One of the only snakes that won’t run from humans. They’re aggressive.”

Court held out his hand after he tossed the snake away, and Skye eagerly went to him. Now she wasn’t just scared of vampires. There were snakes out there that were hostile, too.

This night just kept getting better and better.

It felt like an eternity before she saw a structure through the trees. It didn’t take her long to realize it was a house.

They came out of the trees to a grand area of nothing but grass. In the middle sat a stately home. It’s tall columns and wrap-around porch were indicative of plantation homes in the south.

Court made her stay back as Solomon and several of Griffin’s men walked in and around the house to make sure it was safe. As soon as Solomon waved them in, Court ran, pulling her with him.

Skye let out a relieved breath as soon as she was inside. She bent over, her hands on her knees as she drug in deep breaths.