Moonglow: Blood Magic Book 2

by L.H. Cosway

  I hesitated, but his brown eyes went all big, pleading with me to let him inside. Oh, hell. He might’ve frightened me, but he was also adorably impossible to resist, especially when he gave me those sad doggy eyes. I opened the door and stood back as he padded into the kitchen, peering up at me before heading into the living room, casual as you please.

  Wolf lay down on the rug by the fireplace, and I sat on the couch to call Nicki.

  Her phone rang several times before she answered, “Hello?”

  I didn’t know what to say, and for about thirty seconds my voice failed me entirely. I coughed to clear my throat.

  “Who is this?” Nicki asked. I’d disposed of my old phone six months ago, so she obviously didn’t recognise the number.

  “Nicki,” I said with my voice just above a whisper.

  I heard her suck in a shocked breath. “Tegan, is that you?”

  “It’s me.” Wolf adjusted his position by the fireplace so that he was facing me. Fabulous, the dog wanted to watch me squirm.

  “What … where on earth have you been?” she asked, stunned.

  “I had to get away for a while. I know that’s an absolutely terrible excuse, and I’m a selfish bitch for leaving and not telling you, especially after how you took care of me when Matthew died,” I said, tears stinging my eyes. Wolf tilted his head, almost like he was studying me. It made me feel weirdly self-conscious, so I turned away, dabbing my cheeks.

  “Hey, don’t beat yourself up. I understand you needed to get away. After everything that happened, it’s only natural. I’m just glad you’re okay. I’ve been worried about you.”

  “You’re too good to me. You should hate me for disappearing like that.”

  “Yeah, well, life’s too short to hate people. Besides, you’re my oldest friend. Of course, I’m going to forgive you. So, where are you now? Are you back in the city?”

  “Yes, I’m back, but I actually wanted to ask you something. Have you heard from my dad?”

  There was a long silence before she replied, “Um, yeah, I did, but it was a couple of months ago. He called me in the middle of the night. He was really worked up and kept telling me that no matter who came asking, I wasn’t to tell them anything about you.”

  Worry caught in my throat. “He didn’t say anything else?”

  “No, why?”

  “Well, it’s just that I can’t get a hold of him. He sold his house a few months back and hasn’t been seen since. I’m really worried about him.”

  “Have you called the police?”

  “No, I … it’s kind of complicated.”

  “You’re not mixed up in anything dangerous, are you?” she asked now. “The way your dad spoke on the phone that night, it was like the mob was after him or something.”

  “It’s nothing like that.” It was worse, way worse. “Maybe I will go to the police. They have ways of tracking people down, right?”

  “It’s certainly worth a try. When can I see you?”

  “Are you free for lunch tomorrow?”

  “Yes, come over to my place. I’ll cook.”

  “Okay, great. See you then.”

  I was hanging up when Wolf suddenly hopped onto the couch, surprising the life out of me. Finn’s dog hadn’t been very affectionate towards me, which was why I didn’t expect him to rest his head on my lap.

  “Oh, so we’re friends now?” I asked, a little amused as Wolf huffed, which I imagined was his way of saying yes. Finn was right. Wolf looked scary, but deep down he was a teddy bear. With how worried I felt not knowing what had happened to Dad, his affection was a welcome comfort.

  I stroked my hand over his thick, silky fur, and he made a sound of contentment. I wasn’t sure how long I sat there, lost in thought about Dad, when my stomach grumbled. I’d been so tense about calling Nicki that I hadn’t eaten yet.

  In the kitchen, I found the makings of a mushroom omelette. I stood by the cooker, and Wolf appeared behind me, tongue hanging out as he eyed the pan.

  “I guess you’re hungry, too?” I asked and he barked. I chuckled. “Okay, I’ll make you an omelette, but I’m not sure if dogs can eat mushrooms, so I’ll leave those out just in case.”

  Wolf didn’t complain, and when I put the omelette in his bowl he ate it in about five seconds flat. “Canines aren’t into savouring then, huh?”

  He didn’t reply with a bark this time; he simply walked away and sat down in the corner. I took a seat at the table, placing my plate down in front of me, but just as I was about to tuck in, something odd occurred.

  My hand hovered in the air above the fork, and the metal began to hum and vibrate. It felt like there was an electrical charge channelling from my body into the fork. I quickly put my hand down, and the fork went still. Okay, what the hell? Slowly, I raised my hand again, holding it over the fork, and this time the fork floated up off the table! I kept lifting my hand higher and higher, and quite amazingly, the fork followed.

  Wolf hopped up onto one of the chairs, resting his big paws on the surface of the table and watching the fork as it levitated. He appeared just as freaked as I was. Then he looked at me in a way that was far too human and tilted his head curiously as if to ask, How are you doing that?

  “I have no idea, buddy.”

  My attention returned to the fork, and experimentally, I made a swift pushing motion with my hand. The fork flew across the room, smacking into the wall before falling to the floor.

  I stared at it in shock. Had I really just made the fork move without so much as touching it? The image of my mother casting her spell on me when I was only a baby filled my head. She clearly possessed powerful magic, and according to Rita, she must’ve come from one of the twelve magical families, making her a full-blown witch. I’d assumed since my dad was human that I didn’t inherit her magic, but maybe I had. Maybe I wasn’t a full witch, but technically I could be half, right?

  My mind raced at the possibilities. I had a million questions, and I knew just the person to answer them. I was going to have to pay Rita a visit.

  ***

  I tugged up the collar of my coat to fend off the chill as I walked through the city on my way to meet Ethan. Finn was following me somewhere in the distance, keeping to the shadows. I tried not to think about him. I didn’t want to give Ethan any hint that something fishy was going on.

  What happened with the fork still took up most of my thoughts, though I was hoping Rita might be able to shed some light on the matter. I planned to see her after my lunch tomorrow with Nicki.

  The Blackfield monument came into view, and I could see the foreboding stone statue sitting atop a number of steep marble steps. It was a popular meeting spot in the city since it was pretty hard to miss. I crossed the bridge over to the south side and walked along the boardwalk toward the monument.

  As I neared, I spotted Ethan’s tall frame standing amid a sea of unsuspecting humans. His eyes sought me out as I approached. When I reached him, he silently took my hand, turned it over, and pressed his lips to the sensitive spot on my inner wrist. I shivered. He grinned.

  Okay, so we were playing hardball. Ethan was clearly on a mission to convince me to stay in Tribane, and he was pulling out all the stops. He hadn’t even spoken yet and I was already in danger of melting into a puddle of desire.

  “Well, hello you to you, too,” I said, arching an eyebrow as I withdrew my hand.

  “Tegan, you look beautiful as always,” he said, and my heart skipped a beat.

  “Thanks.” I eyed him up and down. “You’re not so bad yourself.”

  Ethan chuckled and presented me with a small paper bag. I took it and peered inside, finding a fancy box of Turkish Delight. Something tugged at my chest as I glanced up at him. “You remembered.”

  He smiled. “Don’t sound so surprised.”

  “Thank you. This is a very thoughtful gift.”

  “I’m glad you like it,” he said and presented his arm. I slid mine through, wondering what kind of plans he had in stor
e for us tonight.

  “It’s strange seeing you without your car,” I said, as he led me back toward the boardwalk. “I’ve never pictured you out walking like this.”

  “You forget that I was born long before the invention of the motor car. I’m well accustomed to walking.”

  “Well, it’s a good look for you. Where are we going?”

  “I thought you might be hungry,” he said as we approached a food truck selling burgers and hot dogs.

  “Now you’re talking my language,” I grinned and stepped up to the truck to order, not feeling remotely guilty that he couldn’t enjoy the cuisine. Ethan swooped in and paid before I had the chance, and I was aware of his eyes on my profile as we waited for my hot dog to be ready.

  I ate as we continued our walk to the end of the boardwalk, where we stopped and looked out at the river. I was just finished eating when I noticed a small motorboat floating idly in the water.

  I glanced at Ethan. “That’s not yours, is it?”

  “It is.”

  “You’re taking me on the river?” I asked, surprised. It wasn’t what I’d been expecting. He didn’t answer. Instead, he took my hand and guided me down the steps to the boat. I glanced behind me a moment, wondering where Finn was. I suspected he was pissed because he clearly couldn’t follow us on the boat.

  Ethan helped me into a life jacket, then started up the engine, and away we went. The cold wind whipped through my hair, invigorating me. Ethan navigated the waters like a professional. I was impressed.

  I tried to wait a while before asking him if he’d found out anything about my dad, but I couldn’t manage it. I’d been drowning in anxiety about him all day. I needed to know.

  “Did you ask around about my dad yet?” I spoke loudly over the noise of the engine.

  His shoulders tensed, and he was silent a long moment. Crap, was he pissed at me for asking?

  “It seems you’re quite eager to get to the point,” Ethan said on a sigh, and I furrowed my brow.

  “What do you mean?”

  “I thought you’d at least allow me the illusion that you’re here to spend time with me,” he replied, sounding a little crestfallen, and my heart gave a sharp thud. It must’ve been more obvious than I thought that I had an ulterior motive. Luckily, he only suspected me of seeking information about my dad. He didn’t know I was after Rebecca, thank goodness. Still, guilt pinched at me. I didn’t enjoy deceiving him.

  I placed my hand on his arm. “I am here to spend time with you, Ethan, but my dad is missing and finding him is high on my list of priorities.”

  He glanced at me a moment, his gaze softening a little. “No, you’re right. Your father’s disappearance is very troubling. Luckily for you, things are a lot different in this city now. There has been a shift in power, and I’m in a far better position than the last time we spoke.”

  Finn told me about Ethan being Whitfield’s second in command. Did that mean he was now the second most powerful vampire in Tribane? A shiver trickled down my spine. I wasn’t sure how to feel about that.

  “Okay, what exactly does that mean?” I asked.

  He shot me a serious look. “It means that when something happens among the vampires in this city, I know about it. I’ve looked into your father’s disappearance, and as far as I can see my people have no connection to it. All who know of your unique genetics are under my authority; Lucas, Delilah, and Drusilla. They couldn’t tell a soul about you even if they wanted to. Antonia is dead, as are all of her other bodyguards. So, if something bad has happened to your father, then I can tell you with absolute certainty that it has nothing to do with my kind.”

  One part of what he said intrigued me. “What do you mean by they couldn’t tell a soul even if they wanted to?”

  Ethan brought the boat to a stop. I realised we’d done a complete loop and were back to where we’d started. “I’m their superior,” he replied. “That means I have powers of compulsion over them, and I have compelled them not to speak about your blood.”

  I stared at him, stunned. “Vampires can compel other vampires?”

  “Only if they are under another vampire’s direct authority. I can’t wipe their memories, but I can compel them not to do something if I wish.”

  “So, Dru works for you now?”

  “She does.”

  “Did you employ her so that you could make her keep my secret?”

  His look was intense. “You might not care for me as I do you, but you should know that I would go to great lengths to secure your safety.”

  My cheeks heated and my heart squeezed. “I do care about you, Ethan,” I whispered. It was the truth. As much as I wished I could be unfeeling towards him, because it would make spying on him far easier, I couldn’t manage it. He held a special place in my heart and despite the fact that I’d spent six months away from him, my feelings hadn’t waned.

  Ethan pulled me to him then, and I was transfixed as his sharp, white fangs extended out from under his lips. Oh God, was he going to bite me? He brought his mouth close to mine.

  “When you say things like that it’s hard to act like a gentleman,” he murmured as his fingers reached down to unbutton my coat. He slipped his hand inside and around my waist, pulling me more fully against him. Then he dipped his head to the centre of my throat. Again, I thought he might bite me, and there was nothing I could do to stop him. Where was Finn when you needed him?

  But Ethan didn’t bite. Instead, he inhaled and traced the tips of his fangs over my skin, scraping pleasurably into my nerve endings. Arousal shot through my entire body, and I began to wonder if I enjoyed the edge of danger. Most of me trusted that Ethan wouldn’t hurt me, but there was still a tiny chance that his nature would take over and he wouldn’t be able to restrain himself.

  “It seems you were telling the truth. You do like me,” he said with satisfaction.

  “I said I cared about you,” I corrected.

  “I want you to care about me and like me.” I shuddered when he pressed a soft kiss to my neck.

  “Oh?”

  “It’s of great importance. You smell incredible right now by the way,” he breathed.

  “Well, I’m not wearing any p-perfume.” My voice was shaky as he continued to pepper my neck with soft kisses.

  “Don’t you dare ever wear perfume. None of it is fit to grace your skin. And when I said you smelled incredible, I was referring to your arousal.”

  Instantly, my cheeks flamed. “What?”

  “It’s like heat and roses,” Ethan went on. “I can’t get enough.” I’d almost forgotten he could smell how I felt. A rush of desire swept through me when his hand skimmed the top of my breast over my shirt. “You’re trembling,” he whispered.

  “It’s cold,” I whispered back.

  His hand paused like the outdoor temperature suddenly occurred to him. “My apologies. I forgot about the human sensitivity to cold.” He redid the buttons on my coat, and I wanted to tell him I didn’t mind the cold so much when he was touching me, but I didn’t have the courage.

  Ethan took my hand in his and helped me off the boat, leading me back up to the boardwalk. We strolled away from the river and down a populated street. For a second, I imagined we were just an ordinary couple walking hand in hand. We passed by a pub, and I peered inside at the people socialising merrily over drinks. It was a little difficult to keep up with Ethan’s pace, given his long legs and elegant stride.

  “If you cannot go any faster, I shall have to resort to carrying you,” he teased.

  “Don’t you dare,” I warned, and he chuckled.

  Soon we were away from the busy part of the city and on a quieter residential road that boasted expensive townhouses with wrought iron gates. I’d never be able to afford to live on a street like this, not unless I won the lottery. Ethan stopped at the end of the street in front of a tall, dark brick townhouse. All the windows had those thick blackout blinds, so I couldn’t tell whether or not the lights were on inside.

/>   “Want to come in for a nightcap?” Ethan asked and I suddenly realised that this was his house. It explained the blackout blinds. They’d certainly come in handy for those who wanted to avoid daylight.

  “You live here?” I asked, impressed. Ethan Cristescu had good taste in real estate. Also, I thought it was going to be harder to get an invite to his house, but here I was already being asked to come in for a nightcap.

  “I do. I can give you a tour if you like?”

  “Sure,” I said, hoping I’d find some clue to Rebecca’s whereabouts inside. I wanted to inform Pamphrock of where she was without Ethan ever discovering it was me. I couldn’t stand the idea of him realising the truth and hating me for it. I also couldn’t stand the idea of Ethan having something to do with her kidnapping, but if he was Whitfield’s right-hand man, then it was fairly likely he did. Hell, he could’ve orchestrated the entire thing.

  Now that was a distressing thought.

  “Come on then,” Ethan said as he opened the door and motioned me in.

  When I was a child, I had a cat that would become so mesmerised by the heat and flames of the fireplace in our living room that sometimes he’d try to walk right into it. Going inside Ethan’s house felt a little like that. I was walking into something I knew was going to be bad for me in the long run, but I couldn’t help myself because it felt good in the moment.

  With a deep breath, I stepped over the threshold, and Ethan closed the door behind us.

  7.

  I stepped inside Ethan’s hallway and was immediately met with his scent. The place smelled exactly like him, and it was a little intoxicating. There was his signature night-blooming jasmine, underlined with a masculine spiciness.

  Ethan hit the light switch, illuminating the hall in a soft golden glow. The walls were painted a deep, sumptuous navy, while the floors and staircase were dark mahogany. There was no doubting this was a man’s home. Several paintings hung on the walls. They looked like originals, and though I didn’t recognise the artists I suspected they were pricey.