“Oh, no. No, no.” She shook her head and threw the bracelet back to Brett like it was a venomous snake.
“That dream meant nothing. I have crazy dreams all the time. Just the other day, I dreamt that two women were holding out the…moon to me, I guess. It was weird. It was just a dream to help me find my father. It had nothing to do with the Hania.”
Martin reached out a soothing hand. “Layla, part of the prophecy states that the Hania will have siblings who will have to sacrifice themselves to help her free Mai-coh. I think you’ve had a vision to help you find them.”
“Find who?”
“Your sisters.”
Layla let out a frustrated sigh. “Martin, what the hell? Come on! I am not the Hania. I may have family in Alaska, where my father is, but those women are way too old to be my sisters.”
Martin paused. “Okay, Layla. Stop. Start from the beginning. What women?”
She took a deep breath as she recounted what she had discovered. “I found two women who live in Anchorage; Native Alaskans who kinda look like me, so I think we’re related. This was after I had the dream that told me to “look for the moon” and I did and found the Moon sisters. But they are at least twice my age.”
“Layla, your father is a god who is thousands of years old. I am certain he has children who are much older than you.”
That did make sense. If—and it was a pretty big if—her father was Mai-coh. She stood up again. “I can’t believe this. I can’t kill someone in cold blood. Even if I am this Hania. What happens if I don’t?”
Brett leaned back in his chair. “According to my father’s journal, if you don’t, another Hania will not be born for another millennium. That means a thousand more years of this damn war and Mai-coh being stuck here.”
He reached for her. “I know this sucks, but we have to do what we have to do.”
Layla grimaced. “That’s easy for you to say. You don’t have to kill anyone.”
Martin stood up and stretched his long legs. “Well, I guess that’s that. We’ve got a long, long couple of days ahead of us and I need to go and check on Susan. See how well she’s taking this, although I think she is still in denial.”
Layla nodded. She understood completely. She wanted to go to her aunt as well, but instinct told her to let Martin take care of it, for now.
Brett unfolded his long legs from the sofa. “Might as well go and pack.”
At Layla’s confused look, he chuckled. “Not sure if you realize it or if you understand how Martin thinks, but chances are we’re headed to Alaska in the morning.”
~*~
Chapter 7
Layla awoke to the moonlight streaming in through the window and sat up hugging the blanket to her chest. The November chill left bits of white against the glass and a bit of a draft seeped into the old house. She turned to Brett, surprised to find him awake and watching her.
“Hey.”
“Hey,” she whispered back.
His eyes roamed her face. “Nervous about the trip?”
She smiled. “Kinda. But it’s not that big of a deal.”
Leaning forward, he pulled a lock of her hair across her shoulder and she licked her lips as butterflies fluttered through her stomach at the contact.
“I love you, you know.”
“I know.” She leaned back against the headboard and he moved closer. Her nipples hardened involuntarily as he rested his head against her breasts; the thought of him being so close very arousing. “God, I want you.”
They hadn’t made love since the incident at Suzette’s house well over a month ago. It had been so hectic during that time. There was the clean-up after they had decimated Suzette’s pack, the move, the hiding. Nali had to have paperwork straightened out with Child Services after her adoptive parents had been killed, but luckily her aunt had a friend who worked there.
Then there were her own problems at the college; being accused of theft was a pretty serious charge and it took a few weeks to clear her name. By the time everything was back on track and moving in the right direction, she hadn’t been sleeping much anymore, Brett had seemed distant and well…it was downhill from there.
His arms encircled her waist and her heart started to pound.
She wanted him so badly, she couldn’t see straight, but she didn’t know where to start. Her heart raced her blood almost at a boil and she felt as if she was on fire. Her nipples were almost raw as they pebbled and rubbed against the fabric of the bedding. In an almost desperate move, she pulled the blanket down, exposing her breasts to the cool air.
“Show me.” he said it so quietly, she thought she’d imagined it. Only the warmth of his breath across her nipples confirmed he had spoken.
“What?” she was confused, her mind barely registering his request.
“You said you wanted me. I want you to show me.”
She understood what he was asking of her. While he ran around trying to help her with her nightmares, she had contemplated cheating on him. It was a despicable act and she understood his need to not be rejected. She had done the same when she thought he cheated on her with Suzette’s cousin. It was okay though. She didn’t mind doing the work.
He lay back on the pillows and pulled her up and over him, seating her on his stomach, her bareness rubbing against his smooth body before she leaned forward and kissed him. Her mouth caressed his, unhurried and she ran her tongue along the seam of his sealed lips as she swallowed his groan with hers.
Hands splayed across his body, she focused on his mouth as he opened beneath her attention and she rewarded him by thrusting her tongue against his. He tasted like mint and…Brett. Her tongue tangled with his as they fought for dominance and as she rubbed herself against him, his hands came up to caress her bare ass. The room started to spin at the contact. She was so hot, so needy…so ready. It was as if she was sitting on a powder keg about to blow. And she was not going to move.
Lowering her head, she broke the kiss and nibbled Brett’s jaw. She kissed along his neck, pausing to lick the sexy hollow between his neck and shoulder, before she grabbed his hair and forced his head back, rearing up to plant another kiss on his mouth. She moved lower still, her eyes twinkling. Brett groaned and Layla covered his mouth with her hand.
“Another sound and I will stop.”
A slow smile spread across his face. “By all means, continue.”
Layla grinned and swirled her tongue across his chest. His stomach clenched as he sucked in a deep breath. She moved her tongue to his nipples, paying them homage, licking, sucking and scoring them with her teeth, before pinching them with her fingers. Brett writhed beneath her, his movements grinding him against her most sensitive parts and she hissed.
“Oh god, baby. That is so good.” he whispered.
“Wait till you see what’s next,” she teased with a smile before she trailed even lower, allowing her hands to follow her tongue. She moved towards his navel, her tongue sliding across his firm abs to slip into the shallow depression. His stomach clenched again as she swirled her tongue.
She continued moving down until her chin bumped into the evidence of his arousal. Her fingers encircled him and she moved her lips along his length, kissing every inch of him as he gasped. Finally, she touched the tip of her tongue to the plump head; lapping at the dew she found waiting for her there.
Before he could catch his breath, she took him into her mouth and sucked him deeply. Brett bucked beneath her, his hips raised off the bed as he strained to get closer. He let her play for a few minutes more before he grabbed her away from him, his breaths fast and shallow.
“My turn.” He flipped her onto her back and tossed her legs over his shoulders before he moved low and into her heat. His tongue delved straight to the heart of her and her back arched as he lapped at her juices.
Layla barely covered her mouth with her hand. She was so close. Teasing him had turned her on so much that she had almost forgotten that it was supposed to be about him. His tongue plunged
in and out and she almost came apart when he slipped a finger into her moist heat. He twirled his finger around in a come-hither motion; beckoning to her, his finger curling inside her honey and she cried out his tongue touched her clit.
He smiled against her. “Another sound and I will stop.”
“You stop and you die. Simple as that.” She glowered at him.
He laughed and she arched her back again as his fingers continued to play her as deftly as a musician stoking the keys of his piano. The first strains of the concerto started as he continued and waves threatened to overcome her. She wanted him with her, but before she could draw another breath, she spilled over as easily as waves breaking over sand. His lean body covered hers and she took a deep breath, pulling needed air into her lungs.
“You are amazing,” she whispered against his lips, tasting her sweet tartness.
“You’re not so bad yourself.” He said with a crooked grin that made her even wetter. Without hesitation, he thrust into her and began to move. Heat start to build anew as he slowly slid along her slick body. His slow, languid, love-making was what she truly desired, what she truly needed.
He moved in and out, her leg thrown haphazardly across one arm. She began to climb higher, as the wave began to build again. Higher and higher and faster and faster until she crashed onto shore, breathless. Suddenly, Brett stiffened and he gasped as he joined her at her peak, smiling as they both tumbled back together.
“I’m sorry I was such an idiot.”
He chuckled and palmed her ass. “It’s okay. But you can apologize later.”
She laughed. And did.
*
The plane touched down on the runway with practiced ease. Layla glanced out the window at the snow covered peaks in the distance, a far cry from the flat sandiness of Florida. Inside the plane was cool, the cold air from outside biting its way through to the occupants within. She was bundled in thermal underwear and leggings, jeans, a few shirts, a jacket, parka and snow boots; her hands encased in mittens thicker than the hair on her head. Yet, with all that, she was still cold.
Excitement burned through her though, which was unusual since she had spent the entire plane ride completely airsick. She was fine at the moment and held a hand to her stomach, waiting for the telltale lurch, but there was none. Apparently, she was done with her motion sickness for now.
The night sky twinkled overhead and despite her relative discomfort, it was enough to give her pause. Everything was so open and expansive. It was like the sky went on forever. She had never seen so many stars before.
Brett chuckled as he followed her gaze. “It’s like that up here and it’s snowing.”
“I know!” Almost like a kid, she was giddy in her want to see the white puffs of frozen water. Although she had seen snow countless times on television, it was different to see it up close and experience it in person. She looked forward to getting a few moments to enjoy the scenery and the weather, even though she was more hot-blooded than the humans around them.
“Remind me to take you to North Carolina for Christmas someday. You’ll love it.” Brett leaned over and kissed her shoulder, then nibbled on her flesh as she shivered. “We can have sex in the woods.”
She opened her mouth to respond and was disrupted by Martin as he leaned forward and cleared his throat.
“Are you feeling better?”
Layla nodded, hiding her smile at the red undertone in the older man’s face. She was feeling better and Martin had obviously heard their conversation and probably last night’s activities as well. They had tried to be quiet, but with Martin’s hearing, he had probably been privy to the whole event, which made this moment even more awkward. She blushed; embarrassed as she remembered some of the things she had done. And said.
The flight attendant announced their arrival and they waited until the other passengers disembarked before they stood to collect their bags. Suddenly, she was nervous. In her pocket were the addresses and phone numbers of both Moon sisters, courtesy of Martin’s contacts. But what would she say? Hello, my name is Layla and I need your help to kill our dad?
Brett reached over and gently squeezed her hand. She smiled at him gratefully; feeling a bit more secure. His hands were warm and assuring and she was more relaxed as she reveled in his strength. In the past 24 hours, he had become more to her than a boyfriend. It was like her heart needed him. She was scared how fast and how hard she had fallen for him. And how uncertain their future was together.
They shuffled off the plane and moved down the concourse to baggage claim. There was no checked luggage, but they had a rental car and needed to pick it up. Layla was a bit afraid of driving in the snow, having read about black ice and all the other horror stories, but Martin and Brett were experienced and she trusted them both. She was still apprehensive about the trip to her sisters and wanted to make sure that everything went according to plan so that they got there on time and safely.
As soon as they were in the terminal, she turned on her phone, surprised at the three missed calls from her aunt. A text buzzed through and she read it quickly. The woman was worried about them, especially since both Kuruk incidents and wanted to make sure everyone was okay. She refused to discuss anything about Werewolves; instead, she had acted like it had never been mentioned.
Brett kissed her quickly before he took off for the bathroom and Martin left to get the rental. She stood near the window, her back to the terminal and stared at the blanket of white all around her. The mountains were too dark to see normally, but her enhanced vision picked out the white capped mountaintops in the distance.
She absently rubbed her behind. The 17 hour flight from Florida to Alaska had been a pain in the ass, literally. Three connecting flights and two four hour layovers weren’t much in comparison to what it could have been for booking a last minute flight and she was still sore. Especially after such an energetic night.
Her aunt picked up on the first ring as she called home to check in.
“Hey, Aunt Susan.”
“How was the flight?”
“It wasn’t bad, a bit of turbulence when we headed over Canada. Because of the snow.” She listened as aunt her commiserated with her, recounted her day to the other woman and spoke to Nali before she hung up and sat, waiting for the men to join her.
As soon as Brett came out of the bathroom, she left him with the luggage and headed to the restroom to freshen up. At this hour of night, they were the last flight and the restrooms were fairly empty. She grabbed a stall right away, quickly used it and as she washed her hands, she looked at her reflection in the mirror.
Only months away from her 30th birthday, she had dreamed that it would be a double celebration. Her college graduation and her birthday. She thought of the friends she had hoped to share it with. Shawna, who had been her best friend until last month and the people from her job and school. Now she was a social outcast. Shunned. This Were business had redefined her life into something she really didn’t want.
Instead of the party she had planned for years, she would be fighting for her life and that of her father. She could probably still pull off graduation, but she might not walk across the stage. If she died anyway, what good was a degree? After graduation, unlike her colleagues, she wouldn’t be looking for a job or a grown-up apartment; she would be running from some werewolf faction or another trying to avoid being killed. She would be in hiding, somewhere not living her life.
At least she would have Brett; she thought, then took a deep breath and froze as a scent washed over her. She took another deep breath, uncertain what she was scenting. The smell was gone. For a moment, she thought she had smelled another Were.
Splashing water on her face, she walked out the restroom and spied Brett sitting near their bags, his long legs spread in front of him. They were the only two still left in the terminal. She looked around.
“Where’s Martin?”
Brett shrugged, “still getting the car, I guess.”
Layla frowned.
“It sure is taking him a long time.” She pulled out her cellphone. “I’ll call him, just in case.”
She called Martin’s phone, dismayed when it kept ringing. “No answer.”
He looked at her and then at the snow outside. “Now that’s odd.” He walked over to the door in the direction of the car rental agency. The area was shrouded in darkness with no sign of movement from within. “They look closed.”
Brett was right, she thought as she walked over. The area looked as if no one had been there in a while, if so, where was Martin? She frowned and dialed Martin’s number again, her gut starting to churn.
This time as it rang, she heard the double timbre of the phone. She shook her head, certain of a crossed line or some other technical issue, but could not help the uneasy feeling she was getting. She listened carefully as the phone continued to ring. No, no crossed line; she was hearing both phones, hers and Martin’s. The call went to voicemail again and she slipped on her mittens and cap. Something was very wrong.
“Call him again,” she said to Brett as they both stepped outside.
The swirling snow made the way difficult, but Layla couldn’t focus on the Winter Wonderland. Martin’s phone was ringing in the distance. They turned the corner near the car rental kiosk and a car stood empty; lights on, door open to the elements. Brett gripped Layla’s hands as they tripped over to the car.
On the seat sat the rental papers and Martin’s cellphone, but the older Were was nowhere to be found.
*
Layla sat in the dark of the car with her head in her hand. The engine was running and warmth flooded her limbs as she tried hard not to panic. She had smelled a Were when she was in the bathroom. But how did the scent appear and then disappear so completely? And what kind of Were could get the drop on Martin? He was a hunter! He knew all the tricks and then some.
At a complete loss, she contemplated the situation. She should be able to track Martin, but first she had to clear her head, she thought, as she remembered Martin’s trainings. Clear head, focus and breathe.
Taking a few deep breaths, she tried to relax as Brett walked back to her. They had already collected their luggage and tossed it into the trunk. Now, Brett was depending on her to be able to take him to where someone had stashed Martin.
Maikoda: Power of the Moon (Blue Moon Trilogy Book 2) Page 14
