Master of the Moon

by Angela Knight

  She looked around for Llyr and found he’d flung himself onto a massive wooden throne, one leg hooked over the arm as he drummed his fingers on the jeweled armrest.

  “It’s time to try something different,” he told her, frowning in concentration. “This vampire is a great deal more powerful than I anticipated. I’m going to have to move my base to mortal Earth for the duration of this hunt.”

  “But Your Majesty, that will increase the risk to you,” Naois protested. “We cannot protect you as effectively there.”

  Llyr looked up at him. “But we can’t detect this murderer here, and the entire point of this is to find the killer and stop her. There’s so little background magic on Mortal Earth that if she works any significant spell at all, she’ll light up the entire area like a bonfire. I’ll sense it, and then we’ll have her.”

  “But what of Ansgar?” Egan protested. “If he should attack in force…”

  Llyr snorted. “The minute he opened a gate big enough to bring that many men through, we’d all know it. Besides, he doesn’t dare violate the will that blatantly. Not only would he not gain my kingdom, he’d lose his own.”

  “Where will we make our base, Your Majesty?” Naois asked.

  “The inn Diana bespoke for us. I will increase the number of guards to ten.” He gave his guardsman a sardonic smile. “Will that make you feel any better, Naois?”

  The dark-haired Sidhe smiled tightly. “Somewhat, Majesty.”

  “Good. I’d advise you all to get a few hours’ sleep. I doubt you’ll find those mortal beds as comfortable. Arrange for your relief shift for the remainder of the night.”

  “As Your Majesty bids.” Naois bowed shortly, then he and the others marched from the room.

  As Diana watched, Llyr rose from his throne and sauntered across the room to a table where a pitcher and goblets waited. “These additional men of yours,” she said, her Burning Moon temper at a simmer. “Am I paying for their rooms, too?”

  Llyr looked up at her. “I will repay you, Diana.”

  “Yeah—in fairy gold. I wonder how I’m supposed to explain that one to the IRS?” She rested a hand on her gun-belt and glowered at him as he approached her in that slow, tempting walk of his.

  Llyr handed her a goblet. “You’re snapping, my she-wolf.”

  “She-wolf? You’re pushing it, fairy.” She took the drink from him and put it aside on the arm of the nearest chair. “And you’re damn right I’m snapping. I’m sick of the way your people treat my people—putting spells on them and screwing with their brains every time they get the itch.”

  Llyr sipped from his own goblet, watching her over its golden rim. “I’m not responsible for what the vampire does, Diana and she is not one of mine, in any case.”

  “Yeah, well, you are responsible for the way you messed with Linda Bryce’s head. Not to mention Sandra and her photographer. They could lose their jobs because of your little stunt!”

  He shrugged, a graceful lift of broad shoulders. “If so, ’tis no more than they deserve. They spoke against those who lead them.”

  “Llyr, this is America. Speaking out against your leaders when they screw up is practically a civic responsibility.”

  An elegant blond brow lifted. “And undermining your authority is supposed to make the situation better?”

  It wasn’t fair that anybody so pigheaded should smell that good. Diana spun away from him and began to pace. “But she was right! Mrs. Bryce had a real point. If I’d warned the public, that boy might not have gone off with his killer. What happened to him is my responsibility.”

  A strong hand hooked her upper arm and dragged her to a halt. She faced him. He frowned down into her face. “Do you seriously believe this creature needs her victim’s consent? It didn’t matter whether he went off willingly or not. She’d have taken him anyway.”

  “But we don’t have to make it easy! I owe it to people to warn them.”

  “Warn them about what? That a vampire is murdering young men, but they should not fear because their leader is a werewolf with the King of the Fairies for an ally?”

  Diana glowered at him. “Don’t be obnoxious. I’m going to issue a press release warning the public to use caution because there may be a serial killer on the loose.” And Mayor Thompson would be in her office an hour later, popping a vein. He hated anything that could even remotely make the town look bad. And it didn’t get much worse than a sadistic murderer who eviscerated young men.

  “And what will this accomplish?” Llyr’s gaze searched hers. “Realistically?”

  She sighed. “Realistically we’ll get swarmed by local media. And if we’re really unlucky, we’ll get the national boys, too.”

  He frowned. “I do not care for the sound of that. What if one of these reporters uses their devices when I am not aware of it, and broadcasts something I don’t care to have seen? I cannot allow that, Diana.”

  She raked a hand through her hair. “So we are going to cover this up. Perfect. Just perfect.”

  Llyr rocked back on his heels and tilted his head to one side. “I do not understand why you wish this to be known. It will only make an already ugly situation more complicated while accomplishing nothing.”

  “It’s like I said, Llyr: This is a democracy. When something affects public safety, the public has a right to know about it.”

  “Given that there is absolutely nothing they can do to safeguard themselves, I must ask—why?”

  Frustrated, but knowing perfectly well he was right, she spun and shoved her nose inches from his. “Because I’m not a glorified dictator, unlike some people I could name!”

  His eyes narrowed and sparked with temper. Belatedly, she remembered that she’d just insulted a king. He took a step forward, right into her. “No one in this entire kingdom dares speak to me in that tone. I’ll not tolerate it.”

  Diana opened her mouth to apologize—just as he grabbed the back of her head with one big hand and kissed her, his mouth plundering hers like something out of a pirate romance. She managed a shocked “Mmph!” before his other hand caught her butt and he pulled her full against him. Somebody growled, a deep rumble of pleasure.

  To her shock, Diana realized it was her.

  God, he tasted good. Like some exotic wine, all spices and heat. She breathed in deeply but he didn’t smell nearly as good as he tasted.

  “The scent of death still clings to you,” he whispered against her lips, as if reading her mind.

  “Too much time trying to get a scent off that poor kid,” she murmured back. “I need a bath.”

  Llyr drew back from her, his eyes crinkling with amusement. “I can help you with that.” He looked off to one side.

  She followed his gaze and gasped. The intricate rug became a pool set into the marble floor. Bubbles floated on its surface, and steam rose into the air, smelling deliciously of jasmine. “Damn. Nice trick, Llyr.”

  He leaned down to whisper in her ear, “People do not only hesitate to offend me because I’m king, Diana.” His grin was wolfish. “I have more than one kind of power.”

  She shot him a grin. “No wonder you’re spoiled.”

  “Spoiled!” Eyes widening in mock offense, he rocked back on his heels.

  Diana smirked and reached for the buttons of her uniform shirt. “Spoiled.”

  “Wench, I’m a warrior king. I am most certainly not spoiled.” A wicked light lit his eyes, and he gestured.

  Glancing down, Diana discovered her clothing had disappeared—all but her weapons belt, which rode her naked hips. “Not just spoiled—kinky and spoiled.” Giving him a dry look, she reached for the buckle of her belt and opened it.

  “Kinky?” He tilted his head. “I gather this has more than the usual meaning.”

  “It means sexually perverse.” Dropping the belt, she stepped down into the pool and sighed at the warm, silken water settling around her skin.

  “Yet another insult. Why do I find you so appealing?”

  Diana smirked
at him, slipping deeper into the water. “Because you’re kinky.”

  “Well,” he purred, “if it’s sexual perversity you want, I can accommodate you.”

  Suddenly she found herself frozen in place. Startled, Diana realized her arms were stretched behind her, wrists locked together in steel manacles. As if that wasn’t kinky enough, her legs were spread wide, ankles shackled. “Llyr!”

  “Oh, love, what did you expect?” he rumbled. She heard water splash as he entered the pool. “People who anger a king find themselves in chains.”

  She jerked, but the shackles barely clinked. “I’m going to bite you.”

  Big, warm hands brushed over the taut flesh of her ass. As she twisted around to aim a mock glower at him, he grinned. “Not before I bite you. This is a very nice bottom.”

  Diana felt a wicked little thrill. He could do whatever he wanted to her. Determined not to make it that easy for him, she gave her bonds another hard tug, but she couldn’t move at all. Yet the chains seemed attached to empty air. “What have you chained me to, you royal pervert?”

  “Nothing. That’s why they call it magic, darling.” He bent to scoop up a handful of water, then splashed it over her back. Long, wet fingers stroked over her skin, tracing over her arms, the tensed muscles of her shoulders, along the curve of her spine.

  Despite her irritation, Diana sighed as pleasure shivered in the wake of his hands. “That’s nice.”

  “I’m delighted you approve.” He moved around in front of her and went to his knees, reaching beneath her body to stroke and cuddle her hanging breasts, his fingers tugging gently at her nipples. The sensitive tips hardened at the lazy delight he gave her with every gentle stroke.

  Moaning, she closed her eyes and surrendered to the sweet, glowing pleasure. She’d fought the Burning Moon so long, it was wonderful to simply give in and let herself feel her own need.

  A breath against her lips warned her Llyr was about to kiss her. Then his mouth was there, moving over hers as slowly and seductively as his hands.

  Diana opened for him with a sigh, and he stroked his tongue in deep. She suckled gently. He rewarded her with a passionate groan and deepened the kiss, one hand softly busy on her breasts as he cupped the back of her head in the other.

  When they finally had to stop to breathe, he gave her lower lip a gentle nibble. “You are insolent,” he murmured against her mouth. “And you have no manners whatsoever. Why do I find you so charming?”

  “I have excellent manners,” she protested. “I’ll have you know, I was raised a good Southern werewolf.”

  He laughed, a deep chuckle that made something warm inside her. “Oh, I’m sure you’re a very polite werewolf. But a courtier, you are not.”

  Diana gave him an impish grin. “Courtier. Isn’t that another word for brownnoser?”

  Tiny lines fanned around his magical eyes as he smiled. “I have an ugly suspicion about what that phrase means. Please tell me I’m wrong.”

  “You’re not.”

  His smile became a grin. “You do realize you’re going to pay for that.”

  She smirked back. Despite everything, a bubble of almost ridiculous happiness rose in her chest. “I can’t wait.”

  EIGHT

  Diana really was astonishingly delicious. The long, elegant contours of her body made Llyr’s blood run hot, particularly bent over as she was now. And when he looked into those pale, wild-wolf eyes, he felt the bottom drop out of his chest with something more than lust.

  But the hot throb between his thighs made it impossible to think about what that sweeter ache might mean. Instead, he straightened to his full height, gave her his best marauder’s smile, and waded around her bent, helpless body. The pose displayed that magnificent bottom of hers to best advantage, sending hot blood flooding into his cock to raise an aching erection. He contemplated her backside lustfully, feeling his pulse beat. “Well, now,” he purred, “this is a lovely view.”

  “You do say the sweetest things.” She twisted her head to look back at him, one brow lifted sardonically. “You could turn a girl’s head.”

  “Oh, I intend to do more than turn it.” Testing, Llyr reached between her long legs. The lips of her sex were soft, furred in dark, curling hair. And as he probed between them, he found her very wet. “Much more.”

  She caught her breath. “Just…how much more?”

  He added a second finger, probing deeply, slowly. “I’m going to make it spin, she-wolf.”

  Diana tilted her head back and groaned. “Oh, you’re doing that already.”

  “Good.” Lust sizzling along his nerves, he stroked a finger back and forth across the tiny button of her clit. She squirmed. He inhaled, breathing in the delightfully erotic scent of Diana in heat. It reminded him of just how delicious she tasted.

  Dropping to one knee, he parted her delicate lips for his tongue. She jerked and gasped as he gave her a long, slow lap. “God, Llyr! Damn, you’re good at that.”

  He grinned. “Thank you, milady. I do try.” Angling his head, he stabbed his tongue across her clit, enjoying her shudder of arousal. She tasted just as sweet and wild as he remembered. With a rumble of hunger, he closed his lips around her button and suckled until she ground her hips back at his face. He rewarded her by sliding two fingers deep again and scissoring them open and closed.

  Then, plying tongue and fingers with cheerful ruthlessness, he proceeded to work her to a shuddering orgasm that tore a scream of raw ecstacy from her lips.

  By the time he drew back again, she hung in her bonds, gasping for breath. “Oh, man.”

  He grinned. “Did you like that?”

  “God, what do you think?” She groaned. “Damn. That’s the second time you used your mouth on me. Don’t I owe you one or something?”

  He licked his lips as his cock leaped at the thought of thrusting into Diana’s sweet mouth. “Well, if you insist…”

  She laughed. “Be my guest.”

  To his amusement, Llyr found his legs weren’t quite steady as he walked around to present his cock to his willing captive’s mouth. Standing over her, relishing the wicked sensation of dominance, he aimed the aching shaft for her lips. She opened for him with an eager little groan and sucked him right in.

  The delicate sensation of Diana’s hot mouth pleasuring his cock was so intense, it was all Llyr could do not to come right on the spot. He managed to hold on by sheer will as she danced her tongue over the sensitive head of his cock, then shaped her lips around him for a deep, drawing suckle.

  “Dragon’s Breath!” he gasped as her teeth nibbled delicately.

  She drew back. “Glad you approve, Your Majesty.”

  “Wench.” He drew in a hard breath as she engulfed him again, sucking so hard he saw stars. He’d never be able to last if she kept that up. With a desperate groan, he pulled free of her lips.

  “Hey!” she protested as he moved around behind her. “Where do you think you’re going?”

  “Where do you think?” He caught her by one slim hip.

  “Oh.”

  Llyr laughed. “Oh.” Stepping in close, he took his cock in his hand. When he stroked the blunt head between her lips, the wet heat made him shudder. Drawing in a breath of anticipation, he slowly began working his way inside.

  “Ahhhh, that’s nice.” Her groan of pleasure echoed his own as her fine muscles clamped around him. He kept going, hungry for more. By the time his belly rested against her silken backside, he was gasping.

  “Oh, man,” she whimpered.

  “Yes. Dragon’s Breath, yes.” He drew out slowly. She squirmed, doing magnificent things to his aching shaft.

  “More,” Diana breathed.

  He wrapped his fingers around her slim waist. “As my lady wishes.” And he drove to his balls in one hard thrust that almost made his knees buckle with its ferocious pleasure. Her shout of passion goaded him. Maddened, he clenched his teeth and began to stroke, in and out, faster and faster yet, tormenting both of them with the we
t silk slide of skin on skin.

  Diana’s delicious channel gripped him hard. She braced herself and surged back at him, slapping his hips with her backside.

  Llyr threw his head back and shut his eyes as his climax roared down on him like a comet. Another hard, ramming thrust, and it struck, showering him with hot sparks of molten pleasure. He roared, distantly aware of Diana’s cry as she came, milking him in sweet ripples.

  He wouldn’t have thought it possible: It was even better than the first time.

  Diana hung in her chains, barely capable of coherent thought, wrung out from the pleasure Llyr had so wickedly inflicted.

  Suddenly her shackles vanished. Before she quite knew what was going on, he scooped her into his arms and started wading through the pool.

  “What?” she murmured. “Where are we going?”

  “To bed, sweet,” he said, his chest rumbling against her cheek with his speech. “I feel a sudden need to sleep beside you.”

  Diana yawned so hard her jaws popped. “Sounds good.”

  He lifted her like a child, put her down on something exquisitely soft, and crawled in next to her. Somewhere along the trip to bed, they’d both become dry and warm. She sighed in contentment as he pulled her back against his muscular chest.

  Just before she fell asleep, it occurred to Diana that she could get seriously addicted to Llyr Galatyn’s spectacular lovemaking.

  Llyr listened to Diana breathe as she curled against him, silken and warm. So sleek, so lovely.

  “So soon,” a familiar musical voice whispered in the darkness, sounding mournful. “You’ve forgotten me so soon.”

  His eyes flared open. Janieda stood over him, her iridescent wings spread in the moonlight, her eyes inexpressibly sad.