by JF Holland
Light up the Moon
The Bound Series
Book 4
Author JF Holland
Editor Maria Lazarou
Copyright © 2017 J F Holland
The moral right of the Author has been asserted.
All characters and events within the story, other than those clearly in the public domain, are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental
All rights reserved.
No part of the publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior permission, in writing of the Author and owner of the publication. Nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published, and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
Also by JF Holland
Contemporary Romance
Dennison Property Story Series:
The Only One
This Time
Second Chance
Full Circle (coming end 2017)
Single Titles
Blue Christmas
Date Night
Paranormal Romance
The Bound Series:
Moon Sworn June
Bound by The Moon
Fire in the Moon
Light up The Moon (due out 3rd July 2017)
Eternal Mates (The Bound Series Spin off)
Immortal Flame due (out August 4th 2017)
Acknowledgements
Once again, I’d like to thank my children have shown immense patience while I've finished yet another story that took over my mind. I love them more than life, and it means the world to me that they understand that some things I just must do. Thanks’ guys.
My poor husband, Ian, who once again has taken up the slack after long, tiring days at work. Thank you as always, I do appreciate all your help.
And my very good friends from 'The Sexy Team' and ‘The Crazy Bards’ you know who you are ladies. You’re always around as sounding boards and cheer leaders, love you guys.
The Bound Series is set in a fictitious countryside town in the UK. The series was born after reading dozens of articles over the years covering various big cat sightings in fields, towns and other places around the UK- a country not indigenous to big cats.
Dedication
To those who love Paranormal Romance, especially my shifter stories. I dedicate this one to you.
Thank you for all your support and encouragement, it’s truly appreciated
xxx
Introduction to the series.
Welcome to lower Lunaton, on the border of Lunaton woods. The little British countryside town where the crop circle on the way in gives you heed; the inhabitants may not be what they seem.
By the dark of night, it's not only the moon that comes out to play.
There's many a creature living alongside you, so expect the unexpected. Growls, howls, the patter or paws, the beating of wings, maybe a conversation with a little more bite than bark. A place of magic, or is that just a myth?
There's always something going on in the little town, and sometimes it's not so friendly. When the moon is high, and the day is over, stay out of the woods. Just a gentle warning, you don't want to disturb the locals at play. You could get more than you bargained for?
Pull up a chair and rest your feet, you may be here a while. After all, most have been here more than a lifetime, well a human one any
Words the Shifter Males are taught from birth: -
By the light of the third full moon of the year, man that goes from two legs to four will feel the pull when his mate is born, the other half to his soul. But patience must you show, for twenty-one years shall pass before she feels the pull of the binding, when at that time on her your mark shall appear. The other half to your own, thus making the mark and you whole.
During this time, you must not unleash the beast within around her, for she may not know of your kind. But you should hasten and be warned, only five years shall you have to locate and bind her to you. If you fail to have your union sworn over by the last full moon at the end of the fifth year, your lifespan shall then be that of your beast. You will then permanently become the animal that you take form, and for the remainder of that life you'll walk on four legs. Forever to be alone.
Light up The Moon
The Bound Series
Book 4
Prologue
J aden made it across the river, the others, coming up behind him. Shaking, to remove the excess water from their fur as they clambered up the banking onto the grass. Luc set down before them, wings folding against his back before carefully setting down Sophia beside him. Lara and Helena floated over the surface of the water, and Jaden’s Jaguar’s eyes widened in disbelief as he watched the two-phoenix, hovering. He was in awe of their capabilities, and realised that the women in the family he’d bound into were a little scary to say the least.
He, for one, would not like to get on the wrong side of them, he thought as the two women finally lowered their feet to solid ground.
Shifting to his human form, he turned to the assembled immortals.
“Eyes peeled. Maisie’s running – which means she is now more dangerous than ever. She has absolutely nothing left to lose and everything to gain if she can escape. However, we need to make sure that doesn’t happen, this ends tonight. We’ve lost enough of our friends, family and neighbours, no more. Now, let’s keep vigilant, and stick close to keep each other safe, I don’t want to lose anyone else; not due to stupid mistakes. I’ll try to pick up her trail, but we may have to follow Sophia’s lead as the bitch seems to have become adept at hiding her scent,” he mumbled with disgust. With that, he again went from two to four feet, black fur once more covering his body. Lowering his muzzle closer to the ground, he sampled the air, whiskers sifting through the various scents available to him. His ears moving as he tried to pick up on any sounds of footsteps. He especially looked for areas where it was too quiet, because in Maisie’s case, that could also be a clue. If there were blank areas, it could be indicative of her being close and covering her tracks. It was something that had nearly cost him Maya on the night they had bound, and he would not make the same mistake again.
A sound came from deep in the woods, although the tree line was too dense to make out what it was - but there was something going on further in there. Chuffing, he sloped off into the trees, moving in a zig zag formation; low to the ground, trying to make it harder to pinpoint his exact location. Sophia stepped in his path, making him halt, head tilting and top lip lifting off his muzzle in displeasure. She held a hand to her lips, and her chin bobbed, pointing further out in front of them, to an area they still couldn’t make out.
Luc moved, the large gargoyle pulling Sophia behind him, guarding her by using his own body as cover to protect her.
“Luc,” Sophia sighed, tapping on his back, and his head turned, looking at her over his shoulder. “She’s left her mark, which means there are the possibility of traps in store for us, which means I need to go first.” Luc’s brow furrowed at this, and he shook his head. Sophia’s mouth twisted at his stubbornness. “I need to go first,” she reiterated. “I can find her markers. I can also try to counter-spell anything she’s left behind.” Again, he shook his head and she growled low in her throat, hands coming to rest on her hips as she glared up at him. “Look, I appreciate you are trying to protect me, I do, but I need to see what’s in store for us. I can’t do that hiding behind your wide load, now move,” she hissed, tapping the toe of her short black boot. His brow rose further, head cocking to one side,
long fringe parting on one side, revealing what was hidden. “You have horns,” Sophia said, her hand rising and he flinched. “Sorry, I’ve just never noticed them before. May I?” she asked, her eyes dropping to hold his dark green gaze before rising to his horns again. She’d never seen a man with horns before, and hadn’t realised that Luc had any. Although looking, she saw that his were very small; shorter than her little finger, so easily hidden. They also curved slightly towards the back of his head at an angle. She was fascinated by them and as she waited, hand itching Luc gazed back at her. He was probably trying to figure out what she was up to, suspicion in his wary eyes.
His eyes did another sweep over her face before settling on her eyes once more. Slowly, he lowered his head - so she could reach. Tentatively, so as not to spook him, Sophia raised a hand, running it over the small horns. Gasping at the feel, she pulled her tingling hand back. “They are warm and soft, not what I expected at all,” she murmured, rubbing her hands together at the buzz of sensation running over the surface of her skin. She’d expected them to be hard, cold even, but they weren’t. They felt like warm velvet against her skin, and her hand itched to again feel the texture. Luc’s stance didn’t change, neither did his stoic face alter, he just shrugged. Then straightening, he turned, once again looking towards the interior.
She’d think on why she’d felt compelled to touch him later. However, right now, they had more important matters at hand.
Stepping to her side, Luc held a hand out, suspended there as he waited for her to take his offering. This small, curvy woman with emerald green eyes fascinated him. He’d found himself thinking of her at the most inopportune moments since he’d first laid eyes on her. Her hair was a lush wave of dark auburn, sprinkled sparingly with silver, the only visible sign of her middle age. She appealed to him on a level he didn’t understand. As he waited for her to take his hand, his eyes traced over her hair again, the silver added depth and beauty to the surprisingly soft, shiny curtain of silk. She spoke softly, but for that, there was still the strength of steel in her words. He was flummoxed by her, and his overwhelming need to know that she was safe.
Why? He didn’t know. As she was a witch; and it being one of her kind that had cursed him, he should be running in the opposite direction. Instead, he’d found himself drawn to her, pulled by an invisible force that he had no control over. Her happiness, comfort and wellbeing had become the most important thing in his world.
Pushing the confusing thoughts away, he waggled his fingers. He was impatient for her to take his offering, and feel her hand wrapped safely in his own. They would not be moving until she had.
Sighing, Sophia slipped her small hand into Luc’s much larger one, and instantly felt calm as it enfolded her own. She fell in step by his side as the shifters spread out around them. Lara and Helena; the phoenix, moved to either side of her and Luc, eyes sweeping the interior. A twig snapped up ahead, the sound overloud in the stillness of the evening. Both Lara and Helena’s hair began to move as their hands came up, feet lifting from the ground once more. Floating now, they moved slightly ahead, Jaden growling a warning from behind - which they ignored.
Up ahead the trees thinned, making them break cover. About one-hundred-yards ahead, they caught sight of the blonde they were trailing – Maisie. The black witch moved rapidly, dragging along a limping black jaguar, a chain attached around his neck.
Jaden growled, and Lara gasped as the hurt jaguar looked over its shoulder. He pinned them in his cat’s green gaze, before turning, shoulders slumping as he was dragged by her, and had to pick up speed. As she tugged on the chain, he struggled to keep up, the limp in his back leg more pronounced as he dragged it.
“He’s hurt,” Lara murmured, watching as he bumped into the witches back as she suddenly halted. Then spinning, her hands came up as she threw a spell at them. Sophia tugged her hand free of Luc’s and threw a counter-spell. The dark vapour heading their way hit an invisible barrier, dissipating before it could reach them. Luc stiffened by Sophia’s side, readying to put himself before her, because Maisie threw a second spell their way. Helena growled, and released a blast of fire from their right. It shot across the distance separating them from Maisie, reaching her and making her squeal before ducking. The fire singed her right cheek as it soared past her. Her eyes shot venom at them and Luc pulled Sophia back into his side, grinning in satisfaction as the fire had hit its mark.
“You will not win,” Maisie screeched, her madness now easily visible to all. Her once lustrous blonde hair now hung in a dark, greasy, knotted mess, down her back. Her eyes swirled with insanity, as she smiled maniacally at them.
Luc again stiffened, knowing Maisie was up to something. His muscles tensing for action, ready to step before Sophia once more as her hands rose once again to attack. She froze though, hand still raised as a light came on behind her. Luc frowned, trying to figure out what was going on because it looked as if a doorway had opened. He blinked, grabbing Sophia’s arm and pulling her closer into his side as a tall, bulky, shadowy figure lumbered out of the light. It grabbed hold of Maisie’s arm and she screamed, and fought; tugging and pulling as she tried to free her arm from its grasp.
“Finally, my bitch wife, I have found you. It’s time you came home,” the shadow rumbled, lisping voice carrying clearly across the distance.
“No,” Maisie screamed, frantically tugging to free herself, but he held firm. Stepping backwards, he dragged her screaming and kicking with him towards the doorway. Maisie in turn, pulled Davion; still in jaguar form along with her.
Lara lunged forward, hands coming up to throw more fire towards Maisie’s hand, trying to get her to release his chain.
Luc pulled Sophia behind him, needing to keep her safe as he tried to figure out what was so familiar about the doorway. He dropped the thought, then tried to calculate if he could reach them before they disappeared inside and it shut again. But as Davion’s tail was the only thing still visible, he knew he’d never make it in time. He turned to look at Sophia as she once again stepped from behind him, and he scowled at her. Frowning, his head turning the other way as there was movement to the side.
Lara took off at a sprint, desperately trying to reach Maisie and Davion; Jaden and the others on her heels. Sighing, Luc took a firm grip on Sophia’s hand; threading his fingers with hers, so he wouldn’t lose her. He took off after the others, taking her along with him, using his wings to propel them forwards. Unfortunately, halfway across the distance separating them, it was as if the light had been switched off. There was no longer anything there, not a trace left behind. Nothing apart from a fading mist. That was the only sign that anyone - or anything - had ever been there. The treeline was once again silent, apart from Lara’s, gut wrenching, echoing scream. Luc swallowed at the sound of heartbreak and anguish so easy to hear.
“God, damn it, no,” Jaden growled as he once again stood on two feet, staring at the space where they’d just been. “I’m sorry Lara, they seem to have vanished, and what the hell was that?”
“Dream demon,” Sophia replied, Luc frowned again at her words.
“A what?” Lara gasped, turning to Sophia.
“A Dream demon. They are from the fae realm, not of our plain of existence,” she informed them. It had been a while since she’d seen a dream demon, but if her memory served her right - and wasn’t playing tricks on her - this one had not looked right.
A dream demon was basically a dream weaver, a fallen angel, banished to live on earth. They stayed in the fae realm, where their job was to help man, or risk being banished to the lower realms, somewhere few wanted to spend any time never mind an eternity.
What had happened to this one though?
Her thoughts were interrupted by Jaden’s next outburst.
“So, how the hell are we meant to stop her now?” he asked, dark head turning back to the spot where they’d vanished.
“I’ll speak to Agatha and see if we can come up with anything between us,” replied Sop
hia. She knew she was going to need help on this one, the fae realm wasn’t a place she’d ever been or knew how to locate. Maybe if they pooled their resources, they’d be able come up with something helpful. Although she wasn’t holding out any hope.
“Is it worth checking if they come out further into the treeline?” Jaden asked, looking towards the dark shadow of the trees further ahead, now once again only lit by the moonlight.
“No,” Sophia shook her head. “As I said, the dream demon is from another plane, so will be long gone now.” She closed her eyes at the devastation apparent in Lara’s next words, and felt Luc once more move closer to her side. His heat and closeness warmed and comforted her, his hand squeezing hers, offering support. Confusion swamped her at her feelings where this quiet, stoic man was concerned. She was even more confused when she clung to him instead of disentangling her hand.
“Davion?” Lara whimpered, desperate eyes still looking towards the trees, hands now twisting together in distress. Helena came over and placed her arm around her as Sophia shook her head, mouth grim. She was unable to vocalise that she couldn’t tell her where he was, or if he would ever be back. This woman was like a sister to her, and it tore her up inside not being able to help her or alleviate her worry.
“Let’s head back then. I’m sorry, there’s nothing else we can do Lara,” Jaden murmured apologetically. “I’ll make sure a patrol is still done daily though, because no one is safe until we know that bitch is dead,” he gritted out. “The grizzly twins will bring you both back across the river,” he added, turning and shifting.
