Full Moon Rising

by Arthur, Keri

  With a sigh, I flicked on the water in the shower and stepped under it when it was hot enough. After washing the blood and sweat from my skin, I studied my various wounds. My stomach was tender to the touch, and the rainbow display of colors was broken by three pale pink scars. My arms bore several more healing slashes, as did my shoulders and thigh. Though I couldn’t remember changing shape during the night, I must have, because there was no other way such cuts would have healed so fast.

  Once I’d dried myself, I went out to check for clothes and discovered my bag sitting at the end of the bed. Liander must have brought it down from the farm. I shoved on my skirt and a shirt, mighty thankful for the extra undies I’d thrown into my bag when I’d packed for the club days ago. Once dressed, I wandered down a wide hallway, through a shadow-filled living room, and found myself in a kitchen bigger than my entire apartment. Through the windows, lights sparkled, testimony to the fact that many houses lay on the slope below us. In the distance, glistening whitecaps pounded toward a shore I couldn’t see.

  Liander sat at an ornate glass table reading a newspaper, but he glanced up as I walked in. His left eye was black, and bruises littered his pale arms.

  His gaze raked me, lingering on the healing wound on my thigh. It wasn’t a sexual look, just a concerned one. “Feeling better?”

  “Much. How about you?”

  He shrugged. “I think my ego is bruised more than my body. There were only four of them, yet they got the better of me.”

  “Only four? Gee, you’re slipping.”

  My voice was dry, and a smile tugged his lips. “Once I could have taken double that number.”

  “It’s a long time since you were in the military.”

  “It shouldn’t matter. I do keep in shape, after all.”

  “But not fighting fit—you’ve had no reason to, after all.”

  “True.”

  I walked over to the fridge to grab something to eat, but there wasn’t much more than old-looking fruit. Obviously, despite what Talon had said, he really hadn’t intended to stay there long. I picked out one of the better-looking peaches and slammed the door shut. “Where’s Quinn?”

  Liander nodded toward the French doors to my right. “Out on the patio, calling someone to get some information on Misha.” He hesitated, his expression tightening. “He’s using us all, you know.”

  “Yeah. All he’s interested in is finding out what happened to his friend.”

  “His friend being the DNA provider for these clones?”

  I nodded and bit into the peach. “I gather Rhoan filled you in on what’s been happening?”

  Liander’s gaze met mine. “There are no secrets between us, Riley.”

  I remembered what he’d said to Quinn when I was in the bloodlust, and realized then he knew what we were—knew, because Rhoan had told him. It was extraordinarily pleasing to know that my brother had found someone who loved him just as he was.

  Though I doubted Rhoan himself was fully appreciative of the fact.

  Liander folded the newspaper and leaned back in his chair. “Rhoan also told me about Quinn’s history with werewolves. Be careful with him.”

  I swiped a hand at the peach juice running down my chin. “First my brother, now my brother’s lover.” Exasperation edged my voice. “Will you both give me credit for having a little common sense?”

  He smiled, but the concern in his silver eyes remained. “You’re generally one of the most sensible people I know, but emotions rarely have anything to do with common sense.”

  “I haven’t known Quinn long enough to get emotional. Right now, he’s just another lover.” A lover I could get attached to, if he ever gave me the time. But he wouldn’t, so why was everyone worrying? “Were the men who came to rescue Talon human?”

  He shook his head, his smile telling me he wasn’t fooled by the change of topics. “Wolves.”

  “And their smell?”

  He shrugged. “Like wolves. Men.”

  Not clones or lab-created creatures then. Which I supposed was a good thing—at least it suggested Talon’s madness was just the common, everyday type, not the “I-will-dominate-the-world” variety.

  “And Jack’s been informed of events?”

  “Yes.” He glanced at his watch. “They should almost be here.”

  I raised an eyebrow. “That wise? I mean, these people keep on finding us, so it might be better if we remained in a couple of different groups.” Though, if I had a tracker in my arm, maybe I was the reason they kept finding us. Talon might have inserted it, but there was no telling if anyone else had discovered the signal.

  “Probably, but I’m not calling the shots. Jack is.”

  And Jack would do what Jack wanted. Maybe he wanted to bring them to us. It would certainly be one shortcut to finding out who was behind all this.

  I finished the peach and tossed the pit in the nearby rubbish bin. From outside the house came the sound of an approaching car. Liander rose, then moved with deceptive casualness to the window and looked out.

  “Jack and Rhoan,” he said after a moment.

  He went to the front door, and I looked around as Quinn came in off the patio. “Your sources able to tell you anything about Misha?”

  “Not yet,” he said. “They’ll get back to me in an hour or so.”

  I crossed my arms. “Are you going to share what they find with Jack?”

  “Yes,” he said.

  No, he meant.

  I smiled grimly. “And do you intend to kill whoever has held Henri captive all these years?”

  “Killing is not my style.”

  “Tell that to the clone in the toilet.”

  “He was a clone. That’s different.”

  I wanted to ask how, but my brother chose that moment to walk in. His glance took in the two of us, and his gaze narrowed slightly.

  “You okay?” he asked, pulling me into a fierce and protective hug.

  “I’m fine,” I replied. “Just make sure you leave enough for me to kick if you find Talon before I do.”

  “I’ll try to remember,” he said, then pulled back a little. “Did he tell you anything?”

  “Not anything new. Just the same old obsession.”

  “The bastard definitely needs to be taught a lesson or two.” He shifted to one side and wrapped an arm around my shoulder.

  Jack tapped the table, bringing our attention back to him. “Our search at the second former army base revealed nothing more than cosmetic manufacturing. And our computer search for Genoveve Confectionary has yielded little for the moment. It would seem the owners are hidden behind yet another paper trail.”

  “We may have hit a shortcut,” I said, before Quinn had the chance. “A year ago Misha had a file bearing the name Genoveve Confectionary on his desk. I think it’s worth asking straight out what his involvement with them is.”

  Jack contemplated me for a second, green eyes narrowed but glinting with familiar amusement. He was still playing his games, still trying to reel me in, but in this case, I had no intention of sidestepping such attempts. Whoever was behind these creatures had to be stopped, and if I could play some small part in that, then I would. If only to ensure these bastards stopped coming after me.

  “You know, that could be a very good idea,” he said casually. “Especially if you arrange to meet him somewhere other than his office.”

  “Play bunny bait, you mean, while you search his office.”

  He gave me a toothy grin. “Darlin’, I’m glad you’re on my side.”

  “The only side I’m on is Rhoan’s and mine.”

  “For now.”

  “For ever.”

  He shook his head. He wasn’t going to give up his little dream, no matter what I said. And I guess he was right to persevere. After all, depending on what the drug did to my system, I might be forced to step into the guardian system whether I wanted to or not.

  “That could be dangerous for Riley,” Quinn said. “Especially if Misha is behi
nd either the clones or the crossbreeds.”

  “She’s not guardian,” Rhoan added. “You can’t ask her to do something like that because she hasn’t had the training.”

  “All she has to do is what comes naturally to a wolf when the moon rides high.”

  “They’ve shot at her and tried to snatch her,” Rhoan said. “I don’t think it’s wise to send her out alone.”

  “I won’t be.” Jack glanced at me. “Do you have a problem doing this?”

  “No.” Hell, truth be told, when darkness hit tonight and the fever burned through my blood, I wouldn’t really give a damn who I danced with as long as I danced. “But there is another problem.”

  His gaze sharpened. “What?”

  “Talon put a tracer in my arm.”

  “We have some trackers in the car. We’ll tune them to the tracer’s frequency. If something does happen, at least we can find you.”

  Talon could, too, but that was a good thing. My fists wanted a serious word or two with his face.

  “I hope you’re not going to try to make Quinn and me sit this one out,” Liander said, voice steely.

  “No. Your field of expertise with the military was electronics, which could come in handy when we’re breaking in to the office. Quinn will be playing bodyguard to Riley, just in case Talon attempts another snatch.”

  Quinn didn’t say anything, but it was more than obvious he wasn’t happy about being left out of the business end of things. And I had to wonder if he’d actually be there when I came back out of the club.

  Jack tossed me his phone. “Let’s swing into action, people.”

  It was close to nine by the time we reached the Blue Moon. The night sky was filled with stars, the moon a silver luminance that sang through my veins, and every nerve ending felt as if it were being stretched taut.

  Quinn stopped the car in the shadow-filled lane across the street, contemplating the blue-lit building for several seconds before looking at me. “Looks like they’ve got a good crowd.”

  His expression hadn’t changed any in the last few hours, and his eyes were still obsidian stone. If we’d had some sort of relationship, I might have been tempted to think he was annoyed—even jealous—about my dancing with Misha. But given his take on werewolves and the fact he didn’t want anything more from me other than a good time, that was ridiculous.

  “I’ve got a permanent table booking the last two days before the full moon, so I’ll get in okay.” I swept my gaze from the small line of wolves waiting to get in to the man standing in front of the door. Jimmy. A little bit of tension slid away. At least there was someone else close by who I could trust if Quinn disappeared and I got into trouble.

  Quinn twisted around and grabbed the tracker from the backseat. A soft, clear beeping filled the silence. “Have you any idea of the range of this thing?”

  “No, but it would have to be two or three kilometers, at least. Talon used the tracer to find us at the Directorate, and neither his office nor his house is close by.”

  Quinn nodded. “Be careful in there. If you need help, just drop your shields and yell psychically.”

  I raised an eyebrow. “Is it safe for you to drop your shields? I mean, you’re stopped right outside an overflowing wolf nightclub—won’t the combination of auras be overwhelming?”

  “No.”

  “Why not?”

  He hesitated. “Because I won’t be dropping my shields. I’ll hear you through them.”

  “How?”

  “We’ve shared blood. Psychically, I’m now more attuned to you.”

  “Meaning you can read my thoughts anytime?”

  “No, because your shields are too strong. But drop them, and call, and I’ll be there.”

  If I called now, would he come? Not to me, but with me? In me? Somehow, I doubted it. And besides, if Misha was behind any of this, I needed to be at fever pitch. Needed my aura to hit him hard and fast, so that he had no time to think, just react. And during our mating, I’d get my answers—either verbally, or by reading his mind.

  “I have no idea how long this will take.”

  He shrugged. “I’m not going anywhere.”

  So he said. I put my hand on the door handle, then hesitated. “Quinn—”

  “There’s nothing between us,” he said softly. “Nothing other than great sex, anyway.”

  He wasn’t wrong—as yet, there was nothing more than great sex. But we’d only known each other a few days, and the indications were, even then, that there could be something else there. Whether it was a deeper relationship or simply friendship and good sex was something only time would tell. And no matter what warnings Rhoan and Liander might give, I was more than willing to chance fate and explore options. “Great sex is somewhere to start.”

  His gentle smile made my heart do a familiar flip-flop. “I am not the sharing type, Riley, and I do not want to be dragged into the whole werewolf culture. It’s just not me.”

  I raised my eyebrows. “Even at the cost of losing great sex?”

  “Even at.” His gaze left mine. “You’d better get going. He’s probably already inside.”

  “Probably.” I studied his profile a moment longer, then leaned across the car to place a kiss on his cheek.

  Only he shifted, and my kiss found his mouth instead. It was a long, glorious possession that left me gasping for breath and wanting him more than I’d ever wanted anyone in my life.

  “Go,” was all he said, the lilt of Ireland so rich in his voice his word was almost lost.

  I went. Right then, I had no other choice.

  Jimmy gave me a cheery hello and opened the door, ushering me in past a chorus of complaints and groans from those still waiting. A second guard waited near the inner door—Jimmy’s brother, Stan. He was slighter smaller, slightly thinner, but other than that, almost an exact replica of Jimmy. Only he had all his own teeth.

  “Hey, Riley,” he rumbled. “Misha was asking for you as he came in, about ten minutes ago.”

  My smile felt tight. “Thanks, Stan.”

  He nodded. “We’re packed tonight. Just as well you booked a table.”

  “Yeah.” I grabbed a locker key as usual, then headed inside.

  The hologram stars burned across the ceiling, their light not yet dimmed by the glow of the blue moon, which was only just beginning to rise in the distant corner.

  The dance floor was a sea of naked, gyrating flesh, and most of the tables were occupied. The air was as hot as the music and rich with the scent of lust and sex. I breathed deep, allowing the atmosphere to soak through every pore, right into my bones.

  If I wanted to be involved with Quinn on a deeper level than I was, I’d probably have to give up this sort of dance. But it was what I was. The freedom and excitement of these moon dances was part of my nature, and I’d be damned if I’d drop them just because it offended his human sensibilities. I wasn’t human, and he shouldn’t judge me by those standards. And asking me to give up the moon dance would be like asking him to stop drinking blood. It wasn’t fair, and it wasn’t right.

  I made my way down the stairs and into the change room. Misha might be watching, so everything had to follow the pattern I’d set over the past year, right down to taking a shower and stowing my clothes.

  When I walked back out I was as naked as everyone else. I scanned the tables until I found mine, but he wasn’t there. Which meant he was either somewhere on the dance floor or in one of the back privacy booths or rooms with someone else.

  I moved onto the dance floor. The rich aroma of sweat and wantonness swam around me, and my breath caught, then quickened. The press of flesh made my skin burn and my already erratic heart race that much harder.

  Hands caught me, whirling me around before pulling me into a body that was strong and lean and brown. Teeth flashed brightly as he wrapped his arms around my waist and led me into a dance that was both sensual and playful.

  The moon and the atmosphere and my own raging hormones had me ready to
take or be taken. Had it been another time, another day, I might have done both, right there, right then.

  The stranger brushed a kiss across my lips, a caress that was teasing yet filled with the promise of heat. “I want you,” he said softly. “Are you free to take this dance a little further?”

  His voice was as playful as his dance, and I liked the fact he asked first rather than trying to take, as many on the dance floor would have. The crush of his body against mine felt so good, so tempting. I took a deep breath and tried to remember that I was there for a reason.

  “Unfortunately, no, not at the moment,” I murmured, pressing just a little bit closer. He wasn’t much taller than I, so the heat of him caressed all the right places.

  His green eyes gleamed with amusement and desire. “I’m Kellen.”

  “Riley.”

  “You a regular here?”

  “Yes. You?”

  “First time. But I believe I’ve found reason enough to come back again.”

  I grinned, liking the mischievous yet determined glint in his eyes. The way his body fitted mine so neatly. “I shall keep an eye out for you.”

  He raised my hand and kissed my fingers. “Do that,” he said, and whirled me back into the madness.

  I found Misha a few seconds later. He was just off the center of the wildly gyrating crowd, dancing with several silver wolves. His gaze was molten when it met mine, his hunger a live thing that stole my breath and ate at my skin. That surprised me. Misha had never been one to wait for pleasure, and the three he danced with looked more than eager.

  He caught my hand, pulling me close as he spun us away from the silvers. The flash of their anger burned after us, but was quickly lost in the sea of hunger washing past.

  He didn’t say anything, just pulled me into the thick of the dance, right into the very heart where the press of bodies was at its strongest and the smell of sex so powerful it was almost liquid. I could barely breathe, desire was so fierce, yet I was not so far gone that I couldn’t sense the anger in him.