Moon of Curses

by H. D. Gordon

  We’d come so far, and since it had come at a hell of a price, I felt obligated to enjoy it.

  Soon enough, our caravan was trundling into Cerys. The city was alight with celebration, the streets flowing with people of all races, dressed in their finest. Some were in costumes—the females wearing masks and skimpy outfits, the males shirtless and painted despite the cold. The streets had been decorated with pine and foliage, and the scents of shine and roasting meat rose into the air.

  People waved as we passed, peering at our party and trying to get a look at the occupants of our carriages. Some even cheered, and when Devon raised an eyebrow at this, I shrugged.

  “Opening an orphanage was bound to win some good graces,” I said.

  He grunted. “And taking most of the street children in, I suppose.”

  I nodded. “One point on which we both agree.”

  Devon smiled at me, the first real smile I felt like he’d given me in a long time. “You’ve always had a soft spot for children.”

  One side of my mouth pulled up. “Don’t tell anyone.”

  “Your secret is safe with me, boss.”

  We reached the banquet hall, our carriage coming to a stop in front of the massive building. Lights spilled out of the large, arched double doors. The sound of music followed, people already arriving and crowding in to join the fray. I rubbed my hands on my pants when I realized they were slightly moist. Devon noticed the action.

  He raised his brows once more in question.

  “You know I hate crowds.”

  He nodded slowly. “Unfortunate quality for an Alpha.”

  I ignored his probing stare and opened the door to the carriage, hopping out. Elian was there to greet me.

  The Demon eyed me from head-to-toe and grinned. “You look beautiful, Miss Silvers,” he whispered as he drew near.

  I cut him a glance. “I look the same as I always look.”

  “Exactly.”

  Sometimes Eli made it hard to hide my affections for him. I didn’t do so because I didn’t trust him; I did it because I didn’t trust others, and I wanted to protect him. An Alpha’s lover was always in danger, a very vulnerable position to find oneself in.

  We made our way inside the building, the entire Pack in tow, and I had to admit I was impressed with the arrangements Kyra had made for the event. The front doors let into a foyer with a high ceiling, and a red runner sat atop marble flooring. To the right was the ballroom, where the sounds of music and jubilation flowed out.

  I shooed my family and friends inside while I stood by the doors, greeting the arrivals, as was expected of me. Only Devon remained at my side, my second in command and closest confidant.

  “Keep your eyes open tonight, big brother,” I said into his head.

  Devon answered with a slight nod.

  I shook hand after hand, meeting the eyes of every Wolf that entered, ensuring that they averted their gaze first. Many of them may not like the idea of bowing to a female Alpha, but they weren’t willing to openly offend me, which I supposed was good enough.

  Forty minutes after the party began, Angelo Mangera arrived, three greasy goons in tow. He held my gaze as he approached, clearly not impressed with my choice of attire, though not surprised, either.

  Angelo wore a suit as expensive as all his others, his hair slicked and coifed. “Miss Silvers,” he said.

  “Mr. Mangera,” I replied, and waved a hand toward the ballroom doors. “Please, enjoy yourself.”

  His answering grin was nothing short of Wolfish. “I intend to.”

  With this, he swept inside, his three males following after. I eyed the one who’d gotten feely during our last meeting, and whatever look was on my face had him averting his gaze quickly.

  “You have a knack for scaring the shit out of males twice your size, Miss Silvers,” said a voice near my ear.

  The scent of Eli’s cologne filled my nose, stirring something inside me. I tilted my head toward him, but kept my eyes on the double arched doors, watching the new arrivals. “But not you, Demon,” I said.

  “Oh, I’m plenty afraid, Wolf,” he said. “I just seem to like things that scare me.”

  “Go have some fun,” Devon said into my head. “I can hold down the fort for a while.”

  I glanced over my shoulder at my older brother, who was looking straight ahead as though he had not been eavesdropping.

  “You’ve earned it,” he added. “And all the important people have already arrived.”

  “The Wards didn’t show,” I said.

  “Well, let’s be thankful for small favors.”

  “Just—”

  “I know, I know. I’ll keep my eyes open. Go.”

  I glanced around to make sure no one was watching, and then placed a quick kiss on Devon’s cheek. “You’re a good brother,” I said.

  He nodded. “The best.”

  I caught Elian’s gaze across the foyer and jerked my chin toward the back hallway. His eyes swirled with scarlet as he followed after.

  Chapter 6

  “You’re strong,” I panted into his ear as he hoisted me up against the wall.

  Eli grinned, biting my neck before saying, “You’re just really light.”

  I gripped his back, pulling him to me as I made my best efforts not to be too loud. Elian used some of his fire magic to heat me up, making me feel as though I was burning from the inside out. It was pain so good that if I were not careful, I would find myself addicted to it.

  If I weren’t already.

  That thought scared me more than I would admit, and he noticed when I stiffened, slowing his agonizingly wonderful movements. “You okay?” he asked.

  I’ll be fine, I thought, as long as you don’t break my heart.

  Fuck.

  I nodded, gripping the back of his thighs so that he wouldn’t stop what he was doing, my head falling back as I latched onto the pleasure, forcing the unwanted thoughts from my mind.

  Thoughts I would need to revisit later and give some consideration to.

  He slowed down, his mouth covering mine in sweet kisses, the taste of him ridiculously alluring. My eyes glowed Wolf-gold, and his swam with scarlet, his Demon fire magic peaking as he increased the speed again, driving himself in deeper.

  Too deep. This whole fucking thing was getting too damn deep. And Gods help me, but I didn’t want him to stop.

  “You are so fucking sexy,” he growled into my ear.

  I nipped at his neck, grazing the smooth skin there with my teeth and eliciting another growl. The male’s stamina never ceased to amaze me, and I wondered why I enjoyed it with him so much more than I had with lovers from my past. A small voice in the back of my head insisted I knew exactly the reason why, but I ignored it for the sake of my sanity.

  Moving in time with his rhythm, I held him close, making sure he went as far as he could.

  Some time later, we stood staring at each other, our release having come simultaneously.

  I grabbed my pants from where we’d tossed them in the corner of the storeroom, sliding them on and fitting my irons back into their holsters. Elian watched me in silence as he adjusted his clothing, and not for the first time, I wondered what the Demon was thinking.

  A grin pulled up his mouth, the way it always did after.

  “What?” I asked.

  He came forward and tipped my chin up with his fingertips, placing a sweet kiss to my lips. “I was just thinking about how much I like you.”

  I swallowed, wondering how I could be so strong and tough most of the time and yet saying the words back felt like a monumental feat.

  “I like you, too,” I managed.

  Eli laughed.

  I narrowed my eyes, and he held up his hands, palms out. “I believe that is the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me, Miss Silvers. Perhaps you’re not as cold hearted as the world might claim.”

  I slipped my jacket over my shoulders and buttoned the bottom, concealing my weapons, hoping he was wrong about that, an
d suspecting that he was not.

  I listened at the door to make sure no one was beyond before opening it and slipping out of the closet, Elian on my heels. I began making my way back toward the ballroom when the Demon caught my arm, bringing me to a stop.

  “Are we going to talk about this thing we’ve got going on between us?” he asked. “Like, ever?”

  My jaw clenched. “I’d just assume not.”

  Eli maintained his hold. Any other male, and I would not have allowed it. “Because you’re afraid?”

  Now I did jerk my arm out of his grasp. “Never,” I lied.

  He looked at me like he smelled that bullshit for what it was.

  “I’m afraid too,” he admitted.

  This diffused my anger more than I wished it would. There was so much going on in my life right now, so much I’d worked so hard for. The absolute last thing I needed was to fall for a playboy Demon with a smile that was way too enticing.

  “Later,” I said. “Just not tonight.”

  The disappointment on his face made something in my chest stir, but I turned on my heels and headed back to the party. When I made it to the ballroom, the occupants were still drinking, laughing, and dancing, the festivities in full swing.

  Devon was still at the door, and he gave me a knowing look that I ignored while Eli greeted him.

  “Have fun?” Devon asked in my head.

  “Shut up,” I shot back. “Everything okay out here?”

  “Everything’s fine. I’d like to go hit that buffet table before it’s all gone, though.”

  I tipped my chin, telling him to go on, but caught his arm before he could depart. “Did you see dad come in?” I asked.

  Devon shook his head. I nodded and let him go.

  Eli sidled up beside me, watching the partygoers with the same disinterest as me. He opened his mouth to say something, but whatever it was, I would never know.

  Because a scream cut across the ballroom, and the band in the corner brought the music to a screeching halt. I recognized the scream as soon as I heard it, and my heart plummeted to my stomach.

  Delia.

  I charged through the crowd, practically throwing people out of the way until I reached her. When I found her, I drew a sharp breath as I examined her for injuries, only to find that she had none.

  Then I followed her eyes…along with the eyes of every other person in the room, to the source of her horror.

  Someone had drawn back the curtain that covered the stage behind where the band sat, and hanging from the rafters by his neck, was Dion Silvers.

  Dead eyes.

  My father’s eyes were open, staring at nothing as his body swayed from the rope on which it hung. His neck was bent at an unnatural angle, his face a pallid white, his mouth slightly ajar. For half a heartbeat, all I could do was stare, the rest of the scene fading away around me as I looked up into those dead eyes.

  The eyes of the male who’d helped to make me who I am, for better or for worse.

  Then there was another wail, less ear-piercing, but still heart wrenching, and I realized that Delia, my younger sister, was still in my arms, and she was also staring up at the body of our dead father.

  Devon was at my side, and I didn’t know how or when he got there. “Clear them out,” I told him, noting the curiously calm tone of my voice.

  Devon stood and stared, and I was a moment from snapping on him when Eli appeared at my other side.

  “I got you,” the Demon whispered. Flames erupted from three sides of the room, sending the stunned crowd scrambling toward the exit.

  I gently pushed Delia into Devon’s arms and spoke into his head. “Get her out of here. Gather the others. Make sure everyone is safe.”

  This snapped my older brother out of his trance, and he took the sobbing Delia and led her from the ballroom as the rest of the party followed.

  People streamed around me, offering a wide berth, whispers and gasps filling the space in between. The band abandoned the instruments on the stage, glancing up at the body of my father in horror before following the crowd to the exits.

  Elian stood beside me, keeping control of the flames while using them to herd the people. The heat of them seemed to start somewhere in the soles of my feet and work its way up to my temple, until my very vision was ringed in red.

  And, still, all I could do was stare at the male Wolf hanging from the rafters, a rope around his neck, eyes wide but not seeing.

  After however long, I was standing alone in the grand ballroom, with only the fire-wielding Demon at my side. As soon as the guests had all exited, Eli put out the bright red flames and stared at me in silence for several moments, as if I were a sleeping bear that he was afraid to wake.

  I supposed this was not too far from the truth.

  Eli moved a little closer, but paused in his tracks when my eyes glowed Wolf-gold.

  All I could think about as I stared up at his lifeless body was the last interaction I’d had with my father in the train yard, where I’d cut him off monetarily and then bashed him in the head with the butt of my gun for the trouble he’d caused.

  Now, silence surrounded me, mingling with the smell of food and the turning of my stomach. When Eli spoke, I’d forgotten he was even there, and in my confusion, I drew an iron on him.

  “Dita?” the Demon said.

  And then there was a long barreled revolver pressed to the center of his forehead.

  The Demon went very still, his hands rising slowly at his sides. My eyes were still glowing, my heart hammering hard in my chest, my fingers tight around the handle of the weapon.

  “Easy,” Eli cautioned.

  I blinked, coming back to the present and realizing what I was doing. With a shake of my head, I replaced the gun in my holster and released a breath that had me bending double, gripping my knees as I sucked in more air.

  When Eli’s hand fell on my back and stroked gently, I stood up again, sniffing once and straightening my posture, getting a Gods damned hold of myself.

  I shook off Eli’s touch, and told myself that I didn’t care about the hurt that flashed behind his eyes before being smothered out by his pride.

  “Are you okay?” he asked.

  I snorted a little at this ridiculous question, though I knew he only meant to help. I yanked down the bottom hem of my jacket and rolled my neck, casting one last glance up at the body of my father.

  “I will be,” I said.

  Eli gave me a look like the ones Devon was always giving me, the ones that meant he knew I was on the verge of doing something drastic, something irreversible and dangerous.

  “Who could’ve done this?” Eli asked.

  The threat from Ansel Ward in the train yard flashed through my mind. Too far, the old Wolf had said. He went too far.

  “I’m pretty sure I know,” I answered, and again marveled at the steady sound of my own voice. No wonder the world called me cold-hearted.

  I turned toward the exit, sending a mental order to some of the Wolves of my Pack that were waiting outside to get my father’s body down and bring it back to the house.

  “Dita,” Eli called out to me, and if not for whatever it was that was between us, I might have kept walking.

  Instead, I paused in my tracks, not turning back, but tipping my head to the side so that he knew I was listening.

  “What are you going to do?” the Demon asked.

  I turned my head a little more so that he could catch my eyes, so that he could see the business in them. Whatever he saw there had him pressing his lips together, his shoulders slumping a fraction.

  With that, I continued out of the ballroom, the weight of the irons at my hips familiar and comforting, just as they would be when I held them in my hands.

  When I’d gone to the train yard the previous morning, I’d been trying to avoid a war between the Packs, but the war had found me, nonetheless.

  I may not have started it, but I would damn sure finish it.

  Chapter 7

&
nbsp; The first order of action was to move the family to a safe location.

  I had Devon take the twins, Delia, and Demarco to Lenhart, a smaller city that was a good distance away, to a spot that Elian had secured. After this was done, I stood in the office of the main house, overlooking the front yard as carriages carrying the ones I loved the most trundled out of sight.

  Kyra was with them, though she’d protested, wanting to stay with me. Her magic would add an extra layer of protection, and she did as I’d asked without as much fuss as I might have suspected. Nearly one hundred Wolves still roamed the plantation grounds, preparing for the meeting I’d called for later this evening, but the house itself was silent, the absence of my family palpable in the stillness.

  Elian had stayed by my side the past two days, not saying much, but taking care of things that needed to be taken care of. He not only arranged for the safe house for my family, but he’d put together the Pack meeting and the funeral for my father. He’d brought me food and drinks, though I’d barely touched the former, and even led me into the bath the night prior, stripping me of my clothes and washing me clean before clothing me again.

  If I’d been hoping to distance myself from my affections for him, I didn’t think any of this was helping, but the fact was, I needed the help. I was hiding it, but I was barely functioning. All I could think about was murder, and murder would be all I thought about until the deed was done.

  The Wards, I was going to kill them all.

  I stood at the window, watching a storm roll in from the west, the Wolves crossing over the land and back again, on high alert as per my orders. When the door to the office opened, I didn’t turn. I knew who it was.

  “They made it to the location,” Elian said.

  I didn’t have to ask whom, but I was surprised that I’d been standing here that long. Hadn’t I just watched them leave? I considered the fact that perhaps I was more shook up than I ought to be. I never even liked my father. Most times, the male had caused me more trouble than he’d been worth.