Red Moon Rising(7)

“Hush Tia.”

“We have company.” James stepped in front of her and Nicholas stepped behind her.

Bree glanced around. She couldn’t see any movement in the trees but James was standing completely still. She watched as he lifted his head and inhaled deeply. The familiar stance made her stomach drop, and she backed away until she bumped into Nicholas.

“Easy Bree.” Nicholas murmured.

“Show yourself!” James suddenly shouted. She jumped and squeezed Tia until the dog whimpered.

Two men, large and naked, stepped out from the trees and adrenaline began to pump through Bree’s veins.

“No.” She whispered.

James looked at her briefly, frowning at how pale she was and the way her slender body trembled.

“Good afternoon gentlemen!” Nicholas called merrily. “How are you on this fine day?”

“You have something that belongs to us.” The largest of the men snarled. “Return her to us and we will not harm you.”

Nicholas stepped forward until he was standing next to James. He looked around innocently. “I see nothing here that would belong to the likes of you.”

The smaller man bared his teeth and growled low in his throat. “Give her to us now!”

The larger man put his hand on his companion’s arm, quieting him. “She is a slave. She killed our brother and she will be punished for it. Give us what is rightfully ours and walk away, or we will kill you.”

Nicholas sighed. “Uh oh – now you’ve done it. My brother here has never cared much for the “s” word. I mean, I don’t like it either but it makes him seriously angry. You know the Reds – they have such tempers.”

“Stop your foolish talking, and hand the slave over before we kill you and the half-breed!” The man shouted angrily.

A low growling was rising from James’ chest, and Bree watched as he unbuckled the scabbard around his waist. He dropped it and the sword within it and stretched lazily. She could hear the bones in his spine cracking and she stepped back nervously. His entire body seemed to be growing, the sleeves of his shirt straining against his arms. As she watched, the back of his shirt ripped with a low purring sound. His previously smooth back was now covered with hair, and she moaned low in her throat and backed away.

“If you want her, come and take her.” His voice had deepened, becoming a growl, and the two strangers snarled loudly and shifted into their wolf form. James and Nicholas shifted immediately, their clothes tearing apart and falling to the ground in tatters, and they howled in unison.

As the Lycans raced towards each other, Bree turned and fled into the forest.

* * *



Bree held her side grimly and forced herself to run faster. Tia, tucked under her arm, whimpered loudly and squirmed against her. She held the dog tighter. The wounds on her side split open for a second time, and fresh blood trickled down her side.

Behind her, the sound of the Lycans fighting was growing steadily dimmer. She cried out when she ducked around a large tree and a stray branch swiped across her forehead. It drew blood and some of it ran into her eye, making it sting painfully.

She wiped at her eye, squinting to see, and screamed loudly when a hand grabbed her arm roughly. She was yanked to a stop, Tia tumbling from her arms as she was whipped around.

She screamed again at the sight of the thin, pale leech standing before her.

“Ooh, a wood nymph running through the forest!” He grinned at her and wrapped one strong, cold hand around her neck.

“I heard the Lycans fighting and thought it would be best if I skirted around their silly little fight.” He rolled his eyes and sighed dramatically. “They’re so dreary. Always fighting like dogs. The world would be much better without their wretched kind stinking up the place.”

Bree screamed again, and the leech gave her a look of distaste before squeezing her throat lightly. “Oh do stop your awful caterwauling would you dearie? It’s giving me a headache.”

He jerked when Tia bit at his leg through his pants. “Ugh. Dogs are just as bad as Lycans.”

He bent quickly and picked the small dog up by the scruff of the neck. Tia snarled and bared her teeth at him, and the vampire hissed and bared his own fangs at the dog.

“Please, let her go.” Brie choked out.

The vampire laughed and hurled the small dog into the tree beside them. Tia’s body hit the tree with a loud thud and fell to the ground. She whimpered once and was silent. Bree screamed with rage, and punched and kicked at the vampire.

He laughed and hauled her closer, licking the blood from her forehead. “Delicious.” He whispered.

He wound his hand through her long blonde hair, yanked her head back and sunk his fangs deep into her neck.