Filed to story: Tangled in Moonlight Unshifted Novel by Lenaleia
My fingers curl over the edge of the cushion I’m sitting on. “It can’t be coincidence she was there. The Mad Prince must have sent her there. We have to assume our location has been compromised.”
Lucas and Kellan grunt in unison, a sound of pure male aggression that would be funny in any other situation.
“How much will he know now that his thrall is dead?” Lucas’ jaw ticks as he speaks.
A flash of silver light announces Grimoire’s arrival. He takes his child form, all gangly limbs and messy red hair. “That depends on their connection. If Marisol was sharing her senses with her maker, he would know everything she saw and heard in her final moments.”
My stomach drops. “And if she wasn’t?”
“Then he’ll only know the general direction where his thrall perished.”
“He’ll be suspicious of her death happening around here. If he didn’t know we were here before, he knows now.”
Kellan’s voice comes out tight as he finally speaks. “He has no way to know it was a wolf pack.”
“Who else would take down a vampire thrall?” I arch an eyebrow at him. “Humans?”
The silence that follows gives his answer; we all know humans likely wouldn’t stand a chance against a vampire thrall.
“The Mad Prince isn’t stupid.” I lean back against Lucas, drawing comfort from his solid presence. “He’ll figure it out, if he hasn’t already. Lisa said the man’s obsessed. It makes sense he wouldn’t have given up after her escape, even with the world the way it is.”
“Could the Mad Prince be behind the corruption?” His fingers stroke my arm absently, his eyes distant as he thinks things through.
Grimoire shakes his head, red hair falling into his silver eyes. “Without more information, it’s impossible to determine if he’s involved. It’s always possible, but I don’t know.”
“Great.” I press my fingers to my temples. “So it could be that he’s the giant bogeyman we have to deal with, or he can have a friend making everything twice as bad.”
“The bigger concern is whether he knows you’re both here.” Kellan pushes off the wall, his presence commanding attention. “If Marisol was sharing her final moments with him—“
“Then he knows exactly where we are.” Lisa’s voice cracks. “And he knows I killed her.”
“Which means we need to prepare for the possibility of an attack. We have to assume the worst.” Lucas’ arm tightens around me. “Kellan, double the patrols.”
“Already done.” The beta’s gray eyes fix on Lisa. “You’re not leaving my sight.”
Lisa opens her mouth to argue, but something in Kellan’s expression stops her. She’s probably thinking she can have regular guards instead of imposing on Kellan, but there’s no way he’d let that happen.
“The same goes for you.” Lucas’ words brush against my ear. “No more solo missions. I have to go with you.”
“I’m never solo.” I gesture to my constant companions. “Selene and Grimoire—“
“Are powerful allies, but we need physical protection too. Marcus and Greg stay with you at all times. And I mean at all times, Ava.”
The steel in his voice leaves no room for argument, except… “They’re already with me all the time, Lucas.”
“Vanessa and Vester too.”
“They both have greater responsibilities.”
“Fine. I’ll add three more to your security detail.”
“That’s fine.” I’m not arguing against more protection. “But what about my purification work?” The taint isn’t going to wait while we hide from vampires.
“We adjust. Larger teams, more backup. No more small groups spread thin across the territory.”
Grimoire nods, shifting to sit cross-legged in the air. “The taint is dangerous, but a vampire with an obsession is worse. Especially one who’s had months to plan.”
My blood runs cold at the thought. What has the Mad Prince been doing all this time? Planning? Gathering forces? All while we’ve been distracted.
Lisa sets down her mug, her hands trembling. “I’m sorry. I’ve brought this danger to your pack.”
“No.” The word comes out sharper than I intend, and I soften my words. “The Mad Prince was always going to be a threat. At least now we know he’s still out there instead of being blindsided later. You’re not his only target, Lisa. He would have come here even if you weren’t around.”
LUCAS
Being blindsided by the enemy sends pure rage through my body, but I struggle to keep it contained, to hide the depth of my fury from my sweet little mate and her human friend.
They’re busy blaming themselves, and I’m ready to burn the world down for bringing this onto their shoulders.
This Mad Prince has gone too far once again. I already have a large blood debt to pay; this has brought it back to urgent priority.
Aurum paces beneath my skin as I watch my mate push a bowl of stew into Lisa’s trembling hands. The human’s face remains pale, her eyes haunted. Even after proving her strength in battle, she looks fragile enough to shatter.
“You need to eat.” Ava’s voice carries that gentle tone she uses with injured wolves. “Please, Lise.”
Lisa stares into the bowl as if it holds answers rather than meat and vegetables. “I’m not hungry.”
“Just a few bites. The protein will help.”
“Kellan.” I keep my voice low as I motion him closer. “We need to implement those changes now.”
He nods, following me to the corner of the room. “The rotating patrol schedule?”
“Yes. I want the best trackers we have checking the perimeter twice daily.”
I tap my fingers against my thigh, considering our options. “Our supply runs will need double the guards. Make sure we have them staggered so no one knows where they’re going. We’ve been too complacent, shopping too close.”
“And the taint?”
That’s the real problem. Without Ava’s purification, the corruption will spread. But we can’t risk her, either.
“Any sign of taint, the area gets quarantined immediately. No exceptions.”
“The hunting parties won’t like that.”
“The hunting parties can starve or adapt. I won’t lose more wolves to this corruption. She’ll still be purifying, just at a slower rate. That’s all.”
“Lucas.” Ava’s voice draws my attention. She’s gotten Lisa to eat half the bowl, but the human looks ready to fall over. The shadows under her eyes speak of bone-deep exhaustion.
“Go,” I tell Kellan. “Take her home.”
Lisa stiffens. “What about Mira’s—” Her voice breaks.
“Her burial rites won’t be today,” Ava says gently. “Get some rest.”
The door clicks shut behind Lisa and Kellan. My mate’s shoulders slump, and I pull her closer, letting her lean into my strength. Her scent carries the sharp tang of exhaustion mixed with honey and vanilla. The combination twists my protective instincts into knots.
“She’ll need time.” My thumb traces circles on Ava’s hip. “Kellan will watch over her.”
“I just hate seeing her like this. She’s always been the strong one.”
“She’s still strong. Taking a life changes you, even when necessary.”
“I should have been there faster.”
I turn her to face me, cupping her face between my palms. “Don’t. You did everything possible. Stop acting like you can stop every bad thing in the world from happening. It’s impossible.”
Her ice-blue eyes shimmer with unshed tears. The weight of leadership sits heavy on her small frame—my fierce little mate who takes every loss personally. Who feels responsible for everyone under our protection. She’s changed so much since taking on the responsibilities of Luna.
It’s a source of deep pride that my mate has shown herself so worthy of the title, but she has yet to learn how to find balance between the sorrows and joys.
“The Mad Prince won’t stop.” She presses her forehead against my chest. “He’s going to keep coming after her. If he’s been looking for her even with the world in such a state, nothing’s going to stop him.”
“Let him try.” A growl edges into my voice; our pack’s history with this single vampire is enough to light the rage simmering in my blood. “He’ll find we are not as unprepared as before.”
Aurum rises closer to the surface, and I breathe in Ava’s scent to calm him. My wolf wants blood—wants to hunt down every threat to our mate and pack. But rushing in without planning would only put more lives at risk.
We need to find the bloodsucker first. Then…
“I need you to promise me something.” I stroke my fingers through her blonde hair. “No more solo missions. Not until we deal with this threat. You can’t take on responsibility for every single bit of corruption we find. We’ll do what we can, but you have to put your safety first.”
She tenses against me. “But it’s a danger to everyone if we let it continue.”