September Moon (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #8)

“You are, and we both know it. You’ve endangered children because of what you’ve done.”


He didn’t deny it. Shaking his head vigorously, he backed himself up against the front door as I approached. His fingernails lengthened into claws, and his eyes were solid wolf.

I rushed forward, hoping to land a killing blow before he could shift. I swung the Dragon Claw, aiming for a neck wound, but it sliced through air. Stuart dropped down in time to escape my assault. Seconds later he was a big brown wolf shaking free of tattered clothing. Fangs bared, he lunged at me with a snarl. I swung the dagger again, using it to keep him at bay. He snarled and snapped, unable to get close enough to attack.

With my free hand I hurled a slap of power at him, taking him down with a yelp. He struggled to his feet, but I was there with another blast. I held him pinned with a stream of energy heavy enough to take down a much larger animal.

Stuart struggled to break free. Twitching and flailing on the floor, he never ceased the growl that echoed in the vast, empty building.

I lifted the dagger, prepared to bring it down in one strong swoop. In his desperation Stuart twisted around and bit wildly at nothing.

Then he got lucky.

Fangs sunk into my ankle, and I shrieked. Before he could crush the bone, I kicked him hard in the face with my other foot. I followed up with the dagger, stabbing it downward, seeking any part of him I could hit. It pierced the flesh of his flank, and he released me.

The pain was excruciating. A werewolf bite was deadly, always meant to inflict as much damage as possible. Having no time to examine the wound, I swung again. This time the Dragon Claw founds its mark. It plunged deep into Stuart’s chest. I jerked it free and prepared for another blow, but he fell face first into the hard concrete floor and didn’t get up.

“That was impressive.” Jenner’s voice broke me out of the moment. He stood inside the main entry, watching with arms crossed. “Much faster than I’d expected.”

“Ditto.” I sat heavily on the floor and pulled up my pant leg. “Fucker bit me though.”

“So? You heal fast.”

“Not as fast as you. Not yet anyway. It friggin’ hurts.”

The bite was deep. All four fangs had punctured my ankle. Blood oozed from the wounds, staining my hands as I applied pressure to it.

Jenner made a noise, something between a gasp and a curse. I jerked my head up to find him watching me with blatant hunger. Oh shit. Bleeding in front of any vampire was dangerous, but bleeding in front of one who had tasted my blood and now belonged to me because of it, that was just downright careless.

“Jenner?” Uncertainty showed in my tone. I didn’t know him well enough to know how he’d handle this.

“Why the hell did you have to let him do that?” Pushing away from the door, he moved toward me with a predatory gait. His pupils were huge, a deep, drowning black.

“Back off,” I warned, a hand raised with a ready psi ball. “Don’t make me take you down.”

Jenner paused. His control was strong. It had to be. He was of our bloodline. At least, that’s what I told myself as I struggled to get up.

The bite throbbed in time with my heartbeat. It would heal within a day or two naturally. Even faster if Arys healed it. I willed the bleeding to stop.

“I’ve dreamed of tasting you many times since you left Vegas.” His sudden confession stunned me. “That’s what happens when you enslave a vampire. They never stop craving you.”

“Nobody is enslaved,” I insisted, sliding the dagger back into its sheath. Killing Jenner was just not an option, even if he rushed me. “You’re all so easily influenced by the power. It’s an illusion.”

His laughter echoed. “Illusion is it? Is it an illusion when you crave the touch of your forbidden lover? Certainly not. Is it illusion when a victim begs you for more? No. It is a very real, very undeniable desire.” He continued to press closer, stopping only when he stood within arms’ reach. “Our power is meant to enslave our victims. To make them ours in every way. Unfortunately, some of us are powerful enough to use that gift on each other. Lucky you.”

“Yes, lucky me.” I limped toward the door, keeping my distance as I passed him. “Come on; let’s get out of here.”

Jenner caught my arm before I saw him move. He brought my wrist to his mouth and boldly ran his tongue along the veins there.

“Don’t even think about it,” I murmured as apprehension flooded me.

“Too late. Would just a taste be so wrong? It would make being around you a hell of a lot easier.” Despite his actions, he was still himself. Jenner’s control was far better than Kale’s, and for that I was grateful.

Instinct demanded that I slap him with a blast hard enough to toss him across the room. Experience had taught me remaining calm was safer.